Chuck, 2x18, “Chuck vs. the Broken Heart”

Episode Title: Chuck vs. the Broken Heart
Writer: Allison Adler

Director: Kevin Bray

Originally Aired: 03/30/2009
Grade: B

I found it interesting that Chuck’s spidey sense was tingling in the opening scene. I know it was mostly played for comedy, but he still seemed to subconsciously know something was up, even though there was no real danger.

Thankfully, this episode didn’t play out the way I thought it would, with Casey and Forrest having their own little inappropriate relations (although the door did seem open for her to return next season).

There were still a lot of things I wasn’t thrilled about in this episode, though.

I bought most of the Chuck/Sarah relationship spy footage, but the one from the Buy More when Chuck gave her the charm bracelet just didn’t work. They were hunched down on the floor on some random aisle of the store—that’s way too random a location for a hidden camera, and even putting that aside, it’s too big a coincidence that they ended up right in front of it.

I’m skeptical that there’s such a thing as a 49B in the NSA, too, or at least that it means what it meant in this episode.

The CIA also looked rather stupid for not having a clue that the baddies might scan the guy’s heart for bugs, but this and the above issues aren’t hugely important because the entire show is an improbable fantasy concoction. The bigger problems occur when things don't make sense even within the whimsical world of the show, or when plotlines becomes too contrived and formulaic.

The less said about Ellie, the better, but I’m confused as to where the pictures she saw on Lester’s laptop came from. They weren’t from the scene that we saw between Awesome and Forrest, and I don’t see why posing him for them later was necessary to maintain the cover. Much of the storyline just came across as unnecessary drama for me, and the whole thing ended up making Ellie look like an uptight shrew.

Why would Stephen J. Bartowski be in the CIA database unless he has ties to them? Which he very well may, but if viewers are supposed to be figuring that out, it makes Chuck and Sarah look like idiots for not asking the same question.

Chuck ranting about Sarah’s professional reserve once again made him look like he has the maturity of a gnat. “To discuss this further would be a breach of protocol?! Is it possible that someone kidnapped Sarah and replaced her with some kind of soulless replica?!” Is it possible for Chuck to grow the hell up and realize that Sarah is a CIA agent, has rules to follow, and can’t speak her mind in front of just anyone? If I can get this from watching the show, Chuck can understand it from being IN the show. These kinds of conflicts between them feel manufactured, which is frustrating because they have plenty of ammo for organic conflict. These kinds of conflicts also undermine the relationship because it shows that Chuck doesn’t understand Sarah in a lot of ways, particularly when it comes to her job, and her job is a huge part of who she is. I’m supposed to root for them when he throws a hissy fit every time she does her job according to the rules?

The only thing in this episode that I liked without reservation was Casey sticking up for Sarah to Agent Forrest (“best damn partner I ever had”) and later asking Beckman to listen to Chuck’s defense of Sarah (though I’m not sure I believe Beckman would have bought Chuck’s argument).

The closing scene with Chuck and Sarah was a mixed bag for me. The “Oooh, they’re gonna kis—oh, damn” moment was cheap, and is becoming par for the course for Chuck and Sarah. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but like the scene because the two actors have such palpable chemistry, and because Sarah touching him the way she did makes sense given the events of the episode. There was also something very appealing about them sharing that moment in the countryside with the afternoon sun shining on them and the wind blowing. Being away from all the technology that usually surrounds them made their romance feel more organic and real, which was needed after the aforementioned artificial conflict.