Chuck: not all that good

[AntonyF]

I've been watching Chuck, I think I'm ten episodes in -- three to go -- but am going to find it hard to get through those last three. It's one of those shows where I feel I should like it more than I do.

The first three episodes were fab and fun. A real sense of style and confidence. But then I started to get bored becuase I realized that there's no substance. And a "will they won't they" thing is so old hat, I rolled my eyes as soon as it started to manifest itself (i.e. within about 5 seconds).

It reminds me a bit of a kids show with campy villains, over acting but nothing too nasty. This show seems incapable of having any balls in fact.

It's a shame, it has signs of greatness, but it's not great.

What do you think?

 

[Guy Gardener]

They were supposed to get 20 + episodes but y'know the writers strike.

I did feel the story was lacking because there wasn't a Big-Bad gathering steam in the background

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Granted I've only seen one episode, but I wasn't all that impressed. It seemed to me that was trying to hard to be very serious and very funny at the same time, not really finding a good balance for both of them. The only appeal for me was Adam Baldwin.

 

[auntiehill]

I agree with you, Anthony. I started watching "Chuck" and "Reaper" at the same time. "Chuck" started with a bang--lots of funny characters, geeky humor, action and excitement. "Reaper" started off a bit clunky and awkward--not sure of which way it wanted to go. I kept watching both, because they both had elements I liked, but I thought that "Chuck" would last and "Reaper" would surely fade and be canceled--and I wouldn't really care. But by the time I was midway through the season, "Chuck" had stalled. The character wasn't growing, the big secrets weren't all that interesting, and the secondary characters weren't all that interesting. And the love interest plot was getting irritating.

"Reaper," on the other hand, actually started to grow on me. I enjoyed the oddball humor more and more. The Devil character was played so gleefully and so deftly that I looked forward to seeing his brief appearances. The secondary characters became more likable, and just made the episodes more interesting. A more complex plot started to unfold behind the basic "get the escape soul" plot of every episode.

That's when I started to realize that I looked forward to "Reaper" and didn't even care if I missed "Chuck" or not. I think the real problem is that the people behind it don't know how to move it forward. I think we all know that nothing is ever really going to change for the main character, so it really doesn't matter what happens. It's just spinning it's wheels, and so as you discover that, it's just sort of....boring. Yes, the small bits between Chuck and his co-workers can be fun, and the very small scenes with Adam Baldwin are enjoyable. But they last--what--2 to 3 minutes? And Chuck's best friend is NOT all that likable. It's not very easy to understand WHY Chuck puts up with him. But I can understand why people like Sock for all his annoying behavior---he IS likable. He's a fun guy to have around.

If they don't do something to make "Chuck" progress along a storyline, then it's doomed. I was really excited after "Reaper's" season finale , and I can't wait to see more. But I can't even REMEMBER Chuck's finale, and I hadn't even thought about it until I saw this thread.

 

[ITL]

Chuck would improve immensely if they get rid of his needy, whiny, clingy annoying sister.

 

[Dale]

I'm surprised by the opinions in this thread... I have really enjoyed Chuck and am looking forward to its return. Perhaps its because I wasn't taking the suspense/action aspects at all seriously and just allowing them to be a background for the comedy. It is, admittdly, an odd hybrid of a show, but I am mostly watching for the characters and the comedy. Plus it has Adam Baldwin, of course, and Kurn hovering malevolently in the background.

I like it.

 

[Data Holmes]

I think all TV ran into problems this past year, because of the writers strike. I think that alot of writers started to phone it in while the negotiations were under way before the actual strike started. Alot of shows seemed to just... stall. Here's hoping they get better this year.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I'm surprised by the opinions in this thread... I have really enjoyed Chuck and am looking forward to its return. Perhaps its because I wasn't taking the suspense/action aspects at all seriously and just allowing them to be a background for the comedy. It is, admittdly, an odd hybrid of a show, but I am mostly watching for the characters and the comedy. Plus it has Adam Baldwin, of course, and Kurn hovering malevolently in the background.

I like it.

Agreed. I really liked it. I think that it has potential. The characters are great, they just need to work on the big picture.

ITL, Chuck's sister is hot- leave her alone.

 

[ITL]

Hot, she is. I concede that.

But damn, she's annoying....

 

[Guy Gardener]

She's tepid.

I thought she was hot on scrubs, but they didn't let her talk for the fist few episodes.

Morgan isn't annoying or selfish enough to be as interesting as Sock, before you even get to the whether they deserve to be redeemed.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

I thought Chuck was a decent lighthearted action/comedy, and I love the numerous geek references. I'll keep watching.

I do agree with the earlier sentiment that the similar-toned Reaper was far superior, however.

 

[Skywalker]

I love Chuck! Especially all the geek references and the interplay between Chuck and Casey (Adam Baldwin rules!). Chuck's buddy Morgan annoys the crap out of me, though.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

I think the ratings would improve if Adam Baldwin just went shirtless.

 

[davejames]

I'm surprised by the opinions in this thread... I have really enjoyed Chuck and am looking forward to its return. Perhaps its because I wasn't taking the suspense/action aspects at all seriously and just allowing them to be a background for the comedy. It is, admittdly, an odd hybrid of a show, but I am mostly watching for the characters and the comedy. Plus it has Adam Baldwin, of course, and Kurn hovering malevolently in the background.

I like it.

Same here, I thought it was a lot of fun. I can definitely see how it wouldn't hold up as well during a DVD viewing marathon (where you really notice a show's formula a lot more), but as just a once-a-week thing it's pretty damn enjoyable.

 

[DanCPA]

imho, this show is very enjoyable and light hearted...

I am looking forward to it's return next month

 

[DWF]

Chuck is great fun as a show and Sarah is HOT.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I bailed after the premiere. In fact, I don't think I made it to the end of the premiere.

But then I saw a couple episodes later in the season, and I'll give it another shot this fall. Zach Levi and Adam Baldwin have settled into a fun chemistry. The other characters all bore me, and the premise is still pretty thin, and there's the problem that Chuck will be on Mondays along with about half the shows I want to watch each week (wassup with that? ) but that's why God made VCRs for DVR-deprived cheapskates like me.

If they don't do something to make "Chuck" progress along a storyline, then it's doomed.

If the show keeps stalling in S2, I'm bailing again. My interest is predicated on the notion that the story will go somewhere.

 

[Sakrysta]

I enjoyed it enough last year that I've got it queued on Hulu.

Of course, I've got everything I'm remotely interested in queued on Hulu.

But Chuck I actually look forward to and watch.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I watched one episode and never went back. It sucked.

 

[BigFoot]

I personally love Chuck. I think it's actually my favourite new show from last season. There's just something incredibly charming about it, and it's also a very entertaining show.