Chuck Versus the Cubic Z

Chuck Versus the Cubic Z
　
Morgan is now the new store manager of the Buy More, and is getting the store ramped up for a big new video game release. This week features Stacy Kiebler as the new Greta.
　
Chuck and Sarah had a very romantic mission planned in Monaco, but it is abruptly cancelled when a transport vehicle breaks down and the prisoners need to be directed to Castle. Sarah is relieved to hear this as she is hesitant about where the relationship with Chuck is heading after he mentioned last week about the future and possibly having kids.
　
The prisoners that will be staying at Castle are non other than Hugo Panzer (Stone Cold Steve Austin) and Heather Chandler (Nicole Richie), two foes of Chuck and Sarah’s past respectively. We saw Hugo as the bad guy in Chuck’s first solo mission on a flight to Europe, and Heather was an old classmate turned evil spy and nemesis of Sarah.
　
Chuck flashes on Heather and finds out she may know information on his mother. They have bigger problems as the discover Hugo is on the lose in Castle, and he is after Heather, and revenge on Chuck will be a bonus. Heather gets under Sarah skin by putting doubt in Chuck’s head about the relationship.
　
After some hand to hand combat, and some gun fight, the convicts get detained again, and Heather starts to talk about what she knows about Frost, which isn’t much, but it is a lead. Chuck and Sarah finally get to have their chat, and they come to the agreement that they need to take things slow. Until something happens….a teaser for next week.
　
Once again I think the Greta character is a waste, and would like to see a little more than just a nerd nod. Relationship problems once again is too much of the focus, I would prefer more search for Volkoff and for Chuck’s mother. It was also unbelievable that the Buy More would only have 6 copies of a very popular game, and that they only new that shortly before launch date.
A pretty good show, nothing too remarkable about it. An average episode among another above average season. Not as many funny moments as in the past two episodes but I am glad to see Big Mike back.

Chuck Versus the Suitcase

Chuck Versus the Suitcase
　
This week Chuck and Sarah go undercover to Milan for Fashion Week to seize a high-tech weapon, while Chuck discovers a flaw in his relationship. Guest stars continue in the second episode of the season with Lou Ferrigno (Incredible Hulk, King of Queens) as the model’s guard.

A little disappointed that Olivia Munn was underutilized in the first episode as Greta, and just like that she’s out and Isaiah Mustafa (Old Spice Guy) is in for this weeks Buy More CIA Special Agent.

Karolina Kurkova plays an arms dealer working for Volkoff that uses these fashion shows as means to meeting her clients. Chuck and Sarah are sent to Milan to seize what are known as “smart bullets”. After returning home they find that what they recovered were fakes, but after a new lead, Chuck and Sarah return for the last day of the show, before the model is able to escape with the micro chips for the bullets.

Chuck and Sarah relationship continues to be a little tenuous as Chuck is concerned with Sarah’s packing habits, that is, while still living together, she has yet to unpack.

Morgan starts to worry how well run the Buy More has become, now that it is completely controlled by the CIA. Captain Awesome is bumped by how well the Buy More is run and suspects that Chuck is still involved with the CIA.

After pointing out the obvious flaws, General Beckman agrees, and allows Morgan to recruit. This leads to the return of Jeffster to the show. Outlaws and on the run after their suspected involvement in the destruction of the old Buy More, Jeff and Lester are tracked down by Casey and Morgan and persuaded to return to their old jobs. Morgan successfully gets much of the old Buy More employees back and the CIA is very pleased as they make Morgan the new store manager.

Sarah finally settles in and accepts Burbank and Chuck home, but Chuck can’t stop himself, and unknowing starts what will test the relationship further.

The show focused way to much on the unpacking issue, and seems to like there always being a little bit of tension between Chuck and Sarah. I am enjoying the guest stars, but I worry that they are taking away from the story a little. The little nods to the geek fan base is quite entertaining as I enjoyed the quick funny little cameo by Balki (Pronson Pinchot from Perfect Strangers).

The show has another spy vs. spy fight involving Sarah and another female spy, this time taking it to the catwalk where everyone just thinks it is two models fighting. I also enjoyed the continuation of skimpy outfits and the occasional bra and panty scenes with Sarah and other female spies. This show really knows how to pander to its audience, and does it well.

The show didn’t deal much with the search for the Bartowski’s mother, but it deal with Casey and his unease with getting to know his daughter Alex. Overall all it was another solid episode, but then again I don’t think that I will be disappointed very often in a show that I am quite biased over.

Chuck Versus The Anniversary

Chuck Versus The Anniversary
　
We last left Chuck receiving one final message from his dad. One that leads him to discover there is much more to his family’s past then he could have imagined, and more importantly his mother (Linda Hamilton) is still out there and is also in the spy game. He finds himself going back on a promise he gave to his sister, and begins the search for her.

Chuck must keep his search a secret, but still needing help he recruits his best friend Morgan to aid him in his personal mission. Chuck and Sarah now together, officially, Sarah and Casey leave on a mission without Chuck, as he and Morgan prepare for there own mission. Their first attempt brings them around the world in a montage that leaves to a dead end.

After a handful of interviews end suspiciously and suddenly the bus ride leads Chuck and Morgan back to the new Buy More where chuck runs into Greta (Olivia Munn) and General Beckman who runs the store that is also the new CIA/NSA substation. Beckman goes back on her promise to let Chuck out of the CIA.

Sarah and Casey’s mission leads them to Marco (Dolph Lundgren) and it is clear that Casey misses Chuck on their missions. Marco works for a Russian arms dealer Volkoff Industries. Chuck and Morgan’s mission bring them to the same location as Sarah and Casey, where they need to be saved. To escape, Chuck must use the EMP which destroys the computer that may have had information about his mother. No longer able to keep his secret from Casey and Sarah, they both agree to help Chuck on his quest, officially making Chuck a spy again. He must know tell Ellie, but she thinks the Buy More was the only job he could get, she tells him she’s pregnant, and he isn’t able to tell her the truth.

One thing that bothered me right in the beginning that some shows and movies do, after Morgan agrees to help him he starts spouting out taglines, and Chuck stops him by saying “this is not some opening of a TV show, this is real life.” The show starts out a little bumpy, dialog seems a little rough, and things have gotten a little sensational. It is also clear that the special guests are will be using their famous catch phrases, Dolph Lundgren says to Casey, “I must break you”, its alright, I still enjoyed it.

As always, this episode was very entertaining, many funny parts, but as per usual a very good story. The show most times finds a perfect blend of action, comedy, romance, and suspense.

Chuck Season 4 Preview, Lots of guest stars!

It looks like the team at Chuck is going all out this season, which many believe will be its last, so why not.  The list for special guests is long with many confirmed as well as some more rumored. 

Lined up for this season that has already been announced are:  Linda Hamilton (Terminator) is introduced as Chuck’s long lost mom, in the season premiere.  Olivia Munn (G4) will play a CIA Officer code-named “Greta”, a role that is said to change throughout the season, allowing more opportunities for new guest stars.  Also Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm St.) will make an appearance on the Halloween episode as a villainous scientist. 

Other guest stars said to show up are Dolph Lungren (The Expendables) and Harry Dean Stanton (Alien) with unknown roles, Eric Roberts (The Expendables), Batista (WWE), and Joel David Moore (Avatar) as rogue agents.  Another big guest star for spy fans is Timothy Dalton (James Bond) as an unknown person that has to deal with Chuck’s mother. 

Aside from all the guest stars, as the season starts, Chuck will have to deal with having to keep being a spy a secret from his sister once again, but this time because he promised to quit at the end of last season.  Ellie is also said to have a bigger role, as the Bartowski family history begins to unveil its secrets throughout Chuck’s search for his mother and for answers.  The search for his mother will be the main theme for this season that is schedule for 13 episodes starting Monday September 20^th.  We will also learn more about John Casey’s past with the discovery of his daughter Alex in the final six episodes of season three. 

As is all the Chuck fans I am very excited about the upcoming season, and will be sad if this is in fact the last season.  Four seasons is a pretty good run, and is probably two more seasons than it probably deserved as far as the numbers were concerned.

Here is a nice interview from TVGuide.com with executive producers Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak.

Below is a sneak peak for the upcoming season:

Chuck Season 3 Recap

With its future being much in doubt after the season 2, Chuck finally got a 13 episode re-up, with an option for 6 more.  NBC line up was a bit shaky after a promising Heroes began to falter, and the end of the Jay Leno Show which lead to the option of the 6 additional shows being picked up. 

Not knowing for sure if the season would be extended or if the show would be ending after the original deal for season 3, episode 13 ended neatly as a possible season or series finale.  Leading up to this, Chuck gets his final test for becoming an official spy, John Casey is no longer a spy, Morgan is now a spy (or so he thinks), and Shaw finds out that Sarah is reasonable for killing his wife. 

In Chuck Versus The Other Guy:

Sarah finds out that Chuck only passed his red test with the help of Casey, and that he is still the man she has loved.  Shaw finds the Ring’s headquarters and takes Sarah and Chuck to take down their leader.  Not knowing that they are being double crossed, Shaw is now working both sides, and takes Sarah to France to follow a lead.  With the help of Morgan, Chuck goes to France to once again save Sarah.  John Casey agrees to help and in doing so is able to get reinstated, Morgan gets to be a spy, and Chuck gets the girl.

The final six episodes leaves Chuck dealing with the Intersect giving him problems with his head, and dealing with his family knowing he’s a spy.  His father stuck between helping his family and saving himself gets taken by the Ring.  We also find out a little more about John Casey.

In a two part season finale we have Chuck Versus the Subway:

Chuck’s dad, played by Scott Bakula, works on a governor to help control the Intersect 2.0 that throughout these 6 episodes makes him think that Shaw is still alive.  General Beckman has to testify in front of her superiors in order to keep Project Bartowski running.  Shaw, back from the dead, still a double agent testifies for shutting down the Intersect Project. 

Sarah and Casey are being held by Shaw, while the Bartowski family comes to save them.  Chuck and his dad find the Ring’s Intersect where Shaw and his team capture Chuck and kill his father.  Now Ellie, Captain Awesome, and Morgan are their only hope.

And Chuck Versus the Ring Part 2:

Now it’s time to take down Shaw, and take down the Ring.  The team infiltrates the Joints Security Summit where the Ring Elders are captured and Shaw is exposed.  Without the governor, Chuck is unable to stop Shaw as he escapes, and Intersect continues to get worse.

The Buy More gets the call that the store is closing, Jeffster and Big Mike orchestrate an unauthorized store wide sale, slashing the prices. 

Shaw wires the Buy More with C4, the fire alarm is pulled to get the customers out, Chuck shows up for a Intersect vs. Intersect battle against Shaw as Jeffster’s music video rings throughout the store.  As Chuck overloads, his brain is able to reboot, and defeats Shaw. 

Morgan drops the detonator and the Buy More blows up, but Jeffster is the main suspect in the arson case.  Chuck keeps his promise to his sister about getting out of the spy business, but after getting a message to go to his computer he gets a video of his dad, he may not be able to keep his promise.  Chuck goes back to their old house and finds some information about their family, and find that their mother is still alive.

The new season finale leaves the door open for the expected return of the series for its 4^th season.

Update:  Not much doubt after the moderate success of the third installment, Chuck was quickly renewed for its fourth season.