24 - The TV Show: Why has it been Ignored?

Let me preface this by saying this thread is in response to both the recent NYT top 100 shows of the 21st century and also just a general feeling I’ve gotten.

In the early 2000s the TV show 24 on FOX was a titan of discussion as well as a constant winner of the most prestigious awards among critics. It was never the biggest ratings hit, but did peak top 25 and sold considerably well on DVD, as an early precursor of the “binge watching” phenomena.

It was a hot topic of discussion due to its perceived endorsement of torture, which while airing in the midst of the Iraq invasion and real life incidents such as Abu Gharib made it a lightning rod for commentary. It was discussed at length by politicians from both sides of the aisle in the US, however it was always viewed as heavily right leaning (especially given cameos by politicians such as John McCain).

However the unique real time continuous storytelling across 24 one hour episodes, and combination of visceral action and political intrigue made it a critically acclaimed darling, and made Jack Bauer an action folk hero in conversation with other famous “JB”s (Bond and Bourne).

It seems now though that 24 has been rendered an artifact of the time. It doesn’t get nearly the fond remembrance contemporaries such as The Wire and The Sopranos do. And much less so than the AMC shows that began airing during the latter seasons of 24s run such as Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

TLDR: I want to get everyone else’s thoughts as to why the TV show 24 hasn’t retained this same kind of celebration and fervor as its contemporaries, despite at the time of airing being such a cultural juggernaut.