Season's Review - Chuck, Season 3

For a season which was originally given a 13-episode order because at the end of Season 2 it was almost cancelled, Chuck made sure to show NBC that that would have been a terrible mistake. It got 6 more episodes added to the order, and was renewed for Season 4 before the run was over. And it absolutely deserved it.

Now, I know that some people are going to point out some of the strange choices that were made. Chuck (Zachary Levi) decided that it meant more to him to be a spy than to be with Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), so their relationship ended, and he worked really really hard and finally became a spy, but as soon as that happened, and he and Sarah got together, they considered running from the spy game. Realizing neither wanted this, they continued working until Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) discovered Chuck's secret, and finally made him promise to get out. He did, but will now have to use all that he learned to find his mother...He just won't have CIA or NSA backup, unless you could Sarah and Casey (Adam Baldwin). It's all a little confusing.

Also, Chuck and Sarah's on again, off again relationship was a little tiresome. Chuck's other choice was hardly around at all before he essentially realized that she wasn't Sarah and so it wouldn't work out. But, they did end up realizing that they loved each other, that they wanted to be together, and that nothing was going to stop them.

More shows need to realize that you can get your main couple together and not lose everything that makes your show amazing (unless you show has nothing else going for it). The challenges that Sarah and Chuck now have to face as a couple, but the strength they can draw from each other gives me a greater incentive to watch the show than simply wondering when they'd eventually hook up ever did.

Finally, the transformation of Chuck, from asset to full out spy, the involvement of the rest of his friends and family, as Morgan (Joshua Gomez), Ellie, and Devon (Ryan McPartlin) discovered his career, and the psychiatric issues Chuck suffered as a result of what the intersect was doing to his mind, all of these were beautiful and brilliant story arcs. Also, the revival of Daniel Shaw (Brandon Routh) was a perfect parallel of the return of Bryce Larkin in the first season.

Chuck continues to be the perfect action-comedy, sparing neither the great fight segments and explosions, nor the many opportunities for hilarity. Can't wait to see what Season 4, the search for Chuck's mom, will bring.