The sixth season presents a powerful series of drama and action through many new events where Jack and the former terrorist leader turn to peacemaker Hamadi al-Asad and track a suspicious man in a self-storage facility. While Jack has problems with Curtis, CTU discovers a nuclear threat Destroy a terrorist depot, and a shocking explosion shakes Los Angeles. On the other hand, there are four 'other nuclear weapons' there, led by Jack alone to his brother's house.
As Jack Bauer wards off apocalypse after apocalypse, the action is as lean-forward-in-your-chair riveting as it is ridiculous, as much a contemporary-anxiety nightmare as a cliff-hanging comic book.
All that remains is to see if 24 can build upon the tension and unbelievable moments making Sunday and Monday night's four-hour premiere the rocket-fueled thiller that it is.
24 provides the best of both worlds -- thrilling escapism that invites you to check your brain at the door, and events that can be contemplated, off and on, until the train boards again 167 hours later.
If all this sounds like 24 has been hijacked by public policy wonks or Shakespeare profs, don't worry. Your show very much remains your show.... It's just that your show got a little smarter.
