The first season of 24 introduced an innovative form to series television—a real-time story told in 24 hours, one hour per episode. It also contained some of the most suspenseful edge-of-your-seat action ever filmed for TV. Audiences and critics loved it. Season 2 is a worthy successor with another story told over the course of another VERY stressful day in the life of CTU (counter-terrorism unit) agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, whose intense performance continues to give the show an appropriately compelling hero). While not quite as exquisitely timed and enjoyable as Season 1, the producers have created 24 more hours of television that shouldn't be missed.
Set more than a year after the day chronicled in Season 1, Season 2 opens with Bauer no longer working at CTU. On this day, however, a call from President Palmer (the excellent Dennis Haysbert) compels Bauer to return to fight a horrific new enemy. Before the day is over, both he and the country will undergo unimaginable tests and fight enemies both near at hand and from the other side of the globe.
The threat that begins the day involves credible intelligence that someone wants to set off a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. Bauer and the team at CTU kick into gear to find the terrorists and stop the explosion. CTU's leader, George Mason (Xander Berkeley in an especially memorable performance), isn't happy that Jack's back, but he will soon need him in a way he never expected.
Jack's daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) is also having another lousy, dangerous day. Unfortunately, as in the first season, this story line isn't as well conceived or watchable as the scenes that follow her father. In fact, some of them feel like what they must be—filler for the times when nothing much is happening in the other story lines.
Season 2 hits multiple climaxes, some of the "there is no way they would do that" variety. There is also horrific, gruesome violence here; be prepared to squirm more than once. There is major heroism, villains in unexpected places and the welcome return of both Penny Johnson as President Palmer's ex-wife Sherry and Sarah Clarke as the traitorous Nina. Sarah Wynter plays Kate Warner, this season's female interest for Bauer and a woman whose family is quickly drawn into the terrorist plot.
The 24 DVD comes in a 7-disc box set. There are hours of extras, most of which are fascinating, including commentary for several of the episodes from members of the cast and the top production team. It's worth the time to listen, except for the happy talk from several of the actors that accompanies one of the early hours. The producers reveal, for instance, that one of the season's most effective moments wasn't even conceived until several episodes had been shot.
Especially interesting are the short films. One illuminates the attention to detail required to believably film an explosion. The other is a 2-part "making of" documentary about the shooting of the last 2 episodes. Unfortunately, watching it eventually feels much the same as standing around a movie set—it can get mighty boring if you're not part of the action.
Technical credits on the DVD are excellent. The English-language version employs 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound; the Spanish track plays in Dolby surround. Subtitles are available in English or Spanish.
— ELAINE SPOONER
The first season of 24 introduced an innovative form to series television—a real-time story told in 24 hours, one hour per episode. It also contained some of the most suspenseful edge-of-your-seat action ever filmed for TV. Audiences and critics loved it. Season 2 is a worthy successor with another story told over the course of another VERY stressful day in the life of CTU (counter-terrorism unit) agent Jack Bauer (