Ah, remember London? Beautiful big sprawling town out of time, full of historical landmarks and beautiful neighborhoods? Giddily overjoyed at the last millennial change enough to remake its entire skyline? Ridiculously proud of its big salty river chugging right through the middle of it all? Well now it’s as full of holes as a block of Swiss cheese, thanks to Margot Al-Harazi.
Seriously, we’ve just hit Episode Seven and she’s already fired what, five drone missiles at different parts of London and environs? And that’s just from the one plane that can’t be found that’s hovering over the city like an angry cloaked Bird of Prey? I’m finding it ridiculously hard to believe that her son Ian Al-Harazi, from just observing Navid’s seldom used drone hacking skills, can hit a moving car (driven by Jack Bauer) fleeing through London city streets! Well, he doesn’t actually hit it once while Jack is in it, but that’s due mostly to patented Secret Agent Sneakiness, of which Jack is the absolute master.
Some other patented 24 moves abound this week, but somehow they all feel fresh again in this energized half-season. Mole at CT—I mean CIA headquarters? Check, and he’s a dirty one, as he sends one dedicated agent to a back-alley (or Thames tributary, as it were) hit sight. Injured criminal in the hospital, not safe because other cleaners are on their way? Check, but at least this time Jack has the full cooperation of London police, who actually take his orders well and would be all set at protecting Simone if not for the guided missiles aimed at the freaking hospital!?
It’s a freaking hospital, Margot! And you’re trying to kill your daughter. How deep must your rage be at having your family killed to justify killing your family in revenge? She is very deeply insane, though I don’t yet get how she wrapped up her whole remaining family in her madness. Well, I see how Yasmin is radicalized, as she tells Kate (in another standard move, female agent softens up to talk to a child witness and get valid intel without busting heads) she hopes Simone dies for killing her mother. Perfectly understandable. What’s also nice is that Kate promises to come back and does come back when the bombing starts to make sure Yasmin (whose life has been ruined, let’s face it) gets to safety.
The direction makes sure to show us the carnage this week; orderlies on fire, patients with further injuries on top of their illnesses, severed limbs and bloody faces abounding with no rescue in sight, because the rescuers themselves have been attacked. It’s like Miracleman #15 for a while there, and Margot is the evil Kid.
Chloe meanwhile is an island of calm in the storm, forced to flee the Freaky Leaks hideout and totally unruffled by the police invasion. As long as a girl has her turbo-Tron-Legacy-laptop and a Wi-Fi café, she’s all set to keep whispering vital facts in Jack’s needy ear. There is a new reveal about the Freaky Leaks leader Adrian Cross, however, that shows why they hired real actor Michael Wincott for what at first seemed like a cameo role.
More shady dealings are going on with the Russian ambassador and Chief Assface, but I can’t tell if I’m more scared of the Russian’s weird facial hair or Boudreau’s panic at being caught already forging the President’s signature. The President, meanwhile, is forging his own path, and we’re all just crossing our fingers it’s not the Alzheimer’s talking.