What I’m Watching: Chuck (Season Finale)

Chuck: Season 3, Episodes 18 & 19 “Chuck Versus the Subway” & “Chuck Versus the Ring: Part 2” (B+)

I’d like to say first off that I think this season was just as good as season two and I loved every minute of it. Many believe that Chuck and Sarah getting together was a misstep for the show, but I disagree. They haven’t quite figured out how to make it work as a spy couple yet, but watching them try is a blast. And while I don’t really see how Shaw both progressed from superspy for the CIA to Ring Agent and managed to survive getting shot and falling into a river, the execution of these last two episodes made it all worthwhile. Putting all of the characters on the run with no hope (General Beckman=arrested) makes for an exciting two-hour conclusion to the season, when fans can comfortably rest assured that the show will be back for a fourth season in the fall. The integration of Chuck’s dad into these episodes was interesting, and he’s certainly going to have an interesting post-mortem role to play on this show, as will Chuck’s mother (I wonder who will play her?). Positioning the elder Bartowski as the constant reminder to stay safe and out of the line of duty made for an even more tragic situation when he was the one to take the fall and ultimately lose his life because of Chuck’s job. Chuck’s flashes getting more violent also made things considerably more serious, and it didn’t seem like things would turn out too well for our hero for a while there. Fortunately, all three spies being taken into custody by a duplicitous Shaw left three civilians to come rescue them. That’s one of the best things about this show – it knows how to legitimize its supporting characters. After finding out about Chuck’s identity a la Will on “Alias,” Ellie stepped up to the plate and tailed Chuck and crew. The fact that Awesome and Morgan were the ones to come save Chuck, Sarah, and Casey was simply…awesome. Ellie had a good response to the continued secrecy, screaming “what are you two whispering? No more secrets?” She also raised a good point when she noted that it takes just as long to say “I don’t have time to explain” as it does to actually explain. All of the flashbacks to Ellie and Chuck’s childhood were very effective, and this episode really serves as a turning point for the show, thanks to the game-changing revelation at the end of the second episode and the burning down of the Buy More. Learning that Chuck downloaded information when he was just a kid also contributes to the notion, as espoused often by his dad, that he is special. It turns out that watching Shaw’s intersect stand up against Chuck’s wasn’t quite as exciting as it could have been, but that’s partially because Shaw isn’t a lasting part of this show – Chuck is. It was great to have him and Kristin Kreuk around this year, representing their Superman-starring origins, but the show will live on well after they’re forgotten. It’s been a great year, and I can’t wait for even more of this show and to see where it will go next this fall.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Brandon Routh as Shaw