In just over a week, Jack will be back. And he’s been greatly missed.
For eight seasons, Kiefer Sutherland redefined action on TV as Jack Bauer, an agent of CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit) who took down the greatest threats to his nation (and his family) by any means necessary. Anyone unfortunate enough to go up against Jack wasn’t long for this world.
Jack Bauer left such a huge impression on television that there hasn’t really been anyone who could match his impact in the four years since “24” went off the air. Efforts to make a 24 feature film never came to fruition, but on Monday May 5, Jack Bauer will return in the 12 part miniseries, “24: Live Another Day” for a brand new storyline that’s sure to continue Jack’s traditional badassery.
Ahead of the new miniseries, we’ve gone back and looked at all of the previous episodes of “24” for Jack Bauer’s Biggest Badass moments. And there were a lot to choose from! The list has been narrowed down to ten, but feel free to share your choices for Jack’s badass moments in the comment section below!
Jack Bauer's Biggest Badass Moments
10. Jack Goes Car Jousting With Nina
Season 1 Episode 24
After blowing her cover by sending Jack into an ambush with false info, Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) left a trail of dead bodies on her way out of CTU. She might have gotten away if Jack hadn’t confronted her while driving straight at her car with an SUV.
Jack managed to stop Nina, but he was talked down from taking her out... which was a decision he would live to regret.
9. Jack Plays With Scissors
Season 5 Episode 9
When a man comes to kill you, use whatever is at hand to defend yourself. For Jack, it was a pair of scissors that allowed him to walk away from this fight. As you can see from the pic, the other guy wasn’t as lucky.
8. Iron Jack Bauer
Season 8 Episode 22
Former President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin) played a direct role in the death of someone close to Jack. Do you think Jack will take that lying down? Or will Jack don some heavy body armor and stage a one man assault on Logan’s motorcade before kidnapping the former President?
Yes, Jack took the second option.
7. Jack Breaks Bierko
Season 5 Episode 23
Vladimir Bierko (Julian Sands) was on the verge of firing missiles in an unprecedented act of terror. So, Jack Bauer broke his neck... with his legs.
6. Jack Takes Goren’s Head
Season 2 Episode 1
Marshall Goren (Carl Ciarfalio) was a murderer and a pedophile who cut a deal with the Feds to avoid prison time. Jack needed to quickly reestablish his cover with a crew linked to an upcoming terror threat, so Jack did the only thing that came naturally.
Jack shot Goren dead while he was in CTU custody and he sawed off his head before presenting it to the domestic terrorists as proof that he was on their side.
5. Jack Gives Chase a Hand
Season 3 Episode 24
Chase Edmunds (James Badge Dale) was only Jack’s partner for a single season, but he suffered for it!
In the third season finale, Chase kept a terrorist from getting away with a viral bomb by cuffing himself to the device. But in order to get the device secured before it went off, Jack had to chop off Chase’s hand... with full support from Chase himself!
4. Jack Grabs a Bite
Season 6 Episode 2
In eight seasons of “24,’ Jack Bauer was rarely shown eating or drinking. Can you blame the man if he’s getting a bit peckish?!
The real story of “the bite” is that Jack went along with a U.S. plan to surrender himself to the terrorist, Abu Fayed (Adoni Maropis) in exchange for his help in stopping a deadly string of domestic terror attacks.
But when Jack learns that Fayed was behind the attacks, he decides that it’s time to leave. So he bit a man to death before freeing his hands and escaping.
3 Jack Bauer: One Man Army
Season 6 Episode 17
With Fayed about to launch some nukes, Jack Bauer doesn’t have time to wait for Ricky Schroder’s Mike Doyle and the rest of CTU to show up. Jack has to take out Fayed and his remaining men by himself... and he does.
Jack also gives Fayed one of the most brutal deaths in the show’s history by hanging him with chains. By the time that Mike shows up, all he can say is “Damn, Jack!"
2. Jack Slaughters The Drazens
Season 1 Episode 24
Tricked into believing his daughter has been killed, Jack willing confronts the Drazen family and their men by himself before he systematically kills all of them.
This was one of the most unforgettable moments in “24” and it cemented Jack’s reputation as the ultimate badass.
1. Jack Kicks Ass While Having a Heart Attack
Season 2 Episode 24
Technically, Jack wasn’t having a heart attack. However, Jack was having some serious heart problems because of the torture he had endured earlier in the day.
But in his last desperate mission of the season, Jack manages to prevent a war and kill several bad guys while practically doubled over from heart pain. Jack even breaks a dude’s neck while running up a wall and gasping for breath.
Well played, Mr. Bauer. Well played.