*some spoilers ahead*
1. All in all, the first 4 hours of 24 were a good start for season 7. But I think they revealed that Tony Almeida was truly working undercover too quickly. It is said that he was originally going to make an appearance at the end of the 24th hour on Day 6, after Jack left the home of Secretary Heller. That would have been bad, since usually some time passes between the 'days' of 24, and so it wouldn't make sense to show the conversation between Jack Bauer and Tony Almeida at the beginning of Day 7, unless Day 7 took place right after Day 6. Still... I think the scriptwriters could have drawn the dramatic tension with this plot point out more a bit. (And if quality of the story for the last 6 hours of Day 7 starts dropping to the level of the terrible family soap opera of Day 6, this criticism will be brought back.)
2. It is hard, at this point, to see how the writers and creators are not pushing for torture as an acceptable way to get information. In the past it has been claimed that torture dehumanizes the one doing the torturing, and that these effects on Jack Bauer are visible. What exactly was the redemption that Jack Bauer was looking for in his travels all over the world and in Africa? Was he really looking for validation from the American people by testifying in the Senate hearings? Jack may have been loathe to use torture for a few hours, after what he experienced in a Chinese prison, but he seems to be back to his old self. He may understand that he is often a tool of those in power, who do not appreciate him and are quite willing to sell him out to further 'the public interest,' but this is what Jack Bauer is, and he does whatever is necessary to stop the threat facing the country.
*Cue song using the melody for the G.I. Joe cartoon theme: Jack Bauer, "a real American hero."*
3. It seems to me that we are supposed to approve of the way CTU has done things in the past , especially when we are shown the contrast between CTU and the FBI, which follows Federal rules and procedures and respects the rights of suspects, and the results they are able to get. The FBI is ineffectual--Jack Bauer is not. Agent Walker appears to agree that extraordinary circumstnaces may require extraordinary measures. She even goes so far as to torture one suspect, Tanner, while he is in the hospital recovering from being shot by her and the consequent surgery. When her first attempt fails to elicit the information that she needs, she looks away from Tanner and begins to cry, realizing that she has taken a monstrous path. But after he laughs, mocking her ineffectiveness, she tries again and succeeds. But at what personal cost?
At least The Unit (and by implication CAG) recognizes that torture is ineffectual.
4. Can the corruption in the Federal Government be taken care of by Jack Bauer, Tony Almeida, and two individuals reconstituting CTU (Bill Buchannan and Chloe O'Brian)? And will the show ultimately take a shot at a critique of the corporatism (nay, even 'fascism') that characterizes the American political structure? The 'rule of law'--bringing those responsible to justice, and having them judged by a court--is this sufficient? As we have seen in the 24 universe, bad guys are brought down, but new ones take their place. Can the corruption really be eliminated, unless the American citizens are willing to restore republican government and protect economic freedom?
5. As for the proposed intervention by the U.S. military in the fictional African country of Sangala under the new administration of President Allison Taylor--naturally, this action is being endorsed, in the name of humanitarianism. (We have the power to stop genocide; therefore we have the moral imperative to do so. I'm not going to rewatch the episodes to get an actual quote from President Taylor.) With the threat of CIP device in the hands of agents of the Sangalan government to 'innocent American lives,' at least President Taylor does not actually say that the lives of Sangalans are of equal consideration as American lives. It would be interesting if the show actually takes a stance against American interventionism, but I think this is unlikely to happen.
Too bad Ron Paul can't make a cameo appearance in the show--what would he say about various aspects of the story?
Hey Sarge, from the wiki entry on season 7:
United States Navy SEALs helped battle terrorists at Camarillo Airport during filming of an episode on August 12-13 2008.[18]More Ron Paul links:
Ron Paul .com
Campaign For Liberty — Home
Daily Paul
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