User Reviews

Following the brilliant pilot, the events in Jack Bauer's longest day become more complex and riveting, introducing a plot factor that has now become a trademark of the series: double-crossing.

Firstly, Jack gets a phone call from his boss, Richard Walsh (Michael O' Neill), whose life has been endangered by his acquisition of data regarding a traitor inside CTU; secondly, Jack's daughter Kim, who went out to have fun with her friend Janet York (whose father Alan is currently looking for them with Teri Bauer), is shocked to discover things might not go as planned; in addition, Mandy (Mia Kirshner), who blew up an entire 747 to cover up the theft of an ID, is having trouble with her employer (Michael Massee) because her partner wants more money; and as if that weren't enough, word reaches Senator Palmer of a scandal so massive it might ruin his Presidential candidacy.

The first episode alone was a masterclass in intricacy and suspense, with this second hour adding more shades of mystery and tension and giving more dramatic meat to the characters. This doesn't only ensure even the briefest cameo is above stereotype, it also makes it hard to draw a line between "good" and "evil": in 24, trust is in very short supply - as are pauses for breathing!

New characters are introduced, old ones are killed off all of a sudden (apparently, a running joke among the show's writers is that besides Jack, everyone is expendable), loyalties are questioned, the stakes get higher for every passing minute and the real time brings the adrenaline to a dangerously high level. What's no to love?

On the day of the California Presidential Primary, between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM, Richard Walsh meets his inside informer Scott Baylor in the Dunlop Plaza, who delivers a key card with data of the CTU conspirator. However, they are ambushed, there is a shoot-out, Scott is killed and Walsh calls Jack Bauer to come to help him. In Mojave Desert, Mandy hides the ID of David Palmer's photographer in the sand with a beacon and is rescued by her contractor; later her partner picks the ID up in a motorcycle. Meanwhile, Kim and her friend Janet are abducted while Teri and Alan seek their daughters. Jack helps Walsh, who gives the key card to him after being shot, dying pretty after. Jack has a huge surprise with the identity of the rogue of his agency. David Palmer contacts a friend of him and sneaks out from his suite.

The second episode of "24" is simply excellent. Now that I am familiarized with the characters, there are intriguing situations: the mystery of David Palmer; the objective of kidnapping the teenagers; the objective of Mandy's partner; and the surprising identity of the traitor in the agency. The story is excellent and the development of the characters has an adequate pace. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "1:00"

Talk about mounting pressures on Jack. First of all, things are not what they seem, as the plot involves plastic surgery and misdirection. One thing about this series, even if the outcome is to correct a wrong, so many are done in in the process. In just two hours about four plot elements have been raised. That's what makes this so intense (an in some cases a bit far fetched). There are so many players, but Jack Bauer is about as resourceful as one can be.