Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Mayer, Mayer Not
By M. Giant | Season 7 | Episode 14 | Aired on 03.16.2009
At 9:29:22, the White House press briefing room is absolutely packed. Either the Secret Service and the FBI is pretty sure that the building is completely secure in the hour after a major attack on the place, or they're not and this is just a way to potentially thin out the White House press corps a bit. The press secretary is announcing the president, who is getting good luck wishes and a hug from her daughter in the wings. Taylor takes the podium to a standing ovation of reporters, who are either just really happy to see her alive or are trying to win her favor if the building's invaded again and they're taken hostage this time. When they sit, Ethan is revealed standing behind the back row. Taylor begins her speech by invoking John Adams, who apparently prayed for heaven's blessings on the building. As this leads into her assertion that clearly she owes our second president a solid, one of the reporters notices Ethan in the back and gets up mid-speech to have a whispered conversation with him, asking for confirmation on something. "I'm going to be reporting on this evening's broadcast that a rogue ex-federal agent named Jack Bauer is the prime suspect in the murder of Ryan Burnett," he says. Ethan leads the guy out of the room to ask where he got it. The reporter isn't saying, and Ethan isn't confirming or denying anything. "I'll also be reporting that you authorized Bauer's release from custody and arranged for his access to the victim," the reporter adds. Ethan turns away without responding, and when the reporter tries to pursue it, Ethan simply whispers back, "I said no comment." Hmm, who does Ethan know in the White House who has a history of ill-advised leaks to the press? Tim from Homeland, you are in so much trouble!
Or perhaps not. As Taylor reaches the part of the speech declaring success in Sangala at 9:31:26, Ethan approaches Olivia and whispers, "I see you're up to your old tactics." Olivia whispers back that she has no idea what Ethan's talking about, and tries to walk away. Ethan follows her, saying very few people knew about the Burnett/Bauer thing. "So another one of your errors in judgment bites you in the ass and you think you can lay the blame on me?" she retorts. Ethan tells her that this is going to blow up in her mother's face. "The president has gone on record that torture is unacceptable under any circumstances. When this gets out, it'll look like Bauer was sent exactly for that." Which he was. "It'll be a political disaster. You've gone too far this time." Olivia seems to be hearing that part of what he's saying and taking it seriously, but then she turns away. Ethan grabs her and threatens that he won't let her get away with it. "Get your hands off me!" she hisses. It just became clear why Aaron was wounded during the attack; otherwise, Ethan would be dead right now. As it is, he can only watch her walk away, and turn back to watch the rest of the speech.