24 Season 9

Right now you can watch 24 Season 9 on and — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Kiefer Sutherland's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, 24 Season 9 earns its spot. At its heart, 24 Season 9 understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Four years after the events of Day 8, Jack Bauer remains a federal fugitive. Meanwhile, amid growing concerns over the use of US military drones in combat, President James Heller pays a historic visit to London to negotiate a treaty to continue their basing on British soil. Having heard rumors of an imminent attack against Heller, Bauer resurfaces in the city, where he is apprehended by the CIA and forcibly recruited into joining their investigation, with the promise of amnesty in return for his co-operation. Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2014. What makes 24 Season 9 hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, 24 Season 9 delivers. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Kiefer Sutherland anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.