OH RIGHT, WE HAVE A PLOT TO ADVANCE

Apologies for my week off, but the combination of soul-crushing work and a very blah last hour didn't get me in the mood. The mood to ramble about a TV show. Hmm. In any event, I'd like to claim a victory for my successful Morris prediction, well in advance of the blatant telegraphing last night. Seriously, I saw Samuel Morse in the background tapping like a madman. Some other observations below:

Cromwell you dastardly genius, how could anyone think you were simply a hoodwinked father. Sure, you may look innocent, and your turn as George on Six Feet Under lulled me into a false sense of security thinking you'd just be senile on 24 as well, but I forgot all about LA Confidential. You glorious rat, why would any CTU torturer worth half his salt leave you alone with a prime witness?! Oh right, because Burke sucks balls at his job.

Powers Boothe! The second to last actor that I'd read would be appearing in this season has finally arrived. Truth be told I had initially hoped he'd be Jack's dad - because Powers Boothe is a bad ass and will not hesitate to beat someone to death. He may not be sporting his Deadwood mustache but don't be fooled - this Vice President won't be taking any shit. Not that any VP on 24 ever has - apparently in the world of 24 running mates are selected by taking two candidates who are polar opposites and forcing them together. Please God do not let us get another 25th Amendment civics lesson. PLEASE! Remember that Powers Boothe had a part in that 80's masterpiece Red Dawn, so he already knows a thing or two about warfare on American soil. Bring in Swayze and Sheen and get the B-plot rolling!

Someone please kill Sandra Palmer. The Undercover Muslim Brother plot was mildly tolerable when we thought he could get some real info - although really, didn't he? Even if the info on 4 more nukes came from some secret website, it's not like CTU had managed to find out about it. Since apparently their technology is good enough to allow them to pull every important phone call that Fayed makes out of thin air but can't manage to a) trace him or b) use fucking Google! But back to the most annoying Palmer ever - stop preaching to us about how profiling doesn't work and how if we would just respect everyone we'd instantly get cooperation and results. We all know that's bullshit, nothing ever gets done at CTU unless there is blood and pain involved. And hacksaws. Oh God, the hacksaws.

Does anyone else think it's a great idea for Jack to try and send his whole extended family to CTU? Yeah, that office building has sure turned out to be an impregnable fortress in the past. Gee, I hope no crazy people with weapons manage to infiltrate the airtight perimeter and do harm to Jack's loved ones....

And finally: Paul McCrane's (Graem) characters sure can't catch a break. On ER Doc Romano first had his arm chopped off by a helicopter blade, then a few seasons later died when a helicopter fell off the landing pad and on top of him on the street below. Jesus, what could be worse than being stalked by a killer helicopter that will stop at nothing until the very spark of your life essence is quenched? Being physically and chemically tortured by your brother Jack and then finished off by your father. Oof.