Rediscovering '24': The Case for Reviving Jack Bauer

There have been a lot of shows and movies rebooted over the years, but there remains one series in particular that has, sadly, never been brought back to life, and that is 24. Hands down, one of the most action-packed television dramas of the 21st century. It truly pains me to see a show like 24 just disappear from almost all mainstream relevance in today’s current streaming climate. This is a television show that legitimately is the definition of binge-worthing action. Had it come out in the period of Netflix domination, this could be one of the most watched streaming shows of all time.
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What is 24?
24 is an American action drama television series created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran for Fox. The series stars Kiefer Sutherland as US counter-terrorist federal agent Jack Bauer. Each season covers 24 consecutive hours in Bauer's life using the real time method of narration, which is emphasized by the display of split screens and a digital clock. The show premiered on November 6, 2001, and spanned 204 episodes over nine seasons, with the series finale broadcast on July 14, 2014. In addition, the television film 24: Redemption aired between seasons six and seven, on November 23, 2008. 24 is a joint production by Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television.
At the start of the series, Bauer is already a highly proficient agent with an "ends justify the means" approach. This means that he will usually threaten, disregard and lie to anyone who refuses to cooperate with him. Throughout the series, the plot elements contain both a political thriller and a serial drama, with each episode normally ending on a cliffhanger. Furthermore, the action component shows Bauer using people on both sides of the law in his attempts to prevent terrorist attacks and bring down those responsible, sometimes at great personal expense. These attacks include presidential assassination attempts, bomb detonations, bioterrorism, cyberwarfare, as well as conspiracies that involve government and corporate corruption.
24 received generally positive reviews, with its fifth season being universally praised by critics. However, the series was criticized for perceived Islamophobia and glorification of torture. The show won numerous awards throughout its run, including Best Drama Series at the 2004 Golden Globe Awards and Outstanding Drama Series at the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards. In May 2013, it was announced that 24 would return with a 12-episode limited series titled 24: Live Another Day, which aired from May 5 to July 14, 2014, bringing the episode count to 204. A spin-off series, 24: Legacy, premiered on February 5, 2017, lasting a single 12-episode season. 24 is the longest-running U.S. espionage- or counterterrorism-themed television drama, surpassing both Mission: Impossible and the UK's The Avengers.
24 is a serial drama starring Kiefer Sutherland as central character Jack Bauer, an agent initially with the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), whose mandate is to protect the United States from terrorist plots. The episodes take place over the course of one hour, depicting events as they happen, in real time. However, commercial breaks are normally used to skip several minutes multiple times, which means that about 17 minutes of each hour is not shown. To emphasize the real-world flow of events, a clock is prominently displayed on-screen at certain points during the show, and there is regular use of split screens, a technique used to depict multiple scenes occurring simultaneously.
In addition to Bauer, each episode typically follows other US government officials from CTU/FBI/CIA and the White House, as well as the conspirators who set the events in motion. Because many of these conspirators commit murder for political gain, several of Bauer's contacts are killed as a consequence of government intervention. The grief that Bauer experiences from these deaths is often explored throughout the series. While Bauer does have the utmost respect for most of his colleagues, friends and family members, he always believes himself to know how to provide the best way of saving innocent lives and/or achieving his own sense of justice, often being proven right when taking action.
And if you’re still reading this - hello.
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[@lassebauer]

Rewatching the whole thing right now 😍👍🏼😊

[@giteausuperstar]

24 was so sick. When the first season aired in the UK there was one episode per week. The show was on for nearly 6 months straight.

[@erwinkruger-haye2698]

And we had to wait each week….imagine that now😂..Here in South Africa we were a day or few days behind…had to avoid spoilers…It was tension of the highest level

[@ricseeds4835]

"Superman wears Jack Bauer pyjamas". That's just how good Jack Bauer is.

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@damienscott919]

I was a "movies only" geek until 24 came out. Thanks for reminding me of the CTU and Jack Bauer.

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@lego4281]

Dammit we need jack more than ever❤

[@mikeissuper]

thanks for this. its amazing how this show has disappeared from the zeitgeist. There are amazing reviews, recaps, and retrospectives for everything on on this site, but 24 is virtually absent and has none of that. It needs and deserves a big revival in the publics consciousness.

[@SGTHorvath265]

Seriously, this show if my favorite haha, but there aren’t any 10 hour KZbin video essays meticulously breaking this one down.

[@jaffarebellion292]

It was easily as big as Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad, and absolutely dominated the post-9/11 era of TV. I think it fell out of relevancy as the Global War on Terror started to wind down.

[@dedewilliams140]

L❤VE JACK!!! I have every season and Resurrection.... dvd! BINGE TIME!!!!

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@Cormacmoore1]

If there was no 24 there wouldn’t have been many movies like taken etc

[@SuperBrooklynite007]

We wouldn’t have had Olympus has fallen originally Antoine Fuqua was supposed to do a 24 movie but somehow that never happens so he ended up doing Olympus has fallen and you can see the similarities

[@PWReviews]

24 has always been the best TV show around. I love it. Just been re-watching it recently and fell in love with the series again. Now on series 3 and miss it all so much! I've just heard about the recent news of making a film. Hopefully this happens.

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@tommytexter4054]

24 is one of the best, if not the best TV show I have ever watched. I discovered it back in summer 2014 b4 s9 live another day. I was still in university and I binged so dang hard starting the s2. I am not too much of a fan of s1, but s2? Oh my. I watched until 3am everyday.

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@lego4281]

24 season 5 is goat and season 7 is very beautiful nature we need season 10 or 24 movie with happy ending for jack.

[@dinobotpwnz]

It's not a happy ending type of show.

[@marydiscuillo142]

If the people who can do it please give us more!!!! This was the best show ever, I'!!!

[@Anton-ji4td]

24 and Jack is the best. I have the T shirt. I watch it all the time on Disney plus it's the only thing that gets me through the day and the world today. Come back Jack. Sutherland is fantastic as Jack and 👍 Chloe O'Brien ❤️

[@archaicamusement3871]

And toni almeida

[@d1want34]

My top 5 favorite TV series: 1. 24 2. Alias 3. Breaking Bad 4. Prison Break 5. Fringe

[@sergiodeennin]

WOW

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@lego4281]

We need 24 season 10 with jack bauer

[@ThePresident001]

Homeland ran for 96 episodes. It's actually fantastic and it doesn't make sense to judge the series on the pilot. It's a different show in style, just with a similar theme.

[@SuperBrooklynite007]

# bring jack back

[@lego4281]

Why any youtube or social media not doing24 videos

[@oak71]

Only thing outdated about 24 are the cell phones.

[@lego4281]

If 24 return in 2025 samsung and apple make cold war to sponsor of smart phones for the best season of 24❤❤🎉🎉🎉😊

[@MrGohan8000]

I like watching it because I'd the old phones

[@sergiodeennin]

iPhone 5 was used in season 9

[@oo1670]

Amen Amen ...it ended with too many loose ends ! not to mention the high tech that we use now !

[@209_sins]

Awww Chloe ! I love Mary Lynn Rajskub! I really think this could have been almost a predesseor and run adjacent twith the Metal Gear vibe for its time. Great video essay. Excellent show.

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@thetalentof]

The Night Agent (Netflix) at least got semi-close to achieving some semblance of that special 24 tension / action even better than 24: Legacy did but otherwise I agree, nothing else comes close, even though I was also a fan of Homeland, The Night Manager (BBC) and Prison Break really surprised me with how much it became a Secret Service / FBI focused goverment conspiracy thriller with skilled characters as badass as Jack Bauer (Alex Mahone + Paul Kellerman) with some phenomenal action set pieces in S2 and S3.

[@teammember-xq5yz]

It was my favorite movie and it is still my favorite.

[@lego4281]

Kiefer said to gq he likes to return as jack bauer for more times why disney don't do that

[@SpaceCattttt]

He seems to change his mind all the time. And he's not getting any younger...

[@tonycooper1777]

I only have three best tv series on my list 24 Chicago p.d and Miami vice in that order

[@LReno-di9cm]

It was wonderful. Ahead of its time

[@Anton-ji4td]

We need Jack and CTU in the UK, our police force have given up and surrendered.

[@pordo3887]

DAMMIT

[@italianviking80]

I hope there is another series or movie where Jack escapes the Russian gulag. Maybe bring back Tony Almeida.

[@Noneoftheabove783]

Love 24

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@OurBrainHurtsALot]

Homeland and 24 are completely different genres of series. Homeland is a political thriller that focuses on a CIA analyst that tries to be somewhat realistic. 24 is an action TV show where Jack alone can take down armies of mercenaries. So, yeah, comparing these two shows in that aspect it's not that productive. If you want action and cool gun fights watch 24, if you want a carefully constructive and cerebral political thriller watch Homeland. If we compare the writing alone, Homeland makes 24 look like a cartoon show.

[@staygreasy]

Dammit!

[@RyanBernard-w9j]

Bring jack back#

[@Noneoftheabove783]

But it had lots of filler haha 😅 the kim plot in season 2, sherry plot in season 3 etc

[@drama_kinq]

I think they need to keep the idea that one season is one day, but abandon the "real time" format. The title "24" will still make sense, but you can shoot 8-10 episodes where each will show a few hours from Jack's life. Due to the fact that the creators had to do 24 episodes, half of the show is occupied by boring fillers and self-replays. I think "24" will only be better and more dynamic without all this.

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@CHRISlHOLT]

The first episode aired 2 months after 9/11. It was a profoundly propagandistic show pitched perfectly for that moment. Homeland had none of the urgency because it was trying to make the same case for the war on terror a decade after the the act of terrorism justifying it. It was pitched at a cerebral level where 24 had been all emotion. It wouldn't work today because the anger of that time has been replaced by regret about the wars, the torture, the loss of civil liberties and the lawlessness of the intelligence community. It would make as much sense as a Dad's Army reboot. 😂

[@DonpsnNetdundon]

24is just empire propaganda

[@dinobotpwnz]

Roger Stanton and Walt Cummings were big on expanding the empire and they were villains.

[@danin900]

In this era of PC writing? Good luck with that.

[@ryansmith240992]

Hey, check out Strike Back if you want action! Definitely inspired by 24

[@elvisanyanwu3141]

Still watched it 2 days ago. Best drama for my mom

[@lego4281]

Good news for 24 Fans !!! Kiefer Sutherland's 24 Show Is Getting A Movie Adaptation Now In Early Developmentkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHy1d4ZjZb6siacsi=BWu8nqJ5CkgYBvJA

[@SpaceCattttt]

Everyone knows 24. Come on. And it wouldn't be easy to bring it back today, even if all the actors were on board. The world is a woke nightmare now. Potentially offensive things are forbidden. Having Jack Bauer torturing terrorists would have the show cancelled...

[@dinobotpwnz]

I've met a lot of people who sadly don't know it. But yes. 24 came out at a time when it could be unfettered and that time is over.