"Now why don't you get down into the shelter like all the other children?"

Kiefer Sutherland and a young African boy find solace in each other over 24 season 6.

There are times in life when we're hurt by the people we love. A betrayal perhaps, or just a genuine feeling that they've let us down. I'm sure, like myself you all have tales of woe. One such tale of mine involves a Counter Terrorist Agent called Jack Bauer, a nuclear bomb, an illegitimate son and some evil family members. I'm talking, of course, about the lazily written, woefully bad sixth series of much loved real-time action drama 24. The seventh series begins, after writers strike and prison sentence related delays some time in January, but to fill in the gaps, Fox put together a 2 hour TV Movie entitled 24: Redemption. So then, does it wash away that bitter taste left in the mouth by the downright ridiculous antics of season six? The answer is....not quite, but it's a damned good start.

First of all, it was fantastic to hear Kiefer say: "The following takes place between 3pm and 5pm...events occur in real time." That shit sends shivers up my spine that only the theme tune to Doctor who has managed.

Relocating the action to Africa and D.C respectively there is instantly a sense of a refreshing change, the main problem with the past few seasons of 24 were that it was pretty hard to believe that terrorists were only interested in bombing out large parts of L.A. Things reached a pretty barmy climax when the showrunners decided to nuke part of the city last season and have everyone carry on as if practically nothing happened.
Even more refreshing is that Redemption's storyline has no connection to terrorism whatsoever. Instead it focuses on a planned military coup in a fictional African nation, bankrolled by a suitably sinister and enigmatic Jon Voight. (Presumably next seasons rich white guy villain, 24's stock in trade for the past 6 years.)

Boo, and indeed hiss...

Thank god then, that Jack is hiding out in Sengala at a school run by former buddy Benton, hiding from a federal case against him. Benton is played by Robert Carlyle, doing his best Angelas Ashes Irish accent, even if his eventual fate is a tad predictable. (Hint: He's a mate of Jacks, which makes him evil, or victim of a tragic death. Or both if your Tony Almeida.)

The rebels are hiring children as soldiers and set their sights on Benton's school. Cue a classic Jack Bauer ass-kicking, some self sacrifice, a bit of torture and everything else you'd expect from your average 24 episode.

Meanwhile back in America, the groundwork is being laid out for next season, no evil Tony Almeida as yet, but we get a glance at the new female president (24 did the whole black president thing back in 2001) the aforementioned Voight and his sinister minions and the Presidents son, who appears to have stumbled on what Voight's character is up to. If I were him I'd be pretty careful, especially as Voight appears to have hired Gordon Ramsay as one of his henchmen.

It's nowhere near as beautifully plotted, fun or exciting as the best seasons of the show but of course it never could be, it's a 2 hour telly movie and a fun one at that. And also a damned sight better than the glorified car adverts that have preluded the last 3 seasons. Of course it's predictable, overly sentimental and there's some ridiculously heavy handed satire on the UN. (The title quote being one of Jack's criticisms of a cardboard cutout peacekeeper character whose name I didn't remember.) But it's a refreshing change of pace, and hopefully one they'll be able to carry on into Season 7.