The picture editing and character split screens are effects you don’t see in any other show. The digital clock that pops up every few minutes informing you how much time is left for Jack to save the day or hour is also cool. The scriptwriting is credited to Howard Gordon who does an excellent job. The whole show has a real 24 hour time clock feel to it. I just love the ticking clock sound that prepares you for a countdown to an exciting ending.

There is no doubt that 24 is a complete action-drama show. Kiefer Sutherland does a remarkable job as the rogue CTU agent Jack Bauer who kicks anyone’s ass who gets in his way. He’s a tough disciplined agent trying to uncover the truth and restore justice. At times he’s rebellious and can become a ticking time bomb on screen in his raspy voice when interrogating terrorists. The show is especially good at sharing each characters story line even though everything revolves around Jack Bauer. Gregory Itzin also does a fantastic job as President Charles Logan. This guy doesn’t handle pressure to well. He’s weak and doesn’t have what it takes to be a leader. Gregory sells this very well. His facial expressions of nervousness build this great character who is placed in a position of power but many times seem unsure. When all of these incidents take place he demands his advisors to think for him and get quick results. There is an appearance by Guest star Sean Astin (Lynn McGill) appears in six episodes playing a bossy CTU advisor.

I cannot possibly mention anything else about the huge never ending plot that unfolds into something more each episode. There is no one best episode I can actually think of. The only thing I can say is thank you to creators Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran for developing such a brilliant show. (Thank god it’s on Fox and not cable.)

The DVD features includes behind the scenes with the producers of course. A Season 6 prequel, Season 6 trailer, extended and deleted scenes and a look at the music score by Sean Callery. And as an added bonus there is a 100th episode reel and the 24 behind the scenes book sample which came out November 2006. There is also Logan’s Retreat which is a look at the scenery of the retreat and how it was put together.

Season Grade: A
DVD Features Grade: A
Overall Grade: A