I've seen how critically acclaimed The Wire and The Sopranos are on here, along with LOST after the recent post asking for the sub's opinion on LOST. So I'd like to ask your opinion, r/television, on the show 24. It seems relatively decent from the small snippets I've viewed, but I've been disappointed before.
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One of my favorite shows of all time. Even the worst season (6) is more interesting than a majority of television these days. It'll take a while to get through but it's worth it.
Thank you. It's good to see rational people who know that season 6 is the worst. You'd be amazed at how many people rate it highly.
The first 4 episodes made it seem like it was gonna top season 5 (a gargantuan task) then it floundered until around episode 17, then floundered again after that. I felt season 7 and the tv movie were refreshing.
Yes. The first 4 kept me on the edge of my seat, but when Jack decided to commit treason just for Audrey later on in the season was when I got fed up. I also agree about season 7 being better (although not being in LA just wasn't the same) and I liked Redemption.
The final episode with Fayed as a villain was the only good episode outside of the first four (which I think the treason thing was after that episode.
Season 6 was 3 great things going for it: 1. The first 4 episode. 2. the final fight with Fayed. 3. the Jack and Heller argument. Despite these 3 series highs, the season is still the worst. I'd argue the first half of 8 was worse but the Jack Bauer revenge arc of that season was great.
People who watched it as a once-a-week show disliked it. People who watched it all at once (like me) liked it. Personally I thought 6 was one of the best seasons.
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Found it
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2a5j6g/hey_24_fans_we_are_evan_katz_and_manny_coto_the/ciro4ws
Yes, absolutely. There are some definite low points, but overall it was a fantastic series.
Alright, thank you!
Here's the problem: it's long as fuck. During the 24 episodes for each season some amazing stuff happens. Fire fights, interrogations, plot twists, it's phenomenal tv. However the low episodes make it feel like you are watching elderly people with walkers race. It's some of the best political thriller/spy/action you'll ever see, just be prepared because there is a lot of it to watch.
Also I may be in the minority here but I kind of sort of pretend "live another day" didn't happen. Until they come out with something else that is.
Personally as someone who watched almost the whole show, just stop at the end of season 3. 4 if you really love the show. After that it goes downhill fast with some peaks but never gets as good again. 3 is my favorite season by far
For the record, they won the Emmy for Best Drama for season 5. Season 6 was by far the worst in my opinion (great first 4 hours then it went downhill fast), but then it rebounded a bit in 7.
As others have said...there are high points and low points. But it is the definition of binge television. You can't just watch 1 and if you're not careful you could lose yourself in it and end up watching 7 in one night.
Oh I know the 24 binge all too well.
Major 24 spoilers below
Season 5 is fine for what it is but I dislike how many lead character deaths there are in the season. While I applaud them for have the courage to so drastically alter the show I don't think it ever really recovers from that loss. Also the story ending with jack faking his death and going into hiding is a lot more satisfying then jack being captured by the Chinese. Ending in season 4 feels good and satisfying. Ending on season 6 makes you wanna see what happens to resolve the finale, which takes you to god awful season 6
Disagree. I'd stop after season 5. Four and five, and my opinion, are the best of the series.
Nah S5 was easily the strongest season. Season 3 was pretty boring with the Mexico arc and the virus bs.
I disagree, thought threes characters were the most interesting. Just because characters die doesn't mean it's compelling, especially if the characters hat replace them are more boring. The end isn't satisfactory and then it leads into season six which is awful
The irony of 24 is its weakness = it must drag on for 24 hours.
Aren't they bringing it back soon with 13 episodes? Or that might have happened already.
After the first couple season, you'll be like can they be this stupid, not again.
It's definitely a wild ride. If anything, just watch until the end of Season 5 because that is by far their best. And if you feel like it's disappointing you, just watch Season 5 at least. That's how good I think that season is.
But one thing you're gonna realize is, if everybody just listened to Jack Bauer, the whole day would be done in like, 4 episodes or something.
Is a box of Oreos worth eating?
I dunno man, it depends on if you like Oreos or not.
I disagree, I enjoyed 24.
I did too! I also enjoy a box of Oreos now and then, but it's not filet mignon, imho.
My favorite show ever but seriously, you'll start to wonder why Jack isnt the President by day 3 considering the number of times he saves our asses and the number of times he's right.
Reading this comment after Designated Survivor was released lol
I liked it a lot, even though I didn't start for several seasons. I did the 2004 version of bingeing. I'd get a disk from Netflix, watch four episodes in a night, send it back the next day. Then I'd restlessly wait two or three days for the next disk. The first season was the best, with some structure and a little bit of character. After that, it was just 24 episodes of chasing around and things exploding. Still fun, though.
Even having seen the many great shows that have surpassed it since it started, it remains one of my favorite television shows of all time. If you can suspend your disbelief (more and more as the series goes on) you'll have a blast. The action, drama, and suspense still hold up to this day and there are still a few scenes that will stick with me forever.
As was stated elsewhere, even its worst season (6) is better than a lot of television. 24 at its worst sticks to its own tropes and plays it safe, but at its best it'll shock you like the best shows out there. Plus there are some amazing characters you'll fall in love with who get killed off on the reg. And some of the best acting in television history. Gregory Itzin as Charles Logan is one of my favorite performances ever.
You won't regret it. It's just a LOT. Roughly 18 hours a season with eight seasons plus a TV movie between 6 and 7 and a mini-season from a few years back. If you have the time to invest it is absolutely worth a watch.
Seasons 1 - 5 definitely are.
Season 7 & Live Another Day were quality also. Not quite to the same level as 1-5 but nowhere near the lows of 6 & 8.
I watched the first few seasons because it was doing some interesting things. But the length of each season being so long means there are not a few filler plot threads and even some episodes and it got so crazy and over the top I stopped watching around season five, the stuff I didn't like might appeal to you or turn you off as well, you'll have to judge for yourself.
Yes 24 is very much worth watching. And then watching again.
I remember when 24 and Alias premiered on the same year. Man, what good year that was! Both shows felt like they completely rewrote the rules of action on TV; they both felt very high production value, like a movie, with great stories and a lot of satisfying action. (In the case of Alias, over the top stuff, whereas 24 was more grounded).
So yes, I definitely recommend 24. It has a fantastic first few seasons. The quality definitely drops off, as plot points start getting recycled and Jack becomes way too powerful for his own good, but it still remains highly entertaining till the end.
Worth watching? Absolutely. But how good is it in 2023? That's a different story. This show was hampered by the format that made in unique. Tons of filler episodes and thing's that have to happen to keep the plot moving. And in that regard it can be a bit difficult to get through the whole day. But the payoffs are usually worth it
Assuming you're not looking for the level of quality found in the two aforementioned shows, then yes, definitely watch 24.
I watched 24 when it aired and loved it for what it was, 40+ minutes of fun with plot twists and action galore.
It doesn't reach The Wire or Sopranos levels of quality but it's a very different type of show. It's very much up and down in terms of quality, but watch the first season in full and I suspect you'll want to continue...
Awesome, thank you!
I watched a couple of episodes. Didn't like it. I don't particularly enjoy when my entertainment blindly suggests torture is a great way to retrieve information. Pretty much all cop shows do it. Gets pretty boring.
It does seem to be a bit of a trope amongst cop shows, yeah. I'll keep that in mind!
Jack Bauer is the most ruthless fictional agent ever. He would kill Bourne, Bond, and Ethan Hunt. He has saved the world.
YES. Stop what you are doing and watch it.
One of the greatest and most groundbreaking shows ever made. Kiefer Sutherlands performance alone makes this worth watching.
Though be warned, if you binge through it there will be elements that repeat themselves (don't wanna spoiler anything here, but longtime fans will agree with me that there are things that inevitably happen in every season)
I didn't care for it. Thought it had its moment, but overall isn't that good of a series. It a fox show, so.... just doesn't have the quality as some of these newer shows, but its at least somewhat entertaining although its extremely repetitive.
simply. YES!
Probably not. If you're a completionist, then I think the answer is a strong no, b/c the later seasons are much weaker than earlier seasons. If you can handle watching 2-3 seasons and bailing, then have it, unless you have better options available.
I watched every episode, and I'd probably watch new ones that came out. But it's more out of habit.
What other shows are you thinking about watching?
The show is incredibly dramatic but it's also absolutely fantastic. You need to not take it completely seriously just like any action movie but it's one of the most thrilling TV series I've ever watched.
Watch the entire first season and make your decision after that...
If I had the option to binge watch this show when it first came out, I would have been glued to the tv
I'm probably alone in this sentiment but I hated the show. Couldn't get through the first season. It starts out promising but there are so many twists and turns in the plot any notion of credibility just goes out the window about half way through. It was just impossible for me to enjoy it.
I'm obviously in the minority here so certainly give it a watch and make up your own mind. Just don't expect anything in the same league (or even anywhere close to it) as The Wire or The Sopranos.
Absolutely. It's a relentlessly intense action show that I think doesn't get enough credit for helping shape television today. I can say without hesitation that, upon first airing in 2001, 24 is responsible for pushing the boundaries of television. It was the first network series where anything could happen. Major characters would get killed, story developments which you were certain weren't going to happen actually happened, and the unpredictability of it all made for some truly exciting television. Especially in the first 3 seasons when the closest thing that was similar to it was Alias (which jumped the shark a lot sooner than 24 did). It was utterly groundbreaking television and it really holds up after all this time.
I know the later seasons have been criticized (and with good reason), but don't let that stop you from watching it. The entire series is worth watching and it ends on a really spectacular note (the last half of Season 8 and the whole of Season 9 are some of the best moments of the entire show).
Just... be wary of Season 6. That was easily the show's "gas leak" season.
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Someone asks whether to watch a show and you made a post full of spoilers?
Are you a special kind of stupid? "Here's a list of spoilers for every season of a show you want to watch!"
I agree with others here that it is worth watching and is one of my favorite shows. But I'll just say, like anything give the first episode a try and see how you feel. Although you'll probably be immediately hooked. I walked by my roommates many years ago watching it and was curious. I thought why not check it out myself and I watched probably 5 episodes in a row before I had to go to bed, and I probably could have watched the entire thing in one sitting if it was possible. The first season is incredibly suspenseful in that way and it's nice now that you don't have to wait a week in between episodes. There is all the political/terrorism/interrogation drama but there is also good drama and depth between the characters.
Back in the day when I watched one of the seasons in real time I got really into the message boards and got into a lot of plot discussion and theories, and while you might not be able to do that now, it's the kind of show with a lot of twists and speculation that makes it more interesting than just a standard episodic network cop show.
It's pretty entertaining. Some serious suspension of disbelief is required, though, and I'd recommend taking a break between seasons, or the formulaic nature of the plot structure they recycle each season might begin to wear on you.
Each season has its flaws, but each season is very much worth watching. Just a quick tip: in season's one and two skip any scene that has Kim Bauer in it. Season 3 is where it really gets going and season 4 is where it introduced the trademark of a new plot twist and villain every 4 episodes.
While its nowhere near the level of The Wire or The Sopranos, 24 is a show definitely worth watching. Its one of those shows you want to watch with somebody else though.
Do you like mindless torture porn that a Supreme Court justice actually used to justify Guantánamo and the treatment of suspected terrorists? Then this is the show for you!
24 is an entertaining popcorn show. There's no question about that. But it's a massive commitment if you want to watch it all the way through (over 200 episodes!), and there are definitely better shows out there.
So I think it's worth watching, but if there are other shows you are considering you might want to consider viewing them them first before diving in to 24.
Of course. EDIT: Sorry if I sounded smug. It's one of my favourite shows of all time, espescially seasons 1-5. I recommend everyone who likes thrilling TV watch it.