24 progresses with more haste, less speed this week, as CTU’s leads dry up or rather, bleed to death in screams of agony. Those that aren’t sprawled across the floor with knives in their head, have gone all quiet and secretive. Meanwhile, Dana Walsh is about to learn a painful, but truly deserved, lesson after allowing herself to be blackmailed by the Chuckle brothers’ American cousins, Dumb and Dumber Chuckle. They remind me of these two, but I’m slightly less worried that either of them would be confused by a mirror.

Jack makes his way to Vladimir’s hideout, fully intent on pulling Renee out of the mission. However, having already forced herself into the man’s bed, the former FBI agent is more determined than ever to complete her job. Renee convinces Vladimir to use his Russian contacts to find out who is selling the nuclear material. It isn’t long however, until the situation becomes overwhelming and pent up rage consumes her.

Sensing Vladimir’s disinterest, Renee’s frustration boils over. A violent confrontation climaxes with Renee, vengefully stabbing the Russian time and again. Hearing screams, Bauer grabs his colleague, only to be stabbed himself. In order to protect his superhero identity, Jack pretends to feel pain for a moment before planting a knife right between the eyes of one of Vlad’s bodyguards and gunning down the rest of his entourage.

While Death Fest 2010 is going on, back at CTU, Dana helps guide her ex, Kevin and his mate who are stealing money from a police facility.  I feel misled by his friend. I’m not saying  the guy was Aristotle or anything but from his non speaking parts in previous episodes, I had no idea he’d turn out to be the second coming of Brian Belo. Therefore, I was just as surprised to see him revealed as a complete idiot, as I am to see the sudden resurgence of Journey.

After hearing they have 15minutes until the security guard comes on his rounds, greasy beard face decides to stick around and have a look at what else is in the cage of treasures. Inevitably the pair are forced to hide as the security guard enters the room to find the place trashed. Kevin, who is the smart one out of these two, tries to flee but his less intelligent friend decides to attack the guard, beating him on the ground in full view of the CCTV cameras. Dana will of course have to delete the footage but my money’s on Chloe finding out.

Paranoia is getting the better of President Hassan as the crackdown on his own government leads him to distrust his closest allies, in his attempt to find out who else wanted him dead.

The hour ends with Jack allowing himself to be captured, by Bazhaev’s men, after Vladimir’s phone call raised suspicion.  This will, providing he doesn’t end up dead, get Bauer closer to the man at the centre of today’s events.

Jack Bauer fact for week 3: Jack Bauer was born by torturing the other sperm until they gave up the location of the egg.