Episode Report Card M. Giant: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Edgar, Dead! Grr.
By M. Giant | Season 5 | Episode 12 | Aired on 03.05.2006
Before the situation can deteriorate further, Logan asks what the Veep suggests, and here it is: a preemptive declaration of martial law in the greater L.A. area. Swell. Logan already looks like he's considering it, but Novick rubs his big bald head and says martial law is only to be used as a last resort: "Every study we've done shows it would incite more unrest, not less." Besides, they need approval from Congress. The Veep says they don't if they don't call it martial law. Oh, well, that's all right then. Novick argues against it some more, but Logan is already more than halfway to his decision, especially after the Veep informs him that he's already called the Pentagon and put troops on standby. Well, that was presumptuous. And you know, five years ago we would have laughed our asses off if this show tried to present us with a Vice President so ballsy. And I guess I'm laughing now, but for different reasons. Novick tries to argue against theVeep's plan some more, but Logan has already come down on the Veep's side. Let's face it: the Veep is charismatic, bossy, and intimidating. And in the words of Miss Alli, the President simply has no defense against that demographic. He says they don't have time to monkey around with Congress. "If CTU can't find this man Bierko, we're going to get hit. It would be smart to have control of the streets." And it would be smart to have control of your bowels, Chuck, but obviously that isn't going to happen either.
It's 6:11:14 as the CTUmobile carrying Kiefer and Henderson pulls into the CTU parking lot. Kiefer opens the door for Henderson, who's bluffing that he'd get total immunity if he asked, but he's not even going to. "You don't want to know what I know," Henderson blusters. "You get me to talk and you'll just be opening Pandora's box." Kiefer's not impressed, even though I think that's the most literate thing anyone's said on this show in five years. Knowing Kiefer as well as he does, Henderson has to know that this kind of talk is only going to make Kiefer more focused on getting him to sing. Which is probably exactly what Henderson wants. Poor Kiefer and his big, Henderson-shaped blind spot. I find it amusing. Of course, I could be totally wrong and everything is exactly as it seems, but I like to give the show the benefit of the doubt when possible. Me and my big, 24-shaped blind spot. As they walk toward the building, they're met in the parking lot by a guy named Burke, who must be the new Eric the Torture Guy. I don't know how Kiefer knew his name, since Kiefer hasn't been back to CTU before today, but whatever. Burke's flanked by a couple of Redshirts, who take over the task of frog-marching Henderson towards the entrance. Kiefer pauses to admire the pretty sunset before following. And it is quite pretty. I do enjoy the rare scenes on this show that were clearly shot at a specific time of day. Of course, it could also be a sunrise playing the part of a sunset, for all I know. Stupid blind spot.