Season 8 is here and after a promising start, I'm feeling that this series has slipped back into the old formula. This is a huge pity because season 7 really shook things up a bit, taking the show out of its stale LA setting (stale because they'd used it for 6 seasons) and planting the action in Washington. They'd also excluded our beloved CTU offices from the proceedings, which wasn't a bad thing because it gave the series a fresher feel.
Season 8 and we're in a new setting again which is a big plus point. We're in New York and the CTU offices are back with a new glossy facelift, also in the new location. This is all fine but the plot and action feels like a rehash. I know it's the tried and tested formula that's made 24 such a popular show for the last several years but it really needs to be offering something a little different each year to keep it from becoming stale as a show. That said, the New York setting helps a lot plus we've got the return of Renee Walker, now ex-FBI agent and with huge psychological baggage, and acting a lot like Jack Bauer did, all cavalier and stuff.
Which brings me to another point: Not long has passed in the show timeline since season 7 yet suddenly Renee is like a different person. Much of her emotional state is put down to her spending time undercover in the Russian mob, but that was pre-season 7 so where were all these psychological issues last season? She was upstanding and stable and acted as a good foil to Jack Bauer. This year, she's become pretty crazy, suicidal even, and Jack is the one acting as her conscience. Bit of a leap for the character and it doesn't ring true with me. It seems this change is just for the convenience of the plot. Smacks of lazy writing.
Jack certainly seems to be a bit more mellow this year and appeared to be in a good place at the beginning of the season. He's repaired his relationship with daughter Kim and has a grand-daughter to live for. He seemed happy for the first time in a long time and good luck to him - if he survives the next 24 hours! Who knows, this could be the final season of 24 (I've not heard any spoilers to this end, nor am I looking for them!) and will the show let him live in peace at the end or not?
I'm going to keep watching though. Like I said in my latest podcast (see post below), I enjoy the 24 ride for the most part but I am a little tired of the old formula.
No comments:
Post a Comment