24:Legacy - - it's time to put 24 franchise out to pasture

*****DISCLAIMER:  This post may contain plot details, aka "spoilers"


I stopped watching 24:Legacy after the 5 PM hour episode and finally say it's time to put this great franchise out to pasture.   When 24 debuted after 9/11, it was one of the best shows I have ever watched.   24 starred Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, an ex-military who works for Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) who has 24 hours to save the day from a terrorist attack.  The show was unique for it's real-time format throughout the entire run, not just a single episode like the exquisite cop drama "Homicide:Life on the Street" Subway episode (very gripping and painful to watch for some), a season devoted to one continuous 24 hour period, split screen action and a cliffhanger or surprise moment in the last 3 minutes of each episode.  Characters would be killed off suddenly and most were believable.   Jack Bauer would make some of the most difficult decisions while trying to save his family. (of course he was too late to save his pregnant wife in season 1 - a really sad moment in TV history).  Seasons 1 through 5 were the best, while the 3 remaining seasons were good even though the luster of 24 was wearing off.  Then came a 24 TV movie then 24 Live Another Day which was OK.


Now 24:Legacy, I am writing this off despite the decent starring role of Corey Hawkins as Eric Carter, a civilian who does not work for CTU but gets caught up in a terrorist plot by Bin-Kahlid to use "sleeper cells" in blowing up landmarks in retaliation for an Army strike where Carter and his men killed Bin-Kahlid's men.   Carter gets assistance from CTU while keeping his wife safe in his older brother's house in the "hood" but she gets captured by Bin-Kahlid's men anyway (when it's suddenly a slow process of a scene where two CTU agents come by the safe house to pick up Nichole, you know something is gonna happen - another predictable outcome).   The show started strong, but I see the plot becomes laughable when Carter can "easily steal" $4 million from a police precinct, and get away with it so quick when CTU intervenes and and tells the precinct commander to let Carter go.   Or when his buddy can get rid of his beard in less than 5 minutes by using a scissors while inside a stolen van.  Then the plot to blow up the George Washington Bridge by a rigged truck driven by a sleeper cell was really another gasser - there is NO guard post on that bridge - - it's Port Authority Police, not Port Police on the patch and - - if you look closely, you will see a sign on what appears to be on a PA roadway, exit 293 I think.  There are no exits that high a number in NJ.   Yea time for some really traffic problems in NJ.   The ratings for 24:Legacy are suffering - - from 17 million viewer who stayed for the show's debut after Super Bowl LI to 3 million viewers on last Monday's episode.     I am also disappointed at the shows lack of suspense and character development.  The only characters I care about are Cory Hawkins and Anna Diop, who play Eric and Nichole Carter, respectively as well as Jimmy Smits who plays Senator John Donovan.   Everyone else is "going through the motions" once again is another predictable plot.


Coming soon:  The 10 best "24" scenes.