Watching 24 season 2

To break up my ridiculous marathon work sessions, I've been watching 24 season 2 as kind of a reward for hitting certain milestones.

I forgot just how good season 2 really was. I mean, there are more "oh shit" moments than the other three seasons easily. I have to say that the writing that year was the best of the four. That's not to take away from the other seasons, because they're all incredibly awesome television, but season 2 is intense.

One of the things I like about it is that, as with season 4 (not yet released on DVD), they make the point that while a lot of terrorism comes out of the Middle East, that doesn't mean it's a core value of Middle East cultures or Islam. In a way it's a shame that they need to remind an American audience that, but hey, people watch stupid rednecks act like, well, stupid rednecks and call it comedy.

The funny thing is that the writers manage to write a real-time script and it actually works. When you watch a few episodes in a row, it's easier to see it as one physical day that the story takes place, where as during the weekly episodes during the season there are times where you lose sight that every episode is just one hour. They generally don't take a lot of liberties with time, though it's sometimes hard to comprehend anyone having a day like the characters in the story!

If you've never watched the show, buy it. Each season is around 19 hours of entertainment (the first shows are commercial free, and maybe the finales as well in certain seasons). Really good times. Worth every dime on those days where it's too hot to be outside.