I debated whether to score this one an average or above-average, and went with the higher rating after watching it a second time. Much like the last episode (which I actually liked a bit more than this one), there's a lot to like, but some of the romantic angst just got to be a little much. I liked that the show seemed to share my feelings enough to poke fun at itself ("I hate those 'will they or won't they' things"). Chuck's first meeting with the hitmen and the hotel room scene at the end were very entertaining, but the rest of it felt a lot like filler. Especially the Buy More subplot, which provided a handful of funny lines (I especially liked Big Mike winding up with "three times as many crockpots" as he intended), but it kind of just went away at one point. And Chuck breaking up with Hannah definitely feels like it's an important piece of a very interesting story, but taken on its own terms, that whole scene felt extremely awkward and forced. Still, the good outweighed the bad, even if I've liked most of the other episodes this season more than this one.
Chuck -3x08 -"Chuck vs. the Fake Name"-Discuss/Grade <SPOILERS>
- Thread starter the Dagman
- Start date
Chuck's breakup with Hannah was dickish... But then, his hookup with Hannah was dickish. Yeah, he and Sarah (Sam?) had broken up, but he should have known that if he's serious about putting his spy work ahead of his civilian life (while still trying to hold down both simultaneously) that that would mean that he could never have a real relationship with anyone who wasn't in on his Intersecty secret. How can anyone trust him, or he trust anyone, without being in on it? Any relationship with a civvie is doomed to fail for him, and he should have seen that a long time off. He never should have let things progress with Hannah at all.
Chuck's breaking up with Hannah--the day after he slept with her, mind you---during the dinner with her PARENTS was definitely a dick move. Even my hubby shouted at the TV, "Couldn't you wait until AFTER dinner to dump her?!"
However, having Captain Awesome (holy mama....) and Brandon Routh both shirtless was a very nice touch, and the scenes with the mafia-types were funny. However, I would love to see more about Casey; the guy doesn't get enough to do.
However, having Captain Awesome (holy mama....) and Brandon Routh both shirtless was a very nice touch, and the scenes with the mafia-types were funny. However, I would love to see more about Casey; the guy doesn't get enough to do.
Sarah banging Superman while Chuck is alone and pining for her sounds like this show's natural habitat to me. Having Chuck be with all these random hot chicks while Sarah pines for him always feels a bit off!
The Sopranos guys were pretty funny. Aside from when NBC probably forced them to put the useless Michael Strahan in an episode, I think they've been doing a great job with guest casting.
The Sopranos guys were pretty funny. Aside from when NBC probably forced them to put the useless Michael Strahan in an episode, I think they've been doing a great job with guest casting.
He wasn't the only one who did.
I have no idea what she sees in Shaw. The guy is creepy as all get-out. Then again I don't know what Sarah's seen in Chuck the last couple seasons either.
I think Sarah agrees that she falls for people way too easily at this point.
I don't agree. It seems to me that the Lou arc from Season One was about bringing Sarah to the point of consciously realizing that she had feelings for Chuck and about bringing Chuck to the point of realizing how little power he had anymore over his own life -- how limited his choices were.
The Hannah arc seems to be primarily about bringing to light how his decision to try to become a spy has caused Chuck to change, to lose his moral center, and to cause Sarah to realize that and re-evaluate her feelings for him in light of that change.
This Ep earns the Emmett stamp of approval.
Agreed. I said I'd give this show a couple more episodes to straighten this "will they won't they shit out" and move the fuck on and they circle right back to the cliche well ... the one they dug specifically for this show.
Chuck's ready to face his feelings and do what's right ... he just has to be a complete douche one more time, but wait!
Sarah (Sam is such a cliche "cool chick" name, I refuse to acknowledge it) wasn't going to see Chuck! She was getting take out for CreepyStalker/SuperMole, cause they're in love. She hated him, but now she totally doesn't.
And a good thing she has two guys after her now, cause this season she can't stand up in a stiff breeze, let alone protect her newly-deveolped glass jaw. Damsel in distress? Check.
Is Sarah really undercover whoring to expose SuperMole or has she finally moved on from Chuck, the Interdouche?
Don't care anymore.
Addendum: Why the fuck is it OK for every single fucking depiction of Italians on TV to be goomba this and marinara that? Is it because we're white, but like, not quite white enough to be relatable, but then not quite dark enough to merit a token handsome lawyer role? All Italians are either in construction, waste management or law enforcement and if they're not mobbed up, they at least know a guy, right?
Agreed. I said I'd give this show a couple more episodes to straighten this "will they won't they shit out" and move the fuck on and they circle right back to the cliche well ... the one they dug specifically for this show.
Chuck's ready to face his feelings and do what's right ... he just has to be a complete douche one more time, but wait!
Sarah (Sam is such a cliche "cool chick" name, I refuse to acknowledge it) wasn't going to see Chuck! She was getting take out for CreepyStalker/SuperMole, cause they're in love. She hated him, but now she totally doesn't.
And a good thing she has two guys after her now, cause this season she can't stand up in a stiff breeze, let alone protect her newly-deveolped glass jaw. Damsel in distress? Check.
Is Sarah really undercover whoring to expose SuperMole or has she finally moved on from Chuck, the Interdouche?
Don't care anymore.
Addendum: Why the fuck is it OK for every single fucking depiction of Italians on TV to be goomba this and marinara that? Is it because we're white, but like, not quite white enough to be relatable, but then not quite dark enough to merit a token handsome lawyer role? All Italians are either in construction, waste management or law enforcement and if they're not mobbed up, they at least know a guy, right?
Stay tuned. There is an episode coming up that really digs into the Casey character. :>))
I'm with you there. I'm part-Italian myself, and it does get a bit ridiculous sometimes.
yeah, I was thinking, what do you do for the trifecta? Pour sugar in her gas tank?
nope... he emailed her a couple day's later after the break up and told her he gave her a STD....
I've actually been enjoying this season quite a bit, but I am getting a little annoyed by the scope of it. Nobody seems to really give a shit about the Intersect anymore. The Ring is such a vague organization that I can't really care about it right now. And I really miss Scott Bakula!
I am enjoying the "Chuck becomes a real spy" story, but it's time to move forward with the real plot of the season.
I am enjoying the "Chuck becomes a real spy" story, but it's time to move forward with the real plot of the season.
I feel like the show has lost a lot of its whimsy so far this season. But we're only 8 episodes in, and I honestly don't see how they could have voided the darker turn they've taken. Espionage is an inherently dark thing, and it would be hard to sustain an action-comedy about it for long without it turning heavier at some point without the show being completely emotionally dishonest in its characterization.
Still, I hope Chuck gets out of its funk soon.
Still, I hope Chuck gets out of its funk soon.
But to me it's still the same thing, Chuck will not go back to mopey lame "I want a normal life and I want Sarah" just like last year!, now there is another man for Sarah who is just an obvious stand in for Bryce, the writers seem unwilling to just move on and let Sarah and Chuck change with the story, Reset, reset, reset, even Friends let Ross and Rachel leave the spotlight for awhile.
I don't agree. I think this is going somewhere other than just restoring the S2-era status quo.
We'll see.
Chuck (average) - there was something "off" about this episode. It's fun seeing Zach Levi's acting range, but I guess I need a better sense of where they're going with this "Chuck loses his soul to the intersect" plotline. Are they really going to push it, or just get to a certain point and chicken out?
If they want Sarah to have a real name, I prefer Jenny Lisa to Sam.
I would dispense with the Chuck & Sarah UST and go wholly for the "spy life destroys your soul" plotline. Sarah needs to get her shit together and save Chuck from himself. That might not ever lead to a resumption of their romance, but that seems fine to me, and would be an interesting surprise.
If they want Sarah to have a real name, I prefer Jenny Lisa to Sam.
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