24

WARNING: If you are a 24 fan & have not seen Monday's 2-hour episode yet, do not read this post.

I started watching 24 during Season 2, when Jack Bauer first saved us from a nuclear attack and then saved 3 innocent Middle East nations from being wrongly attacked by the US in retribution. I instantly became hooked, watching Season 1 on DVD in about 3 weeks that summer and loyally watching Seasons 3 and 4.

I watched the first episode of Season 5 but decided after the third assassination attempt on former President David Palmer was successful (not to mention his successor being shot down out of Air Force One) that I needed some time away from the show.

My hiatus appeared to be a good thing. Season 6 got off on the right foot with David Palmer's brother Wayne now in office. Bringing Jack's shady brother & father into the show added some great new intrigue. While the actual terrorist activity is old news (more nukes), the story felt fresh again. I was hooked again.

Then I watched the last 3 episodes. We have a potential coup in the White House of President Palmer. I think I saw that in Season 2. We have Jack potentially being falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit. I think I've seen that in every season. We have someone close to Jack betraying him. We saw that with the seemingly never-ending Nina in Seasons 1, 2, & 3.

I guess there's only so much "newness" you can have in an action-thriller about terrorism. But I'm burned out. I'm going to give it another episode or two. If the expected storylines come to fruition, then I think I'm done for good. There's only so many ways to tell the same story.