Last week, the rumors about the impending cancellation of 24 became truth. This season–the eighth–will be the last one for what is my favorite television show. The show was pioneering with its real-time format, and in the first five seasons, some of the plot twists were truly unexpected.
I will certainly miss the show, but the last three seasons have admittedly been alternately good and bad, action-packed and ponderous. While this season has had some excellent character development in the relationship between Jack Bauer and Renee Walker, it has also introduced one of the the worst 24 subplots involving Dana Walsh, played by Katee Sackhoff.
This season has shown the limits of a drama that has reached a certain maturity in its story. Basically, the writers have been hard pressed to come up with a new challenge to Jack Bauer. Add to that its increasing cost and a desire to take the show to the big screen, and the decision makes sense.
So, it is with a heavy heart that I will take in the rest of Season 8. I look forward to the finale and other happy returns in the theater. Besides, imagine how much more foul-mouthed Jack could be on the big screen?
I’m not surprised to see it go. I’ve found this season has actually become a bit of a chore to watch and the episodes have been piling up on my Hulu queue. I’m thinking it should have pulled the plug 1-2 seasons ago…. before they started to wimpify Bauer.
Really though, after the season where a mini nuke was actually detonated in the US, how much farther could they expect to push it?
@PsychoPhil: This season has had lots of its ponderous moments. Personally, I thought Season 5 was perhaps the best. They truly started strong–the assassination of President Palmer–right down to the plot twist that year. From there, it kind of tried to come close. Last season wasn’t bad, but it lulled a bit near the end.