Chuck vs. the American Hero: Thoughts from a Ho

Overall, what a great episode.  “American Hero” had everything from comedy to romance to suspense and did a spectacular job balancing and meshing those aspects into top-notch entertainment. 

Instead here are some of my thoughts on the episode. Next week look for a larger, longer character and storyline analysis and thought summary of how Season 3, Part I played out.

-          The opening scene with Chuck in Beckman’s office was the perfect example of Chuck done right.  I enjoy when the show makes light of the government or serious issues, and this scene did not disappoint.  Beckman’s office was depicted as ordinary and casual, like your run-of-the-mill business full of secretaries and cubicles rather than a place concerned National Security.  I’m also a big fan of the Beckman and Chuck interactions as she does put up with Chuck’s “process” as she called it.  I find it refreshing to see an “outsider” of Team B interact with Chuck and how the outsider reacts to his ways, and who doesn’t like Chuck’s awkwardness in the presence of the General?

-       The combination of Morgan, Devon and Casey was absolutely fantastic. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last time we see these three joining up.  I want to be in that freakish bubble of handsomeness and don’t worry Morgan; I put you in that bubble too.  Honestly when most of the leading men band together, what’s not to like?

-       Jeffster.  Need I say more?  When Jeffster stalks I’m guaranteed to love it.  “Both men are physically fit, should be lively,” another great line from Jeff.  The show knows how to use these two well and they often seem to steal an episode even when they aren’t the main story.

I see you...

-       Shaw:  Did anyone else want to play the Darth Vader “NOOOOOOOO” when Shaw found out?  No, just me?  Anyway I liked this reveal a lot (I have to say I called it) and very happy the show did something like it.  I’m not going to go in-depth about Shaw as we still have one more episode. But to sum up, it is safe to say I liked the idea of Shaw but for whatever reason it just didn’t play out very well.  More to come on that next week.

-       In the final scene before Sarah was about to leave her apartment, you see her toss the gun on the bed.  It was a bit of a metaphor for her trying to leave her spy life behind but we all know it just never works that easily.

-       Chuck and Sarah:  In the beginning of the episode Sarah states plain and simple why she doesn’t want to be with him: he isn’t the guy she fell for.  Part of me wanted to scream out “hypocrite” since she not only kills people but in “Third Dimension” I feel like she sort of expected Chuck simply to move on from the Mauser incident.  In the end Sarah chose Chuck without knowing that he didn’t shoot the mark.  Finally it seems that Chuck and Sarah are on the same page.  Hooray! Chuck repeating, the phrase “I love you” to Sarah and just to say it out loud worked perfectly.   Yes it seems like he flip-flops every other episode on whether he wants to be a spy, be with Sarah or both.  I’m choosing to believe that Chuck wanted to runaway not to shrink away from his responsibilities but because he gets what Sarah was trying to tell him in the very first episode of this season; nothing else matters.

-       Best line: “I love you Sarah Walker.  Always have.”  I mean COME ON, nothing else was close to this line.  I don’t know how Sarah didn’t run off with him right then and there . It was the sweetest moment and made my heart melt. 

-       Runner up: “You are a Bartowski Chuck, start acting like one.”  This surprising line from Ellie was perfect as it reflects how I felt.  I thought Ellie was well used in this episode and, although she didn’t have many lines, she summed it all up when she did.

Some questions prior to the finale:

-       What does Sarah shooting Eve mean?  Was Eve a double agent and if not, why was she ordered to be killed?

-       Which path will Shaw choose?  He can either go the crazy path or realize no one is at fault and surrender his revenge. 

-       Will Casey continue to be a civilian or will we see him reinstated by the finale?

-       Can we see the budget cuts?  In a review by Alan Sepinwall* he suggests that the show is on a smaller scale due to the cuts and we are seeing the effects.  In “Colonel” we had a big explosion and the fight scenes were bigger and grander.  Although there have been some decent fight scenes this season, they seem few and far between.  Fulcrum seemed more fearsome than the Ring and perhaps this is part of the reason why.  Even the Ring leader, and yes I’m calling him that because the Ring seems like a circus, didn’t seem fearsome enough (though I do love Mark Sheppard from BSG – though I miss the shades). 

*If you haven’t read the review I highly recommend you do so.  I think he brings up excellent points and says things better than I ever could.  http://sepinwall.blogspot.com

- So what did you all think of the episode?

 

Rules of commenting:

1. Be Nice! (though I can take the heat)

2. No crashing through restaurant glass windows.

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Chuck vs. the Fake Name: Thoughts from a Ho

Coming into this episode I did not know what to expect. From the pre-screener’s warnings to the few somewhat discouraging words from the critics and the awful fan reaction to the Mask, I prepared myself for the worst. Maybe since I was prepared for the worst, I ended up quite enjoying the episode. No it wasn’t perfect nor was it was my favorite of the season, but for the most part, it was a strong episode and Ali Adler as usual did not disappoint.

One of this season’s major themes: Being a Spy Has Consequences. From the very first episode, Sarah (yes I’m afraid my fingers are too used to typing Sarah) told Chuck that if he went off to become a spy he “wasn’t going to be the same person.” This episode epitomizes that warning. In stark contrast to “First Class” a few weeks ago, Chuck jumps into leading this mission with confidence and a willingness to get the job done at all costs. I mean he pulled a tooth out with only slight hesitation. To sort of steal from Casey’s sentiments, who would’ve thought our boy would be capable of that a few years ago?

Over the past few episodes this “new” Chuck has been evolving from lying to forcing Manizzle into witness protection to his break-up scene with Hannah. Punching Hannah in the face in our BOOM BOOM POW game seems kinder than what Chuck did to her. Seriously, who breaks up with a girl in front of her parents after being seemingly on board with the whole relationship!? However, I’m going quickly brush aside the fact that Chuck was a dick to move along to the bigger aspect of the scene. Chuck finally realized how true Sarah’s words were and in that instant Chuck understood how valid Sarah’s concerns are. Watching Chuck’s speech to Hannah, it felt as if I was watching a déjà vu with a role reversal twist since it reminded me of so many previous talks and unvoiced thoughts between Chuck and Sarah. I hope that because of Hannah’s verbal bitch slap, Chuck finally fully appreciates Sarah’s constant struggle in the first two seasons and gives her the credit she deserves (as she never was this much of an ass). However, I do think Chuck’s douche level will be brought down a notch because Hannah calling him out was just the icing on the cake. I’m of course talking about the reveal of Sarah’s real name.

Now I realize there are issues with this whole scene in general. Yes, even though it doesn’t bother me, I accept that Sarah would have more chemistry with a __________ (you can fill in the blank here) and Shaw is a life-size wooden boy. And yes, the name reveal was probably not done in a way that any fan planned it (though let’s be honest – Chuck would have taken the shot at Shaw if it were up to the fans). Despite the reveal not being a romantic tender moment between the two as a symbol of trust that might have occurred in a season past, the reveal in this episode had the same emotional meaning. I believe Sarah did not say her name was Sam to Shaw as a sign of her trust in him, but rather as a sign of her desperation to hold onto her dream of a real life. However, the best part of the scene for me wasn’t involving ‘I’m Not a Real Boy’ and Sam (yeah I finally said it) but rather Chuck’s reaction to the whole reveal. Credit to Zac because I definitely felt this scene and the cold-water wake up call it was for Chuck. In an instance Chuck was no longer Rafe, or the dick that had Sarah cook for the girl he’s sexing up (and practically bragged about), but he was the Chuck who remembered why he downloaded the new Intersect in the first place- for Sarah. So yes, the reveal wasn’t between just the two of them nor was there a romantic reward, but the emotional impact was still big enough in my opinion.

Right now I think what we are seeing is Chuck’s struggle to find that perfect balance between great spy and that guy he used to always be. He hasn’t quite found it yet, but he’s getting there and I’d think by the end of this “season” he’d be there. I know that some don’t feel this way, but I’ve personally liked this journey and aspect of this season. Whereas some find it angsty and unnecessary, I think that this darker side of the show has brought some great scenes and given the characters greater depth. I like that the writers didn’t take the easy way out and make Chuck a superspy but rather show us how a guy like Chuck would fair in a world full of lies and no-win scenarios. Chuck isn’t the same guy we once knew; he is growing up and it isn’t always pleasant.

On a lighter note I felt that this episode brought some of the laughs I was missing and much needed after last episode. From the two villains analyzing the relationship to everything that Casey said or did was breath of fresh air. Also, the Buy More guys talking about the ladies in Chuck’s life and how he gets them was hysterical.

Some final thoughts:

• Chuck had sex with Hannah. Surprisingly this didn’t upset me like I thought it would. Perhaps it was because I thought Kristin Kreuk was adorable as Hannah, but I think it is more the fact that I never saw her as sort of a rival to Sarah. In the end I think Hannah’s purpose was to show Chuck just how far he’s come along in the spy world, and not always for the better. (As a side note, I’m happy Hannah turned out just to be a girl as too many people turn out to be spies in Chuck’s life.)

• Finding out that Jeff wants Chuck to be with Sarah as much as the fans do alone was priceless.

• Why is Sarah with Shaw? Honestly. Yes, I’m sneaking this in here now but it is a valid question. Shaw was not a hero in this episode or the guy that has encouraged Chuck who I’ve come to like. He was cocky and seemed like an ass when he went to punch Rafe (and please, Sarah can take care of herself). Basically, Shaw is a spy and everything that Sarah seems to hate (she gave a whole speech about it)… so again I ask, why is she so into him? Also it seems that the cheesiest scenes and lines usually involves these two. “You don’t look like a Sarah.” Seriously? I want to play the BOOM BOOM POW game for that alone.

• Best Line: Chuck in his Christian Bale Batman voice- “Yeah. I know where that is. Across the street from the cupcake place. Because I like cupcakes, that's why. Who doesn't like a good cupcake?”

This episode wasn’t the strongest, funniest, or most romantic (still waiting for something to top Colonel) but it was a solid episode. More so, I feel like it was an episode setting the stage for what is to come, something that the “Mask” failed to do. How Sarah’s real name, Sam, will come into play and the identity of Alex Coburn are only two of the questions lined up for upcoming episodes. Add the fact that the next episode has gotten rave reviews across the board and we are in for a treat.

To wrap up I’d like to point out that these are just my thoughts on the episode. I did not cover everything since I’m pretty sure you don’t want to ramble on when I’ve probably said too much already and barely in a coherent sense. Please add your own comments as I’d love to hear your own views on the episode, what you noticed, and what you disagree/agree with.

Rules of Commenting:

1. Be nice!
2. No throwing cheeseballs ;)

Remember check back and stay tuned for a podcast with a group Ho discussion on the episode coming later this week!