24 (TV Series) Day 3: 12:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. (2004) User Reviews

The twists keep coming

[MaxBorg89 · 9/10 · 19 August 2008]

In the first season, we got to know the Drazen family, who organized a series of assassination attempts to get back at Jack Bauer and David Palmer for something that happened a long time before the start of the show. They were merciless people, but at least they were united, thinking brotherly love got ahead of everything else. Why am I mentioning this? Because the end of the previous episode and the beginning of this one show an entirely different kind of bond between siblings.

So far, Ramon Salazar has been consumed by the wish to kill Jack for what happened in the past, whereas his brother Hector insisted on trusting him. Now, with Hector convinced something's wrong, the logical next step would have been to shoot Jack. Instead, Ramon kills Hector and decides to go through with the acquisition of the virus. Jack and Nina go with him, but everything gets off track when the CTU intervenes and Ramon escapes with the virus. Meanwhile, in L.A., Sherry is looking for something she can use against Alan Milliken, and comes really close to a foolproof witness of the billionaire's dirty secrets.

The first half of Day Three is finally over, and it does end with quite a bang: the manhunt that ensues when Ramon gets away is worthy of Michael Mann at his best, and the surprise ending (what else could it have been?) is a clear indication of things getting rougher in the remaining twelve episodes. This hour also shows Joaquim de Almeida at his most villainous, even scarier than he was nine years earlier in Robert Rodriguez's Desperado. It's a masterclass in pure evil that yet again shows how truly memorable the villains in this series can be.

On The Road Again!

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 18 May 2007]

Hector didn't trust Jack and got shot by his brother for his beliefs. He's hanging on to life but Ramon finishes him off to begin this episode. Nina believes Jack is still working for the C.T.U. and expresses her opinion, but Ramon isn't listening to her, either. He trusts Jack. Wow, that's twice he's been taken in by Bauer. Jack should have been a salesman. He can talk most people into believing anything!

I'm sorry to see some soap opera material creeping in here with Chole and a little baby and some the women starting to tattle on others in the office, calling them incompetent but, overall, I can't complain. There hasn't much of that catty women stuff to this point.

Anyway, everyone is closing in on the deal, the people with the virus, those buying it and the C.T.U. people. Since the season is about halfway over, you just know something major is going to happen because the story would be finished. Something dramatic has to happen to keep the TV series going another 12 weeks.

Sure enough, everything explodes at the crucial time and C.T.U. agents are ambushed by Salazar's men. People are on the run everywhere: Ramon, who is shot; Almador, who has the virus; and Nina, who may not be whom we thought she was. Jack and Chase decide to look for her first.

Double-cross

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 3 November 2012]

As the series reaches its half way point it is finally time for the transfer of the virus; Ramon Salazar is forcing Nina to undertake the deal; Chase is above the location relaying information back to CTU and Delta Force is in position ready to strike; all they need now is for Amador to turn up with the virus. When he arrives it takes a few minutes for the authenticity of the virus to be checked and the funds to be transferred then Chase calls in Delta. Things don't go according to plan as Ramon and Nina get away in the confusion and the Delta unit tasked with picking up Amador gets caught up in an ambush... once again they have no idea where the virus is; it appears that Jack and the people at CTU are back to square one. Meanwhile Sherry is working to discredit Milliken; it turns out she has a witness to an accident were a drunk Milliken drove into a child and killed her; the problem is the witness has a price for his information; a price the President might be unwilling to pay. If that wasn't enough there is also a slight mystery at CTU; Chloe's baby isn't actually hers and the story she tells about why she has it seems slightly implausible.

As expected this episode contains lots of exciting action; possibly the most in a single episode this season; we get two ambushes, each complete with lots of automatic weapons fire and a surprising explosion that takes out one of the season's protagonists. There are also some tense moments including a nice 'false scare' where it looks as if Sherry Palmer is in imminent danger. It isn't just the action that is good though; the plot takes some nice turns as Amador double crosses Nina and keeps the virus; who he plans to sell it to now is anybody's guess but it is certain that the season will have a new villain. The subplot involving the baby was a slight distraction but I'm sure it will become more relevant to the plot in future episodes. As always the acting is top notch and the way it was filmed was worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster... although being a TV series it isn't as rushed as a film would be.

Too Many Cooks

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 19 January 2019]

I've been suspicious throughout about the loyalties of all involved. So when this all plays out, it's no surprise. The Ukranians are in charge and those brothers are going to be taken to the cleaners. Imagine, the way they just let that guy carry the virus after it is validated. He puts it in his pocket for god's sake. Any thought of keeping it in plain sight while the transfer is made? Then we have good old Sherry who goes to the trailer of that old guy. That's what she has on the guy they're trying to discredit? This is a ten for the clever plotting and action of the main plot. I am overlooking Kim, who is about as tiresome as one can be. She sticks her nose in constantly. Chloe, the autistic genius with the computers, sticks to business, despite Kim's invasions. The whole baby thing is ridiculous. The baby is safe and the whole thing can be dealt with at a future time. They are trying to save millions of lives, aren't they. And why doesn't Palmer let his brother resign? Doesn't his health care bill (whatever that is) supersede a guy stepping down.

coming out of the midseason doldrums

[nerrdrage · 8/10 · 3 October 2023]

24's requirement to have such a long season means they have to twist the plotting into pretzels and insert annoying filler in order to pad everything out. But this is the point where the season comes out of the doldrums and starts to gain speed and tension.

Speaking of filler, good lord how stupid is Chloe? She could have told Kim, hey this is my boyfriend's kid and the babysitter flaked. But he's on a business trip in NYC and can't get back to babysit tonight so the kid is here, okay? Now let's refocus on stopping a virus that will kill thousands, okay? Instead she adds a bunch of unneeded drama about an abused baby and created suspicion.

And what the heck is wrong with CTU HR, that they have nobody to handle mundane domestic issues so their agents can keep focused on saving millions of lives. They should have a "concierge" on call for just this type of thing. Or how about a day care center?

Operation underway

[kingsx_64 · 4/10 · 25 March 2020]

Another episode where someone's feelings supersede an important mission. I can't blame any of the actresses for their lines, but why do they always find some petty problem during the important part of a mission? I mean geez, last year an impending nuclear explosion couldn't even help two girls from bickering back and forth. Smh Now a baby. Yes, lets start investigating and complaining about a baby, AT THE EXACT MOMENT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED!!! Still, I loved the first two seasons. Unfortunately, I don't like this season. At all. None of the characters matter to me. I'm just not interested in a Mexican drug dealer who does a little virus pandemic on the side. Sorry, That's just not interesting. Oh, and Kim, Your haircut blows.