24...six hours left

Tonight (4/19) we finally got a great episode of 24. The best of the season in my opinion. There are only six hours left of the series, and if tonight's episode is any indication of what is to come, they are not to be missed.

** SPOILER BELOW **

We pick up shortly after Renee was shot and killed. Jack is in shock and calls the new head of CTU, Chloe, and insists on knowing where their Russian informant is. Jack is sure he'll know who is behind Renee's death. Chloe is hesitant as she figures Jack is hell bent on revenge, but Jack vows he just wants to grill the guy for info. Jack finds the informant in Federal Court, and conveniently, when Jack walks in, the informant is granted a five minute recess by the judge. I'm no lawyer, but I assume every courtroom scene on television is 100% accurate... Jack discovers that the Russian Government is behind EVERYTHING that has gone on today: the nuclear threat on Manhattan, the assasination of President Hassan and the death of Renee. But CTU traitor, Dana Walsh, is the one that knows the names and who is exactly to blame.

Meanwhile, President Taylor, still trying to get this Peace Agreement to take place, agrees to let disgraced ex-President and traitor Charles Logan deal with the Russians to get them back to the Peace table. Pres Taylor has no idea the Russians are responsible for the day's events...but Logan does, and keeps it close to the vest. In some really good scenes, Logan blackmails the Russian President back to the peace talks with the threat of exposing the Russian's involvement in the day's events. We don't know how Logan knows, but he does. Logan tells his assistant, President Taylor doesn't need to know how it happened, just that the Russians are coming to the Peace agreement.

Then, Logan's assistant informs him that Jack Bauer is going to question the CTU double agent, Dana Walsh, who is the Russian point person at CTU and will give up the info exposing the Russians, and subsequently Logan's knowledge of events. Logan is trying to get back in the good graces of America, so Jack must be stopped!

Jack does get to Dana and in some vintage Jack Bauer beats the crap out of her. Jack gets his info. He's ready to take on the Russians.

Logan goes to President Taylor and says Jack needs to be contained. Taylor is a total Jack supporter and won't have any part of it without a good reason. Logan comes clean and admits he knew the Russians were behind everything, but JUST RECENTLY learned of this (again, we don't know how). President Taylor is now at a crossroads- keep the Peace Treaty alive, or expose the Russians. What is more important to her? This is actually quite a compelling scene.

President Taylor ultimately orders Jack to stand down. Jack wants to slap her around too now, you can just see it, but he begrudgingly agrees, though you know he'll do what he wants. The President figures this too and orders him to be taken into protective custody.

As Jack is about to be transported by Helicopter away from CTU, he steals a gun, steals the helicopter and takes off. Chloe tells Jack she'll have no choice but to tell the Air Force to shoot him down if he doesn't do it himself. End of episode.

Next week looks like a good one. Tonight's grade: A-. Very solid and no real lulls. As said before, hopefully the final six hours will be this good and the show will go out with a bang.