24 is a thriller presented in "real time"; each minute of airtime corresponds to a minute in the lives of the characters. Time continues to pass during commercial breaks.

24 employs fast-paced and complex stories, and often contains unexpected plot twists. Each day's events typically revolve around thwarting an impending terrorist attack, each season is made up of various interwoven story threads. These may run for just one hour, but more usually run over several hours. These typically involve investigations of leads on terrorists, tracking suspects, and averting attacks. The exact objective of the day may also evolve over the course of the season, as the antagonists adapt, contingencies arise, and larger-scale operations unfold. Stories also involve office and interpersonal drama, and delve into the private lives of its characters even as national emergencies are erupting.

A recurring theme involves characters being faced with ethical dilemmas of whether to allow tragic events to occur for the sake of a greater good. In Season 2, a Defense staffer has the chance to warn CTU of an imminent attack, but avoids this as it would alert the culprits, and allow a valuable trail to go cold. The sitting President is often faced with dilemmas. In Season 6, President Wayne Palmer asks Jack Bauer to sacrifice himself in exchange for the location of a known terrorist.

Jack and others frequently employ torture or threats of torture to extract information. CTU has used "hyoscine-pentothal", a fictional pain-inducing drug, in interrogation sessions where quick results are needed.[4] This has been used on both agents and antagonists. Its hypothetical effects are unlike those of the real hyoscine and pentothal.

Source: Wikipedia.org