Tony Almeida, one of America's finest counter-terror operatives, is dead.
Tony made his first appearance on the very first episode of 24. At the time, he was third in command of CTU, and dating Nina Myers, Jack Bauer's second in command and former lover. Tony and Jack did not get along well, but Tony proved a valuable ally throughout the day, even as Nina proved to be a traitor.
During Day 2, Tony began as CTU's second in command. After the death of George Mason, he rose to the top, and despite more clashes with Jack, he again came through and helped stop the terrorists. It was during this 24 hour period that his relationship with Michelle Dessler, a fellow CTU employee, began.
By Day 3, Tony and Michelle were married, and contemplating a move to Langley. Michelle was trapped in a building infected with a deadly virus, and though she appeared lost, she was one of the lucky 1 in 10 who were immune. Unfortunately, she was kidnapped, and the villain forced Tony to work against CTU from the inside in order to keep his wife alive.
Tony ultimately aided in his capture, but his treachery landed him in prison.
When Day 4 began, Tony and Michelle were divorced, with Tony working on a severe alcohol problem. However, Jack still trusted him above anyone else, and he was brought back into the CTU fold in order to assist with an escalating number of terrorist strikes.
In an ironic twist, Tony was taken hostage and used as leverage against Michelle to manipulate CTU resources, though Michelle refused to cooperate.
He appeared to be killed, though this was merely a ruse, and thanks to Tony's quick thinking, he got out alive. Soon afterwards, Tony and Michelle help Jack Bauer escape from his own government and disappear.
As Day 5 began, Tony and Michelle were married again, and running their own company. Nonetheless, they are targeted for assassination, and Michelle is killed, with Tony in bad shape.
Upon awakening at CTU, Tony is horrified to hear his wife has been killed. A short time later, he gets a chance at revenge. He hovers over Christopher Henderson, one of the men responsible for Michelle's death, with a lethal dose of drugs. Henderson, the only man alive with combat prowress equal to Jack Bauer, springs upwards and plunges the needle into Tony's chest.
Jack finds Tony dying in the medical room. Jack tells Tony to hold on, but Tony simply says "Michelle's gone," and dies in Jack's arms.
Tony Almeida was by far one of 24's most interesting characters. Deeply loyal and skilled, he functioned well as both an ally and a yin to Jack Bauer. While not as ruthless or independant as 24's popular hero, he was willing to do what it took to get the job done. His soul was easier to stain than Jack's, and whereas Jack's losses were fuel to the fire, Tony's were water.
He will be severely missed by all fans of 24. As of now, only two characters from the first episode are still alive; Jack and Kim Bauer.
R.I.P. Tony Almeida
5 comments:
This has been, by far, the most difficult 24 death for me to stomach. Tony was phenominal in every season. Who else would sacrifice the world for his wife? Who else would take a time out from the drinking binge and come barreling into a garage wiping out the bad guys to save Jack's life? Tony mother fucking Almeida would! :( I'm terribly depressed over his death and honestly do not know if I will be able to watch the rest of the series with the same excitement. Assassinate president retard all you want, kill his dumb bitch of a wife at close range...hell even execute the badass female villain....but why god why kill off my beloved Tony?!
A disheartened fan,
Kimberly R.
um, you forgot mike novick. he's still alive and kicking.
Mr. Novick didn't come around until the fourth or fifth episode.
I'm terribly excited to see what happens next. Jack has suffered the loss of his two dearest friends today, which always makes good television. As I noted, where loss wore Tony Almeida down, Jack burns even stronger because of it.
I honestly wasn't very sad to see President Palmer get killed. He was a good President in Day 2, but during Day 3 he was sooooo awful. What kind of a fucking dickhead President orders his own employees to execute each other? At least we know Logan is a coward, Palmer just went crazy.
A good remix will heal the pain of losing so many characters this season.
aaron pierce is the only other character apart from jack to be in all five seasons...and be still alive
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