"Day 5: 3AM - 4AM"

Written by Manny Coto
Directed by Brad Turner


In which Jack struggles to get the recovered recording to his allies before Logan can stop him, while loyalties among the DHS personnel prove to be flexible...

Status Report - Final Analysis




Status Report

The previous episode was the first slow patch since the final third of the season began, so the writers needed to make a move in the first act to bring things back on track. The right place to start is the kind of positioning and maneuvering that marked the episodes since the revelations about Logan. Karen remains in a precarious position, and as expected, Heller survived his attempt at escape. Curtis is back in action, even as Logan moves to take down the plane that Jack has commandeered.

It still doesn’t make sense for Jack to hold onto the recording without ensuring that another copy can be made. Chloe is right there online; for that matter, why not have Karen record it at CTU, so she has the information she needs to justify her actions? The answer is rather plain: by keeping the sole copy in Jack’s hands, the writers have an easier time maintaining the tension, despite the illogic of it all.

Logan’s allies contrive an excuse to shoot down the plane, and since Novick gets involved as Chief of Staff (ostensibly to legitimize Logan’s rationale), it becomes an argument regarding the logic of Jack’s supposed treason. If Novick wasn’t suspicious before, he certainly has reason now. With Karen and Bill openly working to support Jack (without explaining anything to anyone, which just leaves a huge opening for Miles), it becomes a race against time.

Landing the plane on an interstate is hardly a shock, but the timing issues lend it a desperation that makes it a lot more fun. The landing is a blast, especially since it proves to expose a bit of Logan’s true nature. When Jack manages to hit the ground running (without smashing into much in the process), it’s not hard to believe that he has a chance. Everything is happening so fast that his escape, while as improbable as the plane’s safe landing, seems inevitable.

Once Karen makes the unfortunate choice of trusting Miles, and since he’s an opportunist, there’s little doubt that he’ll be at the center of trouble when it comes. Bierko’s return to the plot is a lot more interesting, however. There was reason to believe he was out of the picture for good, but this episode drops him right back into the position he never should have left! Bierko is far more compelling as a villain than Henderson, Logan, or that annoying oil magnate.

One of the better scenes of the episode comes right after Novick’s realization that something has escaped his notice. Logan recognizes that his gambit is nearly over, and he can’t face his allies with failure on his lips. He sits in the darkness, letting his phone ring, a look of resignation in his eyes. It’s a momentary return of the dignified weakness of his earlier portrayal. It lasts only a moment, but it’s a strong moment, and it presages his decision to come.

Jack finally hands over the recording upon his return to CTU, and he gets a reunion with Audrey, who has shown a remarkable strength of late. Audrey was one of the weakest characters of the fourth season, so it’s good to see her take a better turn this time around. Of course, when Jack seems to relax, thinking the game is done, a feeling of dread descends. Jack has been forced to accept so much loss in the past 21 hours, and there’s no reason to believe it will end with so much time left to go.

The final act pays off a number of suspicions, one after the other. Logan reinforces his primary personality trait. When everything seems lost and there are no options left on the board, Logan is more willing to kill himself than face judgment. He seems resigned to the fact that no options will present themselves legally. Once an option does appear, however, Logan happily embraces it, even though he can’t be sure where it will lead.

Miles’ betrayal was telegraphed to the hilt, but instead of seeming too easy, it feels like the natural progression of his character’s involvement in the story. There are no illusions in that assessment; the writers didn’t plan this moment, anymore than they planned out the season. But Miles does act in accordance with his character, which in turn serves the needs of the story.

Unfortunately, while Logan and Miles act in character and make choices that make sense for them, Chloe somehow does something completely out of character. It’s the same mistake that Jack made, and it’s all about serving the plot. The first thing Chloe should have done was make a copy of the recording. CTU had to have the technology on hand! That would have made it impossible, however, for Miles to destroy the recording, and that would have eliminated the intended plot twist. And so a strong final act, with character driving plot for once, is undermined in the very last moments.

This final act is, in a nutshell, a symptom of the problems with “24” in recent seasons. Characters are only allowed to act in accordance with their personality and motivation so long as it serves the plot. Once the plot needs them to act in some other fashion, well, it’s not even a question. And that’s simply not good writing, even if it keeps the tension high and the audience riveted. Others shows manage to hit it out of the park with consistent characterization; would it really be asking so much for “24” to do the same?


Final Analysis

Overall, this episode is an improvement over the previous installment, but it still falls prey to the usual pitfalls. Manny Coto tries to ensure that characters take action in accordance with their psychology, but in two key instances, plot demands determine foolish actions. This undermines what is otherwise a very solid episode for the season.

Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 7/10




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