What is up with 24?

I have been a big 24 fan since the first season. Every year I would ask myself "how is it that this show just keeps getting better?" I recognized the "Power of Bauer" (I always thought that phrase was lame). Now, this season comes along and I think it starts out amazing with him in the prison and all. Then it got really boring. And it stayed really boring. Even Chloe with her scrunched up face wasn't doing anything for me. I had some hope this past Monday when things seemed to be getting good. Then the good stuff was over and the boring stuff looks like it's back next week when the plot line again picks up one of my least favorite characters. I've never minded that Jack's days in terms of time wasn't possible - "when does he find time to use the bathroom?" and all the crap people who don't watch the show say. But I do mind when the writing starts getting lazy and everything is guessable. If I can guess what's going to happen, shouldn't I be able to get paid for being a writer on the show? I have no formal training, but really, why not me if I get the same ideas? What's supposed to set the average viewer apart from the big production is that we are able to suspend reality for a little while and go along for the ride and be surprised by a couple of turns that we take along the way. So far, this season amounts to driving on auto pilot but I still have faith in the "Power"... for now.