Tim Goodman in the San Francisco Chronicle:

Having argued with other TV critics about the merits of "24" ceaselessly, there was a personal stalemate at hand. Loved the first season, tolerated the second, thought the third was a sitcom, the fourth fatuously unnecessary.

But this Season 5 — damn. Having seen the first four episodes, you need to be a part of this. You need to doff the skepticism and get on the ride.

Tick. Tock.