By ElaineB

Hour 3 Lesson Learned: If you are going to be interrogated, request it be done by the FBI.

In the real world, when the CIA and military intelligence used what may be questionable methods when interrogating suspects, the FBI pulled their agents from the rooms, refusing to condone the actions of other branches of their own government. It’s hard to know if that’s what’s being satired when Janis Gold, the FBI’s Chloe, is wiring Tony for an interrogation while asking, “Is that comfortable for you?” But it is clear that her superior, Agent Walker, has a thing for nastier means because she turns Jack loose on Tony and, when Jack seems to be killing him, tries to stop Moss from interfering so Jack can continue the beating. By the end of these two hours, Walker tortures a helpless prisoner to get information from him. She is apparently in the downward spiral in which need to know trumps need to go by the book.

She makes an interesting contrast to Jack, who seems terribly conflicted about his actions this season. But one thing he is not conflicted about is where his loyalties stand. He believes in America, but distrusts the government that employed him. And so, he uses his friends like a lifeline to pull him to what is right.

At the beginning of Hour 3, Tony is taken to FBI headquarters where Jack learns that Tony had been helping Juma. He’s quietly shaken (how good Sutherland is at portraying this!) and says he can get the information from Tony. Walker and Moss let him try. Jack first tries reason, telling Tony he can’t believe what he has done. “Don’t act so surprised,” Tony tells him. “Money’s the only reason I have left to do anything. The government took care of that. … The government poisons everything in its path. Look what they are doing to you.” He mentions Jack’s dead wife, then says, “Every time you help them you are spitting on Teri’s grave.”

Jack attacks Tony and Tony whispers the code name for Bill Buchanan, the former head of CTU, to him. As soon as he is alone, Jack calls Bill, who tells Jack that there is a “deep and wide” corruption within the administration and that even people working on the president’s staff are involved in supporting Juma’s rebellion.

It’s fun setup. Who can be trusted? A chief of staff arguing forcefully, and correctly, that saving American lives comes first? The aide to the First Gentleman who seems so concerned about what Henry is up to as he searches for clues to prove his son was murdered? Agents working with Walker? It’s going to be a fun day for all of us.

Jack agrees to get Tony out of the FBI. He knocks Walker out, right after she says she’ll put in a good word with the Justice Department for him, then gets Tony out, too.

Chloe has hacked into FBI security and begins giving them instructions on how to get out of the building. Janis realizes this, and tosses Chloe out of the system but our girl is a bit too smart and manages to take over again. Actually, if Chloe and Janis worked together they could probably get a new firewall in place in a couple of hours.

Jack sends Tony running for Bill’s very blue van. Tony stops to get Jack out. So Jack will sacrifice himself for the mission and Tony will sacrifice himself for Jack. This is what teamwork is all about. And every time the camera focuses on someone chasing the pair, you wonder what side they are working for.

Hour 4 Lesson Learned: Administrations may change for better or worse, but friends are forever.

Bill gets Tony and Jack to a safe house where Jack sees Chloe for the first time in years. They share a mental hug. Tony tells Jack that he was revived by a former British soldier (Emerson), a man with a long history of service in the world’s hot spots before branching out for himself. Tony really did work for the man for 3 years, but working for Juma was too much for him, and he went to Bill because he knew the government was involved. Later, Tony makes it clear that Emerson was like a brother to him (a twisted, evil brother), which should make for some interesting conflicts later.

There’s a new job that will unite him with Emerson again, but after his capture he’s compromised. Jack agrees to help, so Tony takes Jack to where Emerson is hiding, and the two convince Emerson – way harder than it sounds – to sign him on.

Emerson asks Jack why he came back to the country. Jack tells him, you were in hot spots, so you know the rules. “Be polite, be professional and have a plan to kill everyone you meet, right? When do the rules of engagement end and the crimes begin? You want to know why I came back, that’s why. … I believed everything I did was right and I wanted to come clean, start a dialogue.” It was a mistake, he adds.

The next mission for Tony, and now Jack, is to abduct the prime minister of Sangala, Matobo, who came to the U.S. to meet with Pres. Taylor. Chloe overhears this and is upset, but Bill tells her they have to let the abduction and what happens afterward occur or they will not get to Juma.

Meanwhile (or close to it, everything is “meanwhile” on 24), Walker questions Tanner, a man who was shot when they captured Tony. She takes Janis with her, but when Tanner manages to tell them the lawyers are on their way, Walker sends Janis to stall the lawyers while she forces information from Tanner. He is badly wounded and says he will not help her, because if he does they will not let him live. She lets him know he will not live if he does not talk to her, and so learns that Tony and crew are planning to abduct Matobo, who had just met with Pres. Taylor, giving Matobo and his wife just enough time to take refuge in a safe room as Jack and Tony storm the house where they are staying. Still, the pair press on, trying to break through the safe room wall as the FBI closes in. Tick…tick…tick

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Tags: 24, 24 Day 7, Jack Bauer