Intriguing analysis! And very thought-provoking, as well.
Now granted, I am still operating from a lack of depth in my knowledge of overall canon background, but extrapolating from what I've seen so far...
Is it too early to say that I suspect the theme for this season may be one of good people doing the wrong things for the right reasons? AKA, the old "good intentions" pathway to hell. If so, then it's no wonder that I've been absorbed into this show instantly, as that sort of moral complexity and exploration of situational ethics is something that I tend to ponder.
We see it in part with Tom L.'s work in the Palmer administration-- there are few, if any holds barred in what he seems willing to do in order to accomplish his goal, and at present seems to still be presenting himself as someone who is certain of his own moral conviction. (Whether this turns into a naked power grab, pure and simple, we'll find out.) We see it -- unless Graem was utterly lying -- in his impassioned declaration under stress that he did what he did because he "loves his country," which had such a chilling effect on Jack.
The next questions of course, are this: what is Phillip's motivation? What drives him? What happened between him and Jack that drove his eldest son away nine years ago, and possibly into CTU besides? What could be so important that he'd sacrifice his own (younger) son, with his own hand?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, or so the saying goes. Is that what's happening here? (In the same context, I find Karen H.'s speech to Wayne Palmer about him knowing the right thing to do really interesting, and I bet it's a signal of what's to come.)
Add to that the human fallibility in the person of Jack Bauer, who is a man pushed utterly to the limit, and, well. How much more can one man take? What happens when he passes the breaking point? It looks to me as though we're seeing someone being pressed beyond reason in a variety of ways -- he came straight out of 18 months of torture and back into hell where those he trusts and loves are the ones to betray and sell him. Where does he turn, in the end? What's the "right thing," and how does anyone know it?
I am betting that's the question we're going to explore, here, and Jack Bauer's the vehicle to seek the answer. What it is is anyone's guess.
(Or is this the normal way of things on 24 and I just don't know it yet?)
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Date: 2007-02-11 07:43 pm (UTC)Now granted, I am still operating from a lack of depth in my knowledge of overall canon background, but extrapolating from what I've seen so far...
Is it too early to say that I suspect the theme for this season may be one of good people doing the wrong things for the right reasons? AKA, the old "good intentions" pathway to hell. If so, then it's no wonder that I've been absorbed into this show instantly, as that sort of moral complexity and exploration of situational ethics is something that I tend to ponder.
We see it in part with Tom L.'s work in the Palmer administration-- there are few, if any holds barred in what he seems willing to do in order to accomplish his goal, and at present seems to still be presenting himself as someone who is certain of his own moral conviction. (Whether this turns into a naked power grab, pure and simple, we'll find out.) We see it -- unless Graem was utterly lying -- in his impassioned declaration under stress that he did what he did because he "loves his country," which had such a chilling effect on Jack.
The next questions of course, are this: what is Phillip's motivation? What drives him? What happened between him and Jack that drove his eldest son away nine years ago, and possibly into CTU besides? What could be so important that he'd sacrifice his own (younger) son, with his own hand?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, or so the saying goes. Is that what's happening here? (In the same context, I find Karen H.'s speech to Wayne Palmer about him knowing the right thing to do really interesting, and I bet it's a signal of what's to come.)
Add to that the human fallibility in the person of Jack Bauer, who is a man pushed utterly to the limit, and, well. How much more can one man take? What happens when he passes the breaking point? It looks to me as though we're seeing someone being pressed beyond reason in a variety of ways -- he came straight out of 18 months of torture and back into hell where those he trusts and loves are the ones to betray and sell him. Where does he turn, in the end? What's the "right thing," and how does anyone know it?
I am betting that's the question we're going to explore, here, and Jack Bauer's the vehicle to seek the answer. What it is is anyone's guess.
(Or is this the normal way of things on 24 and I just don't know it yet?)