24 part 2

Everyone on the show seems to be doing what’s best for the country.  Karen Hayes told Tom Lennox, “We both want what best for this country. We just don’t always agree on the means.” It’s a big problem because everyone has their own opinion of what’s best for America.  Anyone with an opposite opinion on what’s best is seen as incompetent and unpatriotic.  Some cabinet members want to aggressively retaliate without knowing if the attack on American is connected to another country in order to send a message that America won’t stand for terrorism. Other cabinet members want to take a passive action to see what country is responsible.

 

Vice President Daniels reminds me of President George W. Bush. Creating a legacy for his name takes precedence over protecting the country.  It seems like he’s looking for any reason to go to war.  When an insignificant amount of radioactive material spilled as the drone was landed in San Francisco, he viewed it as an attack on the country and ordered a nuclear attack. Jack responded, “What’s he trying to do? Start World War III?!”

 

When I first started watching 24 this season, I didn’t like the character Tom Lennox because he blackmailed Karen Hayes to resign. I also didn’t like that he briefly considered taking apart in the assassinated on President Palmer.  However, I’ve begin to notice that he will do anything to back his beliefs, protect his country, and safe his own ass.  Vice President Daniels forced Lennox to silence his statement that Assay is innocent and had nothing to do the attempted assassination of President Palmer to make his aggressive policy more acceptable to the public.

 

Lennox knew he had to protect himself from future corrupt tactics as the relationship between Daniels and he got worse. I was happy to see Lennox get even with Daniels by tapping in on him committing treason in a conference room causing him to surrender his attempt to steal Palmer’s presidency with the 25^th Amendment to the Constitution.  Vice President Daniels won several battles between them but ultimately lost the war.

 

Lennox also shows character by withholding the reason Daniels retreated when President Palmer and Sandra Hayes asked why Daniel has a sudden change of heart. Lennox didn’t hold anything against Daniels, and kept his word that he keep the treason incident on the down low if he surrendered.  It’s obvious that he cares more about protecting the country then screwing over challengers.

 

I was very confused when President Palmer decided to go ahead with the nuclear attack because he doesn’t want to seem weak. Karen Hayes and Sandra Palmer had the President taken out of the comma to stop Daniels’ nuclear attack. When Daniels’ challenged Palmer’s ability to run the nation, Karen Hayes and Tom Lennox sided with the President to stop the nuclear attack. It was reassuring to find out the President Palmer bluffed an attack to get withheld information from the ambassador.

 

On my previous blog, I mentioned how cliffhangers are used effective enough to keep new viewers tuning in week after week.  I recently noticed exceptions to this statement.  Characters from previous seasons, Former President Charles Logan and Audrey, have been reintroduced twice as cliffhangers at the end of episodes. It isn’t very effective for keeping new viewer interested because we have no idea who they are and their importance.