If I had been through the same things as Jack Bauer, I would currently be living on a remote tropical island, as far as possible from the horrible memories and endless list of revenge seekers who want me dead. But I'm not Jack Bauer. I'm weak. I'm mortal. I could never execute a roll and cover with a messenger bag slung across my (probably wounded) shoulder with such panache.

Jack doesn't have that luxury. The sixth season of 24 opens with the hardest-working CTU agent ever returning from a twenty-month stint in a Chinese prison, clearly worse for wear. Terrorists have been striking the country for weeks, and the president is at the end of his rope. He doesn't exactly get a hero's welcome. The plan is to immediately turn Jack over to a man named Fayed who promises to reveal the mastermind behind the attacks in exchange for a private torturing session. Of course, Fayed lies to the government—he is actually pulling the strings and the leader he named, Assad, is in the country to broker peace—and things only get more convoluted from there: a nuclear bomb detonates in Los Angeles, Muslim citizens are being unlawfully detained, and Jack's brother and (possibly) father had a role in providing the terrorists with the means to create the nukes. And that's only after seven hours!

This being 24, we can expect the next 17 hours to be full of shocking revelations, plot gaps you could sail an aircraft carrier through, and plenty of Chloe's scowling. The show has always been a high wire act—exciting, but always one mis-step away from plummeting to its demise. With so much packed into the first few episodes this season, it seems like they are trying to sprint across the wire with their eyes closed. I never thought I would say this, but 24 needs to ease up or it will fall.—Anthony DiRocco