Stratego

I saw Ibuprofen on the bottle.

The Band-Aids box that held the coins.

Varga doesn't have to explain Ray's death, so there is no need for him to implicate Nikki. The police will do the investigating. Their list won't include Varga (or his henchmen) because there is no known (by the police) connection between them and Ray--unless Nikki talks. In homicides the #1 suspect is generally the closest to the deceased (ex)-spouse, lover, (Nikki) then Emmit. Nikki's bruises are a problem for her to explain. True, this Fargo and we know Gloria will solve everything--and likely the "solution" will fall like a "writer's anvil" in front of her. But there are three episodes to go and the next two will likely see her stumbling through a fog similar to Season 1 until the climax.

Juxtaposing Mrs. Goldfarb's comments to Sy ("you don't want to make an enemy of a Goldfarb") and Varga finding Emmitt's parking lot company from "afar", I believe that Varga is working for Mrs. Goldfarb so she can buy the company--and "for cheap".

Does CTU still have a head of Operations (Locke) ? Or has that MacGuffin been played-out?

I had the same observation about Carter's clothes--and his face seemed to have healed! DNI does not control CIA, there is an independent Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). I'm not sure there is a DNI per se, there is a Director of Homeland Security and there is a National Security Advisor positions. CTU is a made-for TV department.

I think Heather also appeared on So You Think You can Dance.

That grenade scene was totally bogus. Even a flashbang would have knocked people to the ground, given a huge headache, and temporary blindness--and then if it were a real grenade... Apparently Nisr is the "big bad". OK, who is he? Should the terrorists be wearing red shirts? Given Eric's misadventure(s) it seems he should be detained, cuffed, and interrogated at CTU HQ at the start of the next episode. It's not like he actually has any authority or is "part of the team" to use as an "Jack Bauer excuse" for his actions.

The script apparently is for "Helen Shaver"--who is she?

Do the "ends justify the means" became the central theme of 24. Sometimes it appears that the central theme hasn't changed but I'm not yet convinced this show has "found its way" yet, so I'm not certain.

If they removed the explanation dialogue this could be a 30-minute program!

Maybe a couple of things... As I recall Chloe would jump into boiling oil to protect Jack on whatever hare-brained scheme he devised; and then there is ( a requirement ?) "follow-the-trend" to incorporate a gay character/plot line in every story. There really isn't a "need" to involve sexuality at all in the Andy character, the patriotism angle or simply a need to be seen as someone who "gets involved" as opposed to just watching life on a video monitor, would have sufficed to explain Andy's decision to join Carter's (hare-brained) scheme.

I think we are supposed to believe that Nicole is his reason for being--and his success (at anything).

Several times. She appeared in internet video chats and wore a hajib that was sort of a blue print. I think she was the soccer player that they bribed with a jersey.

Season 2 has been approved. The introduction of this girl (and a repeat use) means she had to play a significant role at sometime. Rip's death was "Justified" by permitting the show to end his involvement permanently, no investigation/trial/punishment. I certainly hope that the Team is not used for the search for the girl--that is police work! Though, the Team could be used to hunt her handlers. The battle scene was too contrived given the build-up. The jihadists were billed as highly trained, ex-military, and with comparable weapons to the seals, yet there were only three casualties--all wounded. Rip's wound was actually very serious and if he were to survive he would need lengthy hospitalization and recovery time--not two weeks as depicted.

They explained in the previous episode that the terrorist cell had a number of cell phones "marked"--the one that Eric was using when he was travelling with Grimes to meet Gabriel. They were tracking that vehicle along the way to meet Gabriel. I assume with that tracker that they can monitor communications as well--?

This episode was filler leading up to next week's season final. Plenty of seeds of doubt were planted so we wait to find out what actually grew from them--if anything. Apparently there has been no change in the Oval Office (yet) but inexplicably the WH is willing to turn a blind eye to both the accusations against Rip and (the likely) cover-up from his team. Nothing like a little suspension of disbelief. The Team sure wet their pants when they learned that the Oppfor had night vision goggles and the latest in most everything--meaning they won't be sneaking-up on anybody.

Ten Q.

Anyone notice that Carter has acquired Bauer's magic powers of healing? I could barely discern the thrashing he took in the first hour. Father Chechen takes a serious beat down--but when Amirs removes the duct tape from his mouth--there is nary a mark on his face!

I believe the "top CTU operative" (the one shot) is a dead man walking--he's holding the job that Corey Hawkins will hold in Season II.

I'm guessing the Senator was very aware that his father pulls sxxx frequently and that things generally turn South on his stuff. From here on out I'm referring to the father as Cliff Barnes. Carter is unbelievablely naive and trusting.

What a hatchet job on the team! Of course each character needs some kind of a flaw for reality purposes, but this is ridiculous. The only team member who hasn't displayed a serious character flaw is the guppy--probably because he is a Harvard graduate and is black.

I read that FOX ordered 12 episodes. I assume that there will be exactly 12 episodes.

I think that he is excess baggage as far as the stories to be told. Bjorn has a destiny in the Med (known history) and Hvitsik will be travelling with him. Ivar has a known history as a conqueror (Ireland, etc.). Ubbe is apparently going to play "Guthrunn". Sigurd's "story" would just get lost in the mix, especially considering that Floki's story is included.

Kenda has stated "nearly 400 homicides" (384 solved), so I think there is more material there to use. The producers simply need to keep sifting through the case files. I strongly suspect that there is enough for another season.