Chuck (04/20/2009): "Chuck vs the Colonel"

[Terminus Est]

The episode started out kind of slowly, but then...holy crap! Captain Awesome knows about Chuck, the Intersect is gone from Chuck's brain, Fulcrum gets blown up, the mission is over. Morgan quits Buy More, Ellie is getting married, Chuck and Sarah can finally get together. I think my brain is about to have an Awesome-type meltdown.

[Mr. Excellent]

"CAN ... YOU ... DIG ... IT?!"

Yes. Yes, I most assuredly can.

(Though if I were in Chuck's shoes, and hit with Morgan's IOU, I do believe I would kill the man.)

[dropzone]

All, and I mean ALL, of the earmarks of a Very Special Series Finale? Yet with At Least One Episode left? Are they letting us down easy while preparing for the inevitable while accepting that Leno will kill all scripted drama on NBC or holding out for the hope that the CW will see a natural connection between Chuck and Reaper? And no, I am accepting no middle ground that does not include Chuck Mon at 8/7C

[Xan]

All, and I mean ALL, of the earmarks of a Very Special Series Finale? Yet with At Least One Episode left? Are they letting us down easy while preparing for the inevitable while accepting that Leno will kill all scripted drama on NBC or holding out for the hope that the CW will see a natural connection between Chuck and Reaper? And no, I am accepting no middle ground that does not include Chuck Mon at 8/7C

Why would Leno kill all scripted drama?

[Terminus Est]

Why would Leno kill all scripted drama?

If we have to explain the joke (again!), it's no longer funny.

[dropzone]

Yeah, but I'm of the school that, "If you DON'T have to explain the joke, it's not funny." For some reason, the only people who subscribe to it are either Xan'S relatives or complete TV geeks. :D

Leno is getting the 10/9PM Central weekdays hour starting in, what is it? May? Five days a week. When is NBC strongest in scripted dramas? You are allowed one guess. Kiss your dramatic favorites (Medium, various Law and Orders, and Southland) goodbye unless NBC thinks it best to put Heroes at 8 and one of the others at 9 on Mondays.

OTOH, Honda, unlike many sponsors, realized that Chuck's strength is not in raw numbers but in demographics, and created an ad starring Zachary Levi ("Chuck") that broadcast during the show.

[Dewey Finn]

I liked how the scene at the drive-in movie theater was a reference to the climax of Spies Like Us. All in all, a great episode, except for the fact that it looks like the show is coming to an end.

[Invisible Chimp]

After tonight's episode, it would be very difficult to see how they could continue for another season. Does Chevy Chase re-install the Intersect into Chuck's head next week? At least, it all has been resolved in a satisfying way. The only bad part is that will be gone.

[Terminus Est]

No! The previews said Season Finale! Season!!!!!1!!1!

[jackdavinci]

Please... God.... No... Not the...

***SLOW CLAP***

NNNNOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo

Other than that, Awesome episode. Was this close to being a satisfying series ender. Next week should be very interesting except.. it's supposedly only a season finale. What on earth will they do next year? Please let there not be a reset button at the end of next week!

[Ephemera]

Fantastic episode, though I'm not sure how they'll continue next season if there is one.

I loved Awesome and Casey's scene in Casey's apartment, and Chuck asking him to be awesome, which he tried to be but just couldn't. I really like Devon quite a bit, and I'm hoping his role is expanded if the show gets a reprieve.

[Lightnin']

I loved Awesome and Casey's scene in Casey's apartment, and Chuck asking him to be awesome, which he tried to be but just couldn't. I really like Devon quite a bit, and I'm hoping his role is expanded if the show gets a reprieve.

My wife and I really wanted Devon to whip out some serious martial arts skills and proceed to kick Casey's butt 'cause, you know, he's awesome. As it was, he still managed to KO the Colonel... with Reagan's help, that is.

[Wheelz]

Next week should be very interesting except.. it's supposedly only a season finale. What on earth will they do next year? Please let there not be a reset button at the end of next week!Seems to me like they're setting it up to stand as the Series Finale in case the show does in fact get cancelled.

But, I can easily see it continuing next season with just a few paridigm shifts. Maybe Chuck will start missing the excitement and volunteer for a new Intersect experiment. Maybe the Intersect story line is truly over and Chuck will join the CIA as a computer expert. Or professional writers will think of something more interesting.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Please... God.... No... Not the...

***SLOW CLAP***

NNNNOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo

Other than that, Awesome episode. Was this close to being a satisfying series ender. Next week should be very interesting except.. it's supposedly only a season finale. What on earth will they do next year? Please let there not be a reset button at the end of next week!I loved that - I thought it was a great reference to An Officer and a Gentleman, although Morgan had put Anna down before they started clapping.

[WordMan]

Wait...I'm the first person to mention the fanservice? Yvonne S's/Sarah's slow walk to bed?

Well then, allow me: hummina, hummina.

That is all.

[Hentor the Barbarian]

Wait...I'm the first person to mention the fanservice? Yvonne S's/Sarah's slow walk to bed?

Well then, allow me: hummina, hummina.

That is all.In re: this.

Thank heavens for DVR technology. I think we need a compilation video - Chuck's dream, various dressing shots from early on, and then last night's contribution.

Awooogah!

[MovieMogul]

(Though if I were in Chuck's shoes, and hit with Morgan's IOU, I do believe I would kill the man.)Please! Given the choice of running out to a drugstore or staying and doing plenty of other things with a willing and compliant goddess right there in bed with him, Chuck's choice simply shows a very disappointing lack of imagination.

[amarinth]

According to rumor, they're not setting next week up to be a series finale. And we'll all be pissed if it does end up being the final episode of Chuck, because things will become unresolved.

But last night's episode was Awesome.

[dropzone]

I think evidence in its favor is that Honda created a Chuck-specific commercial for its Insight that starred Zachary Levi. Honda seems to think the show appeals to a golden demographic, and that can beat raw numbers.

[Dewey Finn]

Didn't you say that already?

[Oslo Ostragoth]

In re: this.

Thank heavens for DVR technology. I think we need a compilation video - Chuck's dream, various dressing shots from early on, and then last night's contribution.

Awooogah!

Perhaps NBC will expand upon this (http://www.nbc.com/Chuck/video/clips/sarah-sizzles/933961/).

Awesome ep. PleasePleasePlease let there be more!

[thwartme]

I'm betting Chuck will voluntarily re-intersect himself somehow. Elly, or his Dad, or maybe Sarah, will be in danger and the only way to save them will be to re-zap himself.

I'm sensing a pending press of the Big Reset Button.

thwartme

[FalconFinder]

I'm thinking that Chuck's Dad may THINK he removed the Intersect, but somehow that's going to backfire since he was under pressure when he finished the Intersect and he made some mistake. It would be interesting if somehow he got even MORE valuable with whatever backfire happens.

Many ways to change things yet.

[Kiros]

And there are still so many fun little things out there with Bryce and Jill that would be great if they showed up another season or two down the line... this show CANNOT be canceled, dammit!

[Terminus Est]

There seems to be some buzz building on teh intarnets about getting Chuck renewed for next season.

An NY Times interview with series creator Josh Schwartz (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/can-chuck-be-saved-even-josh-schwartz-isnt-sure/):
As of this moment, do you know where “Chuck” stands?

Sitting here today, I do not know. Which is a tricky place to be, emotionally. The last two episodes are certainly the best that we’ve done, and I feel like the whole season has been building. To feel this coalescing of the inter-Web forces, in support of the show, has been really remarkable.


From critic Alan Sepinwall's open letter to NBC to save Chuck (http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/04/chuck_an_open_letter_to_nbc_to.html):
[Series co-creator Chris] Fedak told me a few weeks ago that if fans find out that the season finale is also the series finale, "They're going to burn their living rooms. They're going to destroy their television sets. There could be chaos across the country."

The blog Give Me My Remote Chuck (http://www.givememyremote.com/remote/) wants you to Be a Nerd...Join the Herd (http://www.givememyremote.com/remote/be-a-nerdjoin-the-herd-save-chuck/) and save Chuck.

[Dewey Finn]

Tim Goodman in the San Francisco Chronicle said (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/20/DDKU174TKF.DTL) of the show, "It had two seasons to become a hit and didn't. Odds are that NBC will give up on it. The variable in any discussion about NBC is this: The network doesn't have a lot going for it. When you're in fourth place (in what is essentially a four-network race), you either feel grateful for mediocre ratings or you toss everything on the fire."

BTW, my prediction is that if the show is renewed that Chuck and Ellie's mother will be the focus of the B plot. Perhaps Ellie will get pregnant and want her mother to be present at the birth. But mom is actually working for Fulcrum, or actually runs it.

[tr0psn4j]

Can't wait till Monday :)

[Meltdown]

BTW, my prediction is that if the show is renewed that Chuck and Ellie's mother will be the focus of the B plot. Perhaps Ellie will get pregnant and want her mother to be present at the birth. But mom is actually working for Fulcrum, or actually runs it.

What's the back story on Chuck and and Ellie's mother? I can't remember if they ever brought it up on the show -- for some reason I thought they believed her to be dead, but I may be confusing that with another show.

I wouldn't put it past them going this route, but the long-lost-mom-believed-dead-is-actually-the-bad-guy plotline is almost becoming cliche now -- first in Alias and more recently in a current show (spoiled below since some people may not be up to speed).

Prison Break

I wonder if TV tropes has an entry for this.

[dropzone]

Didn't you say that already?Ooops!

[Dewey Finn]

What's the back story on Chuck and and Ellie's mother? I can't remember if they ever brought it up on the show -- for some reason I thought they believed her to be dead, but I may be confusing that with another show.
I couldn't remember either, but Wikipedia says that she left when he was in the fifth grade.