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Yea, Jack Bauer has become the poster child for a tragic hero. Even a reuniting with his family isn't the right ending for him. The only ending for Jack that'll seem right is death. The problem is it's such a definitive end to a series that the producers have to be certain they've milked 24 for everything they can before they pull it off.

I basically agree, though I will say I thought the Season 8 ending was nice, too. A man who's saved America so many times, yet has to live the rest of his life as an outlaw on the run, a fugitive. It lacked a complete finality of death, but it was a bit of a tragedy nonetheless. And yet Jack was at least "free" I guess, rather than in enemy hands or dead.

And of course the other great thing about the Season 8 ending was it left open the door for more 24 (which the producers obviously walked right through since 24LAD was created). The producers, after a few years, also could have decided to shut the door and end the series (and it seemed like this would be the case after the movie never got off the ground, until 24LAD was announced). I would have been satisfied if that was how the series ended and nothing else happened. And it actually would have been intriguing because I think the vast majority of 24 fans expect/expected the final act from Jack to be death, and it put a bit of a twist on it.

I think basically everyone agrees this ending is not a satisfying one for the series. And I think the producers know this and there will be another season. I think the Season 8 ending was a good option to end it all, but it's been exhuasted and they decided to come back, so I don't think they'll go a similar route for the (next) series finale. So that leaves reuniting with family or death. And death just seems the more fitting option. Of course, the 24 people are creative, so maybe they'll come up with something completely different that's great.

This post was edited on 7/14/14 at 9:55 pm