Note: Full Spoilers for the finale follow. And so ends Chuck Wait, what's that?
The show is coming back next season?! Just a week ago, as I wrote my review of the penultimate episode of Season 4, I was almost certain was going to be cancelled by the time the season finale aired and you were reading this review. The show had been in danger every year, but this time it felt particularly precarious and as though it wasn't best to hold out much hope. And yet here we are, and we now can enjoy ' knowing that this show is not going to end on the cliffhanger the title referred to and has miraculously been renewed again. Chuck's had more ups and downs than usual this season, but it ended on a very strong note.
With Sarah's life in danger, and all his friends and family proved they would risk everything to save her, and it made for a very compelling, involving hour. That was an impressive trick, because I never truly believed would die (even without last week's preview, which I'll complain more about below), but that wasn't as important as seeing the drama that the threat of her death caused and the reactions it elicited from others. The arc never really resonated, as that character didn't feel fully formed. I suppose it's a testament to that fact that she only appeared in one scene in the finale – we didn't even see her with her dad in his final scene. But that was probably for the best, since was so fascinating and we got plenty more of him in the finale. Or we got plenty more of Hartley, that is. While it didn't allow for quite as much humor, was as terrific as ever showing Alexei's transformation back into the good man he was, who was ill-prepared to find out thirty years had gone by, in which time he'd built a criminal empire and fathered a daughter he'd led towards the dark side.
And there were still a couple of funny moments, most especially when Chuck tried to get Hartley to act, 'in a very bold and Volkoffian way,' only for Hartley to state, 'I'm gonna run away now,' before doing just that. I may not have cared as much about Vivian's struggle between good and evil by the end, but I cared about her father and I'm glad he got a happy ending with her – after he ultimately found his own strength to go back and confront the horrible situation that the man he'd become had caused. Except for the Buy More gang, who were (appropriately) sidelined for much of the episode, most of the characters got a nice moment here, in an episode the Chuck producers, for the umpteenth time, had to craft as a possible series finale, mixed with set up for more, should it come. Got some great Reagan mentions in early on – 'Is he still in charge?' – and of course it was wonderful to hear him tell Chuck he was, 'the second best spy I've ever worked with,' in one fell swoop paying Chuck and Sarah the highest compliment he could. Also, while it was a scene that could easily have been cut from a story perspective, I'm really glad they kept in that bit with Morgan telling a comatose Sarah a story about Chuck standing up for him against bullies. It was a very sweet scene, sold completely by, showing both his faith in Chuck and his own caring for Sarah, as he stayed by her side.
I wish had more of a 'moment' of her own, but at least did – as he used the path of least resistance to take down a CIA guard, by punching the guy out. With Chuck himself, it's not like we needed to see him prove his love for Sarah at this point. But the whole episode had many strong reinforcements of his love and determination, and it really showed not only how much he cared for Sarah but how courageous Chuck had become when he decided to take off his disguise and announce that Chuck Bartowski was there to see Vivian, knowing full well he might not leave that building alive. Besides a few cool tricks from the 'nighthawk' motorcycle and a very quick bit of Chuck-fu, this may have been the least action-heavy season finale Chuck has had. But that's okay, as there was plenty of tension and suspense the whole way, as Chuck lost the Intersect and went AWOL from the CIA to save Sarah. And even if it didn't turn into a big gun fight free for all, seeing Chuck face off against CIA hardass Decker (Desperate Housewives' ) and his men, backed by Morgan, Casey, and the CAT Squad was a wonderful moment – even before the Russians showed up to help save the day.
Once again, it sold that these people were going to go all the way to save Sarah, whatever the consequences. As for Sarah herself, had minimal screen time, with Sarah in a coma, but I loved the inclusion of the flashbacks to her and Chuck dealing with some pre-wedding jitters by doing their own rehearsal in their apartment. In fact, it was so sweet and said so much about them as a couple that I almost wish we didn't bother seeing the real wedding at all, which felt a bit redundant at that point.
Oh, also, here's where i bitch about them showing clips from the actual wedding in the previews last week: Not only did it take away any tension that Sarah might actually die, but it also took away from letting us believe that Chuck and Sarah were going to end the episode on the run, which I might have otherwise been sold on, if I didn't think, 'Well, that can't be, because we still haven't seen them get married in a big wedding, with everyone they know present.' This dynamic is about to change. So let's talk about that ending When discussing the finale before it aired, the cast had said it in some ways could work as a satisfying conclusion, while also leaving the door open for more. I'd say that was almost true, in that having Chuck and Sarah receive an 877 million dollar gift from Hartley and using it to purchase the Buy More set themselves, Morgan and Casey up as freelance spies feels like a fun way to end the series. Hell, even having Morgan get the Intersect could be a fun, 'and there will be more adventures for these guys' ending.
Though let's face it, we totally want to see how that plays out, right? And when you add in finding out that someone has been manipulating Chuck the entire series? Now that's a cliffhanger move. Who is this person? Is it someone established?
If not, how do they fit with what we know of Chuck's backstory? These are questions begging to be answered, and the good news is we now know we will get to find out, in the fifth and final season of Chuck. As for Morgan with the Intersect, it's a very cool and exciting turn of events that opens up the possibilities for the character in a lot of ways, as the whole gang embarks on their new endeavor.
But can we really have an entire season of Chuck with the title character not having the Intersect? And didn't Decker say that the Intersect was being 'suppressed' in Chuck, not taken away? Hmm Either way, it was really great to see that Beckman sent Chuck the ability to upload the Intersect again, as they parted ways as CIA allies. All I know is this: Chuck better not decide he should keep it a secret from Ellie that he's a spy again next season!
This review may contain spoilers. 4.10 Chuck Versus The Leftovers There's a joy to this show when it's in full flood that's hard to resist. And, Chuck Versus the Leftovers is a perfect example of the finer Chuck episode, where the creative team unleashes all manner of craziness like a paintball Gatling gun.
Chuck is at its very best when it heavily indulges itself in referencing movies and other shows, and this week they returned to one of this production's favourites, Die Hard.The construction of a plot and scenario that has Morgan crawling through air-conditioning ducts in bare feet is both hilarious and clever. But it wouldn't work without the quite brilliant Timothy Dalton, playing the Gruber-esque Alexei Volkoff. How, after he tries to kill almost everyone, he then invites himself to a Thanksgiving leftovers dinner was masterful, as was the wonderfully convoluted dynamic which had Morgan attempting to save Casey, Lester and Jeff from certain death using a trick that would only ever work in a movie. Linda Hamilton wasn't wonderful, but with Dalton ranting in most of her scenes, it didn't really seem to matter.
The inclusion of the Awesomes in this story was also a positive aspect, with Devon providing a marvellous foil when he discovers who Volkoff really is. Dhanni meye serial at star jalsha. Given how weak some of the earlier episodes in season 4 were, this was a dramatic shot in the arm that Chuck badly needed. But they also chose this as the point where they'd complete the loss of the Intersect arc.
She knows we are blind, helpless, and inclined to wander off. She will help you. The Mother will know and appreciate your efforts, will make a 1000 steps to you even if you take one tiny faltering step to Her. Vashikaran mantra to control. Sincere devotion is the key to it all. Go on Youtube, tho and check out some of the tunes.
For good or bad Chuck now knows Kung Fu, again. The Intersect 2.0 hasn't always been a power for good in the development of Chuck, so it will be interesting to see if they find more imaginative ways for it not to be the answer to any problem he might have. This is the second story this season by Henry Alonso Myers, who also penned the excellent Chuck Versus The Couch Lock. These are his only contributions to Chuck so far, although he has an impressive track record on shows like Ugly Betty, CSI and Charmed.
Chuck Season 4 Episode 4
Given that he's created to the two stand-out Chucks of this year, I do hope they give him some more to do in the extended season (24 shows) to come. If I have a frustration here it's that this is the last new episode of 2010, with the show returning on the 17th of January. I'll miss Chuck, but there's a loss for the show too, because, while it's off-air Tron: Legacy will be released. Given the prominence of Tron in the world of Chuck, this is bitterly disappointing, because I was so looking forward to a Tron-themed episode, which presumably we'll now not get! The 'Dude' needs to guest star, if the budget would handle that. I'll miss Chuck over Christmas, but I'll be very keen to see it return the other side of 2011. Read our review of.
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