During the Bush administration we were having a public debate on torture as a means of interrogation and the public consensus was that this is never acceptable.

Meanwhile the #1 show on TV was 24 where everyone cheered Jack torturing people to get information.

It does raise certain moral quandaries. When the shit hits the fan then maybe you suddenly want those people who we might judge in normal circumstances.

I still fundamentally disagree with what Joel does in the finale but it makes for entertaining fiction and an interesting story to debate.