Viewer discretion is advised, because finding time to watch four hours of TV and write something mildly amusing about it, while juggling work, family, and everything else is pure TORTURE.

As we begin a note about spelling. I used to spell Tony’s last name as “Almeda.” Now the show spells it as “Almeida.” Hmm, maybe that explains the whole come back from the dead thing. It’s a different Tony.

President Cherry wonders where the CIP (California ‘Ighway Patrol?) device is, as Dubaku sends a message to the State Dept saying back off or we will commit acts of terrorists. (I’m sure State immediately radioed back “Sure!”)

Scotty says “We can re-engineer the firewall code in six days.” Kirk says “We don’t have six hours!” Scotty says “I canna change the laws of computer science!”

The helo with Jack lands somewhere, showing us that lightning quick trips are still the norm on the show.

Moss is told about the leaky FBI, and he is told the White House is calling. He says he’ll take it in his office. And then he keeps talking. I realize I don’t know these things, but you’d think the general protocol is you don’t keep the White House waiting.

Garofalo is really fitting well into her Chloe role, as a slightly awkward, not all that sure of herself geek. Her uncomfortableness with wiring up Tony is cute.

But alas, Janis and Sean squabble like the CTU techies of old. I truly, really didn’t miss all that, show.

Emerson is talking about the “next operation.” But, but, he told Tony this was the last one, their big payday, their chance to get away from it all.

Dubaku wonders why US troops haven’t moved, 30 seconds after he sent his message. He’s really gotten the hang of 24-time, hasn’t he.

Jack argues he is the best option to talk to Tony, because that would make for the most TV-viewing drama.

And actually, it is a good scene, these two old bulls squaring off. Jack warns Tony to “save himself some time and pain.” Tony says “Money is the only reason I have left for doing anything.” Tony then drives the knife deep into Jack’s soft spot by mentioning Teri.

Though, recall, in 24-time Teri was killed 17 years ago. True, maybe you never really get over that, but that was a long time ago. Jack still seems to be rather sensitive about it.

Jack jacks Tony up against the wall, where Tony mentions “Deep Sky.” (I’m guessing he didn’t mean astronomy.) Jack knew what he meant, thought, It meant “Call Deep Throat.” Who turns out to be… Bill! Huh? And Chloe is there! They got the band back together! And they say Tony is working with them, and they need to get Tony back undercover?! Wha..huh?

At the first break, clocks are at :17 to :17. Coming back, at :21 to :21. Oh, that’s odd. Even the clocks were so jolted by the latest revelations, they stayed in synch.

Kanin confronts the First Husband, and hands him “proof” that Roger was suspected of insider trading.

To kick the drama ball down the road a bit, we’re told the order to pull troops back must be given by 1pm if they’re going to get where Dubaku wants them.

Now, a big infodump for the audience. Tony is working with Bill and Chloe to catch people inside the government who are working with Juma. Again, I’m amazed at the power this African thug has in Washington. They do mention “diamond wealth”, but you’d think it wouldn’t be easy to just buy up a government without someone noticing.

Chloe is in the FBI’s system. Naturally.

At the break, clocks are at :28 to :28. Coming back, :32 to :32. Eerie, I don’t recall them being in sync this late into an episode.

Sam calls Taylor and says Roger was murdered. She wants a meet.

Moss shows Tony photos of Africa carnage. Walker wants to try a more forceful approach. Yikes, she spends five minutes with Jack and she already caught the torture bug.

Janis thinks they have a mole, but it just turns out to be Sean checking on his wife’s flight. We see a list of names, and one of the names is Gina Gold. We hear that Janis’ name is Janis Gold. Hmm, does she have a wife on the flight as well? (Also, nice to see Janis using those old pull-out keyboardy-monitor computers from CTU. Looks like the FBI snarfed up CTU’s old equipment.)

Walker brings Jack some paperwork. Not sure what it is. “I acknowledge I did not torture anybody while in the presence of an FBi agent?” Whatever it is, Jack doesn’t like it because he uses the sleeper hold to send Walker to la la land. I admit, when people throw paperwork at me, I too sometimes have the urge to choke the life out of ‘em with the sleeper hold.

At the break, clocks are at :41 to :41. Coming back, :46 to :45

Jack is going to bust Tony out of Stalag 13. Bill is on his way, Chloe will jigger the security cameras.

But wait! It’s girl on girl action, an all female-geek grudge match at the FBI. Chloe vs. Janis! Last geek standing wins!

At the break, clocks are at :51 to :50. Coming back, :55 to :53

Chloe is back in. She’s like mercury. Push her one way, she just squirms somewhere else. Moss says “Ow.”

Jack and Tony and escape the FBI’s perimeter, which, you must admit, slowed them down for far longer than any CTU perimeter would have. Jack hot wires as car and Bill’s van roars up. Jack goes out the side of the parking ramp, and the FBI then sprays city streets with machine gun fire. Imagine the paperwork that little act of stupidity will generate.

This episode roars off towards the Capitol with the clocks at :00 to :58.

As hour 2 begins, Janis says Bill and the gang escaped in a dark-colored panel van. Well, the FBI will never find them, then, because they left in a somewhat light blue van.

The White House is on the line for Moss, and he again makes them wait. Understandable, because when he does talk to the Prez and Kanin, he gets chewed up one side and down the other.

Bill and Chloe have a neat hideout! Looks like the secret lair of the Knights Templar. Either that or Alfred will soon show up with a silver tray laden with tea and lemon cake.

Tony and Bill explain. Emerson targeted Tony because he seemed like a good recruit. He was angry at the government. He arranged Tony’s disappearance. Apparently Tony was dead for 10 minutes and then was revived with a hypothermic something. If Tony’s brain was without oxygen for 10 minutes, I don’t think any magic drug would’ve helped.

Sean is really annoying. I hope he suffers before the season is over.

Jack and Tony go see Emerson. They hope Emerson will accept Jack into the gang, and reestablish Tony as undercover. Doesn’t start off well. Jack is taken to a basement where he is to be killed, but a little Jack-fu and the tables are turned. A flunky is killed instead, and Jack is in.

I’m going to skip to the end. Walker engages in a little torture by herself, and gets some info out of Tanner in the hospital. (My wife said Tanner wouldn’t be able to speak if he had a trach like that in his throat to help him breath.)

Emerson and the new gang try to get Matobo, but luckily he’s a fan of Jodie Foster movies and runs into the panic room.

Number of times someone says a variation “Now!”, “No!”, “Move!” or “Go!”: 8
Number of times a “protocol” or “grid” is mentioned: 3
Number of times a “perimeter” is mentioned: 7
Number of times Jack/someone says “Drop the weapon!”: 3
Number of torture scenes : 2
Number of moles: 2
Approximate Body Count: 7