What I’m Watching: Chuck

Chuck: Season 4, Episode 19 “Chuck Versus the Muuurder” (B-)

This wasn’t my favorite episode. I like this show when it’s simple and normal, and having a slew of guest stars like this just wasn’t necessary. Generally speaking, however, it was harmless, though of course it contained the severest body count I’ve witnessed in a long time. This feels much more like an extra special episode of “Psych” (for the record, not as good as a regular episode) than an installment of this show. Additionally, I think part of the problem was that none of the featured guest characters were all that interesting, and I’d like to have things back to the way they used to be when it was just our team. I did like how Director Bentley and Chuck seemed to bond in the final moments before her ultimate sacrifice, and she’s a character who became much less annoying and far more useful just as she made her exit from the show. The Kevin Bacon Largemart plotline was okay, and I enjoyed recognizing David H. Lawrence XVII, also known as Doyle the puppet master from “Heroes,” as Marvin, in a role that really suited him. Having Ellie work on the computer and seem so into it and tuned out from the rest of the world, as I said before, is a good use of her, and I’m hopeful that the latest turn of events, following Awesome and Chuck’s unsuccessful attempts to halt her research, will bring her into the main plot in a way that gets her involved and doesn’t put her directly into the crosshairs of one Vivian Volkoff.