Chuck - Chuck vs The Suitcase, S04E02

Why is Chuck one of the greatest, if not the greatest, show on TV? What other show gives you approx 43 minutes of hilarious quality nerd humour? What other show has a kickass chick fight on a catwalk over a dress which has super secret spy computer chips embedded in the sequins? What other show has The Man Your Man Could Smell Like as a guest star?

Okay, so Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) are still having some relationship issues. I'd say they are perfectly normal, but I've never dated a spy, so I really can't tell you how I'd feel about having someone else's suitcase constantly sitting in my closet but never getting unpacked. Frankly, as far as issues go, it's really not that big a deal. Never wanting to get married or have children, on the other hand, could be a problem if that is what your partner wants. I can only hope that the look of panic on Sarah's face as the episode ended was meant as one final laugh rather than the beginning of a development they aren't ready for yet anyway, and I don't particularly want to watch.

I do want to see more episodes of Chuck and Sarah working together as spies. I absolutely love that Chuck is developing his own bits (like the sleeping-drug gloves). He is getting suave...except for when he accidentally grabbed the hot enemy spy chick's ass.

Now, what, you ask, was the best part of the episode? Was it that Casey (Adam Baldwin) was not allowed to go on the mission because it took place during fashion week and he was forever banned from being near the runway for having stabbed someone with a stiletto? Was it that his relationship with his daughter is now starting to develop again? Was it that Lester (Vik Sahay) and Jeff (Scott Krinsky) are now back at the Buy More, preventing it from becoming an obvious CIA base of operations? No, it was when Morgan told Greta #2 (Isaiah Mustafa - The Man My Man Does Smell Like) that he was an impressive physical specimen.

Or maybe it was the chick fight. Opinions?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Anniversary, S04E01

I am SO glad that Chuck was not only renewed for a 4th season, but that that season started now and not in January. This show is definitely the funniest show on television. I laughed loudly and clapped in delight many times, but that is always the case. And I know that the rest of you must have been equally pleased not only with the simple joy of having it back, but the set up for the entire season.

Naturally, by the end of the episode, the status quo had to be restored. Chuck (Zachary Levi) could not remain out of the spy game or let his intersect powers go to waste. But the journey to get there and his reasons for taking the mantle up again and lying to Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) about it made far more sense than last season's premiere. Gotta love that she is pregnant and that he needs to protect her all the more now! EEEE! Plus, the secrecy of his job is back, although Morgan (Joshua Gomez) remains his sidekick both in spy-life and real life.

Watching Chuck and Morgan travel all over the world on the search for Chuck's mom (and I really loved watching the graphic of the little Buy More dude running all over the world) was hilarious. The later assertion by the Russian baddies that these two spies were experts as they were ghosts and could easily use the public transportation system to disappear (while Morgan and Chuck were, of course, only using it because they were broke) was classic. And Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and Casey (Adam Baldwin)'s simultaneous denial of knowing either of them was also perfectly in tune with the brilliance that is this show.

My favourite scenes were

1. When Morgan was sexting with Sarah in Chuck's name while she was trying to indicate to him that she was in danger. It was so beautifully set up with the pics Morgan had already sent her of Chuck and the clear difficulty both were having with long distance.

2. When Casey grabbed Chuck and unceremoniously dragged him to look at the EMP, demanding that he flash.

3. When Chuck's voice came through the walkie-talkie moments after everyone assumed he was dead and he sounded so badass he might have been Casey. Plus, just before that Casey was ready to destroy everyone in the room in vengeance.

4. When General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy) was revealed as the new manager of the Buy More, now a CIA base of operation.

So Chuck is a spy, his sister no longer knows this (and neither does his brother in law), his mother is even more badass than you can imagine, Chuck and Sarah's relationship is no longer in the irritating will they/won't they stage, and Chuck and Morgan are back at the Buy More. All we need is to see Lester and Jeff get rehired and everything will fall back into place. Man I love this show.

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.

Chuck - Chuck vs the Subway & Chuck vs the Ring: part II, S03E18-19 - Season finale

This excellent season of Chuck, which was renewed for a full season before the finale aired, concluded with just the right amount of mystery to make me unbelievably glad that it will be airing again in September. Waiting longer than that just would not have worked for me. I do have a few questions about that conclusion, but I am sure we will find out the answers in 4 short (and gloriously sunny) months.

The first episode of the 2 part finale, which aired back to back, started with Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) still in Ring custody, while Chuck (Zachary Levi) and his dad (Scott Bakula) worked on a governor device, designed to regulate the Intersect impulses racing through Chuck's brain.

With Ellie missing, the fear of Morgan (Joshua Gomez) and Devon (Ryan McPartlin), that Ellie was cheating, grew. All the while, Casey (Adam Baldwin), although bruised from his encounter with Ellie, was ordering pie at the restaurant where his daughter, Alex (Mekenna Melvin).

And if all that wasn't complicated enough, General Beckman (Bonita Fredericy) was defending the Intersect program to her higher ups, unaware that Daniel Shaw (Brandon Routh) was back and planning to take down the government from the inside.

I loved Ellie's reaction when she found out Chuck was an agent. Even more so, I loved how confused I was when it turned out that Ellie was being held in an actual CIA facility. The confusion about what was going on, who was a good guy or a bad guy, and all that sort of tension was absolutely delicious.

Also, Shaw's evil plan worked so well. Chuck played right into his hand, every time. When he was first arrested, it wasn't so big a deal, but when they were about to face off, and Shaw actually pulled the bad guy move of shooting Steven Bartowski, my heart just broke despite the fact that I saw it coming.

The second part was even better. Morgan and Devon had to rescue Chuck, Casey, and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovsky). Best car ever! The Crown Vic was armed with a missile launcher! I want that feature!

Ellie confronted Chuck about everything, making him promise to quit the spy game once Shaw was apprehended and the security of the CIA, NSA and every other defense organization was no longer compromised.

The battles continued, and while we learned that Chuck had first been exposed to the Intersect program when he was still a child and his brain was far more capable of processing the information than any others, his final battle with Shaw - taking place in the Buy More while the Jefster video played - was both intense and uncertain. When he rebooted and thus was significantly superior to Shaw, I cheered.

And so we come to the conclusion. No, we did not return to the status quo. Chuck has, apparently, quit the spy game. Sarah and Casey, however, likely haven't. It will be interesting to see how that continues to work next season. Morgan has equally not been released (or has he?). Now that a new mission has been established, on that is completely off the grid, of finding Chuck's mom, he's certainly going to want his team and his family by his side. But how is that going to work with Casey and Sarah still working for the government? I guess we'll find out.

I also though the Buy More send off was fantastic. Although I am not certain, it seems to me that Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence), Lester (Vik Sahay), and Jeff (Scott Krinsky) no longer really have a place in the story line. Blowing up the store was a perfect end. I hope we will still see them occasionally, but there are new places to go.

Finally, the season was fantastic, the conclusion excellent, and the set up for next season perfect. All I have to add is that I love how much Adam Baldwin can say just by grunting or snarling. Casey's relationship with his daughter is sure to develop, and I love just how protective and fantastic a father he will end up being.

Can't wait for the fall.

Chuck - Chuck vs the Living Dead, S03E17

As we prepare for the AWESOME 2 hour season finale of the third season of Chuck, we don't need to desperately head out to get ourselves Subway subs in the hopes that our actions will earn our beloved show a renewal. It will be back! And that shouldn't really be a surprise; this season has been fun and has given us exactly what we've been wanting.

But, perfection cannot last. Daniel Shaw (Brandon Routh) is not dead. It appears that not only has he been manipulating Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) into betraying everyone she loves, but he has also downloaded some version of the intersect into his brain. Things are not going to end well. Particularly as at least one significant death has been promised us.

Possible it will be the death of Jefster (Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay)'s band rather than the two of them). After all, we are going to get a very special music video from them. But enough about the finale.

In this episode, Daddy Bartowski (Scott Bakula) got to prove, again, just how awesome he is. Not only did he see through all of Chuck (Zachary Levi)'s deceptions, finally proving his son had downloaded the Intersect 2.0 by throwing a knife at his head, but he also had the best line of the night (and possibly the series): "Does she have the intersect too?" Nope, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) is just that awesome.

And while Chuck, Sarah, and Daddy Bartowski were running about, poor Ellie beat up John Casey (Adam Baldwin) and has now put herself in Ring custody.

It's going to be one crazy season finale, and I am SO looking forwards to it.

Chuck - Chuck vs the Tooth, S03E16

Who would not love an episode of any show guest starring Christopher Lloyd in which the main character gets to refer to Lloyd as Doc.?

Those of us who love Chuck are nerd, or geeks, or whatever term you choose to refer to yourself, but you know I'm talking about you. We all remember Back to the Future, and Christopher Lloyd has a very special place in our hearts, so of course this made perfect sense. But I still want to congratulate the writers and producers of one of my favourite shows for continuing to give us, the audience, exactly what we want time and again.

1. The Intersect might be driving Chuck (Zachary Levi) insane, and may cause permanent mental damage. WOW! Something so useful and so powerful, now finally properly under Chuck's control, and there are dangerous side effects?

2. Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and Chuck continue to face challenges as a couple that are not caused by tensions between them as a couple. Do they love each other? Yes. Okay, so Sarah doesn't say it enough, but Chuck isn't feeling stressed because of his uncertainty about their relationship. He's got a whole lot more going on.

3. Bringing back Shaw (Brandon Routh). Hey, we all thought Bryce Larkin was dead, and they brought back Chuck's best friend from College/rival, why wouldn't they bring back his evil rival who betrayed him, Sarah, and the entire country? I'm so glad to know that, in all likelihood, Shaw is breathing and is going to be back!!

4. Morgan (Joshua Gomez) is too busy for Anna (Julia Ling), and isn't particularly interested in her anymore. That's right, he's not just going to take whatever he can get whenever he can get it. He's got some sort of self-respect thing going on here.

5. Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) is being used by the Ring! They want to find her father and they are going to use her to do it, making her think that all her real allies are the enemy!

6. A room full of insane spies ready to be called to action. I was a little disappointed that they were all so easily tranked, but boy that moment was fun.

All signs are pointing to renewal, and the scripts, acting, and directing are also well in line to deserve it. Don't you agree?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Role Models, S03E15

Now that Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) are official, their first mission is to learn how to be a couple and be great spies. Regardless of how utterly irritating Operation Bartowski must be, you know that General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy) has a soft spot for this most unconventional team, and she wants them to continue succeeding.

This episode contained the most interesting menagerie. From a tiger in the bedroom, to a snake in the jungle, to Morgan (Joshua Gomez) presenting himself as bait, the wild was loose and dangerous. But, never fear, the Ring is still very active. Although we hadn't seen them since Daniel Shaw's death, they've still been plotting, and Devon (Ryan McPartlin) and Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) are the centre of that plan. Their trip to Africa to save the world (or at least the sick people in Africa) was cut short when Devon came down with Malaria. Only, it wasn't malaria. Let's just hope that whatever the Ring infected him with was only an illusion to get him back to Burbank.

In Burbank, the adventure was much more goofy and fun, as Chuck and Sarah had to face off with their supposed mentors, Laura and Craig Turner (Swoosie Kurtz and Fred Willard). 30 years in the business is not easy on a young, idealistic couple, revisiting the idea that maybe Chuck and Sarah should just run, but who wants that?

So, with 4 episodes left in the season, we are returning to a Ring-centric plotline. I just hope that Dr. SuperFantastic white person and his gorgeous and lovely wife can escape the line of fire Chuck and the Ring are putting them into. Thoughts?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Honeymooners, S03E14

In the last episode, not only did Chuck (Zachary Levi) finally accomplish everything he needed to do to be considered a real spy, he and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) signed up to be a WILL couple. That's right, what we've been waiting for finally happened - Chuck and Sarah are official.

But just because they are together doesn't mean that the story no longer has anywhere to go. Despite the fear of most shows - that if you choose WILL for your will they?/won't they? couple, the audience will lose all interest - Chuck has gone ahead and given us one of the things we've always wanted. And I stress the word "one."

In Chuck vs the Honeymooners, Chuck and Sarah decide to quit the spy life and be together, always on the run but together. It quickly became apparent that this was something neither of them really wanted, but both were convinced it was the greatest desire of the other and, after all the drama in Prague and with Daniel and Hannah, the most important thing for Sarah and Chuck is to be together.

The moment that amused me the most was how so much of the sexual chemistry between Sarah and Chuck disappeared when they decided to quit being spies and become boring, normal people. Even better was that this moment was so quickly followed by a doubled attraction the moment they decided to take on one mission. Sure, you could argue that their relationship is built on thrill-seeking, but I reply that doing what makes you happy in life makes you more interesting in the bedroom.

Also, the handcuff fight segment at the end of the episode not only demonstrated how well Chuck and Sarah work together as a team, but was also some of the greatest combat we've seen on the show.

I am really excited about where Chuck is going right now. I know that Chuck and Sarah make a great team, and I want to see them face their challenges together. I have absolutely no fear that I will lose interest now that they have gotten together, and I also hope that 1. Chuck will be renewed for a 4th season, and that 2. Chuck will show other shows that you can get your couple together without becoming boring.

What do you hope?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Other Guy, S03E13

I am running out of ways of expressing that Chuck continues to surpass my very high expectations week after week. This episode again did everything in just the right way to make the choices of the characters believable and the development credible.

We started in a state of high tensions - Shaw (Brandon Routh) disappeared with Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) just after he learnt that she pulled the trigger on his wife 5 years before. Chuck (Zachary Levi), of course, couldn't sit still and so called out the cavalry to go save her.

As it turned out she didn't need saving, as Shaw had no grudge. And though Chuck got a lecture about the cost of the unnecessary rescue op, Shaw commended him on behaving like a true spy. Plus, Shaw's methods of going off the grid and taking Sarah to an abandoned warehouse to show her the footage from her red test were just as extreme as Chuck's.

Next, Chuck, feeling down on himself and convinced that Sarah will go off with Shaw again, gets drunk, eats ice cream, and plays video games in a stupor, going so far as to tie Morgan (Joshua Gomez) up when his friend tries to stop him. He looked absolutely super when Sarah showed up to get him - they had a mission to go on. But before she told him about that, he asked her if she loved him. And though Chuck was sitting forlornly in his boxers with a Guitar Hero guitar around his neck, Sarah said yes. She's loved him since the first episode of the show.

Then, we got a cool action sequence in which Sarah, Chuck, and Shaw went after the Ring. Shaw recorded footage of their mission, and of his saving them all and killing the bad guys, including the leader. Though this was not part of the plan, could anyone blame him, as the man had been the cause of his wife's death.

Sarah and Shaw go to Paris to pursue another lead, while Chuck stays behind.

Now, we all knew from the moment Shaw's action sequence was over, and the bad guys got up, clearly still alive, that Shaw had in fact gone rogue. But the way Chuck found out was absolutely brilliant. I am not surprised in the least that Morgan is an expert in faked action sequences. He only had to watch the video tape of Shaw's moves once to notice that he was pulling his punches and not connecting. And for once, Morgan really does have some skills that are useful to the NSA and CIA.

And when General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy) refused to listen to Chuck about Shaw being a traitor a second time, he got Casey (Adam Baldwin) involved.

Casey, of course, got my favourite line of the episode, as he and Chuck were on their way to Paris, and Chuck could not figure out where Shaw would take Sarah. "Before you were a spy, before you were the intersect, you were smart." How very true.

Chuck shows up just in time to save Sarah, and when he has no other choice, he kills Shaw to save his love. To be a true spy, Chuck had to kill someone - he could not do it in cold blood, but when the choice was obviously between his and Sarah's lives and an enemy's, he was able to do it. And Sarah was able to love him because he was still himself.

Finally, Casey convinced Beckman to reinstate him, using the leader of the Ring operation as collateral. He also requested a crown vic, and that Morgan join the NSA. There is always a way to recover the status quo within the boundaries of the possible.

The only thing I still wonder about is the point of Sarah and Shaw's involvement. Sarah and Chuck love each other, have always loved each other, and will always love each other. Give up the will they/won't they drama and focus on the other stuff that makes this show so wonderful to watch!

What a perfect way to go into a 2 week hiatus.

Chuck - Chuck vs the American Hero, S03E12

"Love is a battlefield," Morgan (Joshua Gomez) told Casey (Adam Baldwin). And perhaps a better title for this episode would have been Chuck (meaning the entire cast and not just the main character) vs the battlefield of love.

This episode have everything! I'm not sure the number of times I started clapping with excitement (I do that sometimes), but it was enough to claim based on those statistics alone that this IS the best episode of Chuck to date, and that is saying a lot.

It started with what might not have seemed the most engaging of storylines. Chuck (Zachary Levi) was going to go to Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and try to convince her of his love so that they could be together in Rome. With the issues caused by Sarah's involvement with Shaw (Brandon Routh) and her feelings over his ability to kill a man, it was not going to be easy, if remotely possible, but at least Chuck really wanted to give it a shot.

So, enlisting the aid of his best buddies, Morgan, Casey, and Devon (Ryan McPartlin), Chuck goes in. While our boys distracted Shaw, Chuck joined Sarah on her date, trying to make her understand that he loved her and that she still loved him. Things weren't going too badly, until Ring agents showed up. Then Shaw really had to be grateful to the boys because, through their shenanigans, they managed to outmaneuver the enemy.

Still, Morgan, Casey, and Devon ended up in jail. But, as Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) brilliantly pointed out, since Chuck went to them for advice instead of her, no wonder it ended in jail.

She went on to be the awesome big sister that she is, and when Chuck had almost given up on Sarah, she told him to man up and get his girl.

And if all that wasn't enough to make a great episode, Shaw then decided to go be a hero, bring a tracking device to the Ring who wanted to bring him to their director, and allow the CIA to bomb the entire complex, likely with him still inside. Sarah, naturally, planned to go after him, but Chuck stopped her. He locked her in Castle to protect her, and went after his rival instead.

Back to the brilliance of our Buy More employees. Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay), wanting to prove to Chuck that they could stalk with the best of them, decided to follow Shaw. Turned out to be a very good thing when the Ring operatives removed the tracking device from Shaw's person. They led Chuck to the all American Hero, and he was able to plant the removed tracking device and save Shaw.

But that didn't account for the awesome complication. It turns out that somewhere, somehow, at some point, someone really screwed up. The target Sarah was told to kill for her Red Test turned out to be Shaw's double agent wife. Why a CIA agent ended up killing one of the good guys, we can't be sure, but let's just say that the craziness of next episode when Shaw confronts Sarah about it is going to be great.

We had romance, we had explosions, we had Buy More employees accidentally foiling the plans of supervillains, we had Morgan, Casey, and Devon working together, and we had major plot twists! What more can you ask from any episode of Chuck!

Chuck - Chuck vs the Final Exam, S03E11

Even 10 years ago, television series could easily be based on a repetitive storyline situation, where the main characters would have to face some challenge every episode, but, by the next week, the status quo would have returned. The only times this did not happen were "to be continued" episodes, which were generally season finales.

Chuck, despite having some strong resemblances to procedural dramas - the type of show which has best retained the old model, faces the challenge of the new way television must progress. And that is: it must progress. The storyline must develop, things must change, and no matter how well the original pattern of the show worked, that must be left behind if it does not realistically make sense anymore.

Once, Chuck (Zachary Levi), with his intersect upgrade, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), and Casey (Adam Baldwin) would have spent 8 seasons stopping some evil villain in Burbank, while Chuck tried to retain his cover at the Buy More. He would never have been on the path to become a real spy, one who would be independent. It does not serve the nature of the show, so why bother with it? And the reason it must be bothered with in 2010 is that we know he could not have stayed in that role, all boring and stagnant. Change must happen as it would if there was in fact some superspy type with a computer in his head.

But where will Chuck go now that our hero has become a spy? How will the residents of Burbank - his family and friends, who are such a key part of the show - remain relevant to the life he now must live? Will they be left behind, and how will fans react? Will there be happiness because logic is followed? So far, we've ignored the problems that would arise in reality when Devon (Ryan McPartlin) and Morgan (Joshua Gomez) discovered Chuck's secret identity. We've also skimmed over the number of ring operatives who think that Burbank is a great place to wreak havoc.

When watching television, what is the new right balance between the logical and factual possibilities of the real world and the creative and interesting angles of the television realm?

It seems to me that Chuck is about to face that question

Chuck - Chuck vs the Tic Tac, S03E10

I've been requesting, even demanding, a Casey (Adam Baldwin)-centric episode for the entirety of the third season, and when they finally give it to me, it ends like this? Argh!

Don't get me wrong, I loved the Casey-centricness. He did what he had to to save a woman he once loved, he disguised himself and coerced/convinced Morgan (Joshua Gomez) to do his bidding, and he kicked serious butt and killed the man who had not only corrupted his former master, but was also threatening his former fiancee. Plus we finally got to find out about his past - not only did he have a fiancee, but she was pregnant (and he didn't know), so he has a daughter! And I bet she's awesome and wants to be just like her dad.

Getting to see and learn all that made it worth it, despite Casey having suddenly begun trimming his bonsai again, which I don't remember him doing since he allowed his inner anger out, and Casey having called a woman he referred to as his mother and calling himself John-boy in the Christmas episode of Season 2. What was that all about??

But now, Casey is no longer in the army? He's a civilian? That gives me very little confidence that the lack of Casey I was feeling before this episode is going to go away. If Casey no longer goes on missions, how often will we get to see him?

So what did you think? Did you love it, or was your affection for the episode compromised, as mine was, by the seeming result that we will get even less Casey from here on out?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Beard, S03E09

There is something truly wonderful about having had a friend for 22 years, though it is strange that for all that time, except when Chuck (Zachary Levi) was at university, he and Morgan have rarely been apart, and have been to school and worked together through it all.

It is no surprise that Morgan suspected that something was amiss, and has been, between him and Chuck for such a long time. It was also hilarious for me when Morgan finally fired Chuck as his best friend since he had not been truly living it for the last few years...or at least, in the way that a best friend who was not a secret agent might.

For Chuck to finally be able to tell Morgan his secret, and for Morgan to listen, was again an act on Morgan's part of a best friend. He loves Chuck as a brother, and no matter how hurt he has been, he forgives Chuck because he cannot do otherwise. Of course, for him to find out that the reason his best friend has not been fulfilling all his obligations of late is because he's a spy is just plain cool. Of course that was going to be Morgan's reaction when he found out! It's the sort of thing we imagine could be happening, so to discover that it's real and possible, well, AWESOME! is the word that comes to mind.

Plus, you have to love Morgan for his bravery. Completely useless and untrained, he still refuses to let the bad guys blow up a CIA base on his watch.

And now Chuck can go back to being a great spy. He's not keeping secrets from his best friend anymore, which is wonderful, but even better for his ability to flash is the fact that his best friend got him to stop lying to himself. Chuck loves Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), and he can't pretend that that isn't the case. He can possibly accept that she loves Shaw (Brandon Routh), but that does not negate his own affections.

But, regardless of the rest of it, I am super excited about next week's episode, which looks to be Casey (Adam Baldwin) centric. What secrets of Casey's past will we uncover? What do you think we will learn?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Fake Name, S03E08

Though it was not apparently intentional to end up with a break between episode 7 and 8 this season, I thought that the time away, to allow us to absorb Chuck (Zachary Levi)'s new relationship with Hannah (Kristin Kreuk) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski)'s new relationship with Shaw (Brandon Routh) was aptly timed.

Yes, it was a little confusing when the events that we saw happen two weeks ago appear to have been only a day or so to the folk who live in Burbank, but sometimes it is very good to allow time to pass for the viewers, and I think this was one of those cases.

This episode was so bad ass. I loved how much Casey (Adam Baldwin) we got, though it still wasn't really enough. How can you not love a man who is happy you pulled out his tooth because it maintained your cover! And who is one of the 5 snipers in the world who can make that shot?

And that Chuck actually pulled that tooth, and then beat up Sarah and Shaw because he had to! LOVE IT.

What I am not loving is Sarah, though. I'm not sure how I feel about her admitting to Shaw that her real name is Sam, and I'm not sure how I feel about her knowingly falling into her old patterns. And I'm really not sure how I feel about her being with Shaw. I liked it before, but now I'm not so sure. I think that Strahovski must be playing Sarah/Sam's confusion about her identity very well because it's hard to know how I should be feeling about the choices she is making.

As for Chuck ending things with Hannah, he obviously made the right call. He was never going to stop lying to her, and much as he liked her, we all know that his feelings for Sarah will never go away. Or at least, they won't go away because he's found someone else. Jeff (Scott Krinsky) of all characters had it right when he said that Chuck's eyes light up when Sarah is around.

And I really didn't feel for her. She was mad, understandably, that this seemingly nice guy slept with her and then dumped her, but logically, she should never have thought so well of Chuck.

After all, he abandoned her at the museum so that he could talk to Sarah, but she forgot all that because he saved her life. And then she slept with him on the first date.

I'm not saying you can't expect a guy to be better than that, but if it's going to hurt you so much, don't do it regardless of how certain you are that it isn't going to happen. Frankly, I thought that relationship was developing way too fast, and I'm glad it ended.

And so, where does that leave us? Well, with the thoughts that I have given to Chuck at http://www.couchcampus.com/television/tv-talk/chuck-season-3-recap/. Chuck is changing. He is becoming more and more of a spy, while Sarah seems to be the one wanting to run from the life. So where does that leave our favourite will they/won't they couple?

And on that note, the best line of the show was definitely the mobster telling Chuck that he hates those will they/won't they things.

Chuck - Chuck vs the Mask, S03E07

Interesting that after two seasons of will they/won't they resulting in a "they did, but it did not last long," I am not particularly upset about Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) being in relationships with other people.

Sarah attraction to Shaw (Brandon Routh) fits perfectly with her type. Both Bryce and the hot MI-6 Brit from last season were amazing spies with fantastic good looks too. Funny how now that Chuck has joined their ranks as an amazing spy, Sarah's interest in him has wained.

Meanwhile, Hannah (Kristin Kreuk) is the perfect girl for Chuck, the type he would have been dating over the last two years if his spy life had not got in the way. Yet, his spy life is already in the way because he had no idea and had not at all noticed Morgan (Joshua Gomez)'s interest in the girl. Now that is bad! When you aren't even aware that your actions are breaking your best friend's heart, and you are too selfish to think about how your personal choices are affecting those around you when you already know that your professional choices put them at risk.

Still, Chuck and Sarah's relationship has greatly evolved. Both still realize the depth of feelings they have for one another, but both are prepared to watch the other with someone else because that is what is best for everyone. Granted, Shaw will likely be brutally killed soon, and Hannah's just as likely to be an agent for the Ring, but for the moment, I'm actually quite happy that the plot is moving forward in other ways.

I am not happy about the lack of Casey (Adam Baldwin). Yes, he had a few good lines, but his screen times was unacceptably low. I WANT MORE CASEY!!!

What about you? Do you want more Casey?

Chuck - Chuck vs Nacho Sampler, S03E06

Is Chuck (Zachary Levi) becoming evil? And is this behaviour, so out of character for him, going to turn him into an alcoholic? Those were the questions I had as this episode of Chuck ended.

Now that Chuck is a proper spy, an actual agent and not just an asset, he has to take on the responsibilities of a spy. The parallel drawn between Sarah's reaction when she first showed up to meet with Chuck in the premiere so long ago and Chuck's own reaction when he discovered he would have to do the same thing was beautiful. Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) had clearly become so immune to the process that she was likely terribly surprised to find out how different Chuck was, and how differently he made her think.

I should rewatch the first season and see where and how Sarah changes because of the influence Chuck has on her. It's a far less obvious change that the one Casey (Adam Baldwin) went through.

Chuck, on the other hand, had no delusions about how difficult it would be. And he wanted to let his asset go - not the first time he had done such a thing, as he had previously allowed Jill to escape because of his feeling. But now, Chuck knows he has a job to do, and regardless of whether something is right in his heart or not, when you are a spy, you have to do what you have to do for the government and for the greater good. Even if it slowly destroys your soul.

But despite my fear for Chuck's soul, I still laughed my way through this episode - Casey! Oh how well they use Adam Baldwin. How wonderful that he gets to write off going to Weap-Con this year because he's doing it for work! And Lester (Vik Sahay) and Jeff (Scott Krinsky) competing to see who can stalk Hannah (Kristin Kreuk ) the best for Morgan (Joshua Gomez) was brilliant, particularly when all their work was for not the moment Morgan realized that Chuck was keeping secrets from him. What is a beautiful woman when your best friend is lying to you?

So is Chuck becoming evil? And are Morgan and Ellie (Sarah Lancster) going to save him from this evil, or are they going to get themselves in real trouble when they start to investigate?

Chuck - Chuck vs First Class, S03E05

Although Chuck (Zachary Levi) seems to be getting better control over his flashes, and his flashes seem to get better control over a situation, it is a relief to know that the show continues to find hilarity in him and that he continues to be relatable.

In this guest star-heavy episode, Chuck goes on his first mission alone! And, as it turns out, he has to have a face-off with a big goon played by Steve Austin. Not a guy I would want to have after me.

But, despite getting punch in the stomach repeatedly, Chuck manages to defeat the big guy in a sword fight, thanks to the intersect. Later, however, though Chuck gets a hold of his nunchucks and is ready to defeat the guy again, the luggage in the plane's hold falls on Austen. And so, we get the reverse of what used to happen in previous seasons - instead of Chuck being helpless and saved miraculously, he is no longer helpless, but still is not always his own hero.

Other developments included Agent Shaw (Brandon Routh) confessing to Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) that he too once loved a spy, and she died. Though, at first, he came across as all business, the mysterious agent is quickly becoming a multidimensional character. He is putting Chuck out in the field, and our hero is not failing him. Despite my thought after the premiere, that we had returned to the status quo, there is a lot of progress.

Chuck also met a girl on his way to Paris, the intelligent and lovely Hannah (Kristin Kreuk, aka Lana Lang from Smallville). At the end of the episode, she shows up at the Buy More, likely looking for work.

Poor Chuck, when he met Sarah, he had not been able to get over Jill for 5 years. Then, every time another possibility has presented itself, since, of course, he can't be with Sarah, something spy related has screwed it up for him. Will Hannah be a secret agent? Will she be dating a criminal? Or will she simply cause more stress on Sarah and Chuck's relationship?

Finally, my favourite part of the episode, Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Morgan (Joshua Gomez) teamed up to stop the insurgents at the Buy More. There is nothing that irks Casey more than disrespect for leadership and anarchy. Now the Assistant Manager's Lieutenant, Casey is keeping the boys at the Buy More in line! And it seems we will be able to advance past the distaste the other employees had for Morgan rising in the ranks.

Are you pleased with the developments in Chuck?

Chuck - Chuck vs Operation Awesome, S03E04

As I suspected, Devon (Ryan McPartlin) was kidnapped and not murdered. Not really a surprise, considering that an important character does NOT get killed off screen under normal circumstances. And so we got another episode where Devon was messed up in spy stuff.

Lucky for Devon, Chuck (Zachary Levi) puts his family and friends before the good of the nation. Perhaps not the best strategy for real spies, as recent arrival Agent Shaw (Brandon Routh) points out. But that is the beauty of Chuck - there is a realization that a real spy could not have what Chuck has, and that the government would certainly not allow it, but because it is television, anything is possible.

Shaw may well agree at some point, considering the wedding ring he puts on at the end of the episode. The question - is his wife waiting for him somewhere, thinking he is a traveling sales man, or did something horrible happen to her that helped him into this life?

Meanwhile, Chuck's friends makes me wonder whether the sacrifices he makes for them are at all worth it. Oh Jeffster, how you two idiots manage to live on a day to day basis befuddles me. The start of a Fight Club at the Buy More, and Morgan (Joshua Gomez)'s eventual disbanding of it now that he is the new assistant manager does at least promise that the American Dream is still being pursued, regardless of the Ring's activities. Plus, it is always a bonus when the crazy nonsense our boys get up to ends up helping Chuck during the big fight scenes.

This episode's fight scene just did not seem as impressive today. That may be because I recently watched the premiere of Human Target, in which Mark Valley had a fabulously choreographed fight which was visible. Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and Sydney (Angie Harmon)'s fight relied far more on camera angles and quick shots than actual stage combat. It makes them look good if you aren't paying attention, but there are no shots in which a connection was made.

And my only complaint for the episode, and possible for the season, is that I'm not getting enough John Casey (Adam Baldwin). Yes, his line about how he loves guns made me smile, but I WANT MORE.

And what about you? How do you feel about season 3 of Chuck so far?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Angel de la Muerte, S03E03

Season 3 of Chuck just started, but we are already 3 episodes in, and things are getting very exciting, though there is already some evidence of the cuts in cost that had to be made for the show to get renewed.

Last season, there were only a few episodes in which certain characters/actors did not appear. Maybe one without Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) and Devon (Ryan McPartlin), and one or two without some of the Buy More staff. In 3 episodes, Big Mike missed the first (Mark Christopher Lawrence), Ellie and Devon the second, and none of the Buy More staff, not even Morgan (Joshua Gomez) appeared in the third.

Strangely though, it was not a problem. They still exist in the world, and we are not afraid that we will not see them again, but when an episode's focus is purely on spy stuff for our leads, then we don't have a secondary plot for the Buy More as was customary before.

Still, this episode, where Devon got a real taste of the spy world, was awesome. Yes, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and Chuck (Zachary Levi) are still far from where they were before, both still in love with each other and both claiming that all that exists in friendship, but that is also part of Chuck embracing his spy nature.

There has been a great shift in Chuck's attitude from last season. While he is still the Everyman, making small mistakes and being somewhat awkward, at least he's got the attitude down right. He knows what his job is, and, in this episode at least, he was not so busy being a real boy that he forgot how to be a spy.

And yet the laughs are still there, both at the delight of how happy and shocked Chuck is whenever the intersect works and allows him to accomplish something, and in the timely comments of the heroes.

And we have a delightful cliffhanger. Is Devon dead? What happened to him? Was he kidnapped? Will they get him back? What do you think?

Chuck - Chuck vs the Three Words, S03E02

Chuck premiered with back to back episodes on Sunday night, plus had another new episode air in its regular time slot on Mondays. After such a long break, it is so great to be able to enjoy multiple episodes of one of my favourite shows.

In this episode, Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) continued to clash because of the romantic feelings they have for each other. For a spy to love is a liability, and Sarah, much more professional about it than Chuck, really does try to bury that emotion. Still, we are only in Season 3 and the will they/won't they tension can play out for some time yet without being a problem for me.

I can still enjoy Morgan (Joshua Gomez) as he tries to get the attention of Carina (Mini Anden), Sarah's hot spy friend whom he was previously interested in. Yes, it's not exactly original to have her end up in bed with him after he said no to her, but it was worth it. His entire speech rejecting her, which concluded with him taking a drink of the punch she spiked and passing out, was pure Morgan and very hard to resist.

Again, my favourite moments of the show were those of John Casey (Adam Baldwin). From refusing to pretend to be Carina's father, claiming he is not old enough for it, to being her dorky uncle Johnny, and finally to being the angry neighbour who pulled out the garden hose to get rid of unwanted party guests, the writers are really using the character to full effect this season, and Baldwin is portraying Casey with the same enjoyment as he has always had.

As I mentioned in my post on the first episode of this season, posted one hour ago, the plot lines are not really what drive the show. You show up every week to see what trouble the characters get into and how they overcome it, and to laugh and smile at the absurdity of it. Or am I wrong? Why do you watch Chuck?