I watched 24 from Day 1 of Day 1. Well, Day 1 in the UK anyway. Love the lovely BBC 2 for buying and broadcasting it - for taking a chance when Sky, owned by the people who make and show 24 in the US, wouldn't. And I enjoyed it. I did. To a certain extent. But I didn't really *feel* it. I certainly didn't get the Jack love. I liked Tony, me. Soul Patch, as TWoP (or was it MBTV in those days?) used to call him. But I stuck with Day 1. I came back for Day 2, but bailed midway. Can't remember why. Day 3 though - now that, I loved. Lots of Tony. And Chloe. Loved her. Jack was actually interesting too - I began to glimpse what others saw in him. Then he cut off chase's hand and, well......the day was over anyway, so.....
Day 4 I didn't like and bailed, Day 5 they killed Tony and I was done. Apparently there was a Day 6 and an awayday. I know little of these. We'd parted ways. Then, about 13 hours into Day 7 my sister mentioned Tony. I pointed out that good though Soul Patch had been, he'd been dead for years now. She then informed me he was back, and not as a zombie either (hell, I *would* have watched that, to be honest). Cue a frantic catch up using the magic of iTunes and iPhone during a 2 day trip to Paris.
And this time I *was* feeling it. This time Good!Jack (as opposed to Bad!Jack (Shepherd)) totally had me. Because he loved Tony. And Chloe. And Bill. And Aaron too probably. And how he suffered. No longer the happy amoral torturer he - everything he did (in that line - and, for him, realistically what other line is there?) destroyed a bit more of him. He lived by his choices but they were crucifying him. He had a conscience. He was society's acceptable sacrifice used and abused by a succession of evil pliticians and functionaries.
And now Day 8 is proving to be a thing of wonder. The Good!Jack/Renee dynamic has obliterated and residual Skate interest from my heart (I still like Losty best BY FAR - but Good!Jack and Renee have established in just over a year a more powerful and affecting relationship than any of my Losty favourites have managed in 5 years). Of course it's the certainty that Good!Jack cannot and will not ever find true happiness that makes it all so compelling. Renee must be toast, surely? But while it lasts it's required viewing. The tragic hero and heroine doomed to despair, torturing their way to oblivion.
Oh, and stuff gets blown up and a few weeks ago a thumb was cut off. Top Sunday entertainment!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone