review of 24 Season 9.8 

Well, they didn\'t have a silent clock for President James Heller in

24 episode 9.8 tonight, but he was apparently killed - as I predicted wouldn\'t happen - in one of the best episodes of 24 in many a season.

Jack has a history of bringing his bosses to be killed - in one case, doing the actual killing - but never his ultimate boss the U.S. President.   And the episode tonight pulled out all the stops to do it right - Chloe not quite coming through with the goods, the location of the drone command, which have made Heller\'s self-sacrifice unnecessary; Audrey grieving the imminent death of her father and blaming her husband Mark for not telling her; and, most of all, stoic Jack, unwilling to help make this happen, until Heller tells him about his Alzheimer\'s.  A potent brew indeed.

And there was no shortage of memorable lines tonight, as well.  My favorites were Jack telling Kate to "wake the bitch up" in a not quite successful attempt to get information from Simone which would have stopped Margot without Heller giving up his life, and Heller\'s jibe to Jack, "you\'ve done enough damage as a Federal agent - thank goodness you didn\'t become a surgeon," when Jack excises the location device from Heller\'s arm.  Often missed in 24 is the gallows humor which crops up amidst the reigns of terror.

And there were some important new plot lines that became clear tonight.  Heller tells Jack that he pardoned him of all charges, four years back and relating to tonight.  How will that affect Mark\'s presumed plan to turn Jack over to the Russians?  And it looks as if Jordan may yet be alive - how will that affect Steve and whatever his ongoing plot with Adrian is about?   For that matter, it\'s still not clear where Adrian\'s ultimate loyalties reside, in addition to himself.  Are they with Margot?

Although this short series is more than half over, tonight\'s heart pounding episode felt as if the desk has been cleared for a whole back end of which we\'ve so far caught just fleeting glimpses.  I\'m looking forward.

24 Season 9 Hours 1 and 2: The Sheer Intelligent Adrenalin Is Back 

... 24 Season 9.3: Shades of Disloyalties ... 24 Season 9.4: Brass Tacks and Strong Women ... 24 Season 9.5: Jack and Audrey .. 24 Season 9.6: Expendable In-Laws ... 24 Season 9.7: Silent Clock in President Heller\'s Future

And see also Season 8 reviews: Hours 1 and 2 ... Hours 3 and 4 ... Hour 5 ...Hour 6 ... Hour 7 ... Hour 8 ... Hour 9 ... Hour 10 ... Hour 11 ... Hour 12... Hour 13 ... Hour 14 ... Hours 15-16 ... Hour 17 ... Hour 18 ... Hour 19... Hour 20 ... Hour 21 ... Hour 22 ... 24 Forever!

And see also Season 7 reviews: Hours 1 and 2 ... Hours 3 and 4 ... Hour 5... Hour 6 ... Hour 7 ... Hour 8 ... Hour 9 ... Hour 10 ... Hours 11-12 ...Hour 13 ... Hour 14 ... Hour 15 ... Hour 16 ... Hour 17 ... Hour 18 ... Hour 19 ... Hour 20 ... Hour 21 ... Hour 22  ... Hours 23-24  

And see also Season 6 reviews: Hours 1 and 2 ... Hours 3 and 4 ... Hour 5 ... Hour 6 ... Hour 7 ... Hours 8 and 9 ... Hour 10 ... Hour 11 ... Hour 12 ... Hour 13 ... Hour 14 ... Hour 15 ... Hour 16 ... Hour 17 ... Hour 18... Hour 19 ... Hour 20 ... Hour 21 ... Hour 22 ... Hours 23-24

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Paul Levinson, PhD, is Professor of Communication & Media Studies at Fordham University in New York City.  His 8 nonfiction books, including The Soft Edge (1997), Digital McLuhan (1999), Realspace (2003),  Cellphone (2004), and New New Media (2009, 2nd edition 2012), have been the subject of major articles in the New York Times, Wired, the Christian Science Monitor, and have been translated into 12 languages. His science fiction novels include The Silk Code (1999, ebook 2012), Borrowed Tides (2001), TheConsciousness Plague (2002, 2013), The Pixel Eye (2003), The Plot To SaveSocrates (2006, ebook 2012), and Unburning Alexandria (2013).  His short stories have been nominated for Nebula, Hugo, Edgar, and Sturgeon Awards.  Paul Levinson appears on "The O'Reilly Factor" (Fox News), "The CBS Evening News,"  “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” (PBS),  “Nightline” (ABC), NPR, and numerous national and international TV and radio programs. His 1972 album, Twice Upon a Rhyme, was re-issued in 2009 (CD) and 2010 (remastered vinyl). He reviews the best of television in his InfiniteRegress.tv blog, and was listed in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Top 10 Academic Twitterers” in 2009.

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