Thursday, May 29, 2003
You know, Tuesdays are bizarrely empty without my weekly dose of 24. Call us obsessed (note the use of "us" here), but it was a rather significant chunk of life around here.
For those not acquainted with the show, it stars Kiefer Sutherland as CTU Agent (think FBI/CIA/MI6, depending on where you're from) Jack Bauer. The first thing to note is that a season takes place entirely over the span of 24 hours, with 24 hour-long episodes laying out the story in (close to) real-time. This brings up the second thing to note: Where most TV shows bring up a different storyline for each episode, 24 stretches a single plot over an entire season, each episode unravelling more and more of the story while the danger kicks up a notch. 24 also specialises in superb twists and cliffhanger endings. As such, when the clock ticks down to the end of the episode, you want to see the next one and you want to see it now.
Season 2 started airing in the UK in March, and it only took a few episodes before we -- being myself, my cousin Kavi and his housemates -- demanded to see more, and see it now. With the US at least half a season ahead of the UK, we took to the Internet to find new episodes, and it wasn't long again before we caught up. Or before we figured out that at precisely 11am London time on Tuesdays the latest episode would be unleashed to download. And so our routine was set. Every Tuesday morning I'd wake and anxiously reload the page, waiting to snag the episode that macrosecond quicker. After starting, I'd go about my business and by the time I got home in the evening, the download was complete. I'd burn it for them to pick up, finish off my work, and retire to my bedroom to watch it on the laptop. Wednesday would be dominated by talk of the episode (usually along the lines of "OH MY GOD DID YOU SEE THAT?!") and ruminations for the next. Thursday would similarly be dotted with various 24-themed conversations, usually with a tinge of "Damnit, it's still only Thursday". On Sunday, the BBC would show the UK's latest episode, and despite having seen it, we'd usually watch it anyway. Monday would revert to feverish talks and predictions for the next episode, with a side of "Isn't it Tuesday yet?". And then, at 11am, the cycle would begin afresh.
And now I have to wait another nine months for them to bother to film and show Season 3.
In other news I clearly don't want to talk about (though don't take that as an indication that the above 24 chatter was forced in any way; I can talk at excessive length about all things 24, and note that I haven't even mentioned the great plot or cast yet), my grandfather's cancer was diagnosed as terminal lung cancer. He has six months left, at the most.
As much as I'd like for him to stay around for as long as possible -- forever, even -- another part of me is hoping that it ends soon, because I don't want him to suffer. I can't really reconcile my thoughts on this properly. It's natural to hold on to and not let go of those you love, and I feel that. I don't want him to go, ever. But I also know that he's also suffering a LOT. I'm starting to get really affected by reports relayed from my mom that he screams about the pain at night, and I'm still some 6000 miles away. I don't know what I'll do when I'm there. And so, a more rational part of me is saying that, well, perhaps it's better if he goes as soon as possible. There is no hope anyway -- doctors confirmed they won't do anything about the main cancer because it's spread too far, too fast and it's beyond hopeless -- and so why prolong his suffering? He's confined to a bed as is. But yet, when you think about it... I'm effectively wishing that my own grandfather dies, and soon. Do I really mean that? I don't. But I do.
Like I said, I can't think this through clearly now. All I know is I just want what's best for him.
Posted at 12:11 AM
