Chuck -2x22 -"Chuck vs. The Ring"-Discuss/Grade <SPOILERS>

[the Dagman]

Here we are. It is Monday once again. And tonight is a special night. Tonight we get to see the SEASON finale of the best show on television today, Chuck.

Spoiler: tonight's season ending game changing blow out of an episode

Chuck must save Ellie's life and her big day from being ruined by Ted Roark (Chevy Chase) and Fulcrum. Morgan Fairchild, Bruce Boxleitner, Scott Bakula, Tony Hale guest star

Enjoy the show, and go visit Subway today and say Chuck sent you. And go watch it again on www.hulu.com/chuck Tell NBC to keep this show by pushing up the number of hits it gets and positive feedback from their current big sponsor. For BuyMoria!

 

[Skywalker]

More like "Chuck vs. The Grim Reaper." C'mon, Chuck, we know you can make it!

 

[Sheep]

I'm getting my Subway sandwich to support the show tonight.

Here's an interview with Ryan McPartlin to kick things off. No spoilers, although he does mention the cast and crew expect to find out their renewal status next week. *fingers crossed*

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune...09/04/chuck-awesome-nbc-finale-mcpartlin.html

 

[jadcox@mindspring.com]

How does the Subway thing work? Just buy a sandwich? Or a specific one? Do I have to tell them I'm buying it for Chuck?

 

[jadcox@mindspring.com]

Never mind. I found the answer here:

http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/405479_tvgif23.html

 

[Michael Chris]

Holy crap, I've been so wound up in my studying I forgot it was Monday. Awesome!

 

[FreezeC77]

lol domo arigato mr. roboto

"Why are you letting Sam Kinison and an Indian lesbian ruin your wedding."

 

[FreezeC77]

uhhh wtf... I know Kung-fu

 

[sttngfan1701d]

Aw, crap. I kinda thought they'd go this route. And I don't really like it. But maybe I'll change my mind when (if) season 3 premieres.

 

[Skywalker]

Yay, Chuck isn't gonna be whiny and helpless anymore!

 

[sttngfan1701d]

All in all, I think this was a great episode. I loved the Jeffster bit, the special forces dropping in, and pretty much everything else, but I'm not wild on this whole "new" king-fu Chuck thing. It's a "game-changer", yeah, but.....

Oh well. I guess that, should the series get renewed, Zach Levi will be in for a summer full of fight training so his future bust-ups won't need so many cuts in the editing room.

And where does this leave Casey and Sarah? It definitely changes the show's dynamic but I'm still unsure of whether it will take some of the charm away too. No more staying in the car for Chuck.

Assuming the show comes back of course.

 

[Thrall]

So I guess it's Mr. and Mrs. Smith now.

Come on, NBC renew this show now!

 

[Michael Chris]

I'm just giddy from the homages. Though, we'll have to see how next season turns out. I imagine the show will keep its comedy and so forth so I don't think it will be too big of a change.

 

[Corran Horn]

Chuck-fu, awesome.

 

[Brolan]

Is there a grade above Awesome? Great show and great ending!

 

[Starbreaker]

This episode really was awesome. I figured Chuck was going to have the intersect returned to his brain, but the Kung Fu was a shock.

 

[Sheep]

I'm gonna be the first non-excellent rating of the night. I enjoyed the episode, but thought pretty much any of the last three episodes would have been a better season closer.

Thankfully, the "game changer" wasn't as bad as I had anticipated given the showrunner's comments about this being the least satisfying finale ever. I thought we were going to have dead Ellie, Casey and/or Sarah in mortal danger, and any number of other things that would take a whole ton of work to fix if they were renewed next season. I can actually live with this as the "end" if NBC has its head up its ass and doesn't renew the show.

Chuck fu presents an interesting problem if they do get renewed. Chuck having actual fighting skills throws a giant wrench into the show's mechanics.

EDIT: I just remembered one reason that might have boosted my rating to an "Excellent": "Why are you letting Sam Kinison and an Indian lesbian wreck your wedding?"

 

[Ryan]

Never mind. I found the answer here:

http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/405479_tvgif23.html

That's inspired. If the series can directly benefit the advertisers that'll get them pushing for its renewal and they really count more than anything.

 

[the Dagman]

Chuck kicked ass!

And not just the character.

They had me going at the beginning, what with the return of my least favorite character in the series, Bryce Larkin. But now that he is finally out of the picture permanently, and Chuck taking on the Intersect by his own choice, wow.

Based on an interview Ryan McPartlin gave a couple of days ago, the cast expects to hear word on renewal next week. So if everyone here watches the finale again on www.hulu.com/chuck over the next few days, it will still help out. This show is getting renewed. Bet on it.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

If it's true that there are NBC suits that love the show, there's a good chance at renewal despite the crappy ratings. And Yvonne Strahowski said in her "finale" interview that they were planning this finale to set up a great "final season next year," so maybe the producers will use that as a bargaining chip:

"Hey guys, you love us even though are ratings are low, but if you renew us we'll wrap it all up next season."

Could work.

If not, it's Farscape all over again (without the 4-hour TV movie ending).