What I’m Watching: Chuck

Chuck: Season 4, Episode 10 “Chuck Versus the Leftovers” (B)

It’s episodes like these that make me wish this show took itself a bit more seriously sometimes. I’m still completely thrilled about the scoring on this show and even most of the performances, but at times the story just doesn’t quite cut it. That said, of course, the balance between Buy More plot and spy stuff is always strong, especially in a somewhat weaker episode like this. You also have to give Zachary Levi credit for his exclamation of “really!!!” when asked about his ancestry by Volkoff. The presence of Chuck’s mom throughout this season hasn’t been as exciting or interesting as it could have been, perhaps, though I know others aren’t thrilled about the relationship between Chuck and Sarah as it currently stands in its ultra-central form. I’d prefer to stick by the show, of course, especially in the future absence of the somewhat similar but far less well-received “Undercovers.” Morgan’s incorporation into the show’s central plotline is one of the show’s most accomplished successes, considering he could be furiously annoying yet manages to be entirely endearing and often – though not in the case of this episode – helpful in a sticky situation. The involvement of Ellie, and by proxy, Awesome, is a bit of a different matter, and it feels to me a bit like this season has been hurtling along without as much of a focus, jumping around from Chuck and Sarah’s relationship to Chuck not having the Intersect to Volkoff and Chuck’s mom. It all feels a bit disjointed, and I’d love to see a bit more unity in the back half of the season.