24: The Official Companion Season 6
Contains a bonus DVD
Written by Tara Dilullo Bennett
Titan Books
Release date: Feb. 26, 2008

Whether you’re a fan of over-the top action, ground-breaking TV, or just like to play the drinking game where everyone does a shot when Jack yells “Damn it,” there are plenty of reasons to watch 24.

When 24 debuted, it set a new standard for action shows. The innovative use of real-time was ground-breaking and made the show an instant hit. Five seasons later, the show is still going strong. The sixth season, however, began to show major signs of weariness as the season progressed. Nevertheless, the writers once again proved they weren’t afraid to cross lines and do things the fans thought would never happen to preserve the show’s sense of unpredictability, and there were plenty of jaw-dropping moments.

And there’s more to these moments than some may realize, and for those interested in learning what goes into one of the most popular shows on TV, there’s the 24: The Official Companion Season 6, which includes cast and crew interviews, episode breakdowns, character profiles, script excerpts, and detailed background information and many aspects of the show’s plot and creation.

Whether you’re an obsessive fan or someone interested in the technical and legal aspects of such a politically charged show, this guide provides plenty of interesting reading. When a show involves suitcase nukes, pilot-less drones, and computers capable of hacking the CIA in a few seconds, it’s hard to maintain believability at times. For that reason alone, some sections of the guide are worth checking out, just to see what aspects of the show are based in reality.

I personally enjoyed reading cast members’ feelings on major events for their characters, which includes death in some cases. But possibly the most interesting section details the alternate endings that were considered and even scripted for the season, along with commentary as to why these ideas were ultimately scraped (or delayed until the next season). Having read what they were considering, as a fan of the show I can say I am very glad they went with the ending that aired.

The bonus DVD included with the guide contains documentary-like footage detailing stunt work and the show’s development and the show’s portrayal of terrorism and how it relates to the real world. Think of it as seeing the man behind the curtain. If you’d rather be wowed by the finished product, you may be better off not viewing so much of what goes on behind the scenes. If you would prefer to know what these guys have to say about the show and don’t care if it takes away from the suspension of disbelief, this is for you. In my case, I saw the producers talking about how believability comes second to keeping the action going, and though I disagree, I now understand why some plots panned out the way they did.

Now if only they could make this kind of guide for Lost.