20 Years Ago, Kiefer Sutherland’s 9-Part Action Thriller Delivered One Of TV’s Best Finales

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Kiefer Sutherland became a well-known actor in films like Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, A Few Good Men, and A Time to Kill. But it was his next big role that truly transformed television. For nine seasons, plus a follow-up movie, audiences watched Sutherland play a memorable, Emmy-winning character who constantly fought to stop a relentless wave of terrorist attacks.

From 2001 to 2014, the action-thriller series 24 was a major force in television. While fans debate the best seasons, many consider season 5 to be a standout. It originally aired in 2006 and featured Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer returning from hiding to investigate the murders of important characters David Palmer and Michelle Dessler. Jack’s colleagues, Tony Almeida and Chloe O’Brian, were also targets of the same killer. Throughout the series, Jack often sacrificed his own well-being to protect others, and season 5 proved especially challenging for him.

The fifth season of 24, including its finale, remains incredibly enjoyable. Originally broadcast on May 22, 2006, from 6:00 to 7:00 AM, the finale is still considered one of the best ever. This is largely due to how dramatically it changed Jack’s life in just a few minutes, even after the main plot of the season had already concluded.

Jack Bauer’s Happy Season 5 Ending Quickly Turned Bad

Man, Season 5 of 24 was brutal! It wasn’t just Palmer and Dessler who bit the dust – so many characters got shaken up or just…didn’t make it. I was totally gutted when Edgar Stiles was taken out by that nerve gas – that ‘silent clock’ moment was rough. And I genuinely thought Tony Almeida was gone for good when Henderson took him out – talk about a shock when he turned up later! But the biggest twist? Finding out President Logan was behind everything, and then Jack’s own brother, Graeme, was involved too. Seriously, the writers just kept throwing curveballs at you all season long.

Even with all the drama, things were looking up for Jack at the end of season 5. Logan was caught, and Jack seemed ready to reconnect with Audrey Raines romantically. Considering how much hardship Jack faced throughout the series, it was really encouraging to see him feeling optimistic.

Just when things seemed to be looking up, Jack’s newfound peace was shattered. He was tricked with a false call about his daughter, Kim, and then abducted by agents working for Cheng Zhi. The Chinese government learned Jack had faked his death and sent Cheng to capture him and bring him back to China to face consequences for the events at the Chinese consulate – an operation in a previous season that accidentally led to the consul’s death.

Jack Bauer’s Kidnapping Had Lasting Ramifications On 24

Throughout the challenging events in 24‘s fourth season, Jack’s kidnapping was particularly devastating. However, it also created one of the show’s most iconic cliffhangers and is considered one of the best season finales in television history. What made it truly impactful was that the kidnapping wasn’t just a cheap shock; it had significant and lasting consequences for both the series and Jack’s character.

For twenty months, Cheng relentlessly interrogated and tortured Jack, but Jack remained silent. The Chinese government only released him after the U.S. government intervened, securing his release so he could be given to the terrorist Abu Fayed. Later, in the sixth season, Cheng reappeared as a key antagonist, teaming up with Jack’s father, Phillip. Their plans ultimately failed; Phillip died, and Cheng was captured and imprisoned by the Chinese authorities.

Jack’s kidnapping deeply affected Audrey’s life. While trying to find him in China, she was captured and tortured by Cheng, who planned to use her to control Jack. When she reappeared in season 6, she was severely traumatized and unable to function normally. Her father, James Heller, believed Jack needed to stay away to allow her to heal and stay safe.

Seven years after their initial appearances, both Cheng and Audrey returned for the limited series, 24: Live Another Day. The surprising ending of Season 5 continued to impact the show’s storyline. Audrey had recovered and remarried, while Cheng, like Jack Bauer before him, faked his death to escape from prison. Sadly, neither character survived the final season. Audrey was killed as part of Cheng’s plan for revenge, which led to Jack famously beheading one of his most formidable enemies – a truly unforgettable scene.

The season 5 finale of 24 wasn’t just a thrilling conclusion to a beloved season; it featured a truly shocking twist that had lasting effects on the show all the way until its end in 2014. This makes it one of the series’ best episodes and a standout season finale that deserves to be remembered as a masterpiece.

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2026-05-23 21:38