24 - Season Two (2003)

Save for Kim's Storyline It's a Winner

I'll save you a plot summary, obviously you can get that from the other 200 reviews written here. I will simply state my unworthy opinion. Let me just say that 24 made me believe in television again. After the X-files went down the drain and even Voyager got stupid on me and then with the horrible disgrace that is Enterprise entering the picture I swore I would never be faithful to an American TV series again. The suspense and unbelievable endings in this series are above the standards of most films and light years ahead of all current television. Season One, from start to finish never disappointed me, save for Teri Bauer. I'm sorry about it but she was just damned annoying. Kim seems to have followed in her mother's footsteps in this Season. She herself is not annoying but the writers just seem to put her in the most unbelievable and absurd situations in the entire series. I have seen all three seasons and I have to say that Season two is the low point. But it is still way better than anything else that is on television.
Jack's rash actions in the first episode just seem to be there to bring back the old flame of his malicious, unrelenting character. What he does has little affect on the people he was trying to impress and is forgotten completely. The writers are at their very best in the President Palmer storyline. Damn, I wish he was our president. Anyhow, the way Palmer handles the situation before and especially after the Season's major mid-season climax provides a perfect foil for the blunders of the current administration as sort of dramatic "what-should-have-been-done-in-the-first-place-you-jug-earred-baboon" scenario. Also, after the early gaining of the audience's trust in unbelievable climaxes, the characters REALLY get a great chance to develop. I wouldn't mind seeing a version which edited out Kim save for her scenes with Jack. I don't think she is a bad actress, she just is in a lot of bad scenes and as an actress, she does a good job of putting on a good face in those idiotic situations. But honestly, the guy with the bomb shelter, the cougar scare, the Convenience store fiasco was all very horrible. It will make you wince and instinctively reach for the remote to fast forward to non-Kim parts. I felt the same during the amnesia episode with Teri Bauer in the first season. That dumb, blank look on her face made me want to scream. The third season, save for Chloe doesn't have any characters that I wanted to immediately see killed for reasons other than their being the villian. But even Chloe had redeeming qualities.
In short
Kiefer Sutherland and Dennis Haybert Perfect!
Carlos Bernard and Reiko Aylesworth Womderful!
Sarah Clarke and Penny Marshal I love to hate them!
Elisha Cuthbert A decent actress who finds her way into bad plots
Xander Berkley, a so-so actor who found his way into an awesome plot this season which totally redeems him for his Season One role
Nuclear Bomb Threat-Suspenseful and worthy of attention, it won't end the way you think it will
The Decision to invade or to not invade three Middle Eastern countries-handled with a remarkable integrity that will have you cheering for Palmer and wishing our President was as virtuous.
The Mason family subplot, the suspicion of the Arab-American character Reza was a bit trite and annoying and Marie was unconvincing and a bit annoying.
Nina and Sherry's roles-These two are so pitch perfect I don't mind seeing them even if there is no reason for them to be on screen. I never thought they had it in them to be who they are but they strike the right chord everytime.
Summary-It has everything that you loved about the first season and will like about the third season but the Kim subplot is REALLY, REALLY BAD. Just fastforward just about every seen when she is not sharing the screen with Jack and you will have no regrets.
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