Well, I've officially bookended the 24 universe.  After much cajoling, my friends got me to watch season five while it aired, and I got hooked.  Of course, I couldn't live without knowing what else happened on Jack Bauer's other crappy days, so Marc was kind enough to lend me season one.

About a week later, and I'm done.  Yeah, I'm that much of a loser.  Anyway, I really enjoyed the first season.  It has a raw and new feel to it that must have disappeared somewhere in the last few seasons.  At the same time, it wasn't perfect.  It's obvious the writers have learned a few lessons about polish and plausibility (of course, we're talking 24 here, so let's not go TOO crazy on the realism).  For example, there were a few plotlines that could have been given way less attention (Kim and her moronic meanderings, Terry's magical on-again-off-again amnesia, etc) or dropped entirely.  There were also things that should have taken more of a limelight and given more time to develope(Nina x50).

I'm also very pleased at the ending, and after watching the sappy, happy-go-lucky alternate ending on the DVD, I'm enormously happy that the writers/producers decided to keep things dark.  The commentary nailed it on the head: they wanted viewers to think anything was possible and drop normal TV expectations, and it worked wonderfully.

I can't wait to see what the middle of the series has to offer, it'll be interesting to see how it's developed.  I've seen the two extremes, now I want to see the evolution.  So...  anyone got a season two set I can borrow?  ;)

    -Tucker