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« Roush Dispatch
24's Smart Move
After weeks of beating up on 24, I felt I should weigh in briefly after this week’s above-par episode, if only to shower praise on someone who was so robbed last year at the Emmys, when the show and Kiefer Sutherland finally won their long-deserved trophies. I’m talking, of course, about the ever-fabulous Jean Smart, as former first lady Martha Logan. (How could they have given the Emmy to Blythe Danner over Smart—or, for that matter, over this year’s awards queen, Chandra Wilson? Aren’t the Emmys just sad?)
Back to Martha. Now institutionalized in a cozy bungalow and under the watchful and affectionate care of Secret Service Agent Extraordinaire Aaron Pierce, Martha (as played so wittily by Smart) was somehow both ravaged and ravishing as she coolly regarded what remained of her ex-husband the disgraced ex-president.
They may have telegraphed the kitchen knife a few too many times as Martha began melting down under the stress of the visit and the delayed phone call to her Russian first-lady counterpart, but it was still shocking when Martha plunged the blade into her husband’s shoulder, severing an artery and (as shown in the final seconds of the episode, as Logan flatlined) possibly killing him.
By taking us briefly out of CTU and the White House bunker, and reintroducing us to the Logan dynamic that propelled so much of the excellent Season 5, the episode had an energy largely lacking the last few weeks. I won’t say it was entirely unpredictable, given that it was pretty clear the Logan reunion wouldn’t end well (not to mention the promos giving away there would be a crisis as well), but it was highly dramatic, which was a nice bonus.
Also enjoyed Ricky Schroder’s bullying act as the new field ops leader Mike Doyle. Who besides me thought he would jump the gun and storm the consulate before the Russian prez gave his OK? Doyle’s so rudely, bluntly all-business he almost makes Chloe look like Doris Day.
He made a strong if unpleasant first impression. So, once again, did Powers Boothe as scary vice president Cy Tolliver McEvil (he’ll always be a Deadwood villain to me), rolling over Tom Lennox to hurl nuclear threats at the cowed Middle Eastern ambassador.
But this week, bragging rights go without question to Martha Logan. Once again, she rocked 24’s world.
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Mar 13, 2007 2:25 PM
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As Martha Logan hinted at in this episode:
TAKE OFF THOSE HANDCUFFS AND GIVE THAT GIRL A MEDAL!!!!!
Loved this episode and especially the introduction of Mike (Popeye) Doyle!!
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Mar 13, 2007 2:50 PM
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I didn't feel the episode was particularly great, I didn't think it was bad however. I saw the foreshadowing with Martha too, but thought perhaps she had more sanity than obviously she has. It seemed to fly in the face of last year's revelation that Logan was keeping her drugged up and that is why she was so unstable. I guess not. I think Rick Schroeder is going to be an excellent addition. I'm really looking forward to where Michael Shanks will be used. Is Kim Raver still slated to be back?
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Mar 13, 2007 3:21 PM
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I was excited to see what you had to say about this weeks episode! Jean Smart is fantastic and reminded us just why we love this show. Yes, they did show those knives placed convienetly around the bungalow one too many times, but when she finally broke and plunged it into Charles, it was definitely an "oh snap" moment - as I like to call them! 
Plus we got to see Aaron Pierce!!! HURRAY! When he told the ex-prez he didn't have to take his sarcasm anymore, I almost spit my snapple across the room. Good for you, my favorite Secret Service Agent, ever. Now if only we could get him some face time with his favorite CTU agent Jack. What this season needs is some good ol' Jack/Aaron buddy cop moments!
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Mar 13, 2007 4:23 PM
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Amen, Matt... 24 was much better last night and got so right at the moment Jean Smart appeared.
They better be smart and keep Martha and Aaron around as much as possible for the rest of the season. I started to realize "finally, two characters who I actually care about what happens to them." If Martha or Aaron are in risky situations, I'll actually feel worried. When it was duds like Morris or Milo in peril earlier this season, I could care less; what little impression they've made has mostly been annoyance. We know nothing is going to happen to Jack unless they really pull a big surprise, so 24 should build up Martha and Aaron. If they're just around a few episodes, I'm afraid we'll be right back to long, stupid conversations about what Morris has had to drink.
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Mar 13, 2007 4:43 PM
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Bravo to Ms. Smart. I don't think Martha could have talked to Mrs. Suvarov so calmly if Aaron wasn't right by her side. It was great to see them together again. Perhaps the Pres. should have taken Aarons advice and went to wait outside while they were waiting for the call. I'm wondering how Mike and Jack will get along.
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Mar 13, 2007 5:35 PM
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I think Pierce should team up with Buchanon for a couple of episodes. It could be called "The Adventures of the Understated Actors", since as far as I can see, they're the only ones on the show.
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Mar 13, 2007 6:55 PM
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As good as Jean Smart was last season, I thought she was even better on this week's episode. In fact, she was almost too good - I actually found it a bit jarring to see acting of this caliber suddenly appear in a show that is becoming more and more caricaturist with each episode. In a strange way though, it gave me hope - hope for what this series could be if it ever finds a way back to it's grittier, character driven, not-quite-so-plot-contrived glory days.
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Mar 14, 2007 3:17 AM
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Cy Tolliver McEvil....LOVE IT!!
I was hating his VP character until he got really amped up with the arab ambassador. I was actually hurraying him and his McEvil threats as Tom Lennox whimpered at his side. I miss Deadwood too much....sigh....
Cy Tolliver McEvil in '08!!
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Mar 14, 2007 1:48 PM
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I really thought Martha was going to cut or stab herself with the knife. I had missed the promos, so I about fell off the couch when she stabbed Logan.
I don't want him to die. I enjoy disliking him!
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Mar 14, 2007 2:03 PM
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I was so glad to see Aaron Pierce again. Now, he needs to ditch the whack-job and join CTU.
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Mar 14, 2007 7:19 PM
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The scene between Powers Booth and Peter MacNicol (where the veep explains the facts of life to Tom) made me wish that Dennis Haysbert was still on the scene. What a great scenery chewing show a confrontation between these two would have been.
I'm also not sorry to see that Logan may be out of the picture for good.
The show's inconsistencies don't bother me as much as they do others. The frequent payoffs are so rewarding that they make a few glitches easily forgivable.
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Mar 16, 2007 2:08 AM
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Oh how I love Aaron. Is it wrong that I have a "Tiger Beat" themed poster of him over my bed?
I love the Logans too. I think 24 writers should definitely keep them on the show. We need another great bad guy ala Sherry and Nina. Charles appears to be that new bad guy and Martha is just great.
Now if she would just share a little Aaron!
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Mar 19, 2007 12:41 PM
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