"24" ups & downs

Tonight's "24" represented the best and worst of what the series has to offer. The best: fast-paced, no-frills tension & excitement, smartly presented, well-acted, and entertaining as all get out. The worst: fabricated relationship woes that really aren't any better presented or acted than your average soap opera. I'm talking about the moment when Jack "reaches" out to Audrey with his hand, with her back to him, and pulls away. I'm also talking about the knowing glances Michelle & Tony give to each other when they talk about how Jack and Audrey may never be the same again, with Tony adding "I hate being without you," and Michelle responding "I never wanted it to be this way." GAG. Just get on with the terrorism. Since there's only two episodes left, we can't afford to waste time on trifling relationship matters that aren't what the series is about. The preview of next week's episode suggests the return of Secretary Heller's protestor son, who apparently made a call to Marwan and may be at the root of the day's events. Wahoo! Blame the peacenicks! And how about the sadistic look on Jack's face when he finally had his gun on Marwan? Classic.

I'm on the fence as to whether the whole Chinese Consulate sideplot is a welcome piece of political theater, or just another example of the series throwing whatever it can into CTU's path to make it that much harder to do their job. The last two episodes of the season will probably crosscut the main nuke plot with the China plot; I just hope one doesn't take away from the other.

God bless "24" and its impressive non-stop season.