Key plot points
Bill’s death
- This is so sad - saddest death? Up there (alts: Mason? Edgar)
- Ends a nice mini-circle for Bill, who an hour ago told Jack he couldn’t question Burnett - in a way he’s responsible, about ten minutes pass between that and Larry’s call - so to sacrifice himself to save the President is great
The bioweapon arrives
- This is a very quick shift into the next threat - again with the relentlessness
- Once again, Jack putting a civilian in harm’s way expecting them to behave as they were going to before meeting them
- Admire the fact that Jack has no hesitation in stopping the leak once he notices it
Olivia v Ethan
- This antagonistic attitude between them from the get-go is a bit mad
- We learn almost instantly what Olivia is and see it in action very quickly after
- She is fairly narcissistic; does she not realise her mother is the world’s most powerful person? She doesn’t need to try and make a power grab (Tony in S4: “I don’t need to establish position. I’ve already got it”)
- Ethan is right to resign
- Her blackmailing of Ken is incredible, particularly given that she got herself out of a hole she dug
Hodges’ ultimatum
- Is he the most deranged villain the show has had?
- The bioweapon being loaded onto the missiles makes it an entirely pointless threat - why not just use missiles?
- Do enjoy the tension of it all though
- And also the air of confidence about Taylor when Hodges is arrested
The Tony twist
- The scene itself is fine at best, it sets up where the only outcome is the one that happens or Galvez kills both Tony and Larry - and quite frankly the show was never going to have such a major character killed by such a nobody
- It feels like a very 24 twist in that he’s done plenty of good and “he’s changed” type stuff - Jack even speaks to Taylor about taking his positive actions into account 30 mins before - and then this
- I suppose at least he was on the other side of the law before S7
