Jack’s (Kiefer Sutherland) penultimate 24: Live Another Day hour played out tonight and we’re already feeling a bit misty-eyed at the thought of waving goodbye once again.
If you haven’t seen the latest episode of 24: Live Another Day then we suggest you stop reading now to avoid spoilers. If you have seen it then keep reading to relive all of the action.
The episode picked up with Jack and Kate (Yvonne Strahovski) in the middle of a gun fight with the Russians whilst Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) tried to find a way to escape from the clutches of Cheng (Tzi Ma). Unfortunately for Chloe her attempts proved futile as Cheng saw her pick up a mobile phone from the floor on her way out of Open Cell shortly after his team removed the tracker from the over-ride device.
By the time Jack and Kate got to Open Cell, Cheng was of course gone and Chloe nowhere to be seen. They did however find Adrian Cross’ (Michael Wincott) body and the bodies of his entire Open Cell team. Kate noticed a phone on the floor that was recording and upon investigating it Jack realised, to his horror, that Cheng was alive and well and not dead as previously thought. He immediately called President Heller (William Devane) and shared the news not realising that Audrey (Kim Raver) was listening in. The news sent shockwaves through the President’s office with Audrey visibly shaken by the news.
So why is Cheng back? Well it turns out he’s working with the Russians to get back at China after his country turned its back on him. By bombing the Chinese aircraft carrier, Cheng was hoping to start a war between the US and China which would see Russia benefit in the aftermath. Turns out Cheng is not thrilled that Jack came so close to capturing him either.
Jack got a surprise when he called Erik (Gbenga Akkinagbe) at the CIA and discovered that it was Mark Boudreau (Tate Donovan) who helped the Russians track him down.
Back at the President’s base, crisis management was in full swing as Heller contacted the Chinese President to explain how the attack on the Chinese aircraft carrier had happened. Unfortunately he didn’t believe him but Heller swore to give him proof and prove that Cheng is still alive. Desperate to help her father, and get revenge on Cheng in the process, Audrey offered to reach out to a contact of hers at the Chinese Embassy whom she thought would believe her and add weight to Heller’s claims.
Next an emotional moment took place as Jack called Audrey. The two exchanged some teary words with Audrey telling Jack she never hated him and never could. He told her that some things he may have to do may upset her but he was doing what he had to to protect her father. Awww!
The moment we’ve finally waited for all season happened tonight as Jack confronted Mark and told the President what his chief of staff had been up to. A horrified Heller declared he was arresting Mark for treason but Jack convinced him to allow him to take Mark on a mission to infiltrate the Russian’s London base. Nice move Jack! With the help of the CIA, Jack and Kate took Mark to the Russians and gave him an ear-piece and a camera planted in an American flag pin to wear.
Chloe, now on the move with Cheng and his men, made her move as they plotted their next move. She grabbed a pipe from a box in the back of the van they were travelling in and smacked down a few of Cheng’s men before launching herself out of the van for an epic roll down a hill. As Cheng’s men looked for her they were disturbed by a soldier who told them to move on forcing them to abandon their search and leaving Chloe unconscious in woodland.
Back at the President’s base his advisers were encouraging him to up the threat level. After he spilled his pills all over the floor and almost revealed his struggle with dementia, he agreed to up the threat level temporarily distracting his advisers from what they saw.
The time arrived for Mark to try and redeem himself as he begged the guard at Stolnavich’s (Stanley Townsend) gate to let him in. Stolnavich initially refused but once Mark revealed he’d been found out and wanted to turn himself over to the Russians as an asset he was let in. On the way he made sure he caught vital visuals for Jack and Kate and then started negotiating with Stolnavich. With the CIA’s help, Jack and Kate then stormed the Russian base taking out security and reaching Stolnavich just as he’s got stabbed by a piece of glass in the neck during a fight with Mark. The Russian died before Jack got any information out of him about Cheng’s location.
In the episode’s closing minutes Audrey’s worst nightmare became a reality when her meeting with her Chinese contact ended in her security team and contact lying dead around her thanks to Cheng and his men. Cheng called Audrey telling her to sit on the bench behind her and not to move otherwise he would kill her too. Jack has surely got to save the day in next week’s finale?
24: Live Another Day concludes in the US on Monday at 9/8c on FOX and in the UK on Wednesday at 9pm on Sky 1 HD.
