24
For the past five years, a good percentage of the population has been obsessed with Fox's hit series, 24.As they should be. I can't really pinpoint who exactly it was that really pushed 24 onto me. Some friends from Lubbock had long been hooked, which in turn led to the caving of my parents. Also, friends from Bent Tree spoke effervescently about the infamous Jack Bauer--comparing him to legends such as Chuck Norris and Mr. Miyagi.
I purchased season 1 as a gift for my parents a while back. I told myself I wouldn't watch any episodes until after school was out, for fear losing sleep over whether or not the nuke was going to blow. I'd heard too many stories of such emotional attachments.
Am I hooked? Yes, but it's complicated. All of my presumptions as an outsider looking in on a crazed, obsessed culture have been shattered. My original conclusions maintained the thought that a TV network had once again paid a team enough money to write with all the right formulas that would grab the attention of millions providing plenty of opportunities to sell ad space in order to increase gross income so that salaries may increase and stock go up and more money in the bank...etc, etc etc. Forgive the very strong opinion, but I'm still bitter about the existence of garbage like Desperate Housewives and the cancellation of stunning, oscar worthy portraits of blue collar space cowboys trying to make a living while facing the oppression of an autocratic interplanetary government. (See Mike's review of Firefly)
Runons aside, 24 is capturing audiences for what I believe to be different reasons than what I originally expected. Sure, there's probably a few corporate geniuses enjoying the financial benefits of their magnum opus. But power to them! They've created something that is original, inovative, and constantly deviating from the norm. Do they stretch believability? A bit, but hey, it's Jack Bauer. If a TV drama expressed the normal every day life of a Counter-Terrorist based out of an office in sub-urban America, I'm sure the mass public wouldn't hold on for 5 going on 6 seasons.
I guess my point is that 24 has definitely varied from what I originally expected. Everybody shouts that the creators/writers have "mastered the hook!". While that's true, I think that they've redefined how to connect people with a television drama. Characters are the driving force in practically all TV shows. In 24, however, the attachment that viewers form with characters is so much stronger in my mind due to the fact that you literally spend a day with them. The real-time aspect of the show allows for so much character development that the story line only serves as a mainframe to weave the intricate subplots together--thus creating "the hook".
School starts next week. One season down, about 8 episodes of season 2 to go. Hopefully I'll have an extra 96 hours this semester to devote to saving America from all kinds of crazy plots.
I'm Special Intern Seth Martin, and this semester will be the longest semester of my life.
posted by Seth @ 10:31 PM
3 Comments:
I watched as most did season #1 but in the middle of season two I asked me how crazy is all of this? I am a very harsh critic on TV and movies compared to most peeps put there.
How could all of this happen in 1 DAY?
So that lost it for me. I like a show to have some sort of believability to the story or it is good stupid humor. Not movies where they try to hard to be funny.
Congrats on day 4 is it? You r 2 cool!!
1 last Q y ya, what was the comment you were trying to leave on mine that did not save for you?
I can't relate. Never seen 24. After American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, there's not enough time in my life for other TV.
yeah, anything that has this many people up in arms about how awesome it is is usually avoided by me--that many people liking something is a huge red flag--plus I've heard a lot of the same point that Toby makes.
On the other hand, I am obsessed with Buffy and Firefly, so what does that say about me?
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home