"Chuck" on NBC

[Silock]

Is anyone else totally digging this show? Perfect blend of comedy, *light* drama, and storytelling.

Captain Awesome is my favorite character

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

no body for Shaw....

He was floating face-down on the surface, no?

But yeah, I expect that he somehow survived.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

He was floating face-down on the surface, no?

But yeah, I expect that he somehow survived.

Scott Bakula will be back too, I wonder if he's back to refine the intersect ( like a trust fund you want to make sure your kids are well off and safe)besides checking up on him and Ellie. Then their could be the fact that his dad has gathered intel to warn him about an incoming threat that the NSA and CIA missed

[ragedogg69]

Just a few thoughts on season 3, since we’ve finished the originally planned story arc:

Chuck got hit with a double whammy (budget cuts and a shortened season – even if they got a late order for 6 additional episodes). The writers didn’t respond well. Creatively, this has been far and away the least satisfying season. I’m really worried about the show’s future if they can’t turn it around when Chuck 3.5 returns in 3 weeks. Given what they did in a 13 episode mini-arc, though, I wonder what we’ll see in a 6 episode micro-arc.

We may finally get what some have wanted for quite some time – a “Chuck” in which Sarah and Chuck are really together, and all the impediments are gone. The signs are there, and I’m more than ready for it now. Although I saw good reason to keep them apart, the way the writers handled it this season has left me completely unsatisfied. Harsh words from one of the show’s biggest fans, but I think they’re justified. If they do bring Chuck and Sarah together, it could return the show to its strong roots and make it more emotionally satisfying.

For me, Chuck’s foundation was strong in the first two seasons. It was based in large part on the comedy created by weaving together Chuck’s three lives and the characters that surround him – Chuck at home (with Devon and Ellie), Chuck at the Buy More (with Morgan and the rest of the crew), and Chuck the spy (with Sarah and Casey). The drama that anchored it emotionally was the relationship between Chuck and Sarah. It was easy to forgive logical inconsistencies as long as the basic foundation was solid. That foundation really got rocked this season.

I was always able to “buy” the ways the writers kept Chuck and Sarah apart in the past, but after the first several episodes this season, I began to have serious doubts that they were pulling it off. Four or five episodes ago, the storyline collapsed for me. Like most other people, I figured Shaw had an agenda, and it wasn’t terribly surprising to find out that he wound up working for the Ring in the end. What I was having the most trouble buying was the relationship between Shaw and Sarah. It just didn’t work. The setup for that relationship was abrupt and unbelievable. I thought we’d discover that Sarah was just playing him, too, but that twist never came. If Chuck 3.5 waffles again on the Chuck/Sarah relationship and tries to introduce another ineffective method of splitting them up, they’ll lose all emotional credibility with me. That may sound like a flip-flop on my position, but I don’t think so. With good writing, they could have made it work again, but the writing failed. The acting has remained solid by all the core players, but the writing has flopped.

The Chuck/Hannah relationship was working for me, and I really bought into the chemistry between the two. Then they took a meat cleaver to it. The part that Ellie played as Chuck’s adviser, and that worked so well in the first two seasons, seemed as contrived as so many of the relationships have in season 3. Chuck gets 1 minute of advice from Ellie at her front door, then goes off to crush Hannah as she waits for him with her parents. And all this after Hannah’s heartfelt toast at the dinner table with Chuck, Ellie and Devon. I said back then that I wondered how they were going to help us forgive Chuck for what he did. They didn’t help me nearly enough. Hannah was right – Chuck was not a nice guy, and his proclamation that he WAS felt hollow and wrong. That was just plain bad writing. There were infinitely better ways of resolving the relationship.

The Fulcrum of seasons 1 and 2 was much more interesting than the Ring of season 3. At the end of season 2, we were led to believe that Fulcrum was just a minor arm of a much bigger, much badder organization called the Ring. What it felt like was that the Ring was 4 bad guys working out of a warehouse. Blame the budget cuts and the shortened season for that, but it hurt the storytelling.

With all that said, there were still good things in Chuck this year. The acting was still strong (at least by the Chuck regulars), and we got to see Zachary Levi direct a great episode. Hopefully, Chuck will be renewed and I can look back on this as a sophomore slump and an anomaly. Season 3 just happened to fall in the middle of the worst economic climate we’ve seen since the Great Depression. That complicated, and diminished, everything.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still a “Chuck” fan. I’ll be watching til the end, but so far, season 3 has taken some unpleasant turns.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

Just a few thoughts on season 3, since we’ve finished the originally planned story arc:

Chuck got hit with a double whammy (budget cuts and a shortened season – even if they got a late order for 6 additional episodes). The writers didn’t respond well. Creatively, this has been far and away the least satisfying season. I’m really worried about the show’s future if they can’t turn it around when Chuck 3.5 returns in 3 weeks. Given what they did in a 13 episode mini-arc, though, I wonder what we’ll see in a 6 episode micro-arc.

We may finally get what some have wanted for quite some time – a “Chuck” in which Sarah and Chuck are really together, and all the impediments are gone. The signs are there, and I’m more than ready for it now. Although I saw good reason to keep them apart, the way the writers handled it this season has left me completely unsatisfied. Harsh words from one of the show’s biggest fans, but I think they’re justified. If they do bring Chuck and Sarah together, it could return the show to its strong roots and make it more emotionally satisfying.

For me, Chuck’s foundation was strong in the first two seasons. It was based in large part on the comedy created by weaving together Chuck’s three lives and the characters that surround him – Chuck at home (with Devon and Ellie), Chuck at the Buy More (with Morgan and the rest of the crew), and Chuck the spy (with Sarah and Casey). The drama that anchored it emotionally was the relationship between Chuck and Sarah. It was easy to forgive logical inconsistencies as long as the basic foundation was solid. That foundation really got rocked this season.

I was always able to “buy” the ways the writers kept Chuck and Sarah apart in the past, but after the first several episodes this season, I began to have serious doubts that they were pulling it off. Four or five episodes ago, the storyline collapsed for me. Like most other people, I figured Shaw had an agenda, and it wasn’t terribly surprising to find out that he wound up working for the Ring in the end. What I was having the most trouble buying was the relationship between Shaw and Sarah. It just didn’t work. The setup for that relationship was abrupt and unbelievable. I thought we’d discover that Sarah was just playing him, too, but that twist never came. If Chuck 3.5 waffles again on the Chuck/Sarah relationship and tries to introduce another ineffective method of splitting them up, they’ll lose all emotional credibility with me. That may sound like a flip-flop on my position, but I don’t think so. With good writing, they could have made it work again, but the writing failed. The acting has remained solid by all the core players, but the writing has flopped.

The Chuck/Hannah relationship was working for me, and I really bought into the chemistry between the two. Then they took a meat cleaver to it. The part that Ellie played as Chuck’s adviser, and that worked so well in the first two seasons, seemed as contrived as so many of the relationships have in season 3. Chuck gets 1 minute of advice from Ellie at her front door, then goes off to crush Hannah as she waits for him with her parents. And all this after Hannah’s heartfelt toast at the dinner table with Chuck, Ellie and Devon. I said back then that I wondered how they were going to help us forgive Chuck for what he did. They didn’t help me nearly enough. Hannah was right – Chuck was not a nice guy, and his proclamation that he WAS felt hollow and wrong. That was just plain bad writing. There were infinitely better ways of resolving the relationship.

The Fulcrum of seasons 1 and 2 was much more interesting than the Ring of season 3. At the end of season 2, we were led to believe that Fulcrum was just a minor arm of a much bigger, much badder organization called the Ring. What it felt like was that the Ring was 4 bad guys working out of a warehouse. Blame the budget cuts and the shortened season for that, but it hurt the storytelling.

With all that said, there were still good things in Chuck this year. The acting was still strong (at least by the Chuck regulars), and we got to see Zachary Levi direct a great episode. Hopefully, Chuck will be renewed and I can look back on this as a sophomore slump and an anomaly. Season 3 just happened to fall in the middle of the worst economic climate we’ve seen since the Great Depression. That complicated, and diminished, everything.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still a “Chuck” fan. I’ll be watching til the end, but so far, season 3 has taken some unpleasant turns.

Really? I liked Hannah and the eye candy package she came in but I never bought their fling for a second. They didn't have even a quarter of the chemistry Yvvone and Zack do.

[007]

Least satisfying season? WHAT?

I have loved this season.

[Shag]

Originally Posted by Guru

Least satisfying season? WHAT?

I have loved this season.

Agreed - this has been a great season...

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by Guru

Least satisfying season? WHAT?

I have loved this season.

For me the writing and acting has stayed the same. What brings it down a bit was the budget, which I hope they raise.

Not seeing all the actors severely halted some good situations and scenes. Every actor every episode like Season 2 was much better.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Guru

Least satisfying season? WHAT?

I have loved this season.

FWIW, I agree with him. It's been OK, and I still enjoy the show overall, but some of the plotlines they've done this season haven't worked for me at all.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by DaFace

FWIW, I agree with him. It's been OK, and I still enjoy the show overall, but some of the plotlines they've done this season haven't worked for me at all.

Again, I attribute that to budget cuts and the truncated season. The remaining 6 might - might - redeem it. Remember the SEason 2 last 6 episodes were the best of the series.

[ragedogg69]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Really? I liked Hannah and the eye candy package she came in but I never bought their fling for a second. They didn't have even a quarter of the chemistry Yvvone and Zack do.

But did you buy Sarah and Shaw? Now that was some bad chemistry.


I thought the major problem was more of when Chuck was a light hearted geek show first, the lazy writing could be overlooked as it was all for fun. But when they went darker and tried to be an serious action drama, you had to roll your eyes as some of the stuff.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

But did you buy Sarah and Shaw? Now that was some bad chemistry.

Nope, and that's one of my main gripes with the acting in this season. I know they did what they did because of budget, truncated season, and rushed storylines (because of the 13 allotted episodes), so I grant them a lot of leeway.

They never had chemistry. Ever. I did like Routh even though his character was predictable and flat.

I thought the major problem was more of when Chuck was a light hearted geek show first, the lazy writing could be overlooked as it was all for fun. But when they went darker and tried to be an serious action drama, you had to roll your eyes as some of the stuff.

Lazy writing? I mean, yes, there are plot holes but it's Chuck, I go with it. The comedy has been top notch.

Now, what "serious action drama" parts are you talking about? If it involves a B2 stealth bomber with bunker-busters that were anything but, I'll definitely agree.

[007]

I just watch this show for the uniqueness of it. This isn't a show that needs to be picked apart like Lost or 24. It's just fun to watch.

[Shag]

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

I thought the major problem was more of when Chuck was a light hearted geek show first, the lazy writing could be overlooked as it was all for fun. But when they went darker and tried to be an serious action drama, you had to roll your eyes as some of the stuff.

I've never gotten the feeling Chuck was trying to be a serious action drama. It's still cheesy nerd fun with great comedy, IMHO. The only thing that really feels serious about the show is the Chuck/Sarah love plot...

[ragedogg69]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Now, what "serious action drama" parts are you talking about? If it involves a B2 stealth bomber with bunker-busters that were anything but, I'll definitely agree.

Actually that comes to mind first thing.


Chuck used to be about fish out of water comedy. Even his spy missions were parodies and tongue in cheek fun. Now it is primarily him being trained to be a spy. The missions became more and more serious and the show became more like Alias with a little bit of Jeffster put in. The red tests also come to mind as the show being too serious for its own good.

I agree completely that the shortened episode order and budget cutbacks really hurt the show, but the writers really did not help themselves or the characters this season.

[OmahaChief]

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

Actually that comes to mind first thing.


Chuck used to be about fish out of water comedy. Even his spy missions were parodies and tongue in cheek fun. Now it is primarily him being trained to be a spy. The missions became more and more serious and the show became more like Alias with a little bit of Jeffster put in. The red tests also come to mind as the show being too serious for its own good.

I agree completely that the shortened episode order and budget cutbacks really hurt the show, but the writers really did not help themselves or the characters this season.

Totally agree with this post. As a guy that has done all the online support stuff for this show and bought subway as a way to show support and crap like that, this year has been a bummer. Far to serious and what made the show great in my opinion has been lost. I used to like to see Chuck bumble around and stuff but now that he is the super spy intersect, the show has went down hill.

The Buy More stuff always brought levity to the show as well and for the most part that has been cut out.

Overall I am really disappointed.