Season 3



Season 3 of 24 premiered in the United States on October 28, 2003 on the Fox Network with a commercial-free presentation sponsored by Ford (as with Season 2).

24: Season Three was released on DVD in the US and Canada on December 7, 2004.

Summary
This time, another day begins for Jack Bauer as bioterrorists are attempting to release viral capsules into Los Angeles and eventually throughout the United States. President Palmer must deal with a scandal as he seeks re-election against a Republican senator, John Keeler. Jack is again thrust into action as he tries to tie Ramon Salazar to the viral threat; however, presumed-dead Operation Nightfall operative Stephen Saunders turns out to be the mastermind behind the release of the Cordilla virus.

Timeline
Day 3 begins at 1:00pm PST, taking place 3 years after Day 2 and 4 years and 6 months after Day 1.

Format
The season can essentially be broken up into three acts:

1. The first act revolves around drug kingpin Ramon Salazar's release from prison against the threat of the release of an engineered virus if he is not set free.

2. In the second act, Jack, Tony and Gael Ortega enter the final phase of a complex sting operation to destroy the virus.

3. During the final act, the original purchaser of the virus uses the disease during his call to vengeance against the United States for abandoning him on a covert mission.

Major subplots

 * Sherry Palmer complicates things as David tries to be re-elected amid political scandal.


 * Jack's personal life: Trying to recover from a heroin addiction while trying to stop the viral threat. Soon, he learns the relationship between Kim and Chase.
 * Tony Almeida, now director of CTU, is injured in the attempt to apprehend a suspect
 * Kim now works for CTU and has a personal relationship with Jack's partner, Chase Edmunds.
 * A strained relationship between Tony and Michelle causes conflict throughout the day.
 * Saunders' personal life: his daughter attends college in California, in close proximity to the viral threat.
 * Tony is forced to make the choice between his career and the love of his life.

Jack threatens to kill Saunders' daughter unless he confesses where the other vials are. Arthur Rabens, a courier, is under orders by Saunders to release the virus. Chase stops him but must sacrifice his arm. Jack places the virus in a fridge and the threat is neutralized. Jack breaks down and cries at the end of another long day....

Main cast

 * Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer 24/24
 * Elisha Cuthbert as Kim Bauer 24/24
 * Carlos Bernard as Tony Almeida 24/24
 * Reiko Aylesworth as Michelle Dessler 24/24
 * James Badge Dale as Chase Edmunds 24/24
 * and Dennis Haysbert as President David Palmer 24/24

Special guest star

 * Penny Johnson Jerald as Sherry Palmer 9/24

Guest stars

 * Mary Lynn Rajskub as Chloe O'Brian
 * DB Woodside as Wayne Palmer
 * Zachary Quinto as Adam Kaufman
 * Jesse Borrego as Gael Ortega
 * Paul Schulze as Ryan Chappelle
 * Joaquim de Almeida as Ramon Salazar
 * Vincent Laresca as Hector Salazar
 * Vanessa Ferlito as Claudia
 * Paul Blackthorne as Stephen Saunders
 * Greg Ellis as Michael Amador
 * Glenn Morshower as Aaron Pierce
 * Wendy Crewson as Dr. Anne Packard
 * Gina Torres as Julia Milliken
 * Riley Smith as Kyle Singer
 * Geoff Pierson as Senator John Keeler
 * Christina Chang as Sunny Macer
 * Andrea Thompson as Nicole Duncan
 * Lothaire Bluteau as Marcus Alvers
 * Albert Hall as Alan Milliken
 * Sarah Wynter as Kate Warner
 * Alan Dale as Vice President James Prescott
 * and Sarah Clarke as Nina Myers

Episodes
Seizoen 3