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Shot to the Heart: CTU Loses Another on "24"

Alas, poor Milo.

I had a feeling someone would take a bullet in this week's episode of 24 but I hardly expected it to be Milo. That is until he and Nadia tried to have an adult conversation about their stolen kiss earlier this season. That's when I knew he was a goner.

Milo Pressman, grumpy, prone to tantrums, and odd facial hair, stood up to the Chinese terrorists who invaded CTU and announced himself as the acting director (following Bill Buchanan's firing by, you know, his wife Karen) in order to protect his would-be girlfriend Nadia Yassir from possible danger. I did actually gasp when the gun-toting villain then shot Milo right in the head. (In a show that's gotten as needlessly serpentine and dull as this season's 24, I take my rightfully earned shocks as they come.) While there was barely a reaction from Chloe or Morris, Nadia was shaken (justifiably), especially when the gunmen then learned she was the actual acting director of CTU.

Still, if anyone was going to take a bullet, I thought it was going to be Morris of all people, who would sacrifice himself in order to, say, save Chloe in the end, despite their separation. Chloe recently revealed that she thinks Morris is a coward for helping Fayed arm those suitcase nukes a few episodes back. I pictured the gruff Morris pushing Chloe out of harm's way to offer up his own life, thus proving to Chloe and the entire gang at CTU that he's not a coward after all.

So, not quite what I had envisioned, after all. Still, it's common knowledge that Eric Balfour wouldn't be back for Day Seven (even if his drama pilot. Protect and Serve, isn't picked up by CBS) and, given the workforce turnover at CTU, it's not a guarantee that any of the personnel will return to face another day. (Well, except perpetually frowning Chloe, that is.)

Milo, we'll miss ye. You never did tell us exactly what went down in Denver with Agent Doyle, despite much teasing to the opposite. But then again, you never did get a date with Nadia, either. So consider us even.

Me, I feel even worse for Nadia. The poor woman just had a potential suitor killed in front of her, following a day in which she was suspected of being a mole, tortured, strangled, promoted to acting director... If anyone deserves a mental health day, it's Nadia.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Dateline (NBC); Gilmore Girls (CW); George Lopez (ABC); American Idol (FOX)

9 pm: The Unit (CBS); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC); Veronica Mars (CW); Dancing with the Stars (ABC); House (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC); Boston Legal (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Gilmore Girls.

The girls are leaving Stars Hollow for good and not a moment too soon. For those few devotees still watching, here's what's going on. On tonight's episode ("Unto the Breach"), Emily and Richard throw Rory a pre-graduation party and perform a song in her honor, while Lorelai and Christopher are thrown together for the first time since their separation. And, oh, there's a proposal. Guess who.

9 pm: Veronica Mars.

On tonight's episode of Veronica Mars ("Debasement Tapes"), Piz turns to Veronica for help when some recordings that belong to his idol (guest star Paul Rudd) vanish while Keith faces some unlikely competition when a new candidate enters the election race for Neptune sheriff. A new Veronica episode plus Paul Rudd? I am so there.

Comments

Unknown said…
Unfortunately, that split-second of drama was preceded by hours (or was it just minutes) of sheer boredom. I sighed during the drawn-out Lisa-as-double-agent scene. I yawned while Marilyn talked with Josh. I counted my toes while Milo talked with Chloe. I wished Jack would do something. When the bad guys left the factory, I said, "They're invading CTU." (Because it happens every season.) And they did. Then! Stuff happened! And it was over. Bo. Ring.

A "reinvent" of 24 is two seasons too late.
rockauteur said…
Yeah once again 24 has recycled old plotlines from previous seasons... episodes of leaks at the White House, moles at CTU, discrimination against Arabs, disappearing cast members without explanation, members of Jack's family in jeopardy, Jack betraying orders from CTU, Jack betraying orders from the White House, Jack punching or handcuffing the Field Ops Leader (not once, but twice, and technically 3 times if you count him killing Curtis in the premiere), the head of CTU being fired or asked to step down, an assasination attempt against the President, the Vice President trying to hijack the Presidency, wavering cabinet members who are unsure of where they stand and who they support, Chloe fighting with her co-workers, Chloe fighting with her superiors, Chloe helping Jack when "he goes dark," and finally a CTU member who gets killed while at CTU.

In our recycled plotline of the week, we have the terrorists leading a raid against CTU in order to kidnap a member of Jack's family and put him in jeopardy. We've seen the CTU raid at least two or three times already, and nothing can top Edgar's death by nerve gas last season. Too bad Milo was killed - though he had not been in the show since the first season, he was welcome addition to the cast. I know that Eric Balfour wanted to leave the show and was asked to be killed, but still, sadness. That was the only surprising moment in the episode, especially since radio promos already told us that CTU would be raided, yet that didn't actually happen until the final 20 minutes.

Once my favorite show, it has now developed into yawn-fest city. I hope something could happen in the final three hours with the Chinese diplomat guy thats at least more interesting than the rest of the season.

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