"Day 3: 7AM - 8AM"

Written by Michael Loceff
Directed by Jon Cassar


In which Tony is forced to assign Kim to pose as Saunders’ daughter in the hopes that the terrorist can be located before the virus is released in other cities around the country...

Status Report - Final Analysis




Status Report

After two strong and tense episodes, the writers take a step back for a transitional episode that mostly lingers on shifting assignments and escalating worst-case scenarios. Less a chance to relax than a moment to look at how much has changed since the beginning of the season, this episode also demonstrates how well the writers have managed to salvage the season from a seeming lack of direction.

One could be forgiven for wondering if these latest episodes are even the same season as the episodes that aired in the fall. There’s been little or no sign of Jack’s supposed struggles with heroin withdrawal, little or no sign of continuing problems with Tony’s health following recent life-saving surgery, and apparently Chase’s little girl is taking one hell of a morning nap. Oh, and never mind the fact that the Milliken situation has fallen completely off the map!

Perhaps the writers took the early criticisms of the season to heart, because these abortive plot threads have been superceded by far more interesting material. Chappelle’s execution may have been a little over the top, but the general concept is more sound than the apparent reasoning for Nina and Sherry to stage a return visit. Even one of the plot threads looks as though it was originally planned for Claudia before her unexpected exit, the episode manages to keep the story moving while communicating consequences.

While Jack’s reaction to shooting Chappelle is largely internal, like nearly everything about the man, the debate between the Palmer brothers is far more open and contentious. If this was meant to frame the moral ambiguity for the less attentive members of the audience, then it was good exposition. David understands exactly how far he’s let the situation progress, while Wayne remains the practical adviser. Wayne may be on questionable ground a lot of the time, but he understands the cost/benefit nature of the political world in a way David never has.

Answering a question that should have been more clearly defined in the previous episode, the reason for Chappelle’s execution is made absolutely clear: he was very close to identifying Saunders’ daughter. It’s immediately clear that Saunders isn’t worried about her welfare; he’s more than ready to release a lethal virus just down the road, after all. That can only mean that Jane Saunders can reveal the terrorist’s location, which doesn’t say much about Saunders’ project management skills. Why remain in any location that can be traced, especially by a family member?

After spending a little bit of time keeping the audience updated on the waiting game at the Chandler Plaza Hotel, where Michelle’s fate is clearly being held for a specific moment, the real plot for the episode begins to thicken. CTU wants to swap Jane for a look-alike so they can interrogate her as long as necessary, and sure enough, Kim is the only available match.

One could hear the collective groan of millions of fans at the sudden prominence of Kim Bauer. It’s quite clear that a large percentage of the audience will never forgive the character for the poor writing choices of earlier seasons. The truth is, however, that Kim (and for that matter, Elisha Cuthbert) shouldn’t be held in contempt for something out of her control. In the real world, a young woman with the kind of recent suffering endured by Kim Bauer would be a severely damaged individual.

Giving Kim the benefit of the doubt, this is a good direction for the character. So many fans questioned her role at CTU, and this episode takes on that issue without hesitation. Tony is clearly displeased with the situation, but he also accepts that Kim works for CTU and should be respected for her work. At the same time, it’s also clear that the hinted bad feelings about Kim among the other analysts hasn’t been forgotten.

If there was any doubt regarding Jack’s motives regarding Kim and her status at CTU, those doubts have been addressed in full force. Jack looks like he’s ready to kill Tony, which says something, considering what he just had to do to Chappelle. Jack must have pushed for Kim’s placement as a CTU analyst to keep her from getting into trouble in the real world, never mind during the occasional terrorism crisis. And he’s not afraid to toss Tony and Kim around to make his point.

Thing is, Kim’s point of view hasn’t been addressed at all since the season premiere. That point of view is nicely communicated in this episode, demonstrating how patronizing Jack’s attitude really is. Jack may be playing the protective father to the hilt, but he’s also reflecting the most negative thoughts of the audience. What hasn’t been shown in the past is the effect this has on Kim, and it’s clearly devastating. It’s true that Kim doesn’t present the most compelling case for confidence, based on her past choices, but Jack treats her like a complete screw-up. How many screw-ups could handle themselves in a crisis situation? Kim hasn’t been at the center of the firestorm, but she has been dealing with loved ones in the line of fire, and dealing with it well.

What this episode becomes, then, is a moment of redemption for the character of Kim Bauer. She’s making the choice for herself and the country, first and foremost, but she’s also proving something to her father, and by extension, the audience. She knows that she’s not trained for field work, and at times that flagging confidence is obvious. But the point is that she fulfills the objective; the ultimate complications are the fault of her handlers.

Throughout the preparations for Kim’s assignment, the other plot threads move forward at a reasonable pace. Chase takes control in the field while Jack once again assumes more and more control, and like many other moments this season, he echoes Jack in his response to shifting events. One gets the feeling that Tony is going to take that job in the CIA, if only to prevent FieldOps personnel from screaming at him every other minute!

The tension between David and his Cabinet is well established, especially since the president’s decisions were controversial at best. As noted following the previous episode, David has crossed the line. Imagine any real world president admitting to compliance with demands from a terrorist, and how that would have to play out. David could have swept it under the rug like so many other presidents would and have in American history; instead, he took responsibility for his actions. That might not repair the damage of his actions, but it’s something.

Saunders’ demand that all foreign nationals working for the US intelligence community be listed and exposed fits perfectly with the stated purpose of combating the encroaching American “atrocities” in international affairs. And yet there’s still the hint of something more personal involved. Saunders still seems like a weapon, a tool used by some other agency. That agency may simply be a terrorist organization like Al Qaeda, only European in origin.

The quick explanation of the progressive spread of the virus, all starting with Cole, methodically takes the situation at the hotel and brings it to the next level. By allowing the audience to witness the progression of the virus, the writers avoid wasting time on the details now that the virus has moved into the general population. The horror has already sunk in; now there’s the tension that comes as something truly frightening unfolds.

Set against the development of all those plot threads, some of the decisions for Kim’s undercover operation seem questionable. It’s disturbing to think that an organization that ought to be prepared for any contingency in a crisis wouldn’t have something as simple as a proper wig on hand. (Perhaps they should have contacted the CIA office from “Alias”!) After all, they managed to covertly pull together the surveillance resources at the university in less than an hour!

The entire operation, in fact, is poorly executed. Kim should never have been left alone behind the counter, and there should have been agents in the library at key positions. There was no need to rely on existing surveillance equipment to such an exclusive extent. When Kim had to walk away from the counter, she should have been able to step towards a protected position. Instead, she was sent into the stacks, without anyone keeping her on a line of sight!

Considering the situation, Kim was lucky to get out alive. It’s impressive that she managed to deal with the situation largely on her own. Unlike the second season, where Kim had to be convinced to shoot someone to save her own life, she understood what needed to be done. The fact that she shot Saunder’s man was immaterial; as soon as she was made, there was no turning back.

The stage is set for a personal showdown between Jack and Saunders. The real question is whether or not Saunders gives a damn about Jane. It’s hard to say, since releasing a virus into the general population would put her in jeopardy. Still, Saunders might have intended to pull her out of the country when things began falling apart.

There’s also the struggle between Saunders and David. With the Cabinet now aware of the situation, the stakes are even higher. Add to that the need to quarantine two entire neighborhoods in a matter of moments, with even more risk of a breach than should have been possible at the hotel, and Jack’s ability to stall Saunders is even more critical. It certainly appears that the season has found its pacing; this is some of the best material the series has ever produced.


Final Analysis

Overall, this was not as strong an episode as the two previous efforts, but it capably maintained the tension level. Some of the writing choices for Kim’s plot thread were once again questionable, but mostly in the interests of creating more drama. Otherwise, the stage has been set for a powerful battle of wills, with the stakes higher than they’ve ever been.

Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 7/10




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