Assad is a cooler character than Curtis IMO. and look at it this way, Curtis didn't have to see the nuke go off.

I was dismayed. At first, we thought Jack only gave him a shoulder wound, but then we realized he got him through the neck.

>:(

Now they nuked part of the Left Coast, and I have mixed feelings about that.

Jack is many things but at the top of the list is HONOR, the terrorist helped him and the President ordered him to protect him so Jack did the right thing with that said recall the show has a way of twisting the plot so that those who have it coming get it in the end and those who do not also unfortunately. I offer this possibility I think Assad will turn out to be the one driving all of this he is running a classic double blind on the U.S.

I think Curtis is dead. But I hope he's not. Partly because I like him. Partly because the series really doesn't have enough good characters left to lose one. And mostly because I knew it would rile up SarahK enough to stop doing these wonderful synopses!

The Curtis thing left me cold because he was acting so un-Curtisy. I reacted more to Jack's reaction. Curtis may not be dead. I think they would have given him the silent clock - but maybe that would steal the mushroom cloud's thunder. When characters die acting so unlike themselves (like Mr. Eko's last speech in LOST)...it's like they just went away somewhere for a while. The drama doesn't register with me. I'm in denial that it happened so implausibly.

Besides, Aaron Pierce is cooler than Curtis.

:)

heather, you heard what assad did to curtis's entire team, right? including making 2 of them beg for their lives and then beheading them anyway, right? i would have shot assad myself.

oldcrow, how about honoring the one who fought FOR the US, not the one who killed a bunch of innocent civilians? shoot him in the shoulder, shoot the hostage long enough to distract and arrest BlackJack, anything but shooting BlackJack in the neck.

i'm still angry today. that was a horrible plot twist.

Jack asked the question "Do you know the difference between dying for SOMEthing and dying for NOthing." I think that question puts all of the casualties into perspective. What did Tony and Edger die for? What did Michelle die for? What did Curtis die for? Mostly for shock value. Or to add weight to the situation. Was that dying for something or nothing?

Weird episod! What was that all about?!?!?!?!?

Are you upset? 'Cause you seem upset.

Just asking.

Yup, it's official:

http://fox.com/24/episodes/

Curtis is dead. Poor Jack.

You said you were out when Tony got killed but then admitted that you were hooked and couldn't . . . stop . . . watching. Now you say the same when Curtis gets shot. But, I'll bet you still can't stop watching.

Let me give you two reasons for continuing.

1. Because I love your blogging of the show more than the show itself. In fact, I was disappointed that you didn't post your usual summary of the show since I was unable to watch it. I'm hoping that you will still do so after your rage subsides.

2. What if you stop watching and then Tony actually does come back? What will you do then, huh?

Well Sarah, if you want to watch a BETTER show...go to HBO and watch Rome. It is just so awesome!!! Lucius Vornus and Titus Pullo would just kill Jack Bauer any day of the week! :)

Of course you might have issues with the sex, violence and nudity...but it is a much better show by far than 24.

I think Curtis is out because he couldn't carry the series as the lead character next season.

I know that Ricky Schroder is joining the cast, and I think they are setting up Jack Bauer's retirement (or death) this season.

The producers are looking to add a character who can offer a reasonable replacement for J.B. next year and Curtis just wasn't it.

I'm waiting on them to add Mark-Paul Gosselaar to the cast. That's be, like, SO kewl!!!

I don't remember much about "Speed." But didn't Nick Nolte shoot Eddie Murphy in "48 HRS"?

Basil
I don't remember much about "Speed." But didn't Nick Nolte shoot Eddie Murphy in "48 HRS"?

Yes he did, although I think it was the 2nd one, Another 48 Hrs.

sarahk - I know what Assad did to Curtis' team, but for some reason I didn't feel that he would let emotions rule like that...BUT if they did - then he wouldn't have cared what happened to himself. If he was going to drive away with Assad - are we to think he was going to torture him? That doesn't seem right. If he made up his mind to kill Assad, why didn't he just walk out and shoot him? That would have taken everyone by surprise and it might have been so unexpected that they wouldn't have time to shoot him to stop him - they would just have to put him under arrest. It just didn't play right to me. I give Curtis more conviction than that - either he would not have done it, or he would have done it "right".

keith - replace Jack?! No one can replace Jack.

What did Tony and Edger die for?...to add weight to the situation.

Well, Edgar did have a bit of weight:)

Are some of you serious? Is Zach from "Saved by the Bell" Really gonna be on the show? Maybe just me, but he just doesn't seem bring any of the, I don't know, "cojone factor" to this show.

I seriously can't believe anyone actually thought Curtis was still alive. We SAW the life leave his eyes, people! Jack knew he was dead. Bill knew he was dead when he talked to Jack. And Jack doesn't miss. There was no way he lived.

And I agree with the comment above that the decision was made in part because Curtis couldn't carry the lead role whenever Jack departs (though I think that's likely to be next season rather than this one, and like X-Files, the show won't last more than a couple seasons past the departure of its star (though I thought season 8, the first without Duchovny fulltime, was every bit as good as any previous season), but it couldn't last forever anyway).

SarahK, Please don't give up on your episode guides. It makes 24 even more fun to watch. After all you haven't talked about how Ockmed a/k/a Kumar a/k/a Taj gives it up.

The central conceit to 24 is that Jack is always always always right. He saw that Curtis was screwing up his resolve to pull the trigger and Jack waited until the last possible second to shoot. Also notice that Curtis was wearing body armor and that his pistol was pointed at the back of Assad's neck. Jack probably came within a inch of Assad's ear to hit Curtis. Curtis is highly trained. A shot anywhere else might have caused his finger to spasm. Jack shoots him dead center at the base of his neck. Can't get to his medulla oblongata, but maybe he severs his spine with a front shot?

Curtis left him no choice. And Jack will do whatever he has to do, no matter the cost.

SarahK, you've hit upon a pet peeve of mine - Hollywood's love of gun-cocking.

To wit, may I submit for your consideration The Worst Gun-Cocking Movie of All Time: CLIFFHANGER!

Do you agree?

Sorry but 24 lives and dies on Jack Bauer, he is the show, once his character dies, it is over, I will no longer watch, no point in continuing past that point, like Alias season 5, the X-Files finale, Jack Bauer - 24 = is completely non existent and dead in my eyes.

Sarah,

I can't believe you missed that Assad is Dr. Bashir from DS9!

I love 24, and will watch it even after curtis's death (though I will miss your great recap/comments) I have to urge you to continue watching

that said robert is right, watch Rome as well. its on HBO and...just awesome. rent the first season first.

SarahK~

Didn't you (as a gun afficianado) ever stop to think that maybe they cock their pistols in order to reduce the amount of pressure necessary to exert against the trigger when it comes time to pull? For instance, I will always cock my H&K USP .45 in any situation where I may have to shoot someone in the neck to save a terrorist I need to work with with. This saves me from having to exert 7 pounds of pressure to only having to exert 3 pounds of pressure!