The Execution of Ryan Chappelle

The Book by Ryan Chappelle

Last night we watched the Execution of Ryan Chappelle, midway through season 3 of 24. I saw it years ago and found it amazing, even though I’d not really seen any 24 so it was completely out of context for me.

As Matt just said to me on Facebook, Ryan Chappelle was always ‘by the book’ which in the end is why the terrorist Stephen Saunders demanded that President Palmer have him killed.

It was such an intense and cinematic scene. The helicopter takes off against the orange Los Angeles sunrise, Jack takes Ryan to the train-yard as Chase leads a team to capture Saunders so Ryan doesn’t have to die. Chase leads his team in a heavily guarded building, performing silent take downs on numerous goons only to find that the location was just a satelite switching node and Saunders is not there. Cut to an obviously devasted Capelle who knows that Jack is going to kill him within minutes because they are out of options.

Paul Schulze’s performance as Ryan Chappelle was gripping as a good man who we’ve only just gotten to like is executed on a terrorist’s whim.

Here’s some quotes from the Regional Division Director of CTU:

Chloe’s a pain in the ass!

Let me make something clear: I’d like nothing more than to hang you as a traitor and watch you jerk until you’re dead.

You’ve wasted time we don’t have.

RIP Ryan Chappelle – I’m sorry we let you down, Ryan