Yeah for sure, after 9/11 there were shows not only about terrorism springing up all over the place, but shows also about heavy government conspiracies.
I found it very interesting that the Season 1 pilot was filmed months before 9/11, in early 2001, possibly even parts in 2000, and right there at the end of the episode features a Boeing 747 being blown up by a terrorist. I know due to 9/11, when 24 finally aired in the weeks after (November 2001), they had cut the actual scene of the aircraft blowing up, we only see the light from the explosion at a distance and the parachuting. We later see the wreckage of the Boeing 747 on the ground in a news report in the following episodes.
I also have a few of the old 24 novels and in that novel it states right at the beginning that CTU (Counter-Terrorist Unit) was formed as a result of the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Throughout the entire series there is zero mention of the September 11 attacks, even when Season 7 takes place in Washington DC and Season 8 takes place in New York City. I believe it takes place in a world where 9/11 never happened.
24 Season 1 which is mainly about protecting a Presidential candidate and is a very personal season, goes all out in Season 2 with a potential nuclear bomb attack on the United States, Season 3 a major virus threat, and each season after just gets bigger and bigger in scope. Without spoiling anything, Season 6 featured the show's first major 'bigger than 9/11' type moment where tens of thousands die in an instant.
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stevewyzard (1614)
4 years ago
Isn't the reason this show never mentioned 9/11 is they were afraid of being called out for exploiting the victims/dead for storylines? It was obviously the biggest story of the year, and to make 9/11 part of the story would be seen as a little too convenient.
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tcraigh (21)
3 years ago
I think yes. However it would not have been as successful. If the 90’s era stability had lasted the show would still have been a hit. The first series was conceived before 9/11 and featured a low level threat compared to later season so it did not really reflect post-9/11 culture. The fact is that the first series is brilliant television so would have been a hit regardless. Where things would differ without 9/11 is following it up. My guess is that the’real time’ novelty would have worn off by the end of season one so doing a second season would probably have been a pale imitation or a not as good follow up. It would probably have been more like heroes with a great first season followed by disappointing follow ups. Alternatively it could have been a one season wonder. It may have had a good second season but it would never have lasted as long. Even if it had not lasted as long it would always be regarded as great television. The tv landscape would have moved on although a revival could have happened. As technology evolved the series could have taken advantage of this. Even if successful it would have looked very different but series one would always have been a success because it was just brilliantly written.
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