Two weeks ago, it seriously looked like '24' was about to jump the shark.  Jack Bauer had the leather jacket zipped up and the skis strapped on and was ready to go. 

Bringing back the 25th Ammendment plot device?  Milo and Nadia off the set of 'Young and the Restless'?  Gredenko's retarded entry for a Darwin award?  Palmer walking around an hour after brain surgury?  Then the bombshell in the 59th minute was so contrived my brain cramped.  The episode was literally wall to wall horseshit.

But this last episode was more than an apology.  The real creative team returned and shoved the interns back in the closet.  Not only did it wrap up (or at least explain away) the lame dangling plot threads that were left, not only was it a solid episode from beginning to end... but they changed formula!  No obligatory bad guy escaping or new contingency plan threat.  The case was solved before the last episode and we got a new subplot for the season.  How cool is that?

Despite a few slight bumps in the road every now and then, this show never fails to impress.  Just when you're afraid the show might be losing steam, they find new ways to keep you hooked.