24: Redemption – Jack Bauer is Back!

Jack Bauer in 24: Redemption - Courtesy Fox

24 is back in all of it’s ridiculous splendor, and I mean that in a good way.  Jack Bauer (Keifer Sutherland) made his return to TV in last night’s 24: Redemption, a 2 hour prequel to the upcoming 7th season.  A fitting title seeing that this show will need to find redemption for season 6′s lackluster finish, Keifer’s fourth DUI, the long hiatus between seasons, and of course Jack Bauer’s un-PC use of torture.

24: Redemption picks up some three or so years after season 6.  Jack has been been traveling the world in order to duck a subpoena from the U.S. government to answer questions about his involvement in “illegal detention and torture.”  We find him working and living at a school for boys in the fictitious nation of Sangala, Africa, loosely based on The Democratic Republic of Congo.  And, just by chance of course, this happens to become the location for a crisis that gets the full attention of the White House.  A vicious warlord is kidnapping Sangalese children and forcing them into his militia as “child soldiers” in a plan to overthrow the government using funds from the new official bad guy, Jonas Hodges.  Who better to play Jonas than my favorite bad guy actor Jon Voight — I’m extremely stoked by this casting. Speaking of new cast members, 24 is getting a new President and it’s a woman, shocker.  President-Elect Allison Taylor is being played by long time Broadway actress Cherry Jones (I wonder if she’ll take credit for the future election of a female U.S. President).  The Sangala crisis becomes her first official business as she takes over the reigns from last season’s President Daniels (Powers Boothe).

Don’t worry all my fellow 24 fanatics, Redemption doesn’t disappoint.  The action and excitement rivals that of classic pre-season-6 episodes, and Jack still retains his unbeatable superman status.  He dodges punches, machetes, bullets, and even a rocket launcher as he almost single-handedly saves the school boys from the clutches of the Sangalese warlord.  I admit that I laugh at its absurdity at times but I just consider this my own personal comic relief, which just adds to the enjoyment of the show.  So, just how ridiculous does this show have to get before I stop watching it?  I draw the line at the first sign of aliens… hmmm… actually, Jack Bauer kicking alien butt would rock, so bring on those little green men.

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Quick Preview of Season Seven:
The new season will kick off on Sunday, January 11th with a 2 day 4 hour premiere.  To make it short, Jack goes on trial, the government needs him again, C.T.U. is gone, the nation is under attack, Chloe is a “stay-at-home-mom,” and Tony Almeda makes a soap-opera-style return — this guy just won’t die, and wait… he’s the bad guy?

24 Official Site | 24: Redemption trailer | 24: Season 7 trailer

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Note: For those of you who missed 24: Redemption the DVD will be released tomorrow.