The one show defined as straight is 24. Jack Bauer is a badass. It’s that simple. He is a straight, white male with a hot ex-girlfriend, skills with a gun and hand-to-hand combat, and just about everything else, and he is void of emotion so the audience can put themselves in his place instead. Perfect. But like every other show, 24 needs to address the issues, albeit badly. In Day 4: 4:00 AM- 5:00 AM, Richard Heller, the degenerate son of Secretary James Heller is brought in for questioning for possible implication in a terrorist plot. Jack, being the hardcore man he is, interrogates Richard until he confesses. He doesn’t confess to a terrorist plot though. He confesses that he is gay and accidentally revealed information in a one-night stand.
So now what? Does he become a flamboyant side character with humorous quirks? No. 24 is an ultra-conservative show, made obvious in the use of torture and in Jack calling a liberal Senator “weak.” A site created for plot summary and analysis can’t help but comment:
“The revelation that Richard is gay seems tossed into the mix needlessly. Again, what is the implication? That Richard’s sexuality, being non-conservative, is somehow tied to his inability to protect his family and the country?”
It seems plausible that this is exactly what the writers were thinking. In fact, one of the two people Richard met with when he revealed information was a lesbian. But the writers couldn’t let a recurring character be a lesbian. So first she was an enemy. Second, she slept with MEN to get information. Let’s go back. She forced information out by sleeping with men. And she was a terrorist. So was the gay guy sleeping with Richard. So was Richard by association.
After Richard comes out, his father isn’t angry at the homosexuality. Rather, the release of information the cause for inflammation. At least the writers wrote in a family that accepts Richard for everything he is, except a terrorist. Funny, though. After this episode Richard eventually dies. No need to continue talking about a topic once it’s been brought up.
Now in my opinion, (my apologies) 24 doesn’t need to talk about any topics besides terrorism and being awesome. The show is supposed to be an action with a straight guy killing bad guys and living the life of an every man when not killing bad guys. (Eventually Jack stops being an every man but you get the idea.) Any topic brought up in the show is not going to be talked about. As insensitive to the plight of homosexuals as it may sound, I completely forgot about this until Wikipedia refreshed my memory with the article “LGBT episodes of television shows.”
In the future I can guarantee no homosexual characterization will occur. The conservative angle of the show would never allow it. A black President? Fine. A female President? Fine. A gay side character that has a couple appearances? Don’t hold your breath. It’s not what’s expected of the show. Monday night rolls around, I don’t want Jack giving a public service announcement about homosexuality (sorry), but I’d rather him giving a public service announcement in the form of a gunshot….in public. Richard Heller was on the wrong set.
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