After President Hassan has decided to give himself up for the terrorists in order to stop an attack, it's up to President Taylor and CTU to rescue him as fast as they possibly can. Dana Walsh finally gets found out she's working with the terrorists and is given an immunity deal for providing information... but only if Hassan returns alive.
This is not just a standout episode of the season, but one of the finest the series has ever produced. The stakes are raised higher than ever, and even in the slower first half there's not a single moment wasted. It's very satisfying to see Dana get caught in her tangled web of lies. I never liked her character in the first place, but even less so when she turned out to be a traitor. Cole's reaction when he confronts her is absolutely perfect. Any level of sympathy he previously had for her has now vanished completely. Jack also has a great interrogation scene with her where she's playing mindgames with him, which he won't stand for. You can tell he's had a lot of experience dealing with the likes of her before.
The rescue operation is extremely thrilling as well. Everything is a matter of literally minutes, possibly even seconds, so you're sitting there nervously rocking your body in hopes of them being able to get there in time and save Hassan from a humiliating public execution. After a while, it actually looks like they're gonna make it in time, but you get the feeling something is just slightly off. Then as Jack and his team enter the room where Samir reads outloud a speech before the time of execution, they see a computer screen playing a pre-recorded video. Hassan is already dead... The moment of Jack looking him in the eye telling him "I'm sorry." broke me. I could feel myself watering up. We also cut to Taylor finding out the horrible news and looking ready to cry. The sense of complete hopelessness sinks in.
Hassan was the finest and most admirable president on the show since David Palmer. Always showing courage no matter what, with the most admirable and well-meaning of intentions. To see the end of this character is a true tragedy.
The episode finishes with Arlo coming into the interrogation room giving Dana a paper to sign that she accepts she won't be granted immunity now that Hassan is dead. Of course she refuses, but he tells her it doesn't matter anyway since FBI will soon come and put her in front of the committing magistrate. Whether she'll give up or use even more drastic measures, we'll find out...
This is television at its most captivating.
This is not just a standout episode of the season, but one of the finest the series has ever produced. The stakes are raised higher than ever, and even in the slower first half there's not a single moment wasted. It's very satisfying to see Dana get caught in her tangled web of lies. I never liked her character in the first place, but even less so when she turned out to be a traitor. Cole's reaction when he confronts her is absolutely perfect. Any level of sympathy he previously had for her has now vanished completely. Jack also has a great interrogation scene with her where she's playing mindgames with him, which he won't stand for. You can tell he's had a lot of experience dealing with the likes of her before.
The rescue operation is extremely thrilling as well. Everything is a matter of literally minutes, possibly even seconds, so you're sitting there nervously rocking your body in hopes of them being able to get there in time and save Hassan from a humiliating public execution. After a while, it actually looks like they're gonna make it in time, but you get the feeling something is just slightly off. Then as Jack and his team enter the room where Samir reads outloud a speech before the time of execution, they see a computer screen playing a pre-recorded video. Hassan is already dead... The moment of Jack looking him in the eye telling him "I'm sorry." broke me. I could feel myself watering up. We also cut to Taylor finding out the horrible news and looking ready to cry. The sense of complete hopelessness sinks in.
Hassan was the finest and most admirable president on the show since David Palmer. Always showing courage no matter what, with the most admirable and well-meaning of intentions. To see the end of this character is a true tragedy.
The episode finishes with Arlo coming into the interrogation room giving Dana a paper to sign that she accepts she won't be granted immunity now that Hassan is dead. Of course she refuses, but he tells her it doesn't matter anyway since FBI will soon come and put her in front of the committing magistrate. Whether she'll give up or use even more drastic measures, we'll find out...
This is television at its most captivating.