24 - Series 2 - Complete (DVD 2003)

24 started as a television conceit, but by the time you arrive at its second season, you will hopefully see it for what it is, an ambitious attempt at a 24 hour movie.
Having seen all seasons, I feel that season 2 best serves 24 as a concept and a real-time drama. A nuclear bomb and a twisting plot are key to what becomes, in my humble opinion, Jack Bauer's best day, so to speak.
Season 1 helped set-up everything for this one. Jack's wife's death, Nina's treachory, Tony's loyalty, Kim's resourcefulness, and above all else, Palmer's dignity and integrity.
24, is ultimately Kiefer's show, and he carries it off beautifully everytime, whether he be weighing down great storylines (a la seasons 1-3) or just plain awful ones (yes, season 4, I am talking about you)
However, season 2 in my eyes is Palmer's story more than anyone else's. It begins on him and ends on him. His first apperance as the President makes me feel though the United States would literally be better off if he was a real man, not just a ficitonal character. A fantastic creation, and performance from Dennis Haysbert, an incredibly underrated and undervalued performer.
There are so many moments that stick in my mind. The way I view 24 is that of a film. The first episode right through to the last is just one long plot for an extremely long film. Talk of a movie of 24 is redundant. They have already done it, time after time, from seasons 1-3, delivering the goods.
The best development involves the much loved character of George Mason who by episode three has inhaled a high dosage of plutonium and is given no more than a day left to live. His story is gripping, and come his demise, undeniably moving. His death is written and performed with such great understanding of how to conjure drama and deepen the meaning of the action set within the show's framework. The season belongs to Xander Berkely's Mason, and in short Kiefer's Bauer, and his face to face with Sarah Clarke's returning Nina Myers.
There is an electrifying scene where they are on a plane transporting her back to Los Angeles, when Jack, completely unprovoked, and unexpectedly begins a monologue about what he did with his wife the day before Nina killed her. So well acted by Kiefer is this scene that you forget this is a tv show. This is a movie. With all the professionalism and grandeure you'd expect from Michael Mann or Tony Scott.
The onyl mis-step is Kim's unfortunate storyline which begins very well, but then take s a serious plunge by the time we get over half way through. However, with that said, she bounces back for a last couple of episodes that allow you to forgive her plot thread's shortcomings, as her story comes full circle with a bang, and a loss of innocence on her part.
From the shocking suprise that CTU, the main set of the show, where everything happens, is blown up by the third episode, goes to show you how creative and brilliant the show's makers are. Not only taking a chance with that idea, but completely blowing its predecessor season out of the water, with plot twist after plot twist. The action expertly staged and choreographed, with many supporting film actors cropping up to remind us, as the audience, that we are, in every respect, watching a film, of the highest order.
People always ask me what my favourite films are. I always say stuff like "GoodFellas" or "The Shawshank Redemption,"when I mention,"Oh, and 24," they always laugh. But if they had seen it,they would know i am serious!