Ranking All Seasons Of 24 From Worst To Best

A bad day for Jack Bauer, is a good day for audiences.

By Matt Thompson /

If were around in the early 2000s and had a television, then it's very possible you heard of the hit, action drama told in real-time, 24. The premise of the show was simple - an entire 24 episode seasonal show where events took place across an entire day with every hour being devoted to an hour of the day.

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The show followed the exploits of the virtuous and complicated government agent Jack Bauer as he navigated each day through Los Angeles, stopping one act of terrorism after another. Alongside him was his fellow CTU agents, political intervention from the President of the US, and a few wildcard characters thrown in here and there.

Each season saw Jack and company contend with a new and more volatile threat that endangered the lives of US Citizens. And while the show did have audiences coming back for more each year - mainly due to Kiefer Sutherland's spectacular and earnest performance as the lead hero, Jack, the show was mixed at times.

Every season/day brought something to the table, and for hardcore 24 fans, there's a special place in our hearts for each season. But how do they all rank together?

9. Day 6

Not all seasons of 24 were winners, and it's a shame the sixth had to be the way it was. It came off the heels of an infamous Writer's Strike in 2007 - where nearly every show around at the time was effected.

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That's no excuse, and Day Six showed fans of 24 that behind-the-scenes issues could really impact the show. Season 6 kicked off with Jack Bauer released from a Chinese prison: traumatized and jaded from almost two years of torture. What should have been an interesting character development, was hijacked and cast aside for some of the dumbest plot devices in the show's history.

A nuclear bomb detonating in Los Angeles (in the fourth episode of the season no doubt!) should have carried weight and consequence, but three hours/episodes later it was cast aside like an ancillary plot thread. Characters fluctuated with personalities so broadly, it was like the actors were playing whatever character trait was needed.

The sixth season introduced Jack's extended family, and even that was handled poorly. With Jack's dad being the ultimate baddie, and his brother Graem revealed to be an elusive character from the previous season, it's obvious the writing had hit an unforgivable speed-bump.

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