24 (2001–2010) is an American television series that redefined the action-thriller genre, blending real-time storytelling, high-stakes drama, and pulse-pounding suspense. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, the show follows counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland) as he tackles national security threats, often involving terrorism, political intrigue, and personal stakes. The series is notable for its real-time format, where each season represents 24 hours in Bauer’s life, with each episode corresponding to one hour.

1. Real-Time Format: One of 24‘s most innovative features is its real-time storytelling. Each season spans a 24-hour period, and each episode covers one hour, making the pacing relentless and adding a layer of urgency to every plot development. The real-time approach is both a blessing and a curse—while it creates intense, immediate tension, it sometimes leads to contrivances that stretch believability. However, the тιԍнт pacing and the race against the clock kept audiences hooked week after week, always wondering how Jack would save the day (or if he’d be able to at all).

2. Jack Bauer – The Everyman Hero: At the heart of 24 is Jack Bauer, a tortured, morally complex, and flawed hero. Played masterfully by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack is a counter-terrorism agent who often finds himself making impossible decisions in order to protect his country and those he loves. His dedication and determination make him an iconic TV character, but it’s his willingness to cross ethical lines—sometimes to brutal extremes—that makes him both fascinating and tragic. Jack’s relationships with those around him, particularly with his colleagues at the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), add depth to his character, as they often face moral dilemmas in the heat of the moment.

3. High-Stakes Drama and Suspense: The show thrives on its high-stakes scenarios, often involving multiple threads running simultaneously. Whether Jack is preventing a terrorist attack, dealing with government corruption, or protecting his family, 24 never lets up. The tension is ratcheted up by the constant threat of death or failure, and the show is known for its shocking twists and cliffhangers. Season after season, 24 delivered nail-biting suspense, with every hour bringing new revelations and challenges that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s a masterclass in maintaining tension across multiple plotlines.

4. Complex Villains: 24 is notable for its well-developed antagonists, many of whom are multifaceted and unpredictable. Whether it’s a terrorist group or a government conspiracy, the villains are often just as complex as the heroes. The show frequently explores the gray areas of morality, with characters like President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin), the power-hungry Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke), or the international terrorist Abu Fayed (Adoni Maropis) demonstrating that evil is rarely black and white. The tension between Jack and these antagonists is part of what makes the show so compelling—Jack’s pursuit of justice often forces him into morally questionable decisions.

5. Supporting Cast: The supporting cast in 24 is one of its key strengths. Characters like Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), and Curtis Manning (Roger Cross) contribute both to the procedural side of the show and to the emotional complexity of Jack’s mission. Chloe, in particular, became a fan favorite, thanks to her quirky personality and her steadfast loyalty to Jack. The ensemble cast does an excellent job of balancing the more intense action sequences with character-driven drama.

6. Themes: 24 tackles a variety of themes, with national security, loyalty, and sacrifice being central. The show doesn’t shy away from exploring the personal costs of war and counterterrorism, often portraying Jack’s personal relationships and his mental health as collateral damage in his tireless pursuit of justice. It also delves into the ethical implications of torture and the choices one must make in a high-pressure environment. The series is at its best when it raises questions about the balance between personal sacrifice and duty to the greater good.

7. Political and Social Commentary: The show is often politically charged, reflecting the post-9/11 environment in which it was created. It explores issues such as terrorism, civil liberties, and government overreach, occasionally drawing direct parallels to real-world events. The series is unapologetic in its depiction of the extreme measures Jack must take to prevent catastrophic attacks, which can spark debates about the morality of those choices. Some critics have raised concerns about the portrayal of torture as an effective means of extracting information, a topic the show frequently tackles.

8. Action and Direction: The direction of 24 is fast-paced and filled with adrenaline. The action sc

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.