24

cinema à la carte

24

The CBS series Blue Bloods became so inculcated into our daily routine that we actually felt real loss when finished.  What could possibly replace it?  Nothing.  However, since we are likely the only two people on the planet to never watch a minute of 24 (Mo Sup said her work people thought her weird when she was unable to join the water cooler discussions),  we logged onto season one (streaming Amazon).   And we are (tenuously) hooked.   Why tenuously? Last night we watched episodes six and seven.  Jack warns the hospital that date-raped and car struck Janet York is in danger. The girl, just out of life saving surgery, is in the ICU.  Her imposter father is allowed to visit her—unattended.   I said ICU (Intensive Care Unit), where her every breath and heart beat are telemetered. He promptly smothers her into a flat line with nary a warning beep.  And then he dawdles around, convincing Teri to go for a ride with him. I said we're hooked, but that was only the most egregious of several poorly scripted  Perils of Pauline moments—so far—that make me wonder. And yes, this is the most important thing in my life this morning.

UPDATE- DAY 5    It's Wednesday morning .  We have now watched thirteen hours.  That pretty much says it all.  Hooked.  At least on season one. What wins here is that, like the serial films of my yoot (Flash Gordon, Captain Video and His Video Rangers, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, Captain Midnight ....),  I am compelled to watch the next episode.  Or, more accurately, Mother Superior demanded it and I was very happy to go along.  There are great villains, and there is retribution.  I seem to remember people complain that there comes season when 24 goes flat, but then gets it back on track the following season.  We'll pick up on episode 14 tonight, and I shall hope to see Alberta have her hair pulled out by Nina.