August 06, 2002
"24" DVD differs from what Fox aired

The DVD version of Fox's excellent "24" has an alternate ending included. I'm going to put the story under the More link as it's a big spoiler. And if you failed to watch "24", the best show on the air last year, you can still catch up - FX will be running a marathon later this summer.

In the DVD version of "24", there's an alternate ending in which Teri Bauer lives.


The wife of government agent Jack Bauer died in the season finale of the Fox series, which depicted a single story in real time over 24 episodes. She'll remain dead when the series returns next season.

But the Sept. 17 DVD release of the first season of 24 will include an alternate ending in which Bauer's wife survived, said co-creator and executive producer Joel Surnow.


I've gotta have it. And I can't believe I'll have to wait until October 29 for the season 2 premier.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 06, 2002 to TV and movies
Comments

I don't get it? Why would they do that?

The only reason I can think of is to appease the people who whined about the original ending. Granted, I thought it smacked of, "Wait, we've only got 30 seconds left, and SOMEONE important has to die so we don't look like pansies," but it was the ending. Changing it seems silly.

I'm really interested to see how they handle a second season. If they use the same characters, contriving another situation that lasts exactly 24 hours is going to be difficult to pull off. I hope they can do it.

Posted by: Amy on August 6, 2002 1:53 PM

24 was pretty good, but the best show on TV? The plot was loaded with complications that were thrown in just to keep the story moving, but made no actual sense.

(spoilers warning)
Why did the villains try to kill Nina, when she turned out to be one of their moles? Why did Palmer's wife react to a tape that proved her son was innocent of a murder he was being framed for by trying to destroy it? Blowing up the plane in the first episode had no logical point at all. What's with a top security secret prison in the middle of nowhere with only a handful of guards? And then there's the sudden case of amnesia just as suddenly cured, the hackneyed scriptwriter's oldest friend.

Posted by: Alex on August 8, 2002 9:07 AM

(Spoiler responses)

Nina wasn't hired by Ira. He didn't know that she was also a mole, so there was no reason for him to not kill her. Mrs. Palmer didn't want the Senator to go public with the story that the son had a hand in the death of the daughter's rapist, so she destroyed the tape to keep Senator Palmer from using it.

I'm not saying that there weren't plot holes. I'm saying that last year 24 was the show I looked forward to the most every week, and I say that as a big "Buffy" and "Angel" fan.

Posted by: Charles Kuffner on August 8, 2002 11:52 AM

yeah... nina had nothing to do with that group... palmer's wife thought her son was already clear of any wrong doings... unless palmer went forward with the information to the press.... the press lady was already being blackmailed, so she wasnt gonna say anything. Blowing up the plane was to cover up the identity of the photographer... a bit extreme maybe, but oh well? amnesia is always suddenly cured IRL. When they start to remember, it usually all comes back at once. Especially in the case where there was no actual trama... she was just a pansy. I'm glad they killed her, she was annoying me the entire series... Maybe it was a last second decision.... but it wasnt for the purpose of not looking like pansies... it was because they didn't want her to come back for season 2.

Posted by: Ben on October 15, 2002 8:43 PM