Is it just me or is 24 sounding more and more like Days of our Lives after this week's episode? With some long lost Bauer's uncovered and more sappy "are you okay, dears" from the numerous wedded ones - i'm wondering if the guys at fox have gone soft on us. Then i remember Walid's sacrificial undercover beating and i'm jolted back into the espionage of the Counter Terrorist Unit.

The Best

• Jack's Never Too Busy: Even after a nuclear bomb exploding in California, Jack still has time to climb an impaired house to rescue a news reported from a dangling chopper only so the said reporter can return at 8:00pm to say we should impeach the president.
• Skeletor Incarnate: Looks like He-Man's arch nemesis has been reincarnated into an terrorist in California (the likes of Fayed) - how befitting. I'd recognize those strong cheek bones anywhere.
• Family Ties: If meeting Jack's brother wasn't enough of a joyous occasion, we got to see how strong these family ties really were as jack does the most heartwarming of traditions - tying up and torturing his beloved! I can't wait to see "Graem's" reciprocity when the long lost son story is out of the bag.
  

The Worst

• Walid's Series of Unfortunate Events: The fact he's behind enemy lines is unbelievably bad enough. But to add his honey's over the fence regurgitation of overused, underdeveloped dialogue and you've got a terrible use of  these character's depth.  Hopefully we'll see these two get back in the political ring where they belong.

• 5 Seasons of Foreplay: After five seasons of near-successful terrorist attacks it looks like the terrorists will finally score big.  Major kudos for the plot on this one.  Just don't tell me that all 4 of the other nukes are in LA . . .
• Pedestrian Rage: How freakin raw was Mr. Dad's headbashing stint at the Terrorists 'R Us shop?  Too bad this guy vaporized in the nuke or we could've had a potential mini-jack walking around.

The Worst

• White Castle Terrorist: I don't care what you say, "Ahmed" is the pansiest terrorist i've ever seen.  And was it just me or was he wearing lipstick?  I'm a little dissapointed he died an unhumiliating death in the ambulance - a proper headshot via Fayed while cowering for mercy would've been more suitable role for this cry baby.

Yes, my friends that is all.  i don't normally blog this much and frankly i think it's giving me a headache.

• Family Ties:  Hello Sandra.  Not since Sherry have we seen a gutsy in-your-face woman ready to take charge and play hard ball with the president.  Can you imagine those two at Thanksgiving?  What i wouldn't give to spend the holidays with the Palmers circa (2000 -  before the Julia massacre of '03). 
• Bite Sized Escapes: Jack takes a solid bite our of crime and that poor guys trachea.  Not since the Decapitator Jack pulled that suprise primary witness barter has a season opener been so bloody raw!
• What happens in CTU stays in CTU: Jack's faded whisper telling Curtis to keep Audrey and Kim out of the sacrificial loop.  Well, at least this way Chloe can tell them in her usual sensitive way.
• Redneck Rally: The age old question - do you root for the redneck who suspects a Muslim for being a terrorist?  Or the misunderstood Muslim? What if the stereotype ends up being true?  oh, the dilemma.  Looks like they are pulling out some big guns this season.  Prepare for another Jack Bauer after show peace-keeping commentary.
• Breakdown: Although i am a raging fan of and Jack-always-knows-best - it's quite refreshing to see him portrayed more dynamically this season and given some humanity amidst all the relentless action.  I'm talking about that sad moment when Torturous Jack was unsuccessful at getting the "vital knowledge" from key contact to primary antagonist (see also the mundane 24 cycle).

The Worst

• Missing - White House Staples: Looks like Carl finally took that long overdue vacation.  Other then Jack, he's the only other main character to survive 5 seasons of terror.  (Aaron, although alive through all seasons is not what i consider a main character.)
• The Lame Get-Away: Jack's effortless flee from the sewer hideout into a very nice and well parked vehicle.  What ever happened to the terrrorists who track cell phone signals?
• Introducing the Weasel:  Move over type-casted Snake here comes the wallowing weasel, Tom.  The next evolutionary stage of bad guys pretending to be good and who look stupid doing it.  Although not as slithery as Miles, i think this Tom is going to be twice as weasely - kinda like Logan, only i'm sure he'll repeat himself a lot. 

• Holy Matrimony:  Looks like everyone's getting hitched (or re-hitched) around here.  Karen and Bill, Chloe and Morris, there was even a cameo by Wayne's left ring finger (with a solid gold band).  Despite past homicidal lovers Wayne has managed to find a suitable first lady - dare i even speculate?
• Bluetooth Back?  I heard a rumor that the head of the Bland Bluetooth Group from last season will be back to reek a little havok.  I hate these guys.  Really i do, they pale in comparision to the kind of top level villians i expect from a 6 season action show (see previous comments).