(S07E02) "What the hell happened to you?" - Jack

Two hours in and I've gotta say - this might be the best ensemble cast that 24 has had yet. Cherry Jones and Colm Feore are just great as the President and First Gentleman. Annie Wersching and Jeffrey Nordling are doing awesome filling the void that CTU has left, and on top of all that, Carlos Bernard is back. It's shaping up to be a pretty good season of 24.

Picking up right where we left off earlier tonight, Walker and her FBI cronies locked down the building ASAP once they figured out where Gabe's shooter was. I mention that because it brings to light one of the unavoidable issues that 24's real-time format can't shake - making easy tasks seem like they take forever. On any other show, the FBI would have swept that building in minutes and been done with it. But on 24, it takes almost the whole hour. It was a bit much, especially with Jack sitting in the back of that SUV doing squat. But it comes with the territory on this show, and the whole mess was sufficiently broken up by everything else that was going on.

Two big things got revealed:

• Number one: Tony isn't working for himself. He's outsourcing his talents to someone we now know as David Emerson, another non-descript white male in the long and distinguished line of 24's shadowy baddies. This speaks to the question I posed in my earlier review tonight - what's Tony's endgame? Is he just working for this guy because he's truly bad now? Or does he have his own agenda regarding Michelle's death? Remains to be seen - but trust me, there's another huge layer to this. Thoughts? Predictions?
• Number two: Emerson is working with Col. Dubaku - or at least selling him Latham's technology. Dubaku's motives are simple - revenge for his brother's death (he was killed by Jack in Redemption). And just like that, all three major plots are now tied together. Tony, Sangala, and Roger's death all have a connection. That should hopefully make things simpler moving forward.

As for the mole - looks like Tony (or Emerson) does indeed have a guy buried in the FBI. However, it can't just be that one field agent who helped Tanner (the shooter) out of the building. He's way too low on the chain of command to be an effective mole. So who's above him? We may never find out with Tanner shot and Tony now captured. After Jack saw Tanner's work-boots, you knew exactly how it would play out. One important thing to note? When Jack had the opportunity to shoot Tony, he didn't. That never happens with Jack.

A few more thoughts...

• Does anyone think that Sangala's former PM Matobo will actually keep his promise to Taylor to try Juma in a court of law? I don't see the Sangalan people being OK with that. They'll want blood.
• It's going to be interesting to see how Kanin uses the info on Henry going to a private investigator regarding Roger.
• If Tony's job was just to deliver Latham's device, why did he need to go so far by almost crashing those two planes? Couldn't there have been an easier way to test the device before it got handed off to Dubaku? At least one with less exposure?
• Remember all that talk about not needing to see Redemption to know what's going on in the beginning of the season? Seems like a lot is tying in, and while I'm sure answers are forthcoming, those that have seen the prequel certainly have a clearer picture right now.
• In keeping with 24's history, the Sangala conflict (while similar to Darfur) is very quickly becoming a metaphor for US involvement in Iraq and the belief that many shared - we shouldn't have gotten involved. 24's writers and producers have never been shy about their feelings in the past...
• Raise your hand if you think Samantha played a role in Roger's death. Why else would she have been paid off?
• Moss seemed concerned when he found out that Renee was in the room when Gabe got shot. Think those two have a past? It seems pretty clear he doesn't trust her, or else he wouldn't have had Janis track her.
• Also, for those who thought Benton killed Dubaku with that mine in Redemption ... then you need to see the extended version on DVD. He survived the explosion. I'm surprised there was no explanation...

As hour two wound down, one thing struck me - I love how Jack has a "partner" in Renee. It's going to be great to see them interact, but more importantly to see how well Jack can mold her. So far, she seems pretty open to his methods - especially when it comes to butting heads with Moss. Wait'll you see what happens when those two get Tony in an interrogation room.