Chloe O'Brian has been the most overlooked character on television for the past few years. On 24, her partnership with Jack Bauer has been essential to the safety of the fictional American public on that show. Mary Lynn Rajskub has become the leading lady on 24 this season and it is deserved. As big an Audrey Raines apologist as I am, Chloe O'Brian has been the best right-hand woman Jack Bauer has ever had.



The character herself is very interesting in her construction and has been beautifully developed over the seasons in which she has appeared. From the beginning, her character was much different from your typical computer genius/hacker. Sure, she was a little nerdy, but she also was very sure of herself. She lacked the insecurity so common in that type of character. This confidence was jarring.

Of course, some people wouldn't call this confidence, but simply the character being a jerk. I've certainly heard that word often associated with Chloe, and it is fairly apt in some cases. She doesn't put up with other's ineptitude, and this is a defining characteristic. Mostly, she is weird. But, where this could make for bad TV, it doesn't. She is consistently weird, and the show is better as a result.

Mary Lynn Rajskub deserves much of the credit, or so you would think. I can't imagine the Chloe character being etched so carefully from the very beginning. 24 is better off because of Rajskub, and everyone knows it. Whether they'd like to admit it or not, this is the case. The sixth season of 24 will be one for the ages, and one of the reasons will be Chloe's accentuated role.