Well I really liked the first two hours. I'm sure the second two hours will be good, since they usually are. We'll see how it goes from there, but I don't know how much I trust these guys anymore to make a 24-episode story that makes any kind of sense.
And PD, did you mean the President? Do we even know who the VP is?
I do trust them. Here's why: It's much less difficult to produce a television show with a coherent plot when you have a year to write all of the episodes as well as film them.
There's two things that worry me:
1. Brennan Braga
2. The writers' tendencies to spend half the season building up to a major event, only to completely disregard said event. I want one consistent, coherent plot that runs through the entire season, please, with as few moles, fake-outs, and last-minute reveals as possible.
So you want a 24 show without the elements that make it 24? Moles, fake-outs, and last-minute reveals are a trademark of the show.
What you call "trademarks", I call the show getting stale.
I actually need more than Jack kicking ass. I need a compelling
reason for Jack to kick ass. I need characters I care about. I simply did not give a shit during the two hour premiere. President Clinton yapping.....could have put me to sleep. Colm Feore's little quest...couldn't be bothered to care. FBI crew and Fembauer? Didn't seem the least bit compelling. Even Zombie Tony didn't seem to be compelling, and I have a nagging suspicion that they will not satisfactorily explain his false death, or even his motivations for being a villain. I certainly am not yet convinced of Tony-as-bad-guy. He seemed to be little more than a disgruntled henchman here.
I think the best part of the episode was the opening two minutes, with Jack being grilled by the Senator. I think that scene is indicative of failed/lost potential. I wanted more of that. I wanted more of that potential critical perspective of all the ass-kicking that CTU has done over the years. That premise held the potential for more personal drama, and for this season of 24 to contain more than Jack kicking random terrorist ass. But it seemed that after a minute and a half the writers said "okay, enough of that, onto our standard fare."
I'll watch tonight's two episodes, but unless something really wow's me, that might be the end of 24 for me. Too bad.