2. Curtis Manning- 24
24 is on its way back! I, like many others, hold out hope that the break and the new limited series format will help 24 recapture the brilliance that made it one of the most must-see shows in the world. The original run of 24 lasted for eight seasons and a TV movie and millions of fans around the world tuned in each week to see how Jack Bauer would save the day. In a show like this it is an inevitability that the death toll is going to be rather large. Despite the fans general acceptance of this being the status quo ,with each passing year more and more questions began to be raised about the manner of certain characters exits- especially that of Curtis Manning in the sixth season. We all know that Chloe is Jacks sidekick but when it comes to actually supporting him in the field, no one lasted longer than Curtis. Others, such as Chase from day 3 and Mike Doyle for day 6, only lasted the one season, but Curtis made it from the fourth season until the sixth, which makes how his death was handled all the more insulting. Curtis had always supported Jack and unlike a lot of characters in the show you really got the feeling that he had his back. A big reason for this was probably due to him seeming to be a relatively level headed guy. He gave the impression that he was in control of his emotions- he had a job to do and he knew how to do it. Apparently not though, because out of the blue he decides to go rogue and that meant Jack Bauer had to put him down. With the exception of Jack - and probably Chloe - everyone on this series has a shelf life and Curtis had exceeded his, but why does that mean he had to die like this? Just because a character doesnt quite fit in anymore, doesnt mean they have to be murdered on the job or go crazy. Why not just have Curtis get another job and thus allowing the character to return if he is needed? Instead the writers have him act completely out of character, jeopardise a mission and make Jack kill him. We are meant to feel sympathy for Jack in that moment as he has just put down his friend. Instead, we as an audience share Jacks disgust with the ordeal- him with the job and us with the writers for putting him in that situation the first place. It felt like a cheap attempt to recreate the emotion and drama of Chappelles death in day 3 and it is worth noting that the sixth season is considered by many fans and critics to be the worst in the series.