What are your thoughts about last night's season premiere?

I thought that overall, everything that made the show such a hit in the first place were back on full display - Jack brooding and kicking all kinds of butt, an over the top terrorist plot, lots of action and some backstabbing to boot. Jack Bauer didn't speak for the first 45 minutes of the episode, which was kind of neat when he finally did open his mouth: "Where is she?" - Good ol' Jack.

I do kind of wish they would freshen up the format though. Every season is basically the same formulaic plot, just with new faces (because nobody lives on that show - its worse than Game of Thrones as far as killing off characters goes). I don't know why they keep going with the same hack/counterhack terrorist/counterterrorist plots. Remember 24: Redemption? I thought that was a great time, mainly because they broke the 24 mold and did something different, having Jack running around in the jungle like Rambo. I want more stuff like that. I want them to find some new situations to put Jack in so he can do things we've never seen him do before.

Thoughts?

It had all the same devices as the original shows did, but it was still enjoyable. The driver for me is to see how Jack redeems himself in the end, or if he martyr's himself in a heroic deed. I didn't see the end coming with the ditsy girlfriend, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when I'm surprised.

I think the writers would be foolish to martyr Jack, as long as there is any chance on making another season, or trying again to do a movie, or anything like that. Of course, that doesn't mean they wouldn't do it.... they may end up feeling like they have to compete with shows like Game of Thrones and Walking Dead to kill off a character that maybe you didn't see coming.

I kind of knew the girlfriend was up to no good when it got down to the end of the episode and they decided to show her and Yates at the diner. I was thinking, "There's a significant reason why this is going to be the last scene." And then it hit me. The seemingly innocuous go-along person very often turns out to be a baddie in disguise on this show. They've done it repeatedly. That's how I knew our boy was a goner.

Some things I will be looking forward to in the weeks to come: How will Heller react when he finds out that Jack is back? They didn't exactly part on amicable terms, after all. What's Audrey going to do when she finally sees him again? Will any of this tie into a previous season? Maybe a baddie with a connection to a previous season? Will we see Tony?

I enjoyed it, Jack's escape was pretty badass. It does seem like a very familiar plot.

Are we supposed to recognize the woman at the end? I can barely remember the last season.

Dexter wrote:I enjoyed it, Jack's escape was pretty badass. It does seem like a very familiar plot.

No doubt about it. That was one cool and well-thought out escape plan. Shows you how Jake always knows what he is doing. I'll be honest, though - what made it extra satisfying for me was how smug all the CIa people were being the whole time, and then WHAM!!! Jack makes them all look like a bunch of idiot rookies.

Dexter wrote:Are we supposed to recognize the woman at the end? I can barely remember the last season.

I don't think so, although I could be wrong. I went and looked it up on Wikipedia or somewhere, and read whatever I could about the character, and there didn't seem to be any indication that we've seen her before. I don't recall her name, but it didn't ring a bell. Whether maybe she was related to someone we have known, I guess is anyone's guess.

So I enjoyed Hour 3. I must admit, it went a little differently than I expected. For some reason, I naturally thought Jack was going to catch up the Yates girlfriend, I can't recall her name right now, but there would be some big shootout with another group of terrorists. I don't know where his partner went, the guy that drove the getaway van in Hour 2, but I fully expected to not only see him in this episode, but for him to die by gunshot wound in this episode.

If we do ever see that guy again, he's gonna die. No doubt about it in my mind.

Jack invades the U.S. embassy? Only Jack can pull a stunt like that... just as I'm sure he will ultimately be forgiven for it, once they restore him. As many times as he's been on the wrong side of the government, they've always exonerated him as soon as it became convenient for them to do so, when they needed his services.

How dumb was that terrorist who developed the moral compass? I mean, after his wife sold him out the first time, he actually went back and confided in her a second time? I'm not surprised he finally ate a bullet. Pretty dumb move. It looks like we're gonna get a typical 24 episode tonight, now that Jack is back in his old school groove of working with the counterterrorism unit instead of being hunted by them.

Something I am starting to wonder - at what point are they going to kill off Kate? It's gotta be coming. The ones who "come around" and finally start trusting Jack don't last too long. I'm actually surprised Audrey's still around, truth be told. The way I figure, Kate either buys it this season, or she somehow survives, engages in a romantic relationship with Jack after the season ends, only to get killed off next season.

I'm having a hard time believing that Simone suddenly developed a conscience after helping plan widespread murder, stabbing a guy in the head, eluding Jack, ratting out her husband, and saying nothing while he was subsequently executed.

The conscience was always there, held back by fear of her mother. She did try to convince the mother and daughter to run only after she drew the knife.

As far as Kate goes, she better end up with Jack after the way Dexter abandoned her.

No silent memorial clock for Heller? I'm a bit surprised.