“It’s been a really, really long day,” said Jack.
In November 2001, the TV action thriller “24” premiered with a unique format that has since become iconic. Each season of the show is a representation of a “day,” with 24 one-hour episodes that depict events “in real-time,” as indicated by the periodic appearance of a digital clock. “24” was released before binge-watching became popular, but its format makes it well-suited for binge-watching, in my opinion.
In the first season of “24,” titled “Day 1,” the story is set on the day of the California presidential primary. The main character, Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland), is the head of the Los Angeles branch of a federal agency called CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit). He begins his workday at midnight to help prevent an assassination attempt on Senator David Palmer, the first African American presidential candidate of a major political party.
Senator David Palmer (played by Dennis Haysbert) is depicted as a highly admirable character in “24.” He is intelligent, dignified, tall, and has a commanding presence, as well as a beautiful gravelly voice. Palmer is consistently shown to be deeply concerned for others and to always try to do the right thing, making him an ideal presidential candidate. As the events of “Day 1” unfold, it becomes increasingly clear how great a loss it would be if something were to happen to Palmer, given his goodness and principles.
During the course of “Day 1,” Senator Palmer discovers that he cannot trust his wife, Sherry (played by Penny Johnson Jerald), as events reveal that she is an ambitious and manipulative person. It is especially distressing when Sherry prioritized politics over the life of Palmer’s daughter, Kim Bauer, by informing the media that Palmer survived the assassination attempt. In the final episode of “Day 1,” when Palmer breaks up with Sherry, it is a satisfying moment, even though it may cost him the presidency.
One of the most tedious plot points in “Day 1” is the storyline involving Keith Palmer, Senator Palmer’s son (the amnesia plot involving Teri Bauer is a close second in terms of tediousness). Keith’s constant complaints about his father’s lack of presence in his life and his insistence that Palmer take actions that would ruin his chances at the presidency make Keith seem selfish and manipulative, similar to his mother. Additionally, the story of Nicole Palmer’s rape and its aftermath is centered on Keith rather than Nicole, which is problematic.
During “Day 1,” Jack Bauer’s teenage daughter Kim (played by Elisha Cuthbert) and later his wife Teri (played by Leslie Hope), with whom he had just reconciled after separation, is kidnapped in an attempt to coerce Jack into implicating himself in Senator Palmer’s assassination. Teri and Kim, and often both at the same time, are in danger throughout the day, influencing many of Jack’s decisions and actions.
Although Kim’s experiences are quite dire, her determination to trust Rick, a cute and young but morally questionable kidnapper, is frustrating for the audience as it only puts her in grave danger on two occasions. However, the most positive aspect of Kim’s portrayal in “Day 1” is that she seems to mature significantly as she confronts one dangerous situation after another, eventually losing her petulant teenage demeanor.
While I liked Kim, I found it impossible to like Teri Bauer, even when she was making smart, survivor-type choices for herself and her daughter. Teri even kept Kim from being raped by Gaines’ nasty henchman Eli (Silas Weir Mitchell) by courageously offering herself as an alternative. Much like my issues with Keith Palmer, I wonder if the fault was in the casting or the writing? I’ll probably go with the writing, since the kidnapping plot just went on and on, getting more tiresome and improbable as it continued, especially when Teri learned that she was unexpectedly pregnant. And then there was the amnesia. Yes, I got that seeing that car explode when she thought Kim was inside would be too much for her after everything else that had already happened that day. But then they had to bring in the guy she dated while she was separated from Jack in order to have someone to explain her life to her, and then there was the attack on the Bauer house… it just went on too long.
The death of Teri in the final five minutes of “Day 1” breaks some of the unspoken conventions of television by being unexpectedly shocking, especially since she had finally escaped danger and was being kept in a supposedly safe location (a CTU conference room) while waiting for Jack and Kim to return. This bold storytelling choice was risky, as it could alienate the audience or draw them in for a second season.
However, the decision ultimately paid off as it effectively conveyed to the audience that on “24,” anything can happen and any character can die. The unexpected and heartbreaking conclusion to “Day 1” was a testament to this.
The production team behind “24” includes many of the same people who worked on the show “La Femme Nikita,” and this is particularly evident when the action shifts to CTU. The office is gray, industrial, and impersonal, reminiscent of the Section in “La Femme Nikita,” down to the boss’s office being located on a “perch” at the top of a flight of stairs. There are even rumors that “24” was originally intended to be a spinoff of “La Femme Nikita,” featuring the male lead, Michael (played by Roy Dupuis). It is worth noting that these rumors have not been confirmed.
At the beginning of “Day 1,” Jack is the boss in the “perch.” He previously had an affair with his second-in-command, Nina Myers (played by Sarah Clarke), but only while he was separated from Teri. Nina has since moved on to Jack’s third-in-command, Tony Almeida (played by Carlos Bernard), who initially appears to potentially be a villainous character but ultimately becomes a likable one.
Throughout “Day 1,” Nina Myers consistently goes to great lengths to assist Jack and consistently proves to be a loyal and highly effective agent and friend to him… until the final episode, when it is revealed in a shocking twist that she is the ultimate mole and kills Teri Bauer in cold blood.
The leadership of CTU changes hands several times over the course of “Day 1,” passing from Jack to Nina to Alberta Green to Dave Chappelle to George Mason (played by Xander Berkeley), who is one of my favorite characters. Despite initially appearing to be a potential mole, George Mason is ultimately revealed to be a patriot, although he is also a rather unpleasant person. His decision to not inform Jack that the safe house has been compromised and that Teri and Kim are missing for several hours is reprehensible.
One of the most appealing aspects of “24” is the complexity of its portrayal of villains. “Day 1” begins with Ira Gaines (played by Michael Massee) and various assassins (played by Mia Kirshner and Rudolf Martin), but it is eventually revealed that the ultimate motivation behind all of the action – the assassination of David Palmer, the framing of Jack for it, the kidnapping and killing of Teri and Kim – is purely personal, being a revenge plot by the Drazen family for an operation authorized by Senator Palmer and carried out by Jack Bauer in Kosovo a few years prior.
The Drazens become more formidable villains when Andre Drazen (played by Zeljko Ivanek) takes over the role from Gaines, and when Victor Drazen (played by Dennis Hopper) appears in the final four episodes. However, even with top tier actors in these roles, the Drazens do not quite match up to Nina Myers in terms of their level of villainy.
It is worth noting that “24” boasts an impressive cast, including Tanya Wright, Jude Ciccolella, Eric Balfour, Glenn Morshower, Navi Rawat, and Lou Diamond Phillips, among others. Upon rewatching the show, I was pleasantly surprised to see Misha Collins (best known for his role as Castiel on “Supernatural”) appear as Alexis Drazen for a significant portion of the season, sporting long hair and a leather jacket.
It is also worth praising Kiefer Sutherland, who played the lead character Jack Bauer for many years. Sutherland consistently demonstrates a strong understanding of his character, even in this first season where his actions are less controversial and violent than they become in later seasons. Despite being surrounded by excellent character actors and complicated plots, Sutherland excels in his role and consistently commands attention. One of the standout qualities of Jack Bauer is his willingness to embrace the darkness and do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even if it means making difficult or unpopular decisions, which he demonstrates throughout “Day 1,” particularly in the season finale.
