Writer: Matt Miller
Grade: A+
This was easily one of the best episodes of the year, and not just because Chuck and Sarah made out (in a bed!)—this episode was like a perfect distillation of what makes the show great. There were callbacks to previous storylines and jokes (“Ass Man,” for example), and several moments that were just classic Chuck:
-The argument about the many ways Casey could kill Chuck in the car with no gun
-Devon picking up on Casey’s Chuck-related weirdness, followed by the revelation that Jeffster knew all about it and didn’t bother to tell anyone
-Awesome: “There was a time in my life that I didn’t have a lot going on, either—dead end job, no girl.” Casey: “Really?” Awesome: “Well, no, John. No.”
-Casey slamming the door in Chuck’s face at the end, then reappearing with his dinner jacket
Of course, that Chuck/Sarah scene was no slouch, either. I think the writers toy around with their romance a bit too much, but the chemistry between Levi and Strahovski always pulls me back in when in counts. The Bon Iver song they used probably isn’t something I’d listen to normally, but it was perfect for the scene (seriously, I think they choreographed their kisses and nuzzles to go along with the music…). The scene played almost perfectly from start to finish—the hand porn, the neck nuzzling, Chuck pulling away and smiling, then going for it again, Sarah’s very teenager-like glee when Chuck ran off to get a condom (you could pretty much see her inner squee).
The condom gag was bullshit, though. I’m really not feeling this tired “They can’t be together until the end of the show” formula these writers seem to be using. Chuck and Sarah are both interesting, likable people in their own right, and there’s no reason (other than bad writing) why they would stop being interesting, individually or together, if they slept together, or even embarked on an official romantic relationship. Not only that, but holding off for so long places too much importance on their romance—I don’t want the last frame of the show to be Sarah and Chuck kissing. Moving on…
Casey went to some interesting places in this episode. He agreed to follow Beckman’s order to bring Chuck and Sarah back “dead or alive,” but apparently that was only because he felt they’d betrayed his trust by not asking for his help. His pouty, sullen “I don’t care” response about rescuing Chuck’s dad was, erm, kind of adorable.
On a second viewing, I realized that Stephen’s “12 AM Tron” sign wasn’t just to let Chuck know he was in the right place, but also an attempt to ensure that Chuck would be around to get de-Intersected at the drive-in. In other words, it was as much about rescuing his son as it was about getting rescued.
The end of this episode was warm and comforting, with both the family and the team back together. Sarah looked lovely in her blue dress, and a poster at TWoP pointed out that in the past, that shot would have involved slo-mo and a wind machine, but she’s a “real girl” rather than a fantasy now. Even Casey seemed to take their relationship seriously enough to let them have a moment alone together (“I’ll go warm up the Vic”—see, another classic!).
I’m left wondering whether Chuck will remain Intersect-free. Will the writers hit the reset button instead, having Chuck agree to be re-intersected for a noble cause? Or are they really setting up a new direction for the show?
Minor Stuff
-I can’t believe Casey fell for the window trick in the motel bathroom—dude, nobody opens the window in a motel bathroom!
-How are they going to keep the Buy More as part of the show if Morgan's gone?
-Regarding that Honda Insight ad, I have nothing against Zach Levi, but I kind of want to smack whoever came up with the idea that it was important to convince people that he’s sooo much like Chuck. I have seen enough candid Zach Levi interviews to come to the conclusion that they have little in common (which is a testament to his acting skill, right?). I mean, I guess they both have good enunciation. And they look alike! And apparently they both play video games, but when was the last time Chuck actually did that? The last time I can recall was when he had to play Missile Command to save LA from destruction in “Chuck vs. Tom Sawyer,” and that barely even counts because it wasn’t for fun. I know it’s not a big deal, but I just find it mildly irritating that someone somewhere wants to convince me that this actor has tons of things in common with the endearing character he plays on TV. I think Zach Levi can stand on his own two feet without Chuck Bartowski propping up his likability.
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