NY Times Article about "24" (Season 3 spoilers)

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

The New York Times has an article about 24's fourth season (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/05/arts/television/05rhod.html). There may or may not be spoilers in there -- they reveal who's not coming back from the 3rd season. Free registration required, or go to www.bugmenot.com (http://www.bugmenot.com/) to get a login without having to give away all your personal information.

The REALLY big reveal concerns the writers and how far ahead they plan:

Apparently, as of this season, they're making it up entirely as they go, and never planned much further ahead than 5 or 6 episodes in the first season.

Knew there was a reason why I lost interest after season 2.

-- Ed/Ace

[Eidan]

It caused you to lose interest. It just made me all the more devoted. Kinda insteresting knowing you're watching a show where even the writers don't quite know what's going to happen next, and that they're in it for the ride as much as you are.

[AF$]

It really doesn't surprise me that the show's production is like this. I do see it as a plus however, as then they can come up with the freshest material, rather than the most concrete. Sure, we sacrifice a little plot stability, but I thought each season has been better than the previous in terms of excitement and action. You do have to suspend your belief a bit, but to me its still one of the most fun shows on television. I am not a fan of the cast changes, however.

[DarkAngel]

Knew there was a reason why I lost interest after season 2.Well, to me the problem is the length of the storylines. It seems like 24 episodes forces the writers to stretch and pad things too much, increasing implausibility. I wouldn't mind them breaking each season into two 12-episode stories. That would eliminate, I think, the major problems while still allowing a lot of time for development of the plot.

[Temple Fugate]

Well, to me the problem is the length of the storylines. It seems like 24 episodes forces the writers to stretch and pad things too much, increasing implausibility. I wouldn't mind them breaking each season into two 12-episode stories. That would eliminate, I think, the major problems while still allowing a lot of time for development of the plot.

I have exactly the opposite complaint. Each season has had more than one plotline. Day 1: Ira Gaines/Kidnapping Plot 12AM to 1PM, then they try to find Alexis Drazen from 1PM to 7PM, and then Victor Drazen himself appears and brings the story full-circle from 7PM to 12AM. This is actually a well tied-together story despite three separate plots.

Days 2 and 3, however, skewed farther and farther from the initial plot of the season. In 2 we started with a nuclear bomb, and by then end it was all about preventing a war that almost started because of the bomb. I would have preferred to see Jack chasing after the bomb for the entire day. It felt like the season ended at 11PM, and I had to watch nine more hours of other stuff.

Day 3 was even worse. The first plot thread dried up in five hours. Yes, each day had a universal theme (Day 1: Kidnapping, Day 2: Da bomb, Day 3: Da virus.), but the first season felt much stronger and tied together than the other two, which seemed to spiral into completely different stories.

The writers are going backwards; they should be planning the first episode and the final episode right off the bat, making sure the entire day is going to tie together. They can leave themselves plenty of room to move and change stuff as they come up with other ideas, but still know where they have to go by the end of the day.

Most artists establish a frame for their canvas before they paint. These guys should, too.

[Ryoutarou]

Not to happ with all of it, but I was able to see that few people weren't going to be coming back due to the way the last season ended. So, I'm not really sure what to think about it right now. Guess I'll just have to wait for the season to start.

[Temple Fugate]

Not to happ with all of it, but I was able to see that few people weren't going to be coming back due to the way the last season ended. So, I'm not really sure what to think about it right now. Guess I'll just have to wait for the season to start.
You don't have to wait. If you buy the season three box set (which goes on sale today) it comes with an exclusive "intro episode" which sort of bridges seasons three and four, explains what happened since last season, and sets up the new characters. The catch is though, did you ENJOY season three enough to spend $50 on it? ;)

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna run over to Best Buy.