24 (TV Series) Day 3: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (2003) User Reviews

The third day begins

[MaxBorg89 · 9/10 · 1 August 2008]

Few cliffhangers have been as shocking as the final moment of 24's second season, when President Palmer was poisoned and possibly dying, and in case anyone had missed that the scene is shown again right at the beginning of this episode, before the caption "Three years later" informs us that a new, gripping day is about to start.

What has happened in three years? Well, for starters, Palmer is alive, though still recovering from the chemical attack, and is currently back in L.A. for a debate with Senator John Keeler, his rival in the upcoming election. Also worth noticing, he has appointed his brother Wayne (DB Woodside) as his new aide. Things have changed a little at CTU as well: Tony Almeida is now officially the director of the agency, and married to Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth), whom he began dating during the events of Day 2. In addition, KIm Bauer works for them now, a fact that irritates several of her colleagues (Zachary Quinto's Adam Kaufman first and foremost) since the only reason she got the job is her father.

And what about Jack? He has a new partner, Chase Edmunds (James Badge Dale), who's secretly dating Kim, and has recently broken up with Kate Warner (Sarah Wynter) because of what his job does to him. More specifically, he spent a year working undercover to get Mexican drug lord Ramon Salazar (Joaquim De Almeida) behind bars. He succeeded, but now everything he fought for appears to be in jeopardy, as a dead body has been dumped in front of a hospital and tests have revealed it was infected with a deadly virus that, if released, will kill millions of innocent people. And who would be behind this threat? Well, none other than Ramon's brother Hector, obviously.

Following the assassination attempt of Season 1 and the nuclear menace of Season 2, the series gets even more ambitious by throwing a biological attack into the mix, with the addition of a truly worthy villain, played with the right degree of sleaziness by De Almeida. Other new characters, like Chase, Adam or Wayne are equally interesting and well portrayed (Quinto's work is worth contrasting to his performance in Heroes), and the old ones have lost none of the charm that won viewers over in the first place.

Then again, in the end this remains Kiefer Sutherland's show, and the episode's ending indicates his character will probably suffer more than usual in this season.

A thrilling start to season three!

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 21 October 2012]

Three years after an attempt on the president's life he is back in the city of Los Angeles for a debate in the run up to the next election; fan's of the show will know that his day will not go as planned and the people working at the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) are going to be in for a tough twenty four hours. Protagonist Jack Bauer is back from a six month undercover operation which netted him Mexican drug lord Ramon Salazar. Salazar is trying to negotiate for relocation to a more pleasant prison when in a shocking move he stabs and kills his attorney with a pen! Meanwhile a body is dumped at a medical facility; it is not contagious but was infected by a deadly virus; if a living person were to carry the virus into the population much of the city could be infected in a very short time span. A phone call to the FBI confirms that it was sent by people demanding the release of Salazar. If that wasn't enough for Jack to worry about he isn't looking too well himself.

Viewers are thrown in at the deep end as the action starts almost straight away and no time is wasted explaining who is who for those new to the series or those who haven't watched it in a while and may have forgotten things. Personally I don't think that matters as the slight feeling of confusion as the series opens nicely mirrors that of the protagonists at CTU as they try to establish just what sort of threat they are facing and who they are dealing with. Kiefer Sutherland puts in a fine performance as protagonist Jack Bauer and Joaquim de Almeida is suitably menacing as the villain of the moment Ramon Salazar. This episode set things up nicely and I'm sure viewers are in for quite a ride before the twenty four hours are over.

Looks Like It's Going To Be Intense

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 10 May 2007]

This is my debut in watching a season of this very popular show. I saw a couple of episodes of the first season, and thats it. Thus, outside of Keifer Sutherland's lead character, "Jack Bauer," and Dennis Haybert's portrayal of U.S. President "David Palmer," I am unfamiliar with the cast and what's gone on in the past. So, until I figure a few things out, I will just make some general comments and observations.

First, judging from this episode, I got a real bargain buying this brand new for $14.99. This looks like a very entertaining show. I've always found Joaquin de Almeida an interesting actor and always effect in the villain role, so him playing "Ramon Salazar" seems like a good fit. I know Sutherland is a good actor so anything he does I know is going to be performed well. It appears he's an intense character here. I was glad to see Vanessa Ferlito, too, being a fan of hers since watching CSI: New York - The First Season. She plays a Mexican in here, involved with Hector Salazar, but not really a crook or killer like him.

We get stunning revelations and scenes in this season-opener, such as (1) Salazar stabbing his attorney to death with a pen; (2) a dead body dumped at the door of the National Health Services Building; (3) the knowledge that a Type 3 pneumonic virus, which that dead man had, is a very imminent threat, ready to be unleashed on the city of Los Angeles if Salazar isn't released from prison; (4) - His brother, Hector, is behind all of this; (5) If unleashed, something like a million people in the first week will die; (6) the President is in Los Angeles, scheduled for a debate that evening; (6) Jack has a drug habit.

There's more, too, enough to wear one out....but regular viewers of this show, I assume, are used to that. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest.

Back at It

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 17 January 2019]

Three years have passed since the near fatal chemical attack on President Palmer. During this time, Jack has been embedded in a drug cartel where he was abused and injured. He has brought in a big fish, but this guy has a lot of power and now a potential viral attack on Los Angeles and the possible death of a million people is in the offing. Once again we are introduced to characters that have been added, particularly Chloe, who will be playing a big part in the series. Kim is back but is working for the agency. One guy in particular resents her position. He feels that she is only working there because of Jack. We find a bit of a secret at the end of the episode.

no Muslims, no nukes

[nerrdrage · 8/10 · 26 September 2023]

It's been 20 years since 24 originally aired and this season stands out in my memory as one of the best. Even back in those days, the threat of a deadly virus (with an eerily similar name to corona) was potent.

The villains are interesting, especially the vicious Salazar, who could give the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul gang a run for their money. President Palmer is a great bad-ass (interesting that he predates Obama; one of those aspects of 24 that is more interesting years later).

This also marks the introduction of Chase, a character I really liked, even if he was too often tethered to annoying Kim; and the charming duo of Chloe and Spock err Adam, whose squabbling somehow manages not to undermine their jobs and get everyone killed.

24 Reinvents Itself? Well, not entirely...

[shawneuser · 7/10 · 24 June 2020]

Season 2 followed a true sequel format by doing much of the same as Season 1 except turning the dial to 11. This made for a darker and even more intense season than the first. So, where do you go from a nuclear threat and Jack being tortured to death? I guess you take a step back and focus a little more on the characters because that is what the first episode of Season 3 does. First of all, let me get out of the way my absolute horror at the fact that the show choose to ignore the cliffhanger ending of Season 2. After showing a glimpse of the assassination attempt on President Palmer that ended Season 2, the disappointing words 3 Years Later flashed on the screen? Wait, what? Remember, it wasn't just the attack on Palmer that was pushed under the rug, it was the obvious developing relationship with Kate, the threat Kate's sister laid on her in the last episode, and several antagonists from Season 2, including Carrie, who never got their comeuppance. Total disappointment to have all that just left hanging. Anyway, after getting over that, what we have with Season 3 is a slower developing drama that basically took all of the first episode to just set the table and establish all the main players. The highlight of episode 1 for me was seeing Tony, Michelle, and Chloe. I really enjoyed the time in the series when Tony and Michelle were together, and of course, 24 isn't the same without Chloe. Jack is a basket-case for much of the episode, and the big reveal in the episode is that he's addicted to heroine. Considering what Jack went through in Season 2, it is kind of tough to see him in this kind of shape. I actually wish he would have given up CTU and married Kate. Oh, well, the show must go on, I guess. Good call with the threat being a deadly virus this time around. It is maybe the only threat that is more frightening than a nuclear bomb. I'm sure there'll be more action ahead.

A curious start for Day 3

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 28 April 2017]

This is one of my favorite seasons, one which is best described as a slow burn; and the opener is certainly case in point. There's a real emphasis on building an ensemble as opposed to this being central to one main character. Jack gets a sidekick, Palmer now has his brother as chief adviser, and Kim's an analyst with the other desk jockeys at CTU who feel like they're one solid group. As villains go, it's the Salazar brothers, one of whom is the magnetic Joaquim de Almeida, and the other is an also-ran in the strictest sense.

The odd thing about this is just how much these characters do sitting around desks. The episode's best scene is its closing one, with Jack hurting bad for a heroin fix. I guess when you really need to make the good guy a mess, how about narcotic as an occupational hazard?

The season gets better from here, but it's off to a fairly muted start.

7/10