24 was much more interested in action spectacle than plot development, but that ended up being one of the real-time conspiracy thriller’s biggest strengths. Most thriller TV series are focused on building a complex narrative web full of intricate mysteries and mind-blowing twists and turns, but some of the best thriller shows have more action than plot.
Fox’s post-9/11 thriller 24 is a prime example of this. Kiefer Sutherland stars as Jack Bauer, an agent of the fictional counterterrorist unit CTU, and each season sees Jack thwarting a different terrorist conspiracy, whether it’s the assassination of a presidential candidate or the release of a toxic nerve gas. The show is an action-packed gem that forgoes a complicated plot.
Fox’s 24 Is More Action Than Plot, But It Works For The Thriller Series
Jack Bauer’s Counterterrorist Adventures Play Out In Real-Time
Every episode of 24 plays out in real-time. Each season is 24 episodes long, covering an entire 24-hour day. In fact, the show’s seasons are officially referred to as days: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc. Each day starts out with Jack being called in to investigate a new terrorist threat, and ends with him defeating the terrorists somehow.
Since it wouldn’t be realistic for there to be a major plot point every couple of minutes, the writers came up with an abundance of action sequences to pad out the runtime and maintain the fast pacing. Every time Jack gets a little closer to catching the bad guys, he finds himself in a shootout or a fistfight.
It works for most thriller shows to have a devilishly complex plot that you have to really pay attention to. The twisty, confounding plotting of True Detective is one of the best things about the show — ditto for Dark, Severance, Twin Peaks, and The Wire. But having a lighter plot and heavier action works wonders for 24.
24 Still Has A Compelling Enough Story That You’ll Be Hooked Until The End
Each Season Gives Jack A Clear Goal & A Race Against Time
Just because 24 doesn’t go all-in on a confusing, multifaceted plot, it doesn’t mean it’s not gripping television. The storytelling is relatively simple, but it’s compelling enough to keep you hooked until the end. Every time Jack is faced with a new villain, each episode brings a new obstacle he has to overcome in order to thwart their plans.
Every season gives Jack a clear goal and a race against time, and it hangs the narrative momentum on those two elements. There are more than enough twists and turns to keep you engaged from start to finish, but it never gets so convoluted that it distracts from the action. 24 is a must-see for fans of the action genre.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
