24: Legacy wants to be the next chapter in a franchise that has run out of steam. It is a spin-off, a sequel, and a reset all at once. The show follows ex-United States Army Ranger Sergeant Eric Carter (Corey Hawkins) as he returns to the U.S. and discovers that his squad mates are being hunted down and killed. One of his team stole a flash drive containing a list of American-based terrorist sleeper cells and the codes to activate them. Carter asks CTU for help to save his life and stop the attacks.
The show premiered on Fox on February 5, 2017, serving as the lead-out program for Super Bowl LI before moving to its regular time slot of Monday at 8:00 p.m. Its first episode was watched by 17.6 million people, the lowest post-Super Bowl program viewership since 2003’s Alias but the most viewed episode in the franchise’s history. The series ran for 12 episodes, ending on April 17, 2017.
Trailer, via 24: Legacy.
Corey Hawkins Leads the Way
Hawkins was the only actor considered for the lead role after casting director Lisa Miller Katz watched his performance in Straight Outta Compton. He brings a steady presence to Carter, a man who has survived combat and is now being chased by people who know what he saw. His performance grounds the show’s escalating threat.
Miranda Otto plays Rebecca Ingram, the former National Director of CTU. Otto accepted the role immediately, saying she wanted a part involving “that world of CIA and terrorism,” similar to her work on Homeland. Her chemistry with Hawkins is the show’s strongest asset.
A Familiar Format, A New Setting
The show sticks to the real-time format that defined the original 24. Each episode covers a 24-hour period, starting and ending at 12:00 pm. There is a 12-hour time jump within the final episode, a move that echoes the earlier series. The show is set in Washington, D.C., three years after the events of 24: Live Another Day.
The format is the show’s biggest strength and its biggest problem. Real-time storytelling demands constant tension, and the show sometimes stretches a single threat across too many hours. The result is a show that feels both urgent and slow.
Supporting Cast and Character Flaws
Teddy Sears plays Keith Mullins, the head of CTU. Jimmy Smits plays Senator John Donovan, Rebecca’s husband and a powerful politician with higher political ambitions. Dan Bucatinsky and Coral Peña play Andy and Gia, communication analysts at CTU. Charlie Hofheimer plays Marcus, Eric’s former partner in the Army Ranger unit, now suffering PTSD. Ashley Thomas plays Isaac Carter, Eric’s older brother.
Sheila Vand plays Nilaa Mizrani, the campaign director of Sen. Donovan. Kathryn Prescott appears as Amira Dudayev, who appeared in a recurring role.
The supporting cast is capable, but the show rarely gives them room to breathe. Characters exist to deliver exposition or advance the plot, not to become people.
The Terrorist Threat Is Too Broad
The premise is simple: Carter must stop a series of terrorist sleeper cell attacks on American soil. The show stacks threats on top of each other until the plot loses focus. By the final stretch, the show is juggling so many threads that the central threat becomes hard to follow.
The show also leans heavily on its villain’s backstory. Sheikh Ibrahim bin-Khalid is the mastermind behind the sleeper cell operation, but the show spends more time explaining his motives than showing him in action. That imbalance weakens the tension the format is meant to build.
The Real-Time Method Works, Mostly
The real-time method is the show’s core identity. It forces the audience to sit with Carter’s fear for the full duration of each episode. When the show commits to the format, it pays off. When it cuts away to a secondary thread, the pacing suffers.
The show also handles the shift from military to civilian life well. Carter’s struggle to reintegrate is a genuine source of drama, even if the terrorist threat overshadows it.
The Show’s Short Life
Fox cancelled the series in June 2017. At the time, Fox had plans to develop a new incarnation of the 24 franchise. Those plans were later cancelled.
The cancellation is a shame. The show had a solid cast and a premise that could have supported a longer run. As it stands, 24: Legacy is a one-season experiment that never quite found its footing.
A Comparison of the Franchise’s Viewership
| Episode | Viewership |
|---|---|
| 24: Legacy, Season 1, Episode 1 | 17.6 million |
| Alias, Post-Super Bowl | Lowest post-SB viewership |
| 24: Live Another Day | Most viewed episode in franchise history |
Our Verdict
24: Legacy is a competent but flawed spin-off. Corey Hawkins anchors a show that is often smarter than its premise allows. The real-time format is the show’s best idea, but the show’s habit of stacking threats and skipping character development holds it back.
The show is available to stream on Hulu. If you are a fan of the franchise, it is worth a watch. If you are looking for a standalone thriller, it is better left as a curiosity.
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