What I’m Watching: Chuck

Chuck: Season 4, Episode 14 “Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible” (B-)

So this isn’t a great episode by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s important that the show doesn’t dive back into supreme single villainy so soon after the takedown of Volkoff’s organization, not to mention Mary’s reacclamation into her family unit. It’s just frustrating sometimes to see this show stalling, even if it’s wonderfully entertaining to see Chuck, Sarah, and Casey react to the current state of things and communally agree that they were in drastic need of a new villain. Bringing back John Laroquette’s seducer, though I didn’t remember him all too well, was actually a smart move, because it enables accessibility and offers a one-shot plotline that doesn’t define how the show will continue to be shaped in the coming episodes. Amusing as it was, I didn’t find General Beckman’s affection for Roan to be terribly effective as a storyline, and her rocket launcher-accompanied “Duck!” just didn’t play well. Another relationship dynamic proved quite amusing, and that was the dueling attempts by Chuck and Sarah to seduce the other into giving up their wedding dream. I enjoyed Casey’s readiness to cut off his arm, a conclusion that came a bit prematurely. The best moment of the episode had to be when Morgan started talking to Casey about mothers and Casey looked like he was about to strangle Morgan right then and there. Even if the storylines aren’t superb at the moment, the characters sure are, and that’s what makes this show an immense pleasure that is continually watchable.