24: Live Another Day - “9:00 PM—10:00 PM” Recap. Russians, Chinese, and Jack, Oh My.

Episode 11

Air Date: Monday, July 7, 2014, 9:00 PM ET/PT on Fox

Rating: ★★★★★

“Do what has to be done. Do you hear me, Jack?” – Audrey

The Russians take on Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and Kate (Yvonne Strahovski)

The gunfight between the Russians, Jack (Kiefer Sutherland), and Morgan (Yvonne Strahovski) grabs the attention of Cheng (Tzi Ma) and his men via the nearby camera feeds they are monitoring. By the time Jack and Morgan’s backup arrives and the Russian threat is taken down, Cheng escapes, but not before removing the tracking device Navarro (Benjamin Bratt) placed on the override device. Will Jack be able to track down Cheng before the Chinese retaliate against the United States for the attack on their ship, which Cheng was responsible for?

The look on Jack’s face is priceless when he hears Cheng’s voice on a recording left behind by Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub). Audrey (Kim Raver) is equally stunned to hear Cheng is alive when Jack relays the information to President Heller (William Devane). Heller has reservations about this news since both U.S. and Chinese intelligence believes Cheng was killed three years earlier trying to escape from prison. Jack assures the President, “Sir, this man held me captive and tortured me for over a year and a half. I would never forget his voice.” Considering Audrey’s last run-in with Cheng, I’m sure I’m not the only one who is surprised Jack doesn’t inquire if Audrey is in the room before dropping the Cheng bombshell.

In my last review of 24: Live Another Day, I was thrilled by the Cheng reveal, especially because I never saw it coming. Combined with Jack’s reaction to the news, I was hoping for a big moment in “9:00 PM-10:00PM” when Cheng learns Jack is not only in London, but hot on his trail. You know, that ‘holy crap’ moment when Cheng realizes he just knocked over a hornet’s nest named Jack Bauer? Turns out Cheng already knows about Jack’s involvement because Russian Deputy Minister Anatol (Stanley Townsend) informed Cheng about Jack, saying he will take care of him. While it doesn’t diminish the story at all, I found myself feeling cheated that random events do not put the Russians, Chinese, and Jack on a crash course.

Boudreau (Tate Donovan) takes on Anatol (Stanley Townsend)

The phone call between Audrey and Jack is powerful to watch as the two discuss Cheng, given their past with him. The split screen image provides an interesting side-by-side visual of the two former lovers having a conversation despite being miles apart. Audrey doesn’t mince words as she blatantly tells Jack, “Kill him!” Jack apologizes for everything that has happened, as well as for what is going to happen next, which I assume refers to Boudreau (Tate Donovan) now that Jack knows Boudreau is responsible for the Russians being able to track him. Despite Jack’s concerns, Audrey reassures him. “I could never hate you. I never have.” The call has an ominous feel to it, almost as if their conversation will have an even deeper meaning after the season winds down.

Jack’s confrontation with Boudreau starts off quite intense but quickly fizzles. It’s like Jack’s love for Audrey holds him back from outright killing her husband. Jack tells President Heller he has a plan to use Boudreau as bait so he and Morgan can gain access to Anatol’s home in London in an effort to learn Cheng’s location. I wish there had been more time for the writers to explore the emotional complexity taking place between Jack, Boudreau, and Audrey, and wonder whether one of them will have to die in the end in a sacrificial attempt to save the others.

Thanks to Boudreau, who is able to distract Anatol, Jack and Morgan are able to storm the residence, but not before Anatol is fatally wounded in the struggle. Before he dies, Anatol gives Jack a dire warning that his country will never stop hunting him.

Audrey (Kim Raver) meets with Jiao Sim (Tuyen Do),

I was never a fan of Jack’s daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) because she was always used as the damsel in distress who Jack had to rescue, even if it meant veering off whatever course he was on. In doing so, it allowed the writers to change things up suddenly without having to resolve any loose ends. This season, the damsel role falls on Audrey who, on the brink of war with the Chinese, meets with the Chinese President’s daughter, Jiao Sim (Tuyen Do), in a dimly lit park in the middle of the night. Cheng somehow is waiting for them and snipers take out everyone but Audrey. The 24 clock hits 10:00 as Audrey sits alone on a park bench, awaiting Cheng’s next move. The fear on her face is frightening as it is apparent she is remembering her last time in Cheng’s company.

At times, the last few episodes of 24: Live Another Day, including “9:00 PM—10:00 PM,” have felt rushed. It seems the writers need to line everything up for the season finale. In just the last three episodes alone, the major villain went from Margo (Michelle Fairley), to Navarro, to Cross (Michael Wincott), the Russians, and then Cheng. That is a lot of ground to cover and I wonder how much the shortened season has restricted some of the story lines. That said, it should be one hell of a finale.

Tune in to what’s sure to be an exciting conclusion to 24: Live Another Day, Monday, July 14, 2014 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, only on Fox.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.