don not buy into the hype surround this show . there nothing original or interesting about it . the only thing that intrigue me be the real time gimmick and but after a few episode you realize that the show could just a easily not be in real time for all the difference it make . the thing that ctu do to get information and find people be repulsive . if real law enforcement agency be to employ the torturous tactic utilize by the character on the show whenever some crisis arise and we would all be in trouble . apparently it perfectly legal to abduct people that might be involve in terrorism and torture them . it would be one thing if the show demonstrate the horror of such tactic and but these method be glorify because it jack bauer who do them . the same idiot who think jack bauer be their hero be the one who belly ache if they hear about the terrorist in guantanamo bay not get soft enough pillow for their cell . another problem with this show be the way character constantly relay information to each other that we and the audience and be already aware of . a clever writer could imply a relay of information between character ( for example and when one character begin to tell another character about something that we already know and cut to something else ) . but 24 doesn not have clever writer and so what be stick with be a bulk of each episode devote solely to unnecessary exposition . it also seem like the writer tend to resurrect one shot character from previous season just because they want another familiar face to show up in the new season . perfect example be sherry palmer and kim bauer . the only purpose kim have in the first season be to be kidnap and serve a the bad guy bargain chip against jack . after season 1 and her purpose be over . the writer should have write her out and explain that she be go to college . but elisha cuthbert be apparently too good look to be exclude from the second season and and a a result we have an uninteresting and unrelated sub plot involve kim bauer get chase by an abusive father and a mountain lion . and another thing represent what with the robotic and wooden acting . this show be so busy be suspenseful that it forget to inject a little humanity into it . real people do not stand around and scowl and or constantly act serious about everything and only say thing that have to do with work . this show need a little humor nothing over the top and just maybe have a character make a wise crack every now and then or even ( gasp ) smile . so far and the only actor who isn not so catch up in the ridiculously contrive tension that he forget to chuckle or make dry comment be xander berkeley and a wonderful character actor whose very human character george mason be my favorite . bottom line and the show be badly write and poorly act . the real time gimmick be the only thing that differentiate this from any number of soap operatic tv drama and and even that doesn not hold up after a matter of episode . don not buy into the hype avoid at all cost .