Episode Report Card Gustave: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT No Blondes For Oil!
By Gustave | Season 2 | Episode 17 | Aired on 03.31.2003
Meanwhile, Air Force One has landed and Palmer, Rolaide, and PoorMan'sHumeCronyn are disembarking and getting into a waiting limousine. So apparently there is a vice president. Who knew? Besides those of us who were reading the blurb in TV Guide for this week's episode, that is. According to Rolaide, he's meeting with the British ambassador in Washington and waiting to speak to him. Rolaide connects Palmer to Vice President Prescott, a Poor Man's Joe Lieberman. ["Over on ER, Elizabeth Corday paralyzed PMJL while rushing to finish his back surgery. I see she also removed his Australian accent for biopsy." -- Sars] Palmer asks him what the British reaction is to the "California bombing." PoorMan'sJoeLieberman tells Palmer that the British are stunned and that their military is on high alert. Furthermore, he will be meeting with the British ambassador, and wants to know if it's okay to let him know about their plans to retaliate. Palmer says no; it may be premature to do so as they might not go through with the attack. "I don't understand," says PMJL. Palmer tells him that the evidence might be false. PMJL thinks it may be too late for them to turn back on military action, yet Palmer insists. "With all due respect," says PMJL. "It's too late for second thoughts." Because, after all, if you get the notion to bomb a country, you really have to go through with it, because God forbid the U.S. should look like it takes these ethical decisions seriously or anything. Palmer reminds him not to say anything to the ambassador, and they hang up. "Mr. President," says PoorMan'sHumeCronyn. "I know you trust Kiefer implicitly but to equivocate our response in a matter of this importance makes me feel very uncomfortable." Hmmm. You know, up until now, I thought that it would be rash to bomb three countries without consulting Congress or even waiting a few days to see how things play out. But now that I know that PMHC is "uncomfortable" waiting until the next afternoon, I totally stand corrected. Rolaide tells Palmer that she agrees with PMHC. "Noted," says Palmer. Both Rolaide and PoorMan'sHumeCronyn give the camera good long mole-y looks.
Okay, you know you're in for a trying episode of 24 when the Spawn subplot actually gets going before the first commercial interruption. At the convenience store, a SWAT team has gathered in the parking lot. They've surrounded the store, and some hostage negotiator is barking orders through a megaphone and everything. Um, the B-O-M-B just went off a few miles away. That's why HisPanic is panicking, right? So why has every law enforcement stooge in Southern California dropped everything in order to restore order to this convenience store that closed for business an hour ago? Doesn't anyone have any looting or pillaging to do? Meanwhile, inside, Spawn tries to pressing towels on MenacingStoreOwner's chest to stop the bleeding. HisPanic pleads with her not to let him die. Spawn insists that they need to get MSO to a hospital and begs HisPanic to give himself up to the police, but HisPanic is in a K-hole of panic. He mumbles incoherently about a war and his pregnant wife outside. The police outside demand him to release anyone who is in need of medical attention. He ignores them. Suddenly, MenacingStoreOwner stiffens. And no, I don't mean like that. Spawn attempts CPR, but it doesn't look too good. "Please don't die," moans HisPanic over and over again. Shut up, HisPanic!