24 (TV Series) Day 3: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (2004) User Reviews

Where's Saunders?

[MaxBorg89 · 9/10 · 10 September 2008]

The last chunk of Day 3 begins now, as the CTU's goal of apprehending Stephen Saunders (Paul Blackthorne) becomes the top priority, given the infected man from the hotel has been found and secured.

Free to focus on his former colleague, Jack informs Jane Saunders of what kind of man her father has become, hoping to obtain her cooperation. Meanwhile, Palmer has to avoid an angered press, Michelle awaits test results to see if she will die or not, Adam Kaufman learns his sister is one of the people who were infected, and Saunders starts planning his escape with great care.

More than anything, this episode allows Paul Blackthorne to showboat his villainous acting, and he does a very good job. The final minutes of this hour prove he is always one step ahead and leave the door open for plenty of possibilities in the last four episodes. Also, Episode 20 gives Zachary Quinto more dramatic meat to chew on. So far, he's been a pain in the ass, whereas now he is allowed to unveil his more humane side. Bravo

A Bit Of A Lull (In Comparison)

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 25 May 2007]

his is, perhaps, the first episode which didn't finish in a particularly dramatic note, but after 19 in a row that did, it's excusable. In fact, the episode as a whole was probably the weakest of the first 20, that's compared to the rest.

Saunders' daughter Jane is at C.T.U. and Jack is showing her just what her father has become. Reluctantly, she gives him her dad's phone number. Jack has her call so he can trace it. Saunders figures this out and stops another virus from being unleashed at the last second (a little hokey here, the timing) and troops soon will be surrounding the building. Saunders' computer geek partner goes to leave but is shot by the boss, who is waiting for Jack to show up. Since there are still four more episodes left, you know Saunders is not going to be captured because that would be the end of the season.

Meanwhile, we get some good news about Michelle, Chole finally gets told off about her personality (hooray!) and Adam hears bad news about his sister.

Michelle is back in the story at the end, but this time things aren't so rosy.

Closing in on Saunders

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 20 November 2012]

Having killed the man Saunders had keeping an eye on his daughter it is only a matter of time before he realises that she is in CTU custody. She understandably has difficulty believing that her father is a terrorist but once Jack does convince her she agrees to call him on the phone number he gave her for emergency purposes; then they just have to keep him talking for a minute to locate him. Meanwhile the president decides that there is no way he can give in to Saunders' latest demand so CTU must find him quickly if they are to prevent the release of the virus in more cities. There is good news and bad concerning the Los Angeles outbreak; Michelle's test results come back and she is in the clear but it emerges that Adam's sister was in one of the outbreak zones and it is confirmed that she is infected. As the episode draws to its conclusion it looks as if Saunders is going to be captured... but he has one more ace up his sleeve that will force a member of CTU to help him escape.

This was another taut episode that didn't rely on frenetic action to keep things exciting. There was a great piece of misdirection towards the end when we were made to think one member of CTU was in imminent danger when really Saunders was going after somebody else entirely; this plays with the viewer's emotions nicely. Zachary Quinto put in a solid performance as Adam after is character learns that his sister was infected and Mary Lynn Rajskub was equally good as the ever sensitive Chloe. While it wasn't a surprise that Saunders had an escape planned; there are four more episodes after all; the means by which he did it came as a surprise and will no doubt have an affect on the running of CTU.

Great Series/Couple Criticisms

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 21 January 2019]

Finally, the President realizes that even with the horrors of the virus, Saunders would lead the entire country down the toilet. Blowing the cover on all these agents is unthinkable. Using a phone number that Saunders' daughter supplies, Jack sets and attack in motion. Here's my criticism. First of all, why is it in every show of this type, a significant person, someone who is testifying in a trial, a criminal who has been caught after a year of great effort, a vulnerable individual, is put in a car with minimal security, and transferred. Why did Saunder's daughter need to be transferred. Secondly, there are personal issues. These guys are pros who have put country ahead of themselves. Tony caves in like sinkhole and destroys the mission, letting Saunders walk right out of the building. He also feels he needs to tell Adam about his sister, knowing that time is precious.

Man, they had him dead to rights, too . . .

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 8 May 2017]

Steven Saunders isn't a good villain because he's got the leader of the free world on a leash, but because of how he reacts when backed into a corner. In this case, it's when CTU is breathing down his front door with a SWAT team.

SPOILERS

And using Michelle (now officially cleared of the virus) to get at Tony is brilliant. And also downright cold; Almeida's been shot, emotionally tormented, working round-the-clock, and now this. It's a fairly low-key episode, but once Jack rolls up with the cavalry and Saunders makes his play, it's a sizzler.

8/10