Day 3: 1:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. (10 Feb. 2004)

Nina releases a deadly computer virus into CTU's systems after getting captured by Jack and Chase. Sherry runs out of options and decides to directly confront Alan Milliken but things go too far. Chloe and the rest of the tech crew work overtime to combat the virus.

Director:

Bryan Spicer

Writers:

Joel Surnow (creator), Robert Cochran (creator),

Stars:

Kiefer Sutherland, Elisha Cuthbert, Carlos Bernard

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Jack Bauer
Elisha Cuthbert	...	Kim Bauer
Carlos Bernard	...	Tony Almeida
Reiko Aylesworth	...	Michelle Dessler
James Badge Dale	...	Chase Edmunds
Dennis Haysbert	...	President David Palmer
Penny Johnson	...	Sherry Palmer (as Penny Johnson Jerald)
Greg Ellis	...	Michael Amador
Paul Schulze	...	Ryan Chappelle
D.B. Woodside	...	Wayne Palmer (as DB Woodside)
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Chloe O'Brian
Zachary Quinto	...	Adam Kaufman
Albert Hall	...	Alan Milliken
Gina Torres	...	Julia Milliken
David Herman	...	Dalton Furrelle

Storyline

When she's captured by Jack and Chase, Nina unleashes a self repeating worm in CTU's computer system that cuts off inter-agency connectivity and endangers undercover CTU operatives around the world. Sherry runs out of options and decides to break into Alan Milliken's house and steal his cell phone in order to get incriminating evidence.

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Plot Keywords:

title ends with period | punctuation in title | period in title | black u.s. president | digit in title | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 2004 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television, Real Time Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Herman's role was meant to be larger during his run on the series, but producers cut many of his scenes due to time constraints. His deleted scenes can be viewed on the Season 3 DVD set.

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Goofs

Another violation of the real-time format; Sherry asks Julia where the cell phone is, takes off her coat, and then the camera immediately cuts to her in Alan's bedroom grabbing the cellphone.

User Reviews

They won't let you relax for one minute

The first half of Day 3 was crammed with events, characters and shocks, and ended on a quite discouraging note (Amador heading to Los Angeles with the virus after giving Ramon Salazar a bomb that eventually killed him). The second half starts with the program's trademark relentlessness, taking full advantage of the real time and the presence of Sarah Clarke as one of the show's juiciest villains: Nina Myers.

With Ramon dead and Amador at large, Jack and Chase choose to take Nina back to the CTU. During the journey, however, she asks if she can make a phone call, and by using that trick she activates a computer virus that jams the agency's entire anti-terrorist network. Her terms: unless she's taken back to Mexico, there will be nothing left to save. As for the other manipulative woman, Sherry Palmer, she decides to confront Alan Milliken personally, a choice that might not pay off the way she expected.

This is one of the most tense episodes of the season, the entirety of the running time (well, almost) being devoted to the CTU's attempts to neutralize the computer virus. It's an exercise in textbook suspense that keeps the characters and the viewers alert all the time: relaxing is not an option here.

Additionally, this is the episode where awkward computer analyst Chloe O' Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is allowed her first moment in the spotlight, anticipating her more prominent role in seasons to follow and proving she isn't just a "pain in the ass", as she was described a few hours ago.