Tonight is the official beginning of the final, big overarching story of
24 in this, its seventh season. Jack Bauer is now being held accountable for the murder and torture of Ryan Burnett. He's a fugitive once more. The whole "Jack has to simultaneously evade the authorities while unraveling the evil plot" tactic has been used without discretion throughout 24's history, and yet, I still don't mind it. With
24, you're already suspending your disbelief in so many ways, I don't mind the writers relying on old tricks. Especially, when the results are exciting as tonight's episode. What follows is a recap of the latest episode of Jack Bauer Hour. Please enjoy.
Jack runs away from the hospital, into the parking garage as police cars show up. He spies a car to his liking, it's a nice one because that's how Jack rolls, and busts his elbow through the windshield and hot-wires the thing. He drives off. Morris O'Brian has arrived at FBI headquarters and yells at Janis. Janis tells Morris that Chloe's been arrested. Morris is appropriately befuddled, sad and grizzled. Meanwhile, Walker is being debriefed. Moss is all self-deprecating as he calls Janis and tells her what happened with Jack and Ryan Burnett. Janis tells Walker what happened with Jack. Walker is confused.
Jack finds a laptop in his stolen car, uploads the security tapes, finds the picture of the assassin Quentin, and uploads it to his phone using his Sprint card, all while driving and in about twenty seconds. He sends the picture to Walker, then calls her on the phone. He begs her for help. Against her better judgment, Renee says she'll call him back. Renee looks up the picture of Quentin.
Quentin calls Hodges, tells him that Bauer got away. Hodges is told that their shipment will arrive within the next hour. The weapons will be deployed. Hodges goes off on a passionate monologue. He believes in whatever war they're fighting, and knows that collateral damage is a necessity. He feels bad for the loss of life, but dammit, these things have to happen.
John Quinn, block ops vet, is the man's name. Walker tells Jack this over the phone. Walker tells Jack that if anyone knows who Quinn worked for, it's Senator Maier.
Moss returns to FBI headquarters and talks to Walker. Moss doesn't care, like Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, whether Jack did or didn't kill Burnett. He's a fugitive. Moss sends Walker home. Janis talks to Moss – Moss believes that Walker has been talking to Bauer and has Janis check Walker's phone log.
President Taylor prepares to make her statement to America. Olivia is in the Oval Office with her mother as she readies. Olivia has a thought – she wants her mother to claim victory, that standing up to terrorists was the right thing to do, that the people who died, died heroes. Ethan comes into the Oval Office and tells her about what Jack said about the bigger conspiracy and what happened with Jack and Burnett and Ethan's approval of it all. And, that Jack is probably the one who killed Burnett. He actually makes it seem like they believe that Bauer is the murderer. Fools.
Renee leaves her gun and her badge, starts walking out of the office. She is surrounded by cops and Moss. Moss knows that she talked to Bauer. Renee won't give up Bauer's location, says she believes Bauer. Moss is aghast. Renee stays strong, and is taken away to a holding cell.
Senator Maier arrives at his residence, knowing not what awaits him. Maier turns off the security alarm, then notices a suspiciously opened window in his den. He picks up the phone – line is dead. Jack is there, behind the door! Maier tries to act strong, Jack orders him to sit. “You're a real enigma, Bauer,” sneers Maier. Jack asks him about Quinn – the Senator knows nothing of him. Jack tries to explain his motives to Maier – to his credit, he kind of believes him. Starkwood is the name of the company which may have employed Quinn, and which Maier has been investigating for awhile.
Jack demands that Maier show him those Starkwood files. He does.
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