24 seasons 1, 2, and 3 on DVD

I'd rank them in this order.

Season 1
Season 4
Season 3
Season 2

I'd actually tie 2 and 3 for my least faves...but so many people die in 3 that it edges out barely..plus season 2 had that crappy subplot with Kim, the mountain lion, and creepy guy.

Season 4 was great. Unlike seasons 2 and 3...they kept the storyline on the main one. There weren't any long running subplots. It was focused on the main story. The ending was pretty good too, considering someone quite major "dies". Arnold Vosloo as the main bad guy was alright. His character was fairly generic though. Oh and watch out for fatfuck aka Edgar. His purpose on the show is to generally fuck things up. But on the brighter side, Chloe looks hott and isnt annoying.

Season 3 had one of the best twists just a few episodes in. The story started getting convoluted though and the bad guy of the season was pretty good but after he showed up things started getting a little old. There were also many dangling strings from Season 2 that were never answered in Season 3 (or 4, for that matter). The ending of that season was pretty good (refridgerators are airproof???) and Chase Edmunds was a better character than i thought he'd be.

Apparently, the 24 videogame is supposed to answer the dangling strings from Season 2...like wtf infected Palmer.

I think season 4 started out pretty well, but I have only seen seasons 1 & 4, so I can't compare to 2 or 3 (I often hear 2 is considered the best, but I have no idea if that is the opinion of the majority).

The problem I have with both the first and most recent season (and presumably the other two) is that in order to fulfill the conceit of the show the day has to get either progressively worse or there have to be multiple setbacks to keep the show going. However, at the same time you can't have the heroes fail to make any progress or you alienate your audience. Thus you have the characters winning little victories only to have yet another big obstacle placed in front of them, and by the end of the season it starts to get pretty silly (particularly if you watch several episodes in a row).

For season 4, for example, it became almost comedic when CTU would foil the terrorists only to be faced with yet another backup plan (or to discover the plan they had foiled was just a decoy).

I do enjoy the show, but if you spend any time at all thinking about it critically it does tend to fall apart.

Hands down the best season of 24 is season 2...if only for its fantastic first half. In 24 fashion though, the second half of the season really turned into one giant cluster fuck. Season 2 is still the best if only for the first 12 episodes.

I borrowed the first season from a friend, and I don't remember any real extras on there at all. There may have been a few on the final disc, but for the most part it looked like they were pretty bare bones.

The season three discs had a semi-prequel that takes place before season four starts. I never saw it, though, so I don't know how long it is or how relevent it is to the season. A coworker told me it was alright, but not really much of anything more than a marketing gimmick.

...

Personally, I think the first 13 episodes of season 1 are the best, with the back nine feeling a bit forced.
As a total season, I really liked season 2, but could see where some of the "Kim in danger" senarios got old. That said, I enjoyed season 3 greatly.

My problem is that I enjoy serialized shows so much better on DVD than when they actually air.

The 5 minute prequel to season 4 on the season 3 DVD set isn't all that great, but Jack does say the "F" word so that's something. I think the only major extra on the season 1 DVD is the alternate ending.

It's a toss up between 1 and 2 for the best season. I'll go with 2 because it did a great job of giving Jack and Palmer great storylines and Jack shot a guy in the chest with a flare gun. I will say that season 1 has a much better last episode than 2.

The 3rd season was a let down. The villain was lame and there were too many charcaters that came back who should have been killed the year before. Season 4 was a good rebound and actually had a better last half than first half.

put.. down.. the.. crack.. pipe, now!

season 1 still stands as my favorite even though it's a fading memory... it's the one that got me addicted and has kept me addicted through all that's awful about the show (read, chloe)

honestly, i'd rather WATCH kim do her damsel routine, than chloe (nails-grinding-down-chalk-board, personified)

unfortunately, all that stands out for season 2 is kim and her... damsel routine... so i maybe unfair to it.. but i do remember season 3 renewing my faith in the show... then again, season 4 did the same thing to start out with so i guess the declining quality of episodes as the season 'wears' on may be a truth...

still, i remember more about season 1 than i do 2 and 3... (4 is still fresh in mind so...) ... i think that says something about it