I was skeptical. I've been a fan of 24 since its inception, but was greatly disappointed in last season's effort, so I didn't know what to expect going into this year. I watched the 24 movie prequel "Redemption", and thought it was a decent effort, but in no way did it prepare me for what was to come. The 24 Season 7 premier was "Die Hard" meets "Bourne Identity".
I don't know if the show has a new writing team, but the first 2 episodes certainly reflect a more thoughtful approach. By last year's season opener, it had gotten to the point where a good deal of key characters had been killed off. Once that happened, the show struggled to come up with scenes and episodes that left you wanting to come back for more. Also, you simply can't diffuse nuclear bombs, avert nerve gas attacks, or avoid chemical weapon annihilation every season without becoming a parody of yourself. The season opener was more grounded and focused on characters, topped off with a quality storyline which has got me really looking forward to what's in store. This is what made the show special through seasons 1-4, and the magic appears to be ...