Friday, November 21, 2003
To nitpick or not to nitpick...
Wandering around the various 24 sites out there I've seen a lot of rabid fans tearing apart the show, complaining about plotholes and being pissed at having to make some leaps in credibility in order to drive the story further (my favourite was when complaints poured in about how the earbud mic/speaker Jack is forced to use in Season Two doesn't exist. Hi - 24 is like, fiction and stuff. I bet you thought Beroglide was a real drug too eh?). I don't think I could get along with the nitpickers.
Don't get me wrong - that the show incites such a flurry of discussion and heated debtate is quite an accomplishment and a total credit to the writers/actors/crew who put it on for us. But for me personally, I watch the show to be entertained. I want to watch an intriguing story unfold and immerse myself emotionally with the characters. I desparately want to know what will happen next and how can Jack or Palmer get themselves out of such tight spots? I love the thrills, the tensions, the emotions, the inner conflicts, the deep layering of each character. The writers have done such an incredible job of giving these characters depth, histories and emotions that in turn gives these amazing actors so much to work with.
If I were to start nitpicking every little thing, well that would break down my enjoyment of the show. I don't want to spend my time worrying about it. I just want to go along for the ride and feel breathless and excited when it's all over. Having said all of that, I was reading the FOX forum this morning and read an excellent post there about why people like to nitpick - at least the ones who nitpick constructively without bashing the show. I can't remember the exact wording but it was something about merely expressing concerns in the hopes that it would help to somehow improve the show. Whoever wrote it said it better than that, but the sentiment is spot on. Personally, I'd rather just watch and enjoy - I haven't been the slightest bit disappointed yet, but if you're having trouble doing that, then by all means, voice your concerns. I don't advocate which way is better because I believe one's enjoyment of a show like this is subjective. So however you choose to dig 24 is your perogative. Me, I'm not going to be nitpicky :)
Don't get me wrong - that the show incites such a flurry of discussion and heated debtate is quite an accomplishment and a total credit to the writers/actors/crew who put it on for us. But for me personally, I watch the show to be entertained. I want to watch an intriguing story unfold and immerse myself emotionally with the characters. I desparately want to know what will happen next and how can Jack or Palmer get themselves out of such tight spots? I love the thrills, the tensions, the emotions, the inner conflicts, the deep layering of each character. The writers have done such an incredible job of giving these characters depth, histories and emotions that in turn gives these amazing actors so much to work with.
If I were to start nitpicking every little thing, well that would break down my enjoyment of the show. I don't want to spend my time worrying about it. I just want to go along for the ride and feel breathless and excited when it's all over. Having said all of that, I was reading the FOX forum this morning and read an excellent post there about why people like to nitpick - at least the ones who nitpick constructively without bashing the show. I can't remember the exact wording but it was something about merely expressing concerns in the hopes that it would help to somehow improve the show. Whoever wrote it said it better than that, but the sentiment is spot on. Personally, I'd rather just watch and enjoy - I haven't been the slightest bit disappointed yet, but if you're having trouble doing that, then by all means, voice your concerns. I don't advocate which way is better because I believe one's enjoyment of a show like this is subjective. So however you choose to dig 24 is your perogative. Me, I'm not going to be nitpicky :)
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Thursday, November 20, 2003
Site updates
That's it for now :)
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A good chuckle
I get google news alerts every so often. They're nice but my only complaint is sometimes the info is way out of date. So anyway I get this link in my mailbox a couple of days ago. I thought, "David Kelley to take over 24? Oh dear..." And as I read this article, my fears grew. Courtroom drama? Nina as a Cabaret singer? I have to say whomever wrote that article certainly 'got' me at first :) And I know it's probably old news to all you 24 addicts out there who've been into it longer than I have, but like I said, Google's not the best at sending up-to-date news alerts :) I got a giggle out of it anyway.
On with the show... I was thinking some more about the jail scene with Chase and Salazar from the 4-5pm show and reading some other fans' interpretations of it. Like I said, I'll admit at first I thought Jack had killed Chase and that would have been quite the shock. Re-watching the show I felt a bit silly about thinking that but I believe that's what makes this show so damn good - they can fake you out and shock you and then play the 'ha ha we got you' card five minutes later. I love that.
But now that I know Chase is fine, I realise why Jack had to bring him down in front of Salazar. A) He's got to keep Salazar under his control and by taking Chase out he showed Salazar that he's going to help him, but he better not dick him around in the meantime. And B) He also has to make Chase believe he's switched sides so that when he comes to he eventually reports back to CTU that Jack has switched sides. Ultimately it has to get back to Hector that Jack has gone all outlaw. As Jack outlines in the show for Palmer, by breaking out Salazar himself, everyone involved saves face. Palmer will not have to give in to terrorist threats and Jack prevents 60-90,000 people from dying. And a thoughtful member on the Kiefer Krew forum pointed out that Jack's willing to do this because he believes the 'needs of the many outweigh the needs of one.' And Jack's always been ready to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Wotta guy :)
Only five days til the next show. I'm DYING to know whether, after all the prison stuff happens, Chase is so angry at Jack for betraying his trust that he blabs all over CTU about his addiction. That subplot is really intriguing me. As for Palmer and Anne and her greedy ex, I'm hoping the groundwork is being laid for some heavy duty stuff in some future episodes. But I won't complain about their plotline because I don't know what's to come so it's pointless to whine about it. Besides, I could stare at Dennis Haysbert all day :)
On with the show... I was thinking some more about the jail scene with Chase and Salazar from the 4-5pm show and reading some other fans' interpretations of it. Like I said, I'll admit at first I thought Jack had killed Chase and that would have been quite the shock. Re-watching the show I felt a bit silly about thinking that but I believe that's what makes this show so damn good - they can fake you out and shock you and then play the 'ha ha we got you' card five minutes later. I love that.
But now that I know Chase is fine, I realise why Jack had to bring him down in front of Salazar. A) He's got to keep Salazar under his control and by taking Chase out he showed Salazar that he's going to help him, but he better not dick him around in the meantime. And B) He also has to make Chase believe he's switched sides so that when he comes to he eventually reports back to CTU that Jack has switched sides. Ultimately it has to get back to Hector that Jack has gone all outlaw. As Jack outlines in the show for Palmer, by breaking out Salazar himself, everyone involved saves face. Palmer will not have to give in to terrorist threats and Jack prevents 60-90,000 people from dying. And a thoughtful member on the Kiefer Krew forum pointed out that Jack's willing to do this because he believes the 'needs of the many outweigh the needs of one.' And Jack's always been ready to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Wotta guy :)
Only five days til the next show. I'm DYING to know whether, after all the prison stuff happens, Chase is so angry at Jack for betraying his trust that he blabs all over CTU about his addiction. That subplot is really intriguing me. As for Palmer and Anne and her greedy ex, I'm hoping the groundwork is being laid for some heavy duty stuff in some future episodes. But I won't complain about their plotline because I don't know what's to come so it's pointless to whine about it. Besides, I could stare at Dennis Haysbert all day :)
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Tuesday, November 18, 2003
4pm - 5pm
Holy shit. I think every 24 epi blog will end up starting like that. It's a 'holy shit!' kind of show you know?
Despite my whinging about accidentally reading spoilers online I was still thrown for a loop by tonight's twist which made me very happy. I love it when I can't see it coming. But it was a slower-paced episode for the most part tonight, at least until the final fifteen minutes or so. Michelle might not be acting on full capacity as she worries over the fate of Tony who's in surgery for a gunshot wound to the neck. Gael made a small play for taking over operations at CTU which would have been disasterous. But Michelle opted to stay put and run things so we'll have to see how she holds up under pressure. I wonder how long Tony will be out for. Doesn't seem like he could make much of a recovery in 24 hours if they're doing vascular work on him.
Kyle Singer and his girlfriend were captured by the baddies and chucked into a bio-hazard room of some kind. Palmer backs out of blackmail which makes me happy because I was quite shocked last week when he said he'd go through with it to protect Anne. Good on Anne for talking him out of it and for being brave enough to stand up to the scrutiny. And I still don't like Wayne much. Wanker.
And finally... my boy Jack. The second call to Palmer about knocked me over. Breaking Salazar out and convincing everyone he's gone over to the baddies is going to be a toughie. I thought he killed Chase as well which would have been a shock and a half if he had. But then his mini-reconciliation with Kim when he apologised for not being supportive when she tried to talk to him about Chase would have been so bittersweet if he'd offed Chase. But now we get to have a showdown between the two next week it looks like.
Yes I fecking watched the previews for next week show damnit. I couldn't help it. It's that part of me that HAS to know that wins over every time. It's easier to resist reading about it online but not so easy to resist when it's in your face during the credits. Especially after they blindside me with those gorgeous blue promo shots of Kiefer Sutherland looking so damn hot it's criminal. Curse them!
Despite my whinging about accidentally reading spoilers online I was still thrown for a loop by tonight's twist which made me very happy. I love it when I can't see it coming. But it was a slower-paced episode for the most part tonight, at least until the final fifteen minutes or so. Michelle might not be acting on full capacity as she worries over the fate of Tony who's in surgery for a gunshot wound to the neck. Gael made a small play for taking over operations at CTU which would have been disasterous. But Michelle opted to stay put and run things so we'll have to see how she holds up under pressure. I wonder how long Tony will be out for. Doesn't seem like he could make much of a recovery in 24 hours if they're doing vascular work on him.
Kyle Singer and his girlfriend were captured by the baddies and chucked into a bio-hazard room of some kind. Palmer backs out of blackmail which makes me happy because I was quite shocked last week when he said he'd go through with it to protect Anne. Good on Anne for talking him out of it and for being brave enough to stand up to the scrutiny. And I still don't like Wayne much. Wanker.
And finally... my boy Jack. The second call to Palmer about knocked me over. Breaking Salazar out and convincing everyone he's gone over to the baddies is going to be a toughie. I thought he killed Chase as well which would have been a shock and a half if he had. But then his mini-reconciliation with Kim when he apologised for not being supportive when she tried to talk to him about Chase would have been so bittersweet if he'd offed Chase. But now we get to have a showdown between the two next week it looks like.
Yes I fecking watched the previews for next week show damnit. I couldn't help it. It's that part of me that HAS to know that wins over every time. It's easier to resist reading about it online but not so easy to resist when it's in your face during the credits. Especially after they blindside me with those gorgeous blue promo shots of Kiefer Sutherland looking so damn hot it's criminal. Curse them!
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Monday, November 17, 2003
Kiefer on Craig Kilborn
I don't know how I'm going to stay up so late to catch Kiefer on the Late Late show tonight, geezer that I am. Some of us have to get up early you know. Oh well, it's a good thing I know how to work the VCR because I can't miss another fluffy poodle incident :D For anyone not able to see any press junket interviews for 24, the fabulous Kiefer Sutherland site Kiefer Rocks has a whole slew of them available in Realplayer format. Definitely worth a look. She even has his all-too-brief appearance on the American Music Awards available.
I have been watching Season One this weekend. Yes again. You just get sucked in, I'm telling you. I only meant to watch a quick episode because I was wondering about whether Jack ever found out Teri was raped (I don't think he ever knew unless he was told in the time separating each season. it hasn't been addressed anyway. So yeah I wanted to catch one of the later episodes to see if I could find that out. Then I felt like I was cheating, so I ended up starting from the beginning. How silly is that? Oh well, There are worse things I could be doing I suppose :)
Getting Jacked for tomorrow's episode. Trying hard to avoid the damn spoilers that flitter out onto the Net. I don't mind talking about shows after they've aired, but I hate reading about shows that haven't been on yet - especially when some sites give you no spoiler warning whatsoever and you're reading along, all is right with the world, when suddenly BAM a major plotline is revealed without so much as a spoiler alert. Argh! So, I decided to just plod along with this blog and talk about the shows after they've aired and avoid all other sites like the plague.
Anyway, off I go. I've got 8 hours left of Season One to watch yet :)
I have been watching Season One this weekend. Yes again. You just get sucked in, I'm telling you. I only meant to watch a quick episode because I was wondering about whether Jack ever found out Teri was raped (I don't think he ever knew unless he was told in the time separating each season. it hasn't been addressed anyway. So yeah I wanted to catch one of the later episodes to see if I could find that out. Then I felt like I was cheating, so I ended up starting from the beginning. How silly is that? Oh well, There are worse things I could be doing I suppose :)
Getting Jacked for tomorrow's episode. Trying hard to avoid the damn spoilers that flitter out onto the Net. I don't mind talking about shows after they've aired, but I hate reading about shows that haven't been on yet - especially when some sites give you no spoiler warning whatsoever and you're reading along, all is right with the world, when suddenly BAM a major plotline is revealed without so much as a spoiler alert. Argh! So, I decided to just plod along with this blog and talk about the shows after they've aired and avoid all other sites like the plague.
Anyway, off I go. I've got 8 hours left of Season One to watch yet :)
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