The highly anticipated third season of Fox’s dramatic series 24 premiered the 27th of October. Set three years after last season, our protagonist, Jack Bauer, played by Keifer Sutherland, goes to see Ramon Salazar, leader of a drug ring that Jack has spent the last year infiltrating. Salazar’s drug ring has many connections with terrorist groups, and Jack hopes to use Salazar’s knowledge of these groups to find and eliminate them. But, all is not well.

Jack’s plan is destroyed when Salazar kills his own lawyer and tells Jack that what happens next will be on him. Seconds before this, a body is dropped off at the National Health Services facility. It just so happens that this body is infected with a type 3 pneumatic virus that kills those infected within twenty-four hours. The strain is harmless, however, once the said infected are dead. The FBI receives a call shortly after the body is dropped off. Someone wants Salazar to be released within six hours, or they will release the virus into the public. If the virus is released, it will become a catastrophic epidemic, and almost 10 percent of the people of California would be infected within the week.

There have been a few changes this year, as was to be expected after a three year intermission. Jack has a young Field Ops partner by the name of Chase Edmunds. Chase is dating Jack’s daughter, Kim, who now works at CTU. Michelle Dessler, who also works at CTU, is now married to Tony Almeida, head of CTU. Jack Bauer, after spending an entire year with a drug cartel, is now addicted to the drug heroin and is suffering withdrawals from it. President Palmer is suddenly sick. He has a strange mark on his hand, and is short of breath, but he attributes the symptoms to jet-lag. He and his doctor, Anne Packard, are romantically involved. His previous Vice President has been replaced by his brother.

I have no doubt that this season of 24 will be any less dramatic and intense than the previous two have been. It will be very interesting to see how Jack deals with his new addiction. There are three romantic relationships this year, and I have a feeling that all three won’t endure for the season. I hope everyone has a chance to watch this show. Everyone who doesn’t will miss out on 24 hours of good television.

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24

by: Eric Rutan