Jack Bauer: Fighting terrorists in the year 2017?!
Posted on June 27, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Yikes! According to this New York Post article, the upcoming seventh season of Fox’s 24 will jump ahead four years from the events depicted in Season 6 (signified in the new season by the presence of Chloe O’Brian’s four-year-old son). The article goes on to suggest that this now places the new season of 24 in the far-flung future of 2017. That can’t be right, can it?
Let’s see here…Season 1 debuted in November 2001 and featured Senator David Palmer’s run for the presidency as a central plot point. If we assume that presidential elections in the “24 universe” take place during the same years as they do in the “real world,” that means that 24’s first season is most likely set in either 2000 or 2004. So, if we go with the later start date and take into account that Palmer is in the midst of a presidential primary, we can pinpoint Season 1 as taking place during Spring 2004.
We’re then told that Season 2 — wherein Jack Bauer tried to prevent a nuke from detonating in Los Angeles (and Kim Bauer battles a cougar) — picks up 18 months after the events of Season 1. If we go with the Spring 2004 start date for Season 1, that advances the timeline to Fall 2005 for Season 2.
When we join recovering heroin addict Jack Bauer in Season 3, we’re told it’s three years after the events of Season 2. That places Season 3 in Fall 2008 (i.e. the future).
Season 4, which finds Jack Bauer working for Secretary of Defense James Heller, jumps ahead another 18 months. That means we’re looking at Spring 2010 for the fourth season. When Bauer emerges from hiding at the beginning Season 5, it’s 18 months later, thus advancing the 24 timeline to Fall 2011.
Finally, Jack Bauer is released from a Chinese prison in Season 6 after serving a 20-month sentence. By my estimate, that means Season 6 was set sometime during the summer of 2013. The season ends with Chloe O’Brian revealing that she’s pregnant. If her son is four years old when Season 7 begins, that means…holy crap, Season 7 of 24 really is set in 2017! Just by way of comparison, Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic Blade Runner is set in Los Angeles during November 2019.
If that’s the case, and the new season of 24 really is set in the year 2017, is it too much to ask that they have Jack Bauer use a laser pistol and flying car to fight terrorists? I mean, hello — it’s the future!
Posted by Jess | Filed Under Pop Culture |
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Well, a Day is 22 Hours in 2017… that’s progress isn’t it?
@MC: Yeah, I saw that 22-episode entry over on your blog a few days ago. I guess I’m not quite as bummed out about the whole 24 “prequel” movie since it apparently provides the setup for the season’s remaining 22 episodes. Yes, it’s non-contiguous, but after Jack Bauer has already lived through six major crises that just so happened to resolve in exactly 24 hours, I can tolerate a slight break in the formula — especially since the remainder of the season will still be in “real-time.”
Maybe, after all these years, Jack Bauer has gotten so good at his job that he only needs 22 hours to take down the terrorists. He’s two hours faster than he was back in the day.
On top of lasers and flying cars, we need an evil clone of Jack Bauer to show up. Bauer vs. Bauer = Greatest Moment in TV History.
that show’s still on?
I dunno I was pretty done with it after season 3.
Meatrace: Season 5 was awesome. All I am saying.
Hey if Season 7 really is set in 2017, Jack should fight a robot version of Nina Myers!
This puts your a big flaw in your theory:
Watch season 3 again. Kyle Singer’s ID is shown. He is said to be 19 years of age. His birthdate says August of 1987, and it clearly says “Age 21 in 2008.” This puts Season 3 some time during 2006. Subtract 3 years, and this places Season 2 during the year of 2003. Subtract another 18 months, and this would put Season 1 some time during 2002 (probably March because it was during the California primary).
Uh you’re using logic to try to understand a show that has none. Four years into the future just means that they don’t have to think about what they did last season they can just ignore it and start again. It’ll probably be set in 2009.
Oh and anyone who died can come back because they’ve just spent years recovering in a hospital in some third world country.