The pendulum of this season of 24 has swung drastically in both directions…on one end, story lines have been obviously recycled (i.e. the storming of the foreign embassy), and on the other, the show has departed so far from the established formula that it is almost unrecognizable (Jack only being in the episode before last for about 10 minutes).  Last week saw a fantastic episode that I still hold as one of the best of the series.  Last night, we seemed to have gotten back to business as usual, and by that I mean 24-as usual, not season six-as usual. 

I expressed my concern last week that it just seemed so convenient that the Chinese would contact Jack at just the moment that he overthrew the terrorist threat.  My concerns turned out to be unfounded, though, as it turns out that the Chinese had been waiting for that exact moment all along so they could get some component or something blah blah blah… 

So now we’re back to the tried and (somewhat) true formula of 24:

• Jack’s gone rogue – check!
• Power-hungry President – check!
• Jack’s being manipulated by someone holding someone he loves – check!

I don’t mind revisiting storylines and formulas that have worked in the past.  That’s what makes a successful show.  But when you go back to the same thing over and over…I’m afraid that shows weakness.  We’ll see in the coming weeks if 24 will show us some new twists on the old ideas.