(I apologize in advance for the heteronormativity of this post: the one demographic TV doesn’t seek to analyze is sexual orientation, and so I’ve written the post from a heteronormative standpoint because I’m attempting to analyze the thinking of a heteronormative industry.)

From what I’m hearing and seeing on LiveJournals, Michael Shanks spent a significant amount of time in nothing but boxer shorts in his recent guest appearance on 24 (see the footage on YouTube). First Casino Royale, now this. Now, … READ MORE

Just finished watching the first four episodes of season six of 24, and once again, Chloe stood out for me. Her scene opens with her ex-husband and colleague Morris (we later find out they reconciled) grabbing her bottom, only to receive a stern warning and a threat of complaint for it. She doesn’t care that he’s her boyfriend and a complaint would be a black mark against his name, she will not stand to be treated so unprofessionally, especially not … READ MORE

On 24, the list of recurring characters gets culled every year, for what I assume are two reasons: 1) to make the audience aware that no-one, not even our heroes (except, of course, Jack Bauer) is bulletproof, and 2) to stave off the payrises that come every season from returning actors. By halfway through season five, another three original characters had been killed: David Palmer, Michelle Dressler and Tony Almeada. This brought the total of remaining season-one main characters (other … READ MORE

I’m watching the fifth season of 24, and what I’ve seen so far of the show’s portrayal of women, I (mostly) love.

For starters, you have Martha Logan, the First Lady. She’s married to a man who’s both weak and ambitious - a dangerous combination - but shows intelligence, quick-thinking, and innovation. She questions her husband’s judgements. She doesn’t care that her husband just happens to be the US President; if anything, that’s more reason to question his judgements. Her actions … READ MORE

I’ve just watched season five of 24. At the beginning of the season, Michelle Dressler is killed by a car bomb, in which her husband Tony Almeida was severely injured in and lapses into a coma. He wakes up a few hours later and goes mental when he finds out Michelle is dead. From that point on, he’s hell-bent on extracting whatever information he can out of their main lead, Henderson. He enjoys torturing Henderson, wants to kill him. Basically, … READ MORE

I just finished watching the first three seasons of 24, with an eye toward how it presented women. What I found was interesting: it started out sucky, and ended on a bit of a high note.

The first season was very old-school. Every plot, every nuance, every moment was completely predictable to someone who’s watched a lot of cop/spy shows in the past. And the women were trite as usual. There’s Nina, the office slut who of … READ MORE