24 - Season 5 Episode - 23

Mike Novick and Aaron Pierce assist Jack from within the administration, while Chloe O'Brian and her ex-husband, Morris, provide technical support to help Jack infiltrate the presidential detail.

This hour set the stage for one of the most iconic finales in television history, leading directly into the season-ending twist where Jack is abducted by Chinese agents. "24" Day 5: 5:00 a.m.-6:00 a.m. (TV Episode 2006) - IMDb 24 - Season 5 Episode 23

With the immediate terrorist threat over, the focus shifts entirely to President Charles Logan, the season's ultimate antagonist. Mike Novick and Aaron Pierce assist Jack from

The episode begins with Jack Bauer in a race against time to stop Vladimir Bierko, who has hijacked a Russian submarine and intends to launch twelve multiple-warhead missiles at American soil. Jack forms an uneasy alliance with his former mentor-turned-villain, Christopher Henderson, to infiltrate the sub. In a brutal final confrontation, Jack kills Bierko by snapping his neck while the terrorist is locked in a scissor hold. (TV Episode 2006) - IMDb With the immediate

Jack informs CTU that he is going rogue to take down the President.

The penultimate hour of (Episode 23, "5:00 AM – 6:00 AM") is widely regarded by fans and critics as a masterclass in high-stakes television, serving as the first half of a pulse-pounding two-hour season finale. The Final Strike on Bierko