Season 7 Finale - Olivia FINALLY gets what she deserves!

Previously on 24... We went back in time as Jack secured the bioweapon and detonated it inside an airtight container. Kim was targeted by terrorists and used as leverage against Jack, a member of the First Family threatened to bring down the President after getting involved in a scandal, and Chloe was really nasty to her coworkers.

Olivia meets with the Justice Department via teleconference to give testimony regarding Hodges' death. I'd make a comment about how quickly they set all this up, but I think it's obvious at this point. Olivia decides not to have an attorney present, which can't be good for her. President Taylor recaps the previous few episodes in case we weren't watching. Have you noticed how a vast majority of episodes begin with some kind of "conference call," "briefing," or "phone call between interested parties" recapping the events of previous episodes? What, the "Previously on 24" voiceovers aren't enough? Anyway, she wants to bring down the shadow conspiracy that Hodges was part of. Unfortunately, she has no idea who they are or how to catch them. Maybe she should call AOL and shut down their chatroom.

Cara is in Jack's ear the whole time, telling him when to act and what to do. Yeah, because that worked out so well for Ira Gaines. Kim notices Long-Haired Assassin is bleeding. Of course, she brings this to his attention, rather than keep quiet so that she can escape at the first possible moment. She never learns, does she? Jack makes his move and pulls a gun on Renee. I bet that wasn't what she was hoping he would pull out. Jack tells Renee what's going on, which saves time. At least they aren't going to do the usual "Let's treat Jack as a criminal and waste several hours chasing him" song-and-dance. Tony takes Jack so that they can draw the virus out of his body and harvest a new set of canisters. Wow, that's actually pretty clever. I guess they didn't keep any samples in reserve or anything.

Aaron talks to Warden Norton about his suspicions. He wants Warden Norton to access the digital recording system, and Warden Norton seems reluctant to do so. He finally agrees after some prodding from Aaron. Let's face it, if Aaron asks you to do something, you should probably do it. A shaken Olivia finishes her testimony and then makes her way back to her office. She immediately gets suspicious when she sees Warden Norton in her office. He is able to get the recording while making it seem as if he was only looking for a file. Olivia then yells at Aaron and then notices the recorder. She freaks out and orders Warden Norton detained. What's she going to do? Waterboard him? Renee patches through to the gate at the airport to speak with Kim. Luckily, the ticket agent doesn't announce over the P.A. system: "Will Kim Bauer report to the ticketing agent? The FBI wants to talk to you about terrorists that are out to try and capture you. Don't worry, though, no cougars have escaped from the Washington Zoo or anything."

Long-Haired Agent gets suspicious and he takes a gun out of his bag. How did he get through security with that? This leads to a shootout and the female terrorist is killed. Long-Haired Agent gets away, and Kim decides to pursue him because, well, she's an idiot. Olivia walks into the holding cell and threatens to have Warden Norton strip-searched. He declines, which is good since I don't want to see him naked. The Secret Service agent recovers the digital card, and Olivia lets him go. Wouldn't that be something if that wasn't the actual digital recording device card, but merely a flash card for his cell phone or something? Sure enough, he shows Aaron the actual card, and Warden Norton is officially my hero. Jack, who hasn't been on camera in a while, is taken by two guys in surgical masks. Not sure why they're being so paranoid. It's not like he has swine flu or anything. They give him a spinal tap, which probably hurts like hell.

Tony wants a seat at the table, which makes me think that he could actually be working against them after all. Or maybe he wants some new online chat buddies. I guess he's never heard of Twitter. Olivia is on the phone with her buddy and I'm surprised that she didn't order Warden Norton killed, too. Meanwhile, Renee is at the airport already and is looking for Kim, who has decided to pursue Long-Haired Assassin, even though she has no weapon and no combat skills to speak of. Unless she picked up some while filming House of Wax or while dating various hockey players.

Kim flags down a police officer and I half-expected him to be one of Tony's men. He isn't, though, and he manages to shoot Long-Haired Assassin several times, causing him to crash his car. His car goes up in flames, and Kim rushes over to get his laptop. Kim's sleeve catches fire, and she hasn't heard of "Stop, Drop, and Roll" since she flails her arm a few times before taking off her jacket. Hey, if Kim wants to wear less clothing, then fine with me. She manages to steal the laptop, though, and surprises Renee with her computer knowledge. Apparently, they can find out where the camera was sending signals to or something. Warden Norton goes into his car and listens to the device. Sure enough, he has enough evidence to send Olivia to prison for the rest of her life. Surprisingly, he starts his car and it doesn't blow up. Jack's spinal fluid isn't enough and they'll have to harvest his organs. Maybe that's how they'll bring him back next season. They'll use his organs to build a newer, better, bionic version of Jack! He'll be like the Six Million Dollar Man! We can rebuild him... Oh wait, his organs have the pathogen, too. Never mind.

Cara lobbies Coach Yoast on behalf of Tony. Coach Yoast decides to supervise Bauer's transport and will meet with Tony himself. I think we know where this is going. Jack is conscious, of course, and he frees himself by killing each of the scientists. Nice to see that a life-threatening illness, various anesthetics, and a painful medical procedure aren't enough to slow him down. Jack crawls under a slightly ajar garage door and breaks into a taxi. That's what, four breakings and enterings now, Jack? Tony starts shooting at him underneath the door, and Jack presses a button to close the garage door completely. Jack sees a gas leak and tries to ignite a flare before Tony, who has suddenly commandeered a crane to open the door, can get inside. How he managed to find one in less than a minute is beyond me. That might have been the biggest stretch of the season, and there have been plenty so far. Jack can't get his flare ignited in time, and Tony subdues him easily.

Warden Norton confronts Olivia and she offers to resign if Warden Norton will sweep it under the carpet. I'm surprised she didn't offer to sleep with him. She's done it before. Jack is chained up and he asks Tony to let him die in peace. Sure enough, Tony tells Jack that he has no intention of drawing the pathogen out of his body and that it was all a plan to get Coach Yoast into the open. Apparently, Coach Yoast was the one behind the events of the nerve gas conspiracy and Michelle's death. Wait, so it wasn't Grame and the Evil Scotch-Drinking Gang? Tony reveals that he's going to kill Coach Yoast by strapping a bomb on Jack.

Coach Yoast arrives in his stretch limo and he's got more security than the President. I thought Coach Yoast was a low-key person who valued his privacy. How's this supposed to be inconspicuous again? The FBI manage to interrupt the proceedings and a shootout ensues before Tony can detonate his J-Bomb. Renee takes out several gunmen and reaches Jack. She tries to concentrate on detonating the bomb but Jack seems intent on distracting her by telling her about Tony's plans. Shut up and let her disarm the bomb, Jack! Cara rushes to embrace Tony, and he shoots her. It turns out that he was only using her to get to Coach Yoast. Well, that and the nookie. Tony then bumrushes Coach Yoast and, of course, he denies playing a role in Michelle's death. We learn for the first time that Michelle was pregnant at the time, which actually makes me feel bad for Tony. Of course, Tony won't shut up and pull the trigger, so that allows Jack and Renee to stop him before he can do it. Tony gets in Jack's face as he's being taken away and calls Jack out for running away instead of doing something about men like Coach Yoast. Well, he has a point.

Renee stares daggers at Coach Yoast. Renee tries to get him to cooperate and he seems nonplussed. Renee gets upset, and I think she wants to call Agent Burke. Jack wants a moment alone with Renee, and could this be the moment that we're waiting for? Renee is torn between making Coach Yoast talk and wanting to go through the law. She wants Jack to tell her what to do, and Jack sees that Renee is at a crossroads in her life. She can either uphold her oath to follow the law, or she can do what she has to in order to save lives. However, Jack tells her that while he doesn't regret his actions, he knows that the things that he's done are wrong. He warns Renee that she's in danger of going down a slippery slope that only results in darkness and loneliness. Renee looks sad, not just because Jack is dying, but because he's finally opening up to her. He then comforts her and holds her hand. All together now: Awww...

Olivia tells her parents that she had Hodges killed. Of course, she tries to turn it around on her mother by blaming her for giving Hodges his deal. President Taylor is angry, but the First Gentleman sticks up for her. President Taylor gets sanctimonious and says that she can't cover up a murder. She strikes me as someone that would probably turn herself over to the police over a couple of overdue library books. Henry blames the President for their son's death, and he implores her to destroy the recording. Janis and Chloe have an awkward conversation, which consists of Janis thanking Chloe for all her help, and Chloe kind of complimenting Janis. I bet Janeane Garofalo wants to fire her agent right now. Jack is in the hospital and he doesn't want morphine. Because we know all about his bad habits in the past. He has a visitor, and it's the Imam from a few episodes earlier. Apparently, Jack called him, and he wants absolution before he dies. The Imam tries to comfort Jack, and I bet he's a terrorist. Man, I've been watching this show too long.

President Taylor comes back into the residence and she hugs Olivia warmly. Looks like she's off the hook. Oh wait, President Taylor pulls the Michael Corleone move and turns on her daughter. She won't go back on her oath of office, and she turns Olivia over to Aaron's custody. I don't think she'll be getting any Mother's Day gifts this year. Warden Norton swoops in, and he tells the President that he understands what she did. I think these two ought to get together. Of course, Warden Norton weasels way back to his old job.

Coach Yoast is in custody and Renee debates over whether or not to go Jack on him. Renee pulls a gun on Janis; she really has been hanging out with Jack too long. She gazes at her badge and drops it on the counter. Renee walks into the room and closes the door. Coach Yoast looks unimpressed. I'm beginning to think that Will Patton only has one facial expression. Kim shows up to the hospital, and finds it hard to believe that her father has Muslim friends. Can't blame her for that. Who else (like me) thought the Imam was going to kidnap Kim and take her away so that Jack would die? Anyway, Kim wants to help, and I guess that's how Jack is going to survive into next season. That's it? You've got to be kidding me!

Well, that's the end of the season, and I have to say it had its moments. The new location and new characters added freshness to the show that was sorely needed after Season 6. Renee, Moss, and President Taylor were excellent additions to the cast, although I think the writers really wasted Janis. Jack shone, as usual, and he continued to battle his inner demons while trying to save the country. His battle with Tony made for excellent television, even if the Tony Saga took more nonsensical twists and turns than anything the writers have ever done. We're supposed to believe that Tony risked the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent Americans just so he could get revenge on the guy who had Michelle killed? Seems like overkill, doesn't it?

The main conflict of the season, however, wasn't between Jack and Tony, but was really between Jack and Moss with Renee as their pawn. Obviously, the sexual tension was there, but the real contest was for her mind. Renee saw merits to both of their ideologies, and she seemed truly conflicted over which way to go. Their struggle doubled as an extended debate over whether "extra-judicial" tactics are necessary in order to properly combat terrorism. Moss, obviously, believed that you had to go through the law, otherwise we'd sink to the level of the terrorists. Moss, of course, ended up dead while Jack looked to be on the verge of a cure even as he realized the error of his ways. What does that mean as far as the debate over the use of torture in interrogating terror suspects? I guess torture wins.