I am – Hercules!!

We gave last week’s “24” five stars – with Aaron Pierce, Audrey Raines and all the CTU regulars in full hero mode, and Mike Novick having to pray alongside Logan – but, based on what we’ve heard about tonight’s 2-hour installment, we may have to buy a new scale that goes up to six. Tread carefully upon the invisotext. There are HUGE spoilers, and the biggest is first!

* Yet another major “24” character – one we met long before the beginning of this season – dies horribly tonight – this time from exposure to the nerve gas. Hint: It’s not Bill Buchanan or Mike Novick.

* Tony Almeida wakes up in the first minutes, but he doesn’t know Michelle is dead, and the doctors say telling him the truth could literally kill him.

* First lady Marti Logan tells lead Secret Service man Aaron Pierce that the president knew about the ambush and did nothing to stop it.

* The Russians with the nerve gas learn Lynn McGill’s CTU key card is on the market!

* The suspicious Russian president begins asking Logan a lot of questions.

* Jack pays a visit to the home of Chris Henderson (Peter Weller), the disgraced CTU chief who just tried to kill him. When the ambushed Henderson refuses to cooperate, Jack puts a bullet in the kneecap of Henderson’s innocent wife!!

* The terrorists are tracked to a hospital, and Curtis finds a nerve-gas canister set to go off in 10 minutes.

* 5.11 ends as McGill’s sister Jenny meets the terrorists.

* Jack drags Henderson into CTU and begins torturing him with injections. When Jack goes too far, Henderson is taken to CTU medical. Where Tony is.

* Daughter Kim Bauer, last seen as a CTU agent in 3.24, turns up early in 5.12, accompanied by her new boyfriend, Barry the shrink (C. Thomas Howell). Audrey tells her Jack lives, and there’s an emotional father-daughter reunion before episode’s end – after Jack has to order Barry out of the room.

* Vice president Hal Gardner (Ray Wise, familiar to all lovers of great TV as Laura Palmer’s pop on “Twin Peaks”) pays the president a surprise visit. In light of the recent terrorist actions, he proposes putting the entire blue state of California under martial law!

* A terrorist toting nerve gas enters CTU with Lynn McGill’s keycard.

* Carrie, the cute CTU agent McGill tried to fire last week, won’t be back next week.

8 p.m. Monday. Fox.

Ivanka Trump, a fashion model with a business degree, replaces Carolyn on tonight’s “Apprentice”! Learn more of Ivanka and her ilk in Born Rich!!

The extra-cheap “Buffy” slimsets (all the episodes and extras at a fraction of the price) ship May 30!!

“Buffy” pricing if you must have your season-sets now:
$29.99 The Complete First Season
$44.99 The Complete Second Season
$44.99 The Complete Third Season
$44.99 The Complete Fourth Season
$44.99 The Complete Fifth Season
$44.99 The Complete Sixth Season
$39.96 The Complete Seventh Season

“Buffy” pricing if you can order now but wait three and a half months for delivery:
$27.99 The Complete First Season
$27.99 The Complete Second Season
$27.99 The Complete Third Season
$27.99 The Complete Fourth Season
$27.99 The Complete Fifth Season
$27.99 The Complete Sixth Season
$27.99 The Complete Seventh Season

Or … you can buy the whole 7-season shebang right now for just $164.38!!!