Jack Bauer
Template:24 character Jack Bauer is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the American television series 24. He first appeared in Season One as the Special Agent in Charge[1] at the CTU Los Angeles. He is featured in the video game adaptation that takes place between the second and third television seasons.
Born in California to German-American parents, Bauer trained and worked in various capacities as a government agent, including SWAT team, Delta Force, CIA and finally the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) Los Angeles. As well, he is a key member of CTU who has prevented major terrorist attacks on the United States, saving both civilians and government leaders. He has done so at great personal expense, as those he has thwarted have come after him and his loved ones many times.
Actor Kiefer Sutherland portrays Jack Bauer in the television show and video game, and signed on for at least three further seasons in 2006.[2]
Jack Bauer is one of the most popular characters of the show and currently no 1 favourite character at the 24gr international poll.
Appearances
As the principal character in 24, Jack plays a prominent role in the television series and the video game. Jack is the main protagonist of the 24 series.
24 television series
Jack Bauer was born in California as the son of Phillip Bauer. After high school, he enrolled at UCLA, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Literatureand Art. He went on to receive his master's degree in Science, Criminology, and Law from UC Berkeley[3].
After completing his schooling, he worked as a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team member, and in the U.S. Army's elite Delta Force. Apparently, Bauer also did fieldwork for the Central Intelligence Agency before being seconded to the Counter Terrorist Unit. While at CTU, he was the Team Leader for an action known as Operation Proteus and the Section Captain during the incident of the Hotel Los Angeles attack[4]. He later uncovered evidence that three CTU agents, including his mentor Christopher Henderson, were taking bribes. Jack gained a reputation as a whistleblower and lost favor with CTU hierarchy[5].
24: The Game
Six months after the events of Day 2, a new terrorist threat introduced Jack to Chase Edmunds. Kim was kidnapped during the course of the day, but Jack rescued her - only to have girlfriend Kate Warner taken as well. After a firefight on a yacht, Kate was saved, and Chase and Tony Almeida took a wounded Jack to the hospital .
Other media
Jack Bauer has been referenced in other television shows, both subtly and obviously. In an episode of House, also on Fox, Dr. Gregory House responds to an emergency situation by saying sarcastically, "Oh no -- code red! Call Jack Bauer!"
Bauer will also appear in the last episode of the 18th season of The Simpsons along with Chloe O'Brian as part of Springfield Elementary's new Counter Truancy Unit.[6]
Characteristics
Jack Bauer has characteristics marking him as a "flawed hero". He holds similarities to many Greek heroes, having a "tragic flaw" that dictates his rise to power and, inevitably, will dictate his downfall. Jack's employment at CTU has given him many survival skills that have kept him alive, yet his tenure at CTU can be held liable for many, if not all, of Jack's misfortunes (losing his wife at the end of Season One, his addiction to heroin during Season Three, the emotional "loss" of Audrey Raines, his love interest in Season Four, the lives of some of his closest friends, his job at CTU, and his own "death".)
Bauer's behavior and actions are consistent with the philosophy "the ends justify the means". When innocent lives are in danger he behaves as though obtaining a desired result is more important than how he obtains it, and he frequently performs controversial actions if he thinks they will achieve an important goal. His philosophy was perhaps best expressed after he shot and killed a witness in front of George Mason, then-CTU Special Agent in Charge. George expressed dismay at Jack's extreme action, and Jack replied: "That's the problem with people like you, George. You want results, but you never want to get your hands dirty." Lying, torture, stealing, and even cold-blooded murder are all viable options to Jack, a stark contrast to the vast majority of fictional heroes. Comparisons with the very people he battles are inevitable. As stated by George Mason in Day 1, "Rules don't apply to Jack Bauer. He does what he wants, when he wants, and he doesn't care whose life it affects."
Jack Bauer is also a master of interrogation, a skill which he said was learnt off Tom Dapice. He often uses extreme physical force or psychological stress to retrieve the information he needs. At other times, Jack has threatened the lives and/or well being of terrorists’ families. Jack himself is also adept at handling interrogation, as shown in Season 2, proving terrorist Ronnie Stark's point, "Everyone breaks, Jack, even you," to be incorrect. Jack has withstood knife carvings, electrocutions, and injections without confessing. During one torture session, he was accidentally put into cardiac arrest, but was revived with emergency measures. Jack was soon portrayed as a character who could remain perceptive under pressure when, several minutes after his revival, he was able to escape with the help of a nearby doctor.
Jack has routinely put his and his family's life on the line, as well as the lives of those close to him, in order to serve the greater good. Notably, he was faced with a situation where a terrorist threatened to release a devastating biological weapon if Jack did not execute one of his superiors, Regional Director Ryan Chappelle. Despite efforts to locate the terrorist before the deadline, Bauer was forced to execute Chappelle. In the fourth season, Bauer was told to extract a Chinese scientist named Lee Jong from the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, who had vital information needed to stop an imminent terrorist strike. During the illegal raid, Lee was shot and needed immediate medical attention to stop him from dying. When he arrived at CTU, Bauer learned that the doctor there was already working on Paul Raines, the estranged husband of Audrey Raines (Jack's then girlfriend). Raines had been shot earlier trying to push Jack out of the way of a gunman. Much to Audrey's horror, Bauer drew his weapon and ordered the doctor to begin surgery on Lee. Raines went into cardiac arrest and died shortly afterward.
Jack Bauer is rarely seen showing remorse for such actions until after the crisis has passed. This is largely due to his emotional suppression necessary to complete the task at hand. He has on occasion revealed his more vulnerable side, including a notable scene at the end of Season 3 when he breaks down crying after the traumatic events of the day.
Following the death of his wife at the end of Season 1, he seemed to live a life that had little personal purpose. To Jack Bauer, there is no separation of his personal life and his duty. As he said to Chase Edmunds, his partner during Season 3: "You cannot do this job and have a normal life at the same time."[7].
Concept and creation
Character creation
The writers of 24 collaborated with Sutherland to create the part of Jack Bauer as the seasons have progressed.[2]
Kiefer Sutherland
Joel Surnow commented that they did not have any actors in mind for the part; "We didn’t really know who it was. We were casting a lot of people and then we heard Kiefer Sutherland’s name and thought, that’s Jack Bauer."Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). At first, Kiefer Sutherland did not want to play Jack Bauer "I thought, 'This is really clever and different, so there's no way they're going to pick it up. But I could use the money, and no one will ever see it'."[8]
In 24, Sutherland must produce around 18 hours of film each season, "which is like making 12 movies, so there are going to be mistakes along the way, but I am incredibly surprised by how many things work well as a result of working at that pace."[8]
Sutherland signed a contract to play the role of Bauer for three more seasons for 40 million USD. Reactions by critics to his performance have been very positive. This is due to his great critical acclaim as Jack Bauer, leading also to five Emmy nominations which finally lead to a win in 2006 for his work in Season 5. He also is credited for winning the Golden Globe in 2002.[9]
References
- ^ Dilullo, Tara. 24: The Official Companion Seasons 1 & 2
- ^ a b Stephen M. Silverman (2004-10-06). "Kiefer Sutherland: $40 Million Man". Retrieved 2006-08-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) Cite error: The named reference "phase" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ From the official book: The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU
- ^ Jack Bauer's Official Character Page FOX
- ^ Season 1 Jack Bauer: I am the last guy you want to bring something like this to. I built a case against three of our own agents for taking bribes. If there’s a conspiracy inside the agency to kill David Palmer, I'll never get anywhere near it.
- ^ "Move over, Jack Bauer... Here is new CTU agent Homer Simpson!". newsleader.com. January 1, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
- ^ Season 3 Jack: You don't think so? What the hell do you know? My wife died because of this job, and I almost lost Kim too, I'm not gonna let that happen again. I will do everything I have to to protect her do you understand me? Everything. (sighs) Damn it Chase, you cannot have a normal life and do this job at the same time.
- ^ a b Joel Schumacher (2004-02-01). "Kiefer Sutherland: he's been around Hollywood for more than 20 years, but these days, this bold talent has them counting the minutes". Interview. Retrieved 2006-08-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Sutherland 'signs up for more 24'". BBC. 2006-04-10. Retrieved 2006-08-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links