(S02E22) “Chuck vs. the Ring”

As far as season finale’s go, I’m saddened to admit, Chuck’s was a bit lacking. Not only is this a season finale, it may be a show finale. For a series filled with spies, humor and romance, I expecting it to go out with more of a bang. Not that two weddings, a shoot out and the shows biggest stars coming together is going out with a whisper; far from it.

Perhaps if we had not hit a sadly expected “to be continued” at the end, I’d feel a bit better about it all. Or if the spies who came in to overpower both fulcrum and the government had more of an introduction and explanation. Even Chuck’s new found kung-fu power seemed just a tad too random.

In the end we’re left with a happily married Ellie and Awesome. Orion/Dad is back in the family with a warm welcome. Sara gave up a life of espionage with Bryce in order to stick with Chuck. Even Casey looks like he’ll have his happily ever after, filled with guns, manpower and control. Then there’s Chuck. Forever stuck as the governments pawn. It’s so disheartening. Moreover, it’s so just like every other episode where he almost gets his freedom then “poof” gone a second too soon. Bummer, that’s all I can say.

(S02E21) “Chuck vs. the Colonel”

Will Chuck be returning next year? The jury’s still out on that one. However, I believe that if they can step up next season like they were able to do for these past few episodes, they could definitely start gaining back a little audience appreciation. I actually had to double check my TV listing to ensure that tonight’s excellent episode wasn’t the season finale, it was that good.

Orion has been saved! Better yet, the intersect is, once and for all, out of Chuck’s head. I mean really, why would they not save a little bit of that for the conclusion? Don’t worry, the finale will still be interesting. Seeing as the mastermind bad guy survived and is en route to Ellie and Awesome’s wedding, the spy drama is far from over.  More exciting than that, it appears as if the whole team will be fighting together on this upcoming mission.

It was so cute to see Casey struggle with his inner soldier in order to join Sarah and Chuck as they saved Orion. I almost wanted to shed a tear as he stood by  Sarah and informed the General that this whole time Sarah was acting for the better good of the country while undercover instead of actually acting on pure emotion as she saved Chuck. Ok, so I didn’t actually cry, but still, it was a touching moment. As was the slow clap Morgan received as he exited Buy More for the last time ever.

Now I must know, which was your favorite Chuck moment?

(S02E20) “Chuck vs. the First Kill”

Poor Big Mike. On tonight’s Chuck, Emmett gets sneaky and tricks Morgan into leading a group brown-nosing session where all hail to Chief Emmett in order to get him out of the store and onto better things. Unfortunately, what Morgan and the rest of the crew fail to realize is that Buy More’s corporate manager wasn’t there to evaluate Emmett, but instead Big Mike. The very man they sent on a fishing trip for the day while the store was left in Emmett’s “safe” hands, ends up demoted and miserable.

The Buy More crew weren’t the only one being used and abused. In a desperate attempt to break his dad free from harm, Chuck turns to ex-girlfriend/fulcrum agent Jill who eventually leads them to a Fulcrum cover building where recruitment as well as holding cells are used in exchange for her own freedom, a freedom Chuck and the crew never plan on showing her. However, after Jill proves useful, Chuck realizes that he may not have a lot, but he does still have his word and he cuts her loose.

The General, less than thrilled that Jill is now running free and Orion is still MIA, instructs Casey and Sarah to trick Chuck into their custody where they’ll take him underground and destroy any hopes of his having a normal life. Basically, they’re planning on putting him into a nice little prison where his problems no longer have to be there own. Casey shows no hesitation but Sarah, of course, is not ready to let her almost-boyfriend go. After a final show of humanity and trust by Chuck, Sarah decides that keeping him alive and in a somewhat semblance of normal is more important than government orders. The pair are now AWOL and soon to be hot pursuit from the government.

There’s plenty of big questions to be answered this season. Will Orion be saved? Will he be able to get reverse the damage that the intersect has done on Chuck’s brain and personal life? Will Sarah and Chuck ever be able to experience a normal relationship? However, the question I’m most curious about at the moment is, which side will Casey choose? This Regan-loving, all-American soldier sure does find pride in his CIA roots, but one has to wonder if there will ever be a time when humanity will win out over patriotism. Something to ponder anyway.

(S02E18) “Chuck vs. the Dream Job”

Good enough to be a finale is how I’d rank tonight’s episode of Chuck. With both Chevy Chase and Quantum Leap’s Scott Bakula guest starring, how could they go wrong?

To top if it off, the rumors were true, Chuck’s dad, played by Bakula, was in indeed the famed Orion. Taking a 180 turn from dead-beat deserter Dad to super-hero computer genius, Orion was able to show Chuck that mental strength runs in his blood. Who knew being a CIA agent ran in his blood? You’ve got to love it. Then to have Chevy Chase as Orion’s nemesis Roark, well, that’s just perfection.

My only regret is that Ellie couldn’t see just how fabulous her “crazy” father really is. I understand why she can’t know, but it still upsets me to think that everything in her life keeps falling apart due to having a secret spy father and brother. The girl deserves a break. Good thing she’s got Awesome.

Next week’s episode promises to be just as thrilling. Jordana Brewster, as Jill, will be making a comeback. Hopefully she’ll be able to give Chuck the information he needs to save his Dad, and also make up for her shady past. I can’t wait!

(S02E17) “Chuck vs. the Broken Heart”

Could Ellie and Awesome’s relationship be turning, well, anything but awesome?

On tonight’s Chuck, the Buy More boys throw Awesome a bachelor party he won’t soon forget (except maybe that part where he was tranq’d by a CIA agent.) That’s right, not even the holy grail of boy bashes is immune to a little government interruption when it comes to Chuck’s life as a walking government database.

In need of a hospital pass only Awesome has, Sara’s observer Agent Forrest takes down Awesome. The action not only puts his relationship with Ellie at risk, but once again puts Chuck’s life at risk. One thing leads to another, and just before being forced to walk out of Chuck’s life forever, Sara manages to save his life. But is it for one final time?

I think not. With both a heartfelt Chuck and protective Casey on your side, not even a General can take this ship down.

As a even bigger perk to the conclusion of this episode, Sara intended to leave Chuck the one of the best good bye presents ever. He’ll finally be able to know the location of his Dad. We’re left with teasers for next episode that promise not only a family reunion but a little family espionage as well. Who doesn’t love it when they keep it in the family when it comes to careers like this? By the way, I’m still rooting on Orion as Chuck’s dad. That’d just be… awesome.

(S02E16) “Chuck vs. the Predator”

Tonight’s Chuck has left me bubbling over with questions. Like, who is the Orion? I’ve heard rumors that he may just be Chuck’s dad. That’s a sad story if Orion actually died tonight, but I highly doubt it. Also, could the General be bad? Sure, she’s all about protecting her country at the risk of sacrificing a few in order to take in the bigger picture, but could she have lost all touches of humanity? Surely she’s destined to split Sarah and Chuck apart for good. Which leads us to my last question, could Yvonne Strahovski’s days be numbered as Sarah?

In the end though we are left with a few good answers. Chuck can indeed get the intersect out of his brain someday – thank God- though that may just mean our show has a foreseeable final act. Also, it’s finally been said out loud that the CIA’s job is strictly to protect Chuck whilst turning him into a spy, they are not there to return his life of “normalcy” back to him. Poor Chuck, sure being a spy’s cool, but it’s no way to live.

Then again… imagine the possibilities.

(S02E15) “Chuck vs. the Lethal Weapon”

He may be sexy. He may be sweet. He may even have a  butt kickin’ accent. But is it just me, or does that new spy Cole, played by Johnathan Cake, on Chuck look like he has the makings to be one of Chuck’s biggest threats yet?

Having proved his loyalty to the team by suffering extreme torture in order to keep Chuck’s true identity as the intersect a secret, for some reason, I just wasn’t buying it like Sarah, Casey and even the hopeless Chuck were. I mean we didn’t really see him escape from Fulcrum now did we? Perhaps he promised them a little information in exchange for his freedom. Lesser things have happened.

Additionally, now that he knows he’ll never get Sarah the girl he’s been lusting over since her heart still belongs to Chuck, that makes Chuck potential enemy numero uno. As they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. With an in that very few have to Chuck’s mind, Cole can’t get much closer than that.

On the less sinister side, Chuck is finally one step closer to living a normal life void of random intelligence flashes. I’m hoping that as a season finally we meet the intersects creator Orion, who surely, holds all of the answers. Additionally, I’m delighted to find Morgan is moving in (literally) to a more mature relationship with Anna. Now if only poor Chuck could settle into that same kind of comfortable loving relationship. Sadly it’s hard-knock hearts in the world of spies.

(S02E14) “Chuck vs. the Beefcake”

While Lester and Jeff try to turn Buy More into a perverts heaven full of bathing suit models and men in robes, Chuck, Sarah and Casey take on yet another bad guy… or is he?

Before the regret of breaking up (yet again) with Sarah can even set in, Chuck is flashing on a intelligence filled belt buckle worn by one very bad boy charming Brit. Taking the sacrifice we girls sometimes are more than willing to take, Sarah goes in for the kill hoping to use her little black dress to snag that little black belt. It doesn’t take long though for chaos to ensue, when Casey goes one against three in a battle of the bulge to take down even more bad guys while Chuck takes on a martini with a bite to drink away his blues.

Upon finally being awoken from his drunken blues, Chuck is able to at the very last minute not only save Sarah, but also her “bad guy” Brit who, as it so happens, is actually working undercover and hoping to snag Fulcrum just as much as the rest of the team. That’s not the only thing he’s hoping to snag, Sarah’s up for grabs and he’s a grabby guy.

After going through torture to keep Chuck’s identity a secret and working his charm thoroughly on Sarah, while the Brit may not have got the girl, he sure did earn his keep. Too bad Fulcrum isn’t willing to let him get away so fast. His capture not only brings Chuck’s life into further danger, it also turns his personal life, once again, on it’s head and he’s forced to not only date Sarah again, but ditch Morgan to “move in” with her.  In next week’s episode we’re sure to see just how far this British spy’s honor towards his fast friends Chuck, Sarah and Casey extends, because as was said numerous times in this episode of Chuck, with the right amount of pressure “everyone talks.”

(S02E13) “Chuck vs. the Best Friend”

As a girl there’s many things that I find mysterious about men. Their obsession for hot sports cars for one. Sure, they’re pretty… but then? Or how about their apparently shared dreams of becoming members in a band. Maybe it’s because there’s few girls that can resist a guy with a guitar. When it comes down to it though, for as many guy-things that I simply will never understand, their sense of loyalty and friendship is not one of them. True friendship is something I completely get.

In tonight’s Chuck, while chock-full of stereotypical “guy” related things the underlying theme was friendship. Specifically, Chuck’s tried and true bromance with Morgan. Even though Morgan only knows half of Chuck’s life he understands perhaps better than everyone else what makes Chuck click. He may not know that Chuck’s a spy, but he does know exactly what his best friend went through during every heartache and every accomplishment growing up. Perhaps because of this, the two have not let their differences tear them apart, but instead accept each other as their stronger half. Aww, now can’t you just feel the love?

Saving Morgan’s life a dozen times over while not only risking his own, but also their friendship, Chuck proves that his loyalty goes beyond the forced government bond his computer-packed brain has made. The cute geek we’ve learned to love even manages to teach Sara (and perhaps even Casey) a thing or two about what makes a true friend and just how important that bond is.

No, tonight’s episode of Chuck wasn’t the most thrilling I’ve ever seen, or even the funniest, but it was the most heartfelt. And I simply can’t argue with a good ol’ bromance, now can I?

(S02E12) “Chuck vs. the Suburbs”

The suburbs have never looked more like hell than in tonight’s episode of Chuck.

Posing as a young married couple, Chuck and Sarah move into their perfect picket fence house, cable man Casey in tow, in search of dangerous fulcrum agent. Little did they know that the cougar across the street (played by Jenny McCarthy), and her hulk-like husband where just the tip of the iceberg when it came down to uncovering undercover fulcrum agents. Andy Richter was, of course, also among them (I mean really, who could leave that guy out?).

Escaping by just the skin of their teeth in true  Chuck-style, the crew not only managed to destroy a house full of Fulcrum and their evil plans, but also walk away with Fulcrums computer system inside of Chuck’s head. Honestly, how much more space does the boy have?

Obviously this newest mental download can lead to only further problems for our boy genius. And I’m not just talking about the life-risking variety, love has also seemingly been taken away after things with Sarah suddenly went from heating up back to ice cold. We, of course, know that she’s only cruel to the ones she loves as a protection mechanism, but naive Chuck doesn’t quite get how quickly his gig may be up in the near future.

On a funnier note, Valentines Day at the Buy More encouraged the recently separated Big Mike to hook-up with an on-line “babe.” His mystery woman may go by many names other than her own, but it was a little too late when he found out that Mother of Morgan was one of them. Gotta love it.