The missile base is destroyed.
The bad guy is in custody.
Father and daughter are reunited
and…
…Tony Almeida has switched his loyalties once again.
Color me disappointed.
After saving the day by risking up his life to blow up some gas tanks, Tony killed Special Agent Larry Fine, which is a shame. In recent hours, Larry was starting to redeem himself for his earlier missteps (of which there were many) and was actually starting to become likeable (even if his “Hey Bauer, this isn’t CTU” catchphrase didn’t sweep the nation.
Unless there’s a second underground CTU (who could they bring back–Ricky Schroeder? One-armed Chase? Teddy Hanlin? Tom Baker?) working to uncover a deeper plot than the one Tony, Buchanan and Chlöe had been working on earlier in this season, I don’t see it. Otherwise, it feels like they just turned Tony heel just to pad out the rest of the season.
Speaking of villians, the scenes between the President and [My Name is ] Jonas Hodges in the Oval Office were awesome. Hodges had the megalomaniacal tendencies down pat, acting as if he owned the place and had the President in the palm of his hand.
While Taylor gave off the impression that she was just humoring him, there was part of me (judging from her past discussions with terrorists this day alone) thinking she’d actually give in to some of his demands.
Of course, once the missile base was blown up, that didn’t matter as Taylor made a smart move and had Jonas and his lackey arrested, leading to the best scene of the night (above). As Taylor stated she wouldn’t give into his demands and was prepared to treat him like a common criminal, Hodges snapped and took a lunge at the President. I actually believed he was going to take a shot at her (and he probably would have if he hadn’t been restrained by Secret Service Agents). It’s little touches like that- the fact that he thinks he could get away with punching the President- and the little moments of snapping (both here and the incident with Doug last week) that make him such a great character.
On the other hand, in the not-so-riveting TV category this week, you have Jack’s reunion with Kim. I was actually glad they said she flew out from California (rather than move to DC like everyone else has). Still, the reunion was awkward, because the last time we saw Kim, she was shacking up with C. Thomas Howell. By this point in story-time, she’s got to be in her late twenties, and while Jack says he doesn’t want her involved in the treatment, she won’t take his no for an answer.
While I said earlier that the best scene of tonight’s episode was Jonas losing it in the Oval Office, the second-best was something that technically didn’t take place in the episode. After the closing ticks, Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chlöe, gave a little PSA about saving the country. Or the environment. Or something.
I wasn’t exactly paying attention, because (aside from thinking where’s Chlöe been all these hours) I was trying to follow all the facial expressions she packed into the brief 30-second promo. Some of the best are to the left. Hope you enjoy it.
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What did you think?
That is the best “24” filmstrip ever. Hilarious.
The many faces of Chloe:
1) “Oh, hello”
2) “Hey! Get off my lawn!”
3) “Kicking that puppy is not cool”
4) “Yes, that meatloaf was…good”
5) “No really, listen”
6) “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout Jack?!”
7) “Ohhhh ho ho…that’s some goood stuff”
8) “I hate going to Sears”
Here are mine:
1. “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing..uh oh, here it comes…”
2. *hic* “I’ll tell you when I’ve had too much to drink” *hic*
3. “Tony turned heel? No way!”
4. “Sure- Jeanene Garafolo’s a great hacker. And I’m a people person.”
5. “Morris, drop the kid off at daycare before you hit the bar today.”
6. “Hit on me one more time sleazeball, and I’ll taze you.”
7. “Oh, that Jack- torturing a guy in a hotel room with a lamp cord. What a kidder!”
8. “I’m ready for my closeup Mr. Heffner.”
I have a few:
1) I’ve got a secret!
2) I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!
3) Who farted?
4) I had a headache thisssss big…
5) Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?
6) Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.
7) Sure Uncle Joe, I’d love to hear the story about your goiter!
8) I’ll be good. I promise!
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