24: Season 6 Premiere

Sitting at Applebee's eating a house salad and chicken quesadillas last night, I wondered to myself, would Jack Bauer be eating a salad?

The most intense, suspenseful drama in television history is back for its sixth season. 24 premiered in its customary two-night, four-hour fashion Sunday and Monday nights.

Jack Bauer is back, after spending twenty months in a Chinese prison. Upon his return to U.S. soil, he receives a call from President Wayne Palmer, asking (telling) him to sacrifice himself for the good of the country.

Basically, they're buying Jack from the Chinese in order to sell him to a terrorist who plans to kill him. It's sort of like finding out you've been traded from the Lions to the Raiders, multiplied by about a hundred.

Originally, we think the bad guy is someone named Asaad, a known terrorist. Then we find out it is another guy, named Fayed. Once Jack finds out the government has the wrong guy, he escapes, and then it's on like Donkey Kong!

We welcome Nadia to the CTU team this season. She's a hottie who reminds me a bit of Karen on The Office. Bill Buchanan is still around. Karen Hayes is now working in the White House, alongside some guy no one likes yet named Tom.

Chloe's ex, Morris, is now apparently Chloe's current again. And he's at CTU, clashing hourly with Milo, who Chloe evidently went out with a time or two.

The shock value has been high in the first four hours this season, highlighted by Jack killing one of his captors by taking several bites out of the guy's neck. That's gotta have a bit of an aftertaste, I don't care how many bad guys you've killed. Anyhow, that was both gross and incredibly cool.

Still, last night's fourth hour was probably the most shocking thusfar. It featured Jack shooting good guy Curtis. (I'm still not sure how I feel about that.) Then, a "suitcase nuke" was detonated near the end of the hour.

Also, they seem to be writing in a much higher number of "civilian" deaths this season. And I'm still not sure how I feel about Wayne Palmer as President. I liked his character in previous seasons. But I'm not buying him as President. At least not yet.

The good:
Chloe, although she hasn't gotten many chances to be "Chloe" yet.

Nadia. Or as I refer to her, Nadia Hottie-uh. Go ahead. Say it. It rolls right off the tongue.

Jack rescuing Asaad just before the house is bombed.

The government being forced to work with Asaad, a known terrorist. A nice twist.

The suspicion of Muslims and the debate over detaining them. Very real.

The bad:
The childish Milo/Morris arguing.

Sandra Palmer, the President's sister.

The White House staff. They're lame. We need someone besides Karen Hayes and Tom whatever-his-name-is.

Something's missing at CTU. No Tony. No Michelle. And now maybe no Curtis? There needs to be someone else.

Best scene:
The light from the nuclear explosion reflected across Jack's face.

Worst line:
"You're not my friend. You don't even say my name right. It's Ach-med." Whatever, Kumar. You're not fooling anyone.

Did you know:
Mispronounced names are now the #1 cause of terrorist acts by disillusioned militant youths.

Questions:
Where is Audrey? We're four hours in and she hasn't made an appearance.

Is Curtis dead? I never really heard them say. He went down and appeared to pass out. But is he dead, or do we know?

Will Bierko come back?

What did the government have to give the Chinese in order to get Jack back? Will that come into play later?

I miss:
Aaron Pierce

The non-stop season continues next Monday night at 9/8 Central.

"Love bites. Love bleeds. It's bringing me to my knees..."