langleyparkjoe wrote:REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:langleyparkjoe wrote:CanesSkins26 wrote:Old school Jack is back. Tonight's episode was intense. I can't wait to see the last 4 hours of the season.
I loved how he shot Dana at the end.. that was classic!
I found it amusing how I felt bad for Dana while the private security firm tortured her, but nearly high-fived my wife when she got smoked by Jack.
Yes, I know that's horrible, but that's how Jack rolls!!
dude, you hit it right on the head!!!! I felt bad for her at first cause I was like, maaaaaan.. they gona torture the nonsense outta that chick. Then in the bank when she got Cole, I was like .. Oh what a *blippity blip*..Come on Jack, get her get her!
Before I say what I'm about to say ... for the record, I'm a big fan of the show, and watch it every week .. but the comments here illustrate the point I'm about to make, perfectly.
The show is an ingenious pysop of mass brainwashing at it's finest. And before anyone dismisses the idea ... think about the show carefully, and see how your own feelings and opinions may be affected by the show ... just like feeling bad for Dana when being tortured by the contractors, only to be overjoyed when Jack wasted her.
From a purely entertainment perspective, the show is great, and the aforementioned shooting of Dana by Jack is an easy event to embrace because of her own ruthlessness and willingness to kill ... shes a spy, a traitor and a murderer ... so yeah Jack, go ahead and double tap her!!
The important points that get lost are some of the parallels between the show, and real events ... a black president ... certain conspiratorial intrigue both from terrorists and moles inside the otherwise well intentioned government structures ... the vast and extensive surveillance apparatus where there is virtually no place that cannot be almost instantly accessed by those who protect us from the stereotypical middle eastern terrorists which seem to be EVERYWHERE.
What do we "learn" (or better ... conditioned to accept as right) from all of this? Jack is the all American hero, and his strong armed tactics, including torture is not only necessary, but cause for celebration. If Jack does it, it must be right, and it must be necessary to keep us safe from those evil terrorists who are relentless, and everywhere. Jack teaches us that we would be doomed without this extensive police state surveillance grid to which CTU, NSA, and others have constructed for OUR protection. Jack even goes as far as to be on the edge of torturing innocent people .. but always stops short, and only tortures those who DESERVE to be tortured.
And, Jack has developed such a relationship with the audience, that he can set aside his normal and heroic loyalty to right and wrong, and take it upon himself to be judge, jury, and executioner by killing Dana in cold blood ... all to the fanfare of applause.
Personally, just from a fan perspective .. I thought it was an error to have Jack shoot Dana because it really made Jack a cold blooded murderer .. even though the audience sympathizes with his feelings of revenge, and gives him a pass for his brief lapse because Jack has earned it, and Dana deserved to be capped.
In summary, the show teaches us:
1) Torture is good, if the right people are doing it for the right reasons
2) How necessary it is for the government to have a surveillance capacity to monitor virtually every square inch, and every person ... face recognition ... cameras and drone surveillance everywhere ... and a segment of the antiterrorist group of government saviors being above the law.
3) Demonization of middle easterners as the stereotypical terrorist
4) The depiction of cold blooded murder as justifiable
5) Most importantly .. the reinforcement of the principle that the ends justify the means, and government strong armed tactics are necessary to protect us.
This is very powerful stuff ... and don't think for a second that your mind is not being manipulated by this ... that it doesn't change your perception of things or your views of real life events.
Even when you are conscious of the manipulation taking place (which most are not), its difficult not to be brainwashed to some degree ... more for some .. less for others.
I still love the show ... even though I recognize it's rather suspect nature.
