SEASON 2

6 DISC DVD BOXSET

This collection of 24 contains

all the episodes (1-24) from Season 2 spread over 6 discs

and is presented in a Slimline Case Boxset.

Eighteen months after the assassination attempt on his life, Senator Palmer (Dennis Haysbert, Far From Heaven) has been elected to the White House. Enjoying a relaxing day at his country retreat, he is informed by agents that there is a potential threat to national security.

The LA Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) are informed of the threat and told to be on high alert. Department head, George Mason (Xander Berkeley, Gattaca) finds himself reluctantly having to call upon the services of retired Special Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, Phone Booth). CTU have been tipped off that a nuclear bomb is set to detonate somewhere in Los Angeles within the next 24 hours.

Jack has been living alone, dishevelled, downhearted and haunted by the memory of his late wife Teri. Daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert, Old School) is also finding it hard to come to terms with her mother's death and has found herself a job as a nanny for the Matheson family, looking after their nine-year-old daughter Megan. Kim thinks that her boss Gary (Billy Burke) has been abusing his wife so she flees with Megan only for him to chase after them and threaten Kim herself.

Across town, the Warner family is planning for daughter Marie's big day, her wedding to Reza Naiyeer is due to take place in a matter of hours. Elder sister Kate, however, is not sure about her sister's fiance. Could he really be linked to Middle Eastern terrorists? Is he the link that CTU needs to save the lives of millions of innocent citizens?

With federal agents and NSA officers working to stop the bomb, can Jack get to the bottom of who is behind it? Jack's only link to the activists is his ex-lover and colleague Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke, Thirteen), the convicted woman who killed his wife and was part of the Drazen family's plot to assassinate Palmer 18 months ago. Will she lead him to the terrorists in time to save the city.

*THE EPISODES*

8:00 A.M.??9:00 A.M.
After receiving word of a bomb threat from President Palmer, Jack goes back to work for CTU and starts his assignment off with a bang??literally. Kim Bauer takes care of Megan Matheson (Sky McCole Nartusiak) at her nanny job, while Marie Warner plans her wedding. The latter two story lines seem especially generic in this first episode, but the scenes involving President Palmer are riveting. A great deal of plot information is thrown on the table right away. Pay attention now, or be lost forever.

9:00 A.M.??10:00 A.M.
This one is a very intense episode, where the action is more cerebral than visceral. I enjoyed watching the witty methods of Jack Bauer, as he risks it all to get closer to the possible terrorists. After discovering the high percentage probability of the nuclear bomb detonating, CTU district director George Mason (Xander Berkeley) heads off to Bakersfield to "follow up on a lead." Meanwhile, Kate Warner begins to suspect Reza of terrorist connections, and Kim snatches Megan from her abusive father and goes on the lam. This ludicrous subplot is about the only problem I had with this tense episode. The stakes have been raised, and the excitement is greater.

10:00 A.M.??11:00 A.M.
The tension mounts here as we begin to discover the duplicity of certain characters. Jack continues to go to extremes to prevent the detonation of the nuclear bomb. George Mason's attempt to follow up on a lead backfires drastically, and he begins to officially have a very bad day. This is not a stellar episode, but the heightened suspense and a knockout ending make for a compelling hour.

11:00 A.M.??12:00 P.M.
Palmer continues to display a bold sense of leadership and grace under pressure; it is refreshing to see him enforce his interest in the American people over his political status. Kate has an interesting conversation with her father that could either be taken at face value, or could mean the duplicity of other major characters. The real-time element feels compromised as Jack makes it from the Los Angeles area to Simi Valley in just 15 minutes. However, this potential hole is easily forgotten as Jack confronts the man who CTU believes may be behind the nuclear threat. 11:00am-12:00pm delivers a terrific ending that will have fans of the first season gasping, and newcomers to the series scratching their heads.

12:00 P.M.??1:00 P.M.
The web of intrigue tightens as Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) confronts Reza about his possible dealings with terrorists. This story arc is finally starting to get interesting, but I still find myself waiting for the payoff. Jack makes a record-breaking 10-minute drive from Simi Valley to CTU, where systems operator Paula (Sara Gilbert) finally gets to prove her worth. President Palmer's meeting with the foreign ambassador is a fantastic development that keeps the dramatic intensity high. Kim's story is still a complete dud, and the introduction of her boyfriend, Miguel (Innis Casey), certainly does not help the situation.

1:00 P.M.??2:00 P.M.
This episode marks the venomous return of President Palmer's ex-wife, Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald). It is nice to see that he still does not trust her. Jack's interrogation of Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) is just the type of moment that the show needs to bump up the tension a few notches. Kim continues to make stupid decisions as she leads her even less intelligent boyfriend around on a short leash. I found Miguel's "Bruce Lee" moves to be unintentionally hilarious. Otherwise, 1:00pm-2:00pm is a great episode, complete with a cliffhanger that assures it will be nearly impossible to stop watching at this point.

2:00 P.M.??3:00 P.M.
This fantastic episode marks the best of the season so far. The emotions of every character are at an all time high, and we are treated to several tour-de-force performances. Reza and the Warners are at each other's throats, as are Sherry Palmer and the President's aide, Lynne Kresge (Michelle Forbes). George Mason has an emotional encounter with his son, and the tension has peaked between Jack and Nina on their way to Visalia. It's almost too much for one episode! Furthermore, Kim and Miguel are nearly non-existent in this episode, but what little screen time they have provides a terrific cliffhanger.

3:00 P.M.??4:00 P.M.
Kiefer Sutherland delivers a standout performance in this episode, which features a poignant moment in which Jack reflects on his wife. Kate Warner is officially dragged into the conspiracy, and Kim's story actually shows signs of becoming somewhat interesting. Season Two has finally locked into a groove with another fantastic episode.

4:00 P.M.??5:00 P.M.
Perhaps the most intense episode yet, beginning with Jack and Nina caught together in a life-threatening incident and increasing in suspense from there. Bob Warner's situation goes from bad to worse when Reza decides to cut a deal. 4:00pm-5:00pm marks the introduction of a major character that we have only heard referenced previously. This introduction leads to a harrowing torture scene that had my hair standing on end. The episode comes to a peak in the final moments with an award-worthy performance from Dennis Haysbert. Given the nature of his character, I do not believe that Palmer would have succumbed to Nina's demands quite so easily, but this is merely a quibble in regard to this stellar episode.

5:00 P.M.??6:00 P.M.
Fantastic developments occur in yet another thrilling hour. Emotional sparks fly as Palmer discovers how deep the conspiracy goes. Jack and Kate Warner finally meet, George Mason bares his soul, and Kim and Miguel continue to make brainless decisions. A major character's duplicity is revealed, proving to be a twist that does not add up very well in the context of the past 10 hours. Regardless of this improbability, 5:00pm-6:00pm is a first-rate episode that strongly reminded me of the meticulously crafted nature of this season.

6:00 P.M.??7:00 P.M.
Everyone is strung out and tired from the day's events, including myself after watching this powerfully exhausting episode. Jack continues to utilize Kate Warner in order to find the bomb; I could feel my heart racing as she enters the mosque to find the Second Wave terrorist, Syed Ali (Francesco Quinn). President Palmer goes to disturbing lengths to extract information behind the bomb threat, as he attempts to prove the potentially nefarious agenda of Roger Stanton (Harris Yulin), the head of the National Security Agency (NSA). Elsewhere, Kim wanders around the woods looking tasty to wild animals, while Tony Almeida and CTU employee Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth) express their feelings for one another. Though these subplots are quirky and unnecessary, the essence of the story continues to be fully engrossing.

7:00 P.M.??8:00 P.M.
Jack's extreme efforts finally prove fruitful as he makes a major breakthrough in discovering the location of the bomb. I was on the edge of my seat as he attempts to extract information from his prisoner, his methods of interrogation proving even more severe than Palmer's. The president is faced with the horrible dilemma that innocent people still may have to die in order to save millions, while Kate discovers crucial information about her sister, Marie. I found it somewhat silly that Marie used the same cell phone number for both personal and business calls, but the resulting emotional conversation between the two sisters quickly led me to forget this illogicality. 7:00pm-8:00pm is ripe with fascinating developments and terrific performances.

8:00 P.M.??9:00 P.M.
Palmer's severe methods to extract information on the bomb are finally successful. The resulting confession unleashes an abundance of fascinating information that significantly heightens the conspiracy. Palmer also learns shocking news about his ex-wife, which should not come as a surprise to many. Jack and Kate move to Norton Airfield, the possible location of the bomb. Kim's story provides another lull in the action, as she shacks up with a dimwitted mountain man; this irrelevant time waster undermines what is otherwise a riveting hour.

9:00 P.M.??10:00 P.M.
Kim continues to chew up screen time with Lonnie (Kevin Dillon), but fortunately, this dismal subplot comes to end. At CTU, the animosity between Michelle Dessler and the new systems operator, Carrie Turner (Lourdes Benedicto), proves uninteresting and ultimately distracting. 9:00pm-10:00pm is a good episode, but fails to match the intensity of the past seven hours. It seems as if not very much happens in this episode, but the intention could be for the audience to become as frustrated as the characters that they have not yet found the bomb.

10:00 P.M.??11:00 P.M.
10:00pm-11:00pm is the highlight of the day, proving to be heartfelt, poignant, dramatic, intense, and suspenseful all rolled up together. This is the hour we have all been waiting for, and it certainly does not disappoint. Kim's emotional conversation with her dad actually makes her otherwise ineffective presence in this season completely worthwhile. I got the chills when "you know what" happens at 11:00pm. However, the day is far from over, and we discover the fascinating development that high-ranking officials from three Middle-Eastern countries may have funded the nuclear bomb and sold it to Syed Ali.

11:00 P.M.??12:00 A.M.
The emotional drama of the previous hour carries over to the beginning of this episode, followed by a false sense that we might see a lull in action. Not a chance. Fantastic new developments occur as Jack begins his struggle to discover the authenticity of the Cypress audio recording. President Palmer's integrity is put to the test as he must quickly face the issue of retaliation. His confidence that the Cypress audio may be a forgery is strongly questioned by his staff, who believes he is having difficulty accepting the possibility of World War III. Kim is stuck in a liquor store with a psycho customer, a subplot that is just as stupid as it sounds.

12:00 A.M.??1:00 A.M.
The quest for the validity of the Cypress audio recording continues, and Palmer's belief in this quest generates serious resistance from his staff. Jack's meeting with the mysterious seventh member of the Coral Snake unit is awesome, but Kate Warner's involvement feels somewhat far-fetched and merely a way of keeping her involved in the story. Tony and Michelle's relationship is threatened when he confronts Michelle about her participation in Jack's forbidden assignment. I enjoyed 12:00am-1:00am, but the episode feels stuffed with redundancy and irrelevant filler, such as the continuation of the liquor store subplot.

1:00 A.M.??2:00 A.M.
The clock is ticking as the bombers are expected to arrive in the Middle East within four or five hours. The events of the day have invoked racially motivated violence amongst citizens, and while Palmer's proposed resolution is swift and noble, his plan backfires and results in several casualties. The past 17 hours of Kim's day are tidied up far too conveniently. Particularly silly is the brief re-introduction of Miguel as an attempt to add closure to his character. Jack and Kate are caught up in a heart-pounding shootout, which eventually lands them in a nearby urgent care center. Here, Jack proves he can read an X-ray better than a doctor, and he proceeds to commit an unspeakably gruesome act. It is this grisly act, however, that leads to a crucial discovery. 1:00am-2:00am has a few lackluster moments, but they are nowhere dull enough to undermine the power of this episode.

2:00 A.M.??3:00 A.M.
This is the only episode this season that feels like somewhat of a letdown. The reason behind Michelle and Carrie's animosity is revealed, proving to be the most ridiculous aspect of the day. What's more, the introduction of the bigots feels as if it belongs in a completely different series. Thankfully, Vice President Prescott's decision to invoke Section Four of the 25th Amendment is a riveting development that keeps this episode intriguing. Also gasp-inducing is the traumatic torture of Jack Bauer, which makes the torture scene in 4:00pm-5:00pm look like Romper Room.

3:00 A.M.??4:00 A.M.
I did not believe it could be possible, but Jack's ordeal actually becomes worse. I found this entry to be a highly frustrating episode, filled with vindictiveness and deceit. This may sound like a complaint, but it is not. The sheer entertainment value is at an all time high with moments that nearly had me yelling at my screen. Unfortunately, the bigot subplot continues, which weakens what is otherwise a compelling hour.

4:00 A.M.??5:00 A.M.
The trial of David Palmer begins. Haysbert's performance here is a wholly engaging portrayal of this highly respected but misunderstood man. More emotions swell as Jack consoles Kate over the tragic events of the day. The way in which he therapeutically dispels his own demons through his reassurance to Kate is masterful. Still, his frustrations have reached a peak as he must follow yet another lead to prove the unreliability of the Cypress audio. 4:00am-5:00am is a slightly more serene episode than the previous mayhem we have seen. Well, as serene as an episode of 24 can be, I suppose.

5:00 A.M.??6:00 A.M.
This hour could be dubbed "The Proficiency of Tony Almeida." Tony has been a terrific presence all season, but here we see him truly sticking his neck out for the greater cause. I enjoyed watching him and Michelle work their magic in order to ensure the chopper would reach Jack. Elsewhere, we learn a great deal behind the nature of the Cypress recording when Jack confronts the mastermind, Alex Hewitt (Alex Hewitt). About the only minor problem I had with 5:00am-6:00am was the return of Gary Matheson (Billy Burke). While his inclusion felt somewhat strained, it did provide something interesting for Kim to do.

6:00 A.M.??7:00 A.M.
This show is killing me! Could one more thing possibly go wrong? I think I need a vacation from all of this agitation. The tension provided here reminds me very much of the adrenaline pumping 11:00am to 12:00pm hour of Season One. I nearly found myself shouting at the characters on several occasions, such as when Hewitt allows his stupidity to foil a perfectly good plan. It is great to not only see President Palmer still heavily involved in the story, but also working as best as he can (with a little help) to assure that the U.S. does not attack three innocent countries. Finally, the President's Chief of Staff, Mike Novick (Jude Ciccollela), is displaying signs of the brain that he possessed in the original season.

7:00 A.M.??8:00 A.M.
Shortly before 7:00am, I found myself wondering how on earth they were going to wrap up all of this conspiracy in just one hour. The answer is??very quickly and very conveniently. This episode is undoubtedly a thrilling hour of entertainment, but also a bit too rushed to resolution. The denouement feels somewhat tacked-on this season, but it does insinuate that the events of the first two seasons might somehow be connected. I had not noticed in my initial prime time viewing, but the character responsible for the atrocious act in the moments before the clock ticks off at 8:00am is a character that had come and gone as far back as the first several episodes of Season One. I can now hardly wait to see what Season Three holds in store.

*SPECIAL FEATURES*

 Main Menu Audio

 Main Menu Introduction

 Deleted Scenes

 Audio Commentary: Cast and Crew

 Alternative Version: Alternate Takes

 Featurette: "On The Button" - The Destruction Of CTU

 Featurette-Behind The Scenes: 24 Exposed Part 1

 Featurette-Behind The Scenes: 24 Exposed Part 2

 Multiple Angles: Episode #6 - The Interrogation