Twenty-Four

I’ve decided that if I ever see Jack Bauer out and about on the job I would walk the other way. I just became acquainted with the former director of CTU a month or two ago, and since then (4 Seasons later) I’ve seen him save the country 4 times, and kill a bunch of terrorists. As I started watching season 4 I decided that I’d take a body count; not just for Jack but for everyone. At the end of 24 hours Jack had just under 40 kills, there where over 60 other specific kills by the supporting cast (friend and foe), with an additional estimation of over 50 dead in such calamities as train crashes, plane bombings, and other explosions—quite a dismal day for the state of California.
Despite the fatality rate, I’ve got to hand it to the folks at 24 though for taking on the challenge of creating a show that is supposed to be in real time. They create a new element for critical viewers to pick apart. For the most part they do pretty good. Sure none of the characters ever need to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom, but really who would have time for that if it was up to you to save the world. Besides, we probably should assume that they are taking care of nature while the cameras aren’t rolling on them. I do have to say however that it is becoming quite comical to see the same micro scenarios played out season after season. One can almost bet the following lines will make it into each season: “I don’t think ‘so and so’ is capable of running CTU,” “I’m the only one that can help you,” “You’re the only one that can help us,” “Let’s invoke Amendment 25,” “Arrest Jack Bauer,” “I think ‘so and so’ is a spy,” “He/she is our only lead,” “Such and such is going to happen within the hour (usually an explosion or assassination),” “Kidnapping is wrong,” “I’m going to tell division on you!”
Since my acquaintance with 24, I’ve noticed that I’m more prone to imagining espionage activities. Even greeters at WalMart have even started looking suspicious. Who knows where all these bad guys are coming from. Yeah, there are some rotten people out there, but I don’t seem to think they’d be so organized. Where are they getting their jobs? Are they posting their resumes on Monster.com? I can see that one right now; they list their past terrorist activities with the number of people they’ve killed, past grudges, weapons they use, kidnappings, high jackings, etc… That information is all followed by adjectives such as determined, willing to help out with jobs outside of my job description, good attitude, and friendly.
While all this is playing in the back of my head I watch. I stay up for the next episode. I root for the good guys and I try to guess which good guys are actually bad guys. I guess watching brings a sense of security knowing that there are people that protect our country whether it is or isn’t like what you see on TV. Also, I feel blest to know that I don’t have the type of job that keeps me up for 24 hours straight or that puts me into the same situations Jack Bauer finds himself in—the last time I was tortured for information I believe it was a tickle torture for who ate the last cookie in the cookie jar.