24 Episode Recap: "11:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M."
This hour picks up right where we left Jack — on a deserted road — but now a CDC team has descended on the location and begun investigating the pathogen Jack was exposed to. Of course, this involves Jack stripping and being hosed down (enjoy it, ladies?). Though at this point, I'd say whatever Jack's been exposed to has done its work, and a chemical shower won't make much of a difference. Still, guess it couldn't hurt.
Meanwhile, Tony and the bio-weapon arrive at Starkwood's nearby complex. And it looks like more torture is the order of the hour for the already bedraggled Mr. Almeida, who's been having a very bad day this time out. (Though, really, who hasn't?)
And, as some of you had predicted, it seems Greg's resolve proves not to be so strong as Hodges' — as soon as Starkwood is found out, he immediately suggests destroying all the incriminating evidence. But Hodges doesn't see things that way; it seems a fight is just what he's been itching for all along.
Nonetheless, Greg has decided he wants out, whatever it takes — which means putting a bullet in Tony's "interrogator" before the Starkwooder can shoot Tony. "I'm not spending the rest of my life in prison because Jonas Hodges has lost his mind," he explains, before enlisting Tony's help in leading the FBI to the bio-weapon.
At the White House, Olivia continues her climb up the administration ladder. Having covertly helped secure Ethan's resignation, Olivia now steps into the temporary position of Chief of Staff — of course, she initially demurs to her mother's request, but it's all for show. This is clearly what the first daughter wanted all along, whatever she plans to do with her newfound power.
Of more immediate concern to President Taylor, though, is deciding how to attack the Starkwood military-industrial complex without inciting a war with the company's highly trained mercenaries. A relatively small team of agents and soldiers, led by FBI Larry, seems to be the way to go.
For once, though, Jack won't be factoring into anyone's plans. His tests have come back positive, making him patient zero for Starkwood's pathogen. Exactly what that means will be up to the CDC — and Jack's surely unpleasant symptoms — to determine.
What it means in the short term is that Jack will be sitting out the assault on Starkwood. Though he initially argues that he's earned the right to take part, Larry points out that he could develop symptoms at any time and jeopardize the mission. Jack reluctantly agrees, wistfully remarking, "I knew we'd eventually agree on something." I don't know what's harder for Jack: being infected with a potentially deadly virus, or watching from the sidelines while someone else goes after the bad guys.
Thankfully, Tony's now the man on the inside taking care of the heavy lifting (i.e., knocking people out) and preparing the way for the assault team to reach the bio-weapon. Once the good guys manage to descend by helicopter onto the Starkwood complex (without a shot fired — too easy!), they find ... nothing but an empty warehouse! Turns out, Greg was playing Tony all along, in order to divert the FBI away from the weapon's real location, wherever that may be. Or, as Hodges put it, "Well, what do you know? Little 'ol Seaton bought us some time."
Stokes and his Starkwood troops quickly surround Larry's men, declaring them trespassers on private property, and setting up next week's sure-to-be-action-packed showdown. And, as Jack's condition deteriorates, could we see the return of long-lost daughter Kim? Fingers crossed.
Stray Observations:
• Those scars on Jack's chest are pretty nasty — not positive, but I'm assuming they're from his torture by the Chinese a couple years back? He sure has been through the wringer over the last few "days."
• How about Renee shedding a single tear when Larry tells her Jack's been infected? As some of you predicted, I think she's definitely fallen for the guy. And really, sometimes-dubious methods aside, how could she not have? He's a real American hero!
• Larry ordering the military to blow that warehouse door seemed a little reckless — I don't think I'd want anything exploding that close to a deadly pathogen. Not that it ultimately matters, in this case.
