“I can assure you: full immunity is not on the table, but your hand is.”

24 has always utilized a similar formula across each season and, for the most part, has done it well. Of course, you’d think by the time a ninth season rolled around, there’d be significant diminishing returns, but it’s not the case because Live Another Day is managing to feel fresh and exciting as it progresses. Take, for example, this episode, one which features a bundle of vintage 24 elements that complement a story that’s barreling toward its finish.

By vintage 24, I’m of course talking about a mole being captured and interrogated, followed by Jack Bauer going “Let me handle him, man. I won’t cross the line.”, followed by whoever’s in charge–in this case, Erik–looking stupid when Bauer does in fact cross the line. Oh, and there’s an immunity deal floating around in there, too. It’s a sequence of events that we’ve seen play out countless times before, but it’s still entertaining, and much of the fun here results from seeing Bratt play a man slowly realizing that whatever leverage he may have had is slipping away.

The show delves into the history shared between Navarro and Kate in regards to not only the latter’s husband, but also the fact that they were friends. Kate, in this episode, has the rug pulled completely out from under her feet, and Strahovski does an excellent job portraying someone who you could easily see falling apart; however, Morgan eventually pulls herself together in order to dupe Navarro into giving up the override device code. It’s a character arc that runs in antiparallel to that of Navarro’s, someone who begins the episode confident in his ability to manipulate the system and secure a deal, but is eventually left with nothing. Kate’s able to get him to give up the code because of their shared history, the fact that Navarro knows her very well and knows that she’d be very willing to put a bullet into his head.

It’s history that sometimes comes back to haunt these characters, and what do you know: welcome back, Cheng Zhi. This development makes perfect sense and should be an intriguing one over the final two episodes, and the sheer history between Jack, the Chinese, the Russians, and Heller is an exciting prospect to behold. It all begins with Cheng Zhi bombing one of his home country’s ships, undoubtedly to stir up some type of conflict and to serve as an excuse for military action.

As we move into the final two episodes, it’s nice to see Chloe being brought back into the thick of things. Given everything that’s happened to her, you can understand why she might be willing to join Cross, but as we find out, she isn’t willing to at all. She’ll be Chloe till the end, and let’s hope that the end isn’t anytime soon.

GRADE: A-

OTHER THOUGHTS:

-It’s revealed that the deaths of Chloe’s husband and son were the result of an accident. It’s interesting because her arc this season seems to be one of redemption of sorts, of proving something to herself and the rest of the world, and now, she realizes that no one was out to get her. Still, it doesn’t make her fight any less worthwhile.

-Oh, Mark. Things are not looking up for you.

-Two more! I really hope that FOX brings it back for another season, especially if it maintains this quality.

Photo credit: FOX, 24: Live Another Day