'24' Recap: Capitol Offense

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Oh, look who decided to join us! (Part 2) The head of a private military company who was last seen supporting Juma's coup in the Redemption prequel, Jon Voight's Jonas Hodges resurfaced over a meal of Chinese take-out. (Guess he's not looking forward to Sheila's cooking.) What do we learn? That Jonas gave Juma the locking mechanism specs for the White House safe room. That he has a ''shipment'' that will arrive soon unless Juma destroys it. That he expects honor among thieves. (''We held up our end of the bargain, we got you in the White House. I expect you to hold up yours.'') That he has sweet access to White House info, like the manifest (''Now you find Olivia Taylor,'' he told Juma, ''and you'll get the President to open that door.'') And that he's going to be a very entertaining baddie. After he placated Juma with the FD tip and Juma promised to deliver the shipment as scheduled, Jonas said to his right-hand man, Seaton, a.k.a. Slater from Dazed and Confused: ''There. You see...stress is the fertilizer of creativity. Let's play some darts.''

Most chilling pickle Thanks to the bonus Jonas help, Juma acquired that precious bargaining chip and set up a gripping scene: As the President watched helplessly on a surveillance camera, Juma ran a knife over FD's face and creepily threatened, ''If you don't open the door, I'm going to cut out your daughter's eyes, one by one, and then I'm going to cut out her tongue, and then her head... How do you know if you open the door that I won't kill her? All you need to know is that I most certainly will kill her if you don't.'' (The conspiracy has already cost the Prez her son, and possibly her husband. How much more personal is this thing going to get? That answer, in a moment.) Horrified, President Taylor commanded Jack to open the door. He objected: ''I cannot let them take you.'' Learning that Jack has a daughter, the Prez goes at him: ''Could you do what you're asking me to do? Just stand by and watch her butchered?'' ''No, ma'am,'' answers Jack, ''but I am not the President of the United States.'' (With great power comes great responsibility, indeed.) ''Well, I am the President,'' she says, ''and I am ordering you to open that door.'' Just as Juma started to press his blade into a frightened FD, the doors began to move; Jack and the President surrendered.(What's the backup plan, Jack? Is there a backup plan?)

Slap of the season Renee landed a few good ones on Jack last week, but Juma packed more shock and awe in this week's hand-to-face encounter. ''All right, General, you've got me now,'' the Prez tells Juma. ''There's no reason to hold anyone else. Let them go.'' He does not let them go. Instead, he palms across her face. She flung back her hair to reveal a bloody lip and an intense stare. ''You,'' warned Juma, ''don't give orders to me.'' He told one of his soldiers, ''Get the camera ready for her statement.'' The Prez interjects: ''What statement?'' Juma stared at her coldly and said, ''The last one you'll ever give.''

Cliffhanger, Resolution — can't wait for you two to meet next week! So, TV Watchers, what did you think of these back-to-back installments? Which of our White House hostages will bite the dust? And what did you make of the VP and the darts-loving Jonas?