However, due to Jack Bauer's doubts, Palmer is reluctant to order military action against them until he has absolute proof that the recording is genuine.

A majority of his Cabinet then vote to relieve Palmer of his position as President under Section 4 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment, believing his hesitation to be a sign of indecision and weakness, and therefore indicative of his inability to lead the country effectively.

The nuclear bomb situation is resolved without massive loss of life (besides George Mason, who had radiation poisoning and convinced Jack to let him fly the plane) but President Palmer collapses after giving a speech, having been attacked with a biological weapon by Mandy in an assassination attempt.

Xander Berkeley's character spent much of the season dying of radiation poisoning and various actors commented that they thought the story played out very well.

[27] The original trailer titled "Get Ready" aired in early September 2002, slightly more than a month before the season premiere.

The website's critical consensus reads, "24's sophomore outing is not as elegantly structured as its predecessor, but the series firmly puts to rest any fears that its propulsive thrills were a one-time novelty.

Sean Callery, the show's composer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series.

The alleged absurdity of Kim Bauer's run-in with the cougar has created an enduring reference in the television review community.