24: Season Two DVD Collection [DVD]

Having devoutly watched season 1 of 24 only recently and absolutely adoring it, I purchased the successive seasons without hesitation. I must admit, as a previous reviewer stated, I had doubts as to whether this season could possibly match the intensity and magnificence of season 1 and it's 'on-the-edge-of-your-seat-action' which I must admit raised my blood pressure ever so slightly! However, I was pleasantly suprised. On first viewing season 2, and the intial episodes, I was critical and suspicious, and was not immediately involved in the plot, nor did I find the action or situations particularly interesting or stimulating. But, once the notorious Jack Bauer was infact back in the game, this all started to change.I won't reveal or ruin the plot for those of you that enjoy the intrigue, but I will say that I genuinely believe that this season managed to surpass season 1 with flying colours, and of course, riveting action from start to finish. I worship Kiefer Sutherland as an actor and I personally feel he alone makes Jack Bauer the complex character we (I in particular) have all grown to love and admire. In this season, Bauer develops even further and we see the multi-facets of his character and actions. I love both Bauer and Sutherland, as they are both rebels, and go against the grain, so to speak. Bauer in this season demonstrates integrity, honesty, humanity, patriotism and bravery. I find the constant and continued parallels between him and David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), the president, incredibly interesting. Both are reminiscent of great leaders, both are honest individuals and both wish to defend and protect their country and more importantly, people. I find these qualities highly admirable and appealing and throughout both season 1 and 2, I empathised immensely with both characters, even more so when all the odds were against them and with the government constantly attempting to undermine them. I actually found myself in knots when complications arose!As always with 24, I enjoyed the frequent consipracies and elements of both political and governmental corruption. This season is jam-packed with twists and turns, and as with season 1, keeps you on edge. I personally can see many parrallels between the plot and events that have actually occured within America over the past ten years, particularly when this season was being filmed, making it even more intense and challenging. 24 as a series, invites you to question morality itself, justice, the world we live in, how little we are actually aware of and the things that go on behind closed doors without our knowledge. It certainly makes you question the integrity of political figures, their campaigns, the sincerity of our governments and the natures of those individuals high up on the 'food chain', who seemingly manipulate others, have incredible power/control over the world, and have the ability to orchistrate terrorist attacks in their favour, primarily for financial gain. But I won't indulge too much in conspiracy theories.I thoroughly look forward to the remaining seasons of 24 as it is a truely wonderful series, with fantastic actors and plots. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend 24 to anyone and everyone as a true gem of television and entertainment, with depths and concepts of morality beyond merely superficial comprehension. Buy, watch and enjoy!

There are several points that are specific for TV shows, and in all of them 24 surpasses all other 'police/politics drama' TV shows:PLOT: 1st series was, of course, a kind of introduction to the characters and to the discourse of the the show. The narrative is based on the 'real time' method of storytelling, meaning that all the events are depicted as they would happen in 'real life'.This demands several paralel plots, so the dynamics needed for TV wouldnt be lost, ie. so the show is not boring. In series 1 the real time factor is much more obvious, since 95% of the story happens in Los Angeles, during the day od the presidental primary, and there is almost complete interdependance of all of the story elemnts: the main plot (assasination attempt, CTU insider traitor), abduction of Jack Bauer's family and Senator Palmer's campaign are all intevined in one complex story, and they are causal to one another. The most disappoining fact of series 2 is the fact that the story of Kim Bauer is completely independant from the main plot, and is not in anyway important for developing of the events. It only functions as characterisation tool for Jack Bauer.On the other side, the main plot is really more exciting than in the 1st series: there is a nuclear bomb that is about to explode in Los Angeles, President Palmer is in the middle of a coup d'etat, betrayed by his closest aids, and there is a possibility of World War III happening - and it's all up to Jack Bauer to prevent these disasters.THE CHARACTERS: I think that real efforts had been made by the writers of the series to further develop all characters: Jack Bauer as the ultimate middle-aged (yes, thats right, middle-aged) hero who is coming to terms with his responsabilties to his family and his country, Palmer as an uncompromising but still very skillful politician/president, Sherry Palmer as vindictive and highly intelligent woman, George Mason as an unwilling and weak hero who is faced with the worst possible motivation for determination. In my opinion, only the character of Kim Bauer and her boyfreind Miguel were a real let down: she is a spoiled brat, at times even very stupid and irrational, and I can only think that her role in the plot is to make the viewer even more nervous and jumpy.DVD: It is really exciting to watch the whole series as close to real time as possible, it really pushes the element of time passing and hours/minutes to the surface - it is THE way to watch this. There is a bonus DVD with 45 deleted scenes, and a 1.5 hours of "making of" 24 feature.This is well worth the money if you are willing to invest in an intelligent series that does not just demand your time but your brains as well.