24: Redemption

It's been 18 long months since last we spent time with Jack Bauer. But at last!!! Jack is back!!!

Welcome to Sangala, a fictitious African country that should in no way make you think of Senegal.

What's this, an intro? The first non-real time moments ever shown on 24!

Fortunately, the soothing voice of Jack comes on moments later to tell us that everthing else from here on will occur in real time.

Little boy tries to steal Jack's stuff... but Jack is there! "WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!!"

You can't serve Jack a subpeona if he won't let you put it in his hand.

Jon Voight doesn't want his ex-wives to know about his evil transactions. I guess cause then they'd each be legally entitled to a share of a fictitious African country.

On the way out, he runs into pill poppin' money guy. "Hey, aren't you Jon Voight?"

See, we're cutting back and forth between Africa and Washington DC. But you know you're in Africa because everything's all yellow.

Jack apparently has a history with Robert Carlyle's Carl Benton character. They were apparently friends. And as we know everyone close to Jack winds up dead, what do you think his chances are of surviving the next two hours?

Back to Washington and... lingerie.

Lots of lingerie. It's the two guys on the phone, but we're seeing more of the woman in lingerie instead. (They know their demographic, I guess.)

Peter Macnicol is just in quick on loan from Numb3rs to give us some continuity and exposition.

Powers Boothe's Daniels has less than two hours left in office, but dammit, he's gonna be a weasel down to the last second.

Alright, this "Juma" guy in charge of the Evil Coup. I swear, his name changes every time someone talks about him.

Those animals! They shot the soccer ball!

"Tumor" is raising an army?

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Jack against eight guys with machine guns? Poor guys with machine guns.

Even if one has a rocket launcher.

This secret hideaway is brought to you by the letter O, and the letter H.

Benton curses, "dammit." Yup, he definitely worked with Jack.

It wouldn't be 24 without Jack torturing or being tortured by someone.

We're only halfway done, and I think Jack and Benton have said their goodbyes to each other three times already.

It's General "Humor" now. And it's the Candyman!

Does anybody in this fictitious African country not speak English?

As all the kids get off the bus, we get a long, lingering camera shot of the one kid playing with the scarf. Anyone think this isn't going to be important later?

"Thank you, Mr. President." Yeah, weasel to the last second.

"Noah Daniels isn't that vindictive." Huh? I know the last season was a year and a half ago, but do you not remember?

They're evacuating "within an hour." Everyone drink!!!

There are about four times as many commercials in the last half of this show as there were in the first half.

Whatever nefarious stuff they had this Chris guy doing, it obviously does pay very well -- he's got a nice place to live.

"Is this everything?" Oh, there is no right way to answer that question.

This second thug doesn't seem very intimidating to me. The worst he can do is smack the guy on the head with a folded up newspaper?

If you're part of an evil conspiracy, you definitely want a limo driver on the payroll.

Jack and Benton try to say goodbye yet again. But then the helicopter comes after them.

Oh, here we go with the scarf.

Kid, I hope you really like that stupid scarf.

Jack and Benton say goodbye yet again. I think this time, it's gonna take.

There's Special Forces training to not move your feet when you get shot.

Between the new President's husband and chief of staff, this next season is shaping up to be a Who's Who of "ooo, I know that guy, but I can't remember from what movie."

"Dammit!" Drink! Here I thought we were going to go the whole time without a single Jack dammit.

"Dammit!" That's two! Huzzah!!!

No perimeters, though.

I should have given the thugs more credit. Apparently, they had quick and easy access to a cement mixer. They're efficient, if not intimidating.

The President speaks of the future. Yes, give me the future now! I don't want to wait until January.

But alas, I have no choice. See you then, Jack Bauer.