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The Best Episodes Written By Howard Gordon

Every TV Episode Written by Howard Gordon Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 8 Episode 12 - Prisoners of War
    9.2/10(20 votes)

    S8:E12

    A chat with Carrie's sister makes Saul suspicious. Seeing no other way to stop an imminent war, Carrie steels herself to carry out a plan against Saul.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  2. undefined Season 4 Episode 24 - Day 4: 6:00 A.M.-7:00 A.M.
    9.0/10(21 votes)

    S4:E24

    As the missile speeds toward its destination, Mandy cuts a deal with Jack and the President to give up Marwan's location in exchange for a full pardon on all of her crimes. Tony and Michelle share a happy reunion, but Jack finds his relationship with Audrey shattered as she makes her feelings known. Logan's advisor suggests a drastic course of action when the Chinese government demands that Jack be handed over to them for trial. Palmer tries desperately to warn Jack of the danger against him. Jack's life changes forever as Tony, Michelle and Chloe help him to evade the trap set for him by Secret Service.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  3. undefined Season 5 Episode 18 - Day 5: 12:00 A.M.-1:00 A.M.
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    S5:E18

    Jack shows Heller the incriminating recording in the hopes that he will help them take down Logan, but Heller has plans of his own that will save face for the presidency. Miles tricks Chloe into leading CTU to Jack and Audrey. Mike and Martha both become more suspicious of Logan's actions, while Heller confronts the president with an ultimatum.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  4. undefined Season 5 Episode 23 - Day 5: 5:00 A.M.-6:00 A.M.
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    S5:E23

    Jack and Henderson wage an assault on the submarine as Bierko prepares to launch an attack against L.A. Chloe brings in someone from her past to aid her. Martha and Aaron enlist Mike's help in their plans to expose Logan.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  5. undefined Season 2 Episode 24 - Day 2: 7:00 A.M.-8:00 A.M.
    8.9/10(24 votes)

    S2:E24

    Jack and Sherry Palmer prepare for a dangerous meeting with the head of the war conspiracy at the L.A. Coliseum; David Palmer sits in as the Cabinet waits for confirmation of the Cypress Chip's invalidity; the air strike on the Middle East draws nearer; the conspiracy goes to an old agent to put Palmer out of play.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  6. undefined Season 2 Episode 3 - Day 2: 10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
    8.7/10(25 votes)

    S2:E3

    Jack tries to undermine Eddie's mission to bomb CTU while George investigates intel leading him to the site of the nuclear bomb's construction and Kim tries to make contact with her father by heading for CTU headquarters.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  7. undefined Season 2 Episode 21 - Day 2: 4:00 A.M.-5:00 A.M.
    8.7/10(24 votes)

    S2:E21

    Palmer's cabinet invokes the 25th Amendment in an attempt to remove him from power. They place him on trial for his extreme actions during the nuclear bomb threat. Jack and Michelle work against the clock to prove that the evidence against the Middle East is false.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  8. undefined Season 4 Episode 19 - Day 4: 1:00 A.M.-2:00 A.M.
    8.7/10(19 votes)

    S4:E19

    Chloe is unexpectedly thrust into fieldwork when a woman reports that her boyfriend may be part of the terrorist conspiracy. Jack and Curtis find their latest efforts to trap Marwan thwarted by the Secret Service, who have orders to arrest Jack for insubordination. Mike calls on ex-President David Palmer for help as Logan continues to display a lack of leadership.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  9. undefined Season 8 Episode 24 - Day 8: 3:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
    8.7/10(16 votes)

    S8:E24

    Emotions run high as the harrowing day climaxes with resolute President Taylor closing in on a world-changing peace treaty and a vengeful Jack Bauer taking matters into his own hands for one last and unforgettable job.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  10. undefined Season 2 Episode 16 - Day 2: 11:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
    8.6/10(25 votes)

    S2:E16

    Jack and Michelle question Syed Ali, who claims that the audio recordings are false. Palmer prepares to wage war against the three countries who were involved in the nuclear strike. Kim gets caught in a hostage situation. Jack is contacted by a man who wants to exchange information for Kate Warner.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  11. undefined Season 3 Episode 18 - Day 3: 6:00 A.M.-7:00 A.M.
    8.6/10(17 votes)

    S3:E18

    Jack and Chase race against time to capture Saunders before the deadline, while Chappelle plans an escape. Michelle begins a frantic search when she learns that an infected hotel guest may have slipped through her fingers.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  12. undefined Season 1 Episode 12 - 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
    8.5/10(31 votes)

    S1:E12

    While Green pressures Nina and Tony to reveal Jack's whereabouts, York leads Jack to Gaines' compound where Jack attempts to rescue Teri and Kim without backup from CTU. Meanwhile, Senator Palmer's plan to prevent a murder fails and he begins to suspect his wife may have a hand in the conspiracy.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  13. undefined Season 5 Episode 9 - Day 5: 3:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
    8.5/10(15 votes)

    S5:E9

    Lynn orders Curtis to take Jack into custody for violating presidential orders, but Jack breaks away from Curtis when Nathanson contacts him through Audrey and offers information on the location of the nerve gas. Lynn begins to unleash on his coworkers as he discovers that they may be working against him to aid Jack. The head of the terrorists makes a demand on Logan, and Martha takes a dangerous step to get her husband's attention.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  14. undefined Season 1 Episode 12 - Marine One
    8.4/10(43 votes)

    S1:E12

    While Carrie is near catatonic and confined to bed, Saul investigates the unsettling implications of her timeline; Walker secures a perch for his mission; Brody makes his final preparations for the Vice President's policy summit at the State Department.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  15. undefined Season 1 Episode 23 - 10:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M.
    8.4/10(31 votes)

    S1:E23

    Jack arrives at Palmer's hotel with a phone on which Drazen will call and ask Palmer to unfreeze $200,000,000 of his assets. When Palmer tells Jack that Drazen knows that's impossible, Jack grabs the phone and throws it off the balcony. It explodes seconds later. Realizing Drazen will never give up, Jack suggests having the television report that Palmer died in the explosion, leaving Jack to offer himself up in exchange for Kim.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  16. undefined Season 4 Episode 9 - Day 4: 3:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
    8.4/10(19 votes)

    S4:E9

    Jack and Tony are able to trace Dina's location, but Behrooz slips through their fingers. Dina demands a full pardon for her son in exchange for information on the override device. Edgar wrestles with his emotions when his mother is trapped in the path of the nuclear fall-out. Behrooz turns to his uncle for help, but Navi closes in on him before he can get away.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  17. undefined Season 4 Episode 12 - Day 4: 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M.
    8.4/10(18 votes)

    S4:E12

    Jack and Paul visit the defense contractor who employed Marwan, but the company executives put their own interests ahead of CTU's and take major steps to destroy evidence. After a grief-stricken Driscoll relinquishes her command, Heller appoints Tony as interim director to oversee the latest crisis.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  18. undefined Season 7 Episode 2 - Day 7: 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.
    8.4/10(15 votes)

    S7:E2

    Since Jack Bauer has been pulled from his senate sub-committee hearing to assist with the deadly domestic threat and the investigation of former colleague Tony Almeida, his new undefined role is to help secure the nation. Meanwhile, President Allison Taylor presides over the escalating time-sensitive dilemmas linked to the unrest in Sangala. Chloe O’Brian and Bill Buchanan are on hand this season as well as FBI Agents Renee Walker, Larry Moss, Janis Gold and Sean Hillinger to cope with the unthinkable events

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  19. undefined Season 1 Episode 24 - 11:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
    8.4/10(34 votes)

    S1:E24

    When Jack arrives at Drazen's location, he calls and asks to speak to Kim. Andre angrily refuses and says that they known Palmer is not really dead. Stunned, Jack hangs up and immediately calls Nina to tell her there's still a traitor inside CTU. Momentarily uncertain how to proceed, Jack is suddenly shocked into action when Nina calls back with tragic news.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  20. undefined Season 4 Episode 16 - Day 4: 10:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M.
    8.4/10(20 votes)

    S4:E16

    CTU raids Marwan's hideout, but he manages to slip through their fingers. Luckily, Jack locates a lead that may help him identify Marwan's next target. Tony becomes suspicious of Michelle's personal life, while Audrey reunites with Paul and learns the extent of his injuries. Anderson closes in on his quarry, as President Keeler searches for words that will comfort the American public.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  21. undefined Season 5 Episode 14 - Day 5: 8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.
    8.4/10(16 votes)

    S5:E14

    Jack bargains with a German intelligence agent in order to find the woman who can lead him to Bierko. Buchanan chafes against the new chain of command as Homeland Security prepares to take over CTU operations. Aaron receives a request for a secret meeting from Wayne Palmer, as Logan implements martial law in L.A.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  22. undefined Season 1 Episode 20 - 7:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.
    8.3/10(30 votes)

    S1:E20

    As Kim tries to get the police to call CTU, Jack discovers that the empty field where the power grid is located actually houses a secret underground government prison and that night's scheduled arrival is none other than Victor Drazen, the man Jack supposedly killed two years ago. Now Jack's convinced Victor's sons are coming to break him out.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  23. undefined Season 5 Episode 1 - Day 5: 7:00 A.M.-8:00 A.M.
    8.3/10(20 votes)

    S5:E1

    The Russian and US Presidents are set to sign an anti-terror treaty when assassinations rock Los Angeles, a call from a distressed Chloe forces Jack into action and President Logan's wife believes there may be a conspiracy.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  24. undefined Season 7 Episode 1 - Day 7: 8:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M.
    8.3/10(15 votes)

    S7:E1

    Following events in 24: Redemption Jack is pulled from his senate sub-committee hearing to assist with the deadly domestic threat and the investigation of former colleague Tony Almeida, his new undefined role is to help secure the nation. Meanwhile, President Allison Taylor presides over the escalating time-sensitive dilemmas linked to the unrest in Sangala. Chloe O’Brian and Bill Buchanan are on hand this season as well as FBI Agents Renee Walker, Larry Moss, Janis Gold and Sean Hillinger to cope with the unthinkable events

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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  25. undefined Season 4 Episode 10 - 13 Hours in Islamabad
    8.2/10(35 votes)

    S4:E10

    The security breach has far-reaching consequences as Carrie and Saul get caught in an attack on their convoy and Haqqani's men infiltrate the embassy.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Howard Gordon

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Howard Gordon Ratings Summary

"Prisoners of War" is the best rated episode written by Howard Gordon. It scored 9.2/10 based on 20 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 4/26/2020 and is rated 0.2 points higher than their second-best episode, "Day 4: 6:00 A.M.-7:00 A.M.".