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Oh Boy vs. Great Scott

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (17)

chuck-500.jpg

The first few episodes following what was supposed to be the season finale of “Chuck” were decent, but last night was kind of a screeching departure. Instead of continuing along with self-contained episodes, “Chuck” dipped back into the mythology, it took a weird turn, and I don’t think I like where it’s going. Kballs accurately predicted the next phase of “Chuck,” in a comment last week:

So Chuck possibly going crazy feeds into my big story arc possibility that can be explored for quite awhile:

Why not have Chuck be tortured by the memory of having to kill someone? Especially someone he knew and trusted. Maybe that’s part of the reason the Intersect will be fritzing his brain next week (allegedly). At any rate, if they simply ignore the ramifications of Chuck’s first kill after making him blindly and dangerously opposed to doing it under any circumstances before, it will be a great disservice to the show.

The problem with what the showrunnners are doing, it seems, is that this big story arc won’t “be explored for quite a while.” It’s being rushed for the season finale. Chuck went from awesome to crazy in one episode: The intersect is fucking with his brain, infecting his dreams, and possibly killing him. And yes: He is being haunted by a memory of having to kill someone, that someone being Daniel Shaw. Is Shaw still alive? Somehow, probably, yes. More fodder for the finale.

The meat of last night’s ep focused on Chuck’s quick descent into crazy — the intersect is trying to tell his subconscious something, but for some reason, no one believes him. His dreams have apparently been disruptive to the rest of the team for quite some time (although, it was the first that we saw of it last night). After he had a dream that the president of Zambia (or is it a fictional Zamibia? Or is Zambia pronounced Zamibia?) was going to be assassinated, General Beckman ordered therapy, which was cool in that it brought in Christopher Lloyd as the therapist, but not so cool because Christopher Lloyd was subdued and never once said, “Great Scott!”

Later, when Chuck — after having enrolled Morgan to assist — had a dream during a symphony about the scientist that was going to kill the president, Chuck assaulted that scientist and was admitted into the nut house (despite the fact that he actually did flash on the tooth). The nut house was good for one thing, though: It allowed the crazies to hilariously break into West Side story fight mode before the staff tranqued them and Sarah and Casey swooped in to save Chuck from the assassin with the computer chip in his tooth.

Meanwhile, the Chuck and Sarah relationship is progressing incrementally and predictably — after Sarah moved in, the next step, apparently, was for Sarah to tell Chuck that she loves him. Awwwww. Their relationship has already gotten a little trite. Also, there’s only one step left, I guess, before marriage. Will the season finale have a proposal?

My guess is yes.

Elsewhere, Anna returned looking less geeky hot than regular old hot (I liked geeky hot better). She wants Morgan back, but Morgan had a nice line: “If it took me running from you to make you realize that I’m somebody you want then I don’t really think you’re the person I want.” Way to go, Morgan.

Finally, in magical Awesome and Ellie land, where malaria apparently only lays you up on the couch for a few days while still looking Awesome, the dude from Africa who infected Awesome with malaria-like symptoms is trying to use Ellie to get to her father. This turn will likely make Ellie finally aware of Chuck’s career (while also pitting her against Casey, briefly, as she currently thinks he’s the enemy). But more importantly, it means Scott Bakula will be back for the final two episodes. And if there’s anyone that can right this temporarily wrong ship, it’s Scott Bakula. If he and Christopher Lloyd have an “Oh Boy!” vs. “Great Scott!” face off in the finale all will be forgiven.









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Comments

I'm really, really down on this show since the "Role Models" episode. Geebus, even Udo Kier couldn't save it. I wouldn't mind at this point if they sent Chuck and Sarah off into the sunset and let Casey/Morgan (with Anna as sexual tension/part-time ninja) do the spy stuff.

I used to think Chuck was geeky and smart enough, but the Community "Paintball" episode fucking ruined me. That was one of the most excellent half-hours of television I've ever seen. Simply EPIC, and it's pretty sad that a sitcom can hands-down trounce a geeky action show in both action beats and geek nods.

Posted by: Barry at May 11, 2010 9:01 AM

Wow, thanks for the H/T Dustin.

I agree that the craziness was glossed over, but that storyline obviously isn't done yet (Chuck is still having vivid nightmares at the end of the ep). I lament the missed opportunity of another episode in the looney bin as the guy playing Merlin is one of my favorite That Guy actors and his big moment was perfect.

I like how the story threads are about to collide and look forward to Dr. Sam Beckett's return, how Ellie and Awesome figure out what each one knows, how Morgan and his newfound confidence will save the day, and what will ultimately happen to the Intersect in Chuck's brain. If the show is ending this season, I think the intersect will either be destroyed or accidentally transferred to Morgan since he has no life to ruin by taking it on (and, dare I say, Spin-Off Series!!!).

Posted by: Kballs at May 11, 2010 9:03 AM

Barry,

If you allow the greatness of one show to ruin your enjoyment of another one, I suggest you never watch "The Wire" as it will ruin any happiness you could ever receive from any TV show for all time. It is balls-out titsgasmic.

Posted by: Kballs at May 11, 2010 9:07 AM

Kballs,

I've seen some of Wire's run and although it doesn't speak to me it is a fantastic production.

Part of the problem with Chuck is *my* short attention span, but I defy anyone to suggest that the "will they/won't they" aspect went on for far too long and far too many emo ballads. It sort of wore me out; hopefully I'll recover and get back into this thing.

Posted by: Barry at May 11, 2010 9:16 AM

Dustin: You're thinking Zambia and Namibia.

Posted by: Samuel Erkison at May 11, 2010 9:59 AM

Yes, a less than stellar episode. I think they need to develop Morgan a little more- perhaps a legit love interest? Anna seemed perfect, and I'm surprised that Morgan didn't sneak in a little reconciliation nookie before kicking Anna to the curb. Now that would be realistic for a nerd who lives with Yvonne Strahovski.

They are doing a good job at parsing out Jeffster without making the band lose it's welcome, though. Anyone for Prince's "1999" with Lester as the female lead? I'd love to see a storyline where they get "discovered" by a record exec and hit it big. Or maybe that exec is a ring agent trying to get at Chuck.

Posted by: logar at May 11, 2010 10:33 AM

I'm continually irritated by the 'can't tell Ellie what Chuck does' plotline. It's contrived and unrealistic. I once dated a woman who had no problem telling me he brother worked for the Secret Service guarding someone in Virginia - what they're doing here smacks of lazy writing.

Posted by: ponch at May 11, 2010 12:26 PM

@ponch: it depends on what they are assigned to. My ex-brother in law (he turned into a scumbag at some point and slept around) was married to my sister before I was informed he was real, Chuck style (without the hollywood) CIA. As in, had a cover working for the state department and got deployed to interesting foreign places to, well, spy on people.

I also thought this episode was disjointed. The sub plot with Ellie being conned into betraying her father for The Ring feels really contrived and broken, because it's about the umpteenth time something like that has happened on Chuck and the viewer is left saying "why don't you just freaking talk to someone?". You can only pull that off so often.

I like that they are growing Morgan up though.

-Frob

Posted by: frobme at May 11, 2010 1:10 PM

I had to stop watching a couple eps into this season because the saccharin sweetness of Chuck and Sarah's relationship was slowly killing me inside. Let me know if the season finale lives up to its potential (Bakula!) and I'll jump back in.

Posted by: the_wakeful at May 11, 2010 1:58 PM

I often enjoy reading reviews more than actually watching the movie/show, hence my devotion to Pajiba.

And I was never a fan of the Simpsons but it always sounded hilarious when other people described the show to me. I actually enjoyed the recaps more than the show itself.

So thank you Dustin for the Chuck recaps so that I don't have to spend an hour watching the show myself. Much appreciated. Because this show has be over for me since the season no-so-finale.

Posted by: Michellers at May 11, 2010 6:25 PM

I love "Chuck." It is cute, fun entertainment, and John Casey/Jayne Cobb/Animal Mother might just be my favorite guy actor ever, ever, ever. (Does Adam Baldwin like, not age?! DUDE WHAT IS YOUR SECRET.)

Anyway, when are the writers going to address the fact that Sarah told Shaw that her real name is "Sam"? Chuck witnessed that and seemed to be thrown for a loop, but it was never mentioned again. One would think, now that they are all "I love you" and stuff, that it would come up again in conversation. Huh.

Posted by: bostonadrianne at May 11, 2010 8:01 PM

bostonadrianne,
There was an entire episode last season devoted to Sarah taking Chuck to her high school reunion to bust up some Ring operation or something. All of her former-life stuff was brought up then. The moment with Shaw was simply a way for the writers to show how she could let her guard down with someone other than Chuck.

Posted by: Kballs at May 12, 2010 8:02 AM

Since no Chuck post would be complete without me Stanning on it and I was late to the party... I have to say, if I'm being completely honest, last night's episode was not Awesome. Generally they use their cameos fairly well, but Lloyd was wasted.

The Sarah/Chuck thing is moving way too fast. They've moved in, they've "I Love you"-ed, etc. It's like they've taken a page from Glee's handbook of unnecessarily fast story telling. What are they going to do? Kill off Sarah and have Chuck marry me go berserk?

Considering how hot she is and her seven season contract, doubtful. But really. Four more seasons of them being boring together?

They'd better start developing that Casey/Morgan romance, stat. And since we're on the lumbering giant, why is Casey _always_ so awkward around Ellie? I mean, he's gruff with everyone else, but for whatever reason, Ellie just brings out the creeper within Casey.

So random. Anyway, if they don't redeem this episode with more shirtless Zac Levi, I'll be crestfallen, which would actually be great since I've decided I don't use crestfallen nearly enough.

Posted by: Kayanne at May 12, 2010 9:39 AM

Thanks, Kballs!

Posted by: bostonadrianne at May 12, 2010 9:44 AM

Do you think that Obama should have gotten rid of Stanley McChrystal. How will this affect the midterm election?

Posted by: Jordan Daty at June 27, 2010 12:00 AM

Hmmmm, insightful… By the way, I just heard that Ex - Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres GM Sandy Alderson got a tour of Citi Field on Thursday as part of his initial meeting with the New york Mets for the open GM position. The New york Daily News is saying that he's still the frontrunner to get the job after the first round of interviews.

Posted by: Onie Sawina at November 1, 2010 5:41 AM

Many of the professional players in paintball nowadays should start looking at what they can do for the sport. There is a ton of potential out their for not only simply teams, but the sport. In order for teams and players to get sponsored the game itself has to get out there.

Posted by: Bryce Kulesza at November 12, 2010 11:19 AM