24 - Seasons 1-3 (2001)

A revolutionary show in terms of both form and content upon its debut in 2001, 24 has been hooking more and more viewers ever since with its thrilling, multifaceted plotlines that never fail to surprise. Keifer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer, the head of the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit, and each season plays itself out in real time, with every hour-long episode representing an hour in one very eventful day in Jack's life. This collection features the first three days, or seasons, in their entirety. Day one follows Jack as he attempts to expose a plot on the life of a presidential candidate, while day two centers around a nuclear bomb planted by terrorists somewhere in LA. Day three features an imprisoned drug lord who posits a dangerous ultimatum to the US government, threatening to unleash a deadly virus on the city if he is not set free; Jack, meanwhile, doubts his ability to trust anyone in his life. Subplots and intricacies proliferate throughout each season, with the conflict between Jack's personal and professional life a constant axis upon which the action turns; the balance between character development and pure, seat-gripping action make this series a pure pleasure.