Meaning and Meaninglessness on 24

I think I finally understand 24.  I had a moment last night, and now I think I get it.  I've been saying all along that I think the show is overrated.  I couldn't understand why other viewers -- particularly critics -- continued to rave about a show that's often incredibly stupid, jingoistic and, even at its most sensational, oddly flat.  Yeah, the production values are amazing and I can't imagine the attention to detail the show's titular time frame requires of everyone involved.   But the scripts, the rabid misogyny and xenophobia and the humorlessness are all pretty hard to take.   Why am I watching this, again, I often wonder

Then I had my moment.  It was early in last night's episode.  Jack and Audrey were trailing that scumbag Christopher Henderson (Peter Weller) in a squadcar Jack had acquired I forget how.  We got one of those weirdly framed middle-range shots.  It focused on the "to protect and serve" motto painted on the door.  I thought, "Oh, irony," but that didn't parse.  Jack really does protect and serve -- us all.  There was a second shot of "protect and serve."  I couldn't handle it.  24 isn't ironic, it's not sincere, it's some third thing.  It's . . . post-ironic.  Irony and sincerity are constructs.  There is no meaning, there is only Bauer.  It all became very clear to me. 

The rest of the episode only confirmed my belief (or lack thereof -- it doesn't matter).  Secretary Heller (William Devane) plunged his car off a cliff in order to assure that Henderson would not be able to follow through on his threat to kill him.  There is no way to process such absurdity except post-ironically.  I have had my epiphany: I understand everything and I am so confused.   -- Peter

Comments

[Colleen Quinn]

The cliff-dive was no sillier than Audrey's injury. I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure it takes longer than three minutes to bleed to death from a cut on your arm. Good thing it all cleared up five minutes later. The question at my house about 24 is why does Donald Sutherland seem so charming and Kiefer doesn't? Is it the voice? The role of Jack Bauer requires KS to speak in a guttural whisper my husband takes great glee in making fun of. Prediction: Fox execs are trying their darnedest to get DS for next season. Jack has been such a dreadful father, it would be interesting to see his own pop wreak some havoc.