Chuck Season Finale: Chuck vs. The Ring
April 28, 2009 by SB
WARNING! This post contain spoilers for the season finale of CHUCK. STOP reading if you haven’t seen it. Trust me…you don’t want to be spoiled.
Before I turn it over to SB I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for being such wonderful supporters of CHUCK. I know we’ve made a lot of new friends around here because of CHUCK and it’s so nice to be part of something so special. An extra special thanks to SB for her amazing reviews for the past two seasons. Through her weekly take on CHUCK we’ve built up a great community of TV watchers who meet here to discuss the show every week — it’s what GMMR is here for.
So thank YOU and thank SB. See you next season!
– Kath
———-
I kind of can’t believe that I’m writing my last Chuck recap of the season already! It’s totally flown by. I know that everyone was really excited to discuss the finale last night and have been talking about the episode in the post that GMMR was kind enough to open up, so I’m going to take a slightly different approach than usual on my recap this week and focus more on the future of the show, my opinions and speculations, and just a couple thoughts about the episode. The comments can be used for discussion of anything Chuck related—we’re free spirits here, people!
Alright, I know there’s a lot being made about it saying “series finale” on the NBC site, but as someone pointed out, it also says “season finale” right next to it. I want to address it so it’s not an elephant in the room, but I really think we shouldn’t freak out about it yet because it just seems to me at this point like a stupid little error on the part of someone involved with the website, and I’d rather just save my freaking out (one way or another, there will be freakage) for the official announcement.
I really do feel like we’ve done about everything we can—we’ve mounted a huge internet campaign, convinced people to watch, bought footlongs, wrote letters, watched online (hint hint Hulu hint) … I can’t think of any bases that we haven’t covered, and now it’s just a waiting game. Thankfully, we’ll know by May 5 (the day of the NBC upfronts), which isn’t too far off. And I really do feel cautiously optimistic about Chuck’s chances. I think it’s natural to be a little nervous nonetheless, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at all, but for now, I’m going to try to put it aside and focus on the show.
You know I totally loved the show last night—I was actually really excited that Ellie and Awesome’s wedding got ruined so spectacularly (and it WAS spectacular) because then they could have the wedding they really wanted, and that was really them. And of course, we got to see Casey the wedding planner.
The guest stars really stepped it up this week, which is saying a lot given how consistently great most of them have been—Scott Bakula just took it to a whole new place for me, Chevy Chase was a better villain than ever, Bruce Boxleitner and Morgan Fairchild were hysterical, Bryce managed to be charming (as I grudgingly admitted during the Chuck chat last night), and even Emmett won me over with his flaming heterosexual line. And she’s not a guest star, but can Ellie cry or WHAT?
Obviously, a lot of things were introduced last night. Chuck finally embraced his role as a spy and a hero and took the intersect upon himself, which came with kung fu powers. I really loved the different flashes from different incarnations of the intersect, including Daddy Bartowski’s old-timey flash and Chuck’s new crazy one (did anyone catch the Chinese symbols in there? Billy pointed them out to me).
There was much discussion last night about Bryce. There was a huge variety of opinions on Bryce’s overall likeability and redemption—for me, it was hard to get over all the past Bryce hating and really embrace him as the hero. I may have actually ended up Bryce-neutral, but I thought that his death was done really well, actually. It was time for Bryce to go, and Matthew Bomer did a killer (pun!) job of dying—he looked like he was in actual pain, his delivery in telling Chuck that Sarah wasn’t going to leave was really good, and I love love loved that they made him die with his eyes open. He looked really dead, and it’s like TV wants us to think that everyone looks like they fall asleep when they die. Sarah’s reaction to seeing him like that was really good—Yvonne was amazing all around last night.
The thing that was actually the hardest for me, I think, was the Buy More stuff. What with Morgan, Chuck, and Casey all gone, I just don’t know what’s going to happen to it. But the thing is, I was starting to worry that we wouldn’t even see Jeffster this episode, and then they came out of nowhere with Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto and it was one of the most majestic scenes in my entire TV viewing life, and Big Mike claiming that this wedding just got good, and the shocked look on Anna’s face were all just great. And it gives me hope that somehow, because of the interconnectedness of everyone’s lives, that they can somehow still be a part of the show, with or without the Buy More.
At the very end of Chuck chat last night, someone asked a question that we didn’t put through just because of time, but it’s a good question and I think it’s definitely going to be on people’s minds and I want to talk about it. I forget who asked it, so forgive me, but basically that person wanted to know if anyone thought that all the changes would ruin Chuck (or something to that effect, I know I’m off on the wording) because it was getting away from the original premise. Everything I’m about to say is strictly my opinion (as always), and I’m totally interested in YOUR opinions—feel free to agree or disagree at will.
I try really, really hard to not go into entertainment with preconceived ideas of what I want to happen, because I feel like when people do that, it detracts from the enjoyment of what actually IS happening and takes you out of the moment. I love the Buy More a lot, but I don’t want to start saying, “Well, there BETTER be a Buy More or I’m going to be so mad,” or whatever, because it’s possible that there’s something just as good or better out there, and if I’m just being mad about the Buy More, I’m going to totally miss that (for example).
The thing is, I love Chuck and I have ESPECIALLY loved this season. The characters have really grown and come alive and I don’t think you can love a show for developing their characters into real and believable people and then just expect them to keep it static, because that would ruin the very element that you like. I love Buy More Chuck, and the Chuck that is the damsel in distress and hopelessly in love with his dream girl, but how many times have I read in the comments, “When is Chuck going to learn how to do this for himself?” or “How many times can Sarah and Chuck have this conversation?” Do you see where I’m going with this? If things don’t evolve, then they just get boring and I know that’s like the last thing anyone wants.
And you know, I’ve never watched a Josh Schwartz show before this. I’ve never seen an episode of The O.C. or of Gossip Girl (in spite of knowing how much I’d love both), so it’s not like he’s got a whole lot of history with me as far as like, “Oh, I will follow Josh Schwartz to the ends of the earth!” But the things that he and his team have done with Chuck buys him all the goodwill he’ll need from me to have my loyalty to the end. I actually believe that they really know what they’re doing, and that there’s a plan. I don’t feel like you go in and shake a show up so thoroughly like that at the end of the second season unless you know what you’re doing, and I’m confident that they do.
I think it’s hard for people, for whatever reason, to accept television as an art sometimes. But it really is, and it’s my opinion that sometimes you’ve got to roll with people’s creative choices, even if they’re not what you would necessarily choose, because we don’t know the end game that they’re shooting for.
I think that the point I’m trying to make is really just this—I love Chuck, I think they’ve done a great job with it, and I trust whatever direction they’re going to go. I think that even when the situation changes, at the heart of it, it’s still going to be my fun, action-packed, romantic highlight of the week. So whatever package that comes in, I am SO in!
There’s so much to talk about! Lay it on me (and everyone else) in the comments. Arigato!
SB has many interests, including photography, her pets, entertainment, traveling and writing. She does have a day job, but that mostly amounts to her being a sarcastic young woman with a lot of time on her hands, which is why she appreciates the opportunity to recap.
Warm Wishes to Devon and Ellie
JEFFSTER!
“If you hit me it only teaches me to hit” — Morgan
“Why are you letting Sam Kinison and an Indian lesbian ruin your wedding?” — Dr. Awesome Sr.
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Filed under #1 featured, Chuck, Posts by SB, Save CHUCK
I’m joining in on your slow clap for Chuck, GMMR. It was AWESOME! The wedding was beautiful, Ellie was beautiful, Awesome was beautiful … they were ALL beautiful. The ending? Whoa. Serious whoa. Did NOT see that coming. It sets up so many things for the next season … what is this super group that’s not Fulcrum, but obviously evil? What *is* Chuck now, that he’s got some super computer in his head that makes him a kung fu master?
And also – for the record – I don’t quite believe Bryce is dead. Sure, he looked pretty deceased, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they mourned him next season and he showed up. I would demand an open-casket funeral to prove it!
What a terrific finale! I loved it and laughed through every minute of it. Chuck me! BRILLIANT. What do we do to save Chuck now?
I want to know what a realistic plan could be to save this great show.
I was on the Live Chat but holy crap! That was AWESOME. Great Finale to end a great Season. Bring it back NBC! I have to say that I’ve been pleased with the finales in ’09. First Psych, then Burn Notice and now Chuck. All epic. All awesome. NBC please bring it back!
CHUCK ME! best line ever haha
Case is the best!
I didn’t see that coming at all. I mean, about 3/4 of the way through I figured that Chuck had to end up with the intersect back in his head, but those Keanu moves at the end were amazing. An incredible episode. This show must stay around.
Wow!! Awesome episode. So many great scenes. The wedding shoot out with the backing of Mr. Roboto by Jeffster…awesome! Chuck bringing out the kung fu…awesome!
I can’t wait to watch it again.
Renew it NBC. Renew it!!
I was on the Live Chat but holy crap! That was AWESOME. Great Finale to end a great Season. Bring it back NBC! I have to say that I’ve been pleased with the finales in ’09. First Psych, then Burn Notice and now Chuck. All epic. All awesome. NBC please bring it back!
CHUCK ME! best line ever haha
Casey is the best!
That was such an amazing episode! What an ending- definately didn’t see it coming. And the wedding turned out so well. I loved it all! There has to be a season 3!
In the words of Keanu: “whoa”. That finale was off the charts.
GMMR I blame you for the fact that I’ve done nothing at work the past few weeks. you talked about Chuck so much that I finally gave in and watched an episode and then another and then another. I got all caught up the other day. I went to Subway. I sent out Twitters. I’m now a Chuck fanatic.
best season finale of the year so far. hopefully heroes will be good. my dvr is getting worn out tonight. after i finish heroes, sans commercials, i will do the same to 24, house, and all the cbs comedies. damn finals, cutting into my tv time.
oops sorry that posted twice
Wow that was downright incredible. There was no more perfect way to end this season than with the line “I know kung fu.” I’m really happy they didn’t kill Scott Bakula as Chuck’s dad. He’s such a great character with so much territory unexplored, it would have been tragic to kill him. I was also getting pretty worried about Casey after that guy killed Roarke and Casey’s team, thought they might be going the route of having Bryce take over Casey’s role, but thankfully that didn’t happen.
Absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next…so glad they decided to add “to be continued” at the end. NBC absolutely has to renew this perfect show. No better, more purely enjoyable show on TV.
Chuck me! That was amazing. So sorry I missed the chat. I’m going to go watch it again.
Great episode!! Everything just flowed togetber so well, as it always does on this show. I really hope this comes back and will be heartbrioken if it doesn’t. Oh, and I don’t believe Bryce is dead either. He’s tricked us before. I know he’s not on much but I love his character!
SAVE CHUCK!!!!
Seriously… I will be so beyond disappointed if this does not get renewed!
Everything about tonight was awesome. The wedding(s), the Marine betrayal, Casey’s Marine reunion, the return of Jester!, the good, “Guys, I know Kung Fu!” the almost Sarah/Chuck moment we got…
Chuck me.
Awesome. Simply put.
Yay for Bryce. He actually was a good guy. But… as has been said before… when is Bryce really dead? We’ll see more of him next year.
Speaking of next year, keep checking in to NBC.com and reviewing eps on HULU.com. The battle isn’t over yet. Keep the pressure on.
Wow! The RING? Bigger than Fulcrum? I wonder if they’re related to KAOS or THRUSH (You old-timers know who they are)?
Best episode ever. Bring on Season Three. Chuck me!
“Chuck me” is my new phrase. Love freaking Casey for that.
This season has been so fantastic and this finale was just “aces Charles”. Loved Morgan and Awesome’s exchange at the ceremony. Loved Ellie having the wedding SHE really wanted, and Chuck putting his hard earned money to such unselfish use. Sniff. God I love this show.
I liked how things came full circle with Bryce, Chuck and the Intersect.
Finally, LOVED the Chuck and Sarah moments. Le Sigh!
OMG, Chuck is the Slayer!
Hee.
Seriously, though, an awesome ending. Please, please let it be only the season finale…
That was effing amazing. I didn’t watch any spoilery videos and I’m so glad I didn’t because I was beyond shocked at how it all played out! The ending? Good lord! I had a big dumb grin on my face watching Chuck all growed up and kicking bad guy ass. I will lose my shizz if NBC cancels the show. I enjoyed a pizza sub from Subway for dinner while I watched, and emailed Subway HQ as proof. Keep the Chuck hope alive guys!
Great Not-so-much a finally. Man, that was definitely game changing. I am starting to believe that Josh Swartz and Chris Fedak no more about Chuck’s future than we might think. The whole “To be Continued…” got me thinking that NBC might have already clued the guys in on Chuck’s future but they are sworn to secracy. I hope that’s what that phrase meant.
My Subway experience was hilarious. I live in a town of 11,000 people and our Subway doesn’t even have a comment box. I wrote a note to the manager on the back of a reciept explaining why I bought a footlong tonight. I just hope that my voice gets heard. The working manager didn’t know anything about our campaign!
by the way, I think I need to correct my spelling. I meant to say Finale instead of finally.
Thanks again for the fantastic chat to accompany an awesome season finale!
The Awesome and Ellie wedding video is up on NBC (complete with odd usage of stock wedding photo for the final screen):
http://www.nbc.com/Chuck/video/clips/the-woodcomb-wedding/1092162/
Completely EPIC! More Charah wouldve been awesome…can you FINALLY just tell him you love him, Sarah?!
Finally Chuck gets to kick a**. Havent we been waiting for this ever since everyone was complaining about Chuck in “Beefcake”?
This simply. Cannot. Be. The. END!!!!! It just freakin CANT!!!!
“Chuck Me.” Best line ever.
Domo Arigato Mr Roboto…secret secret, Ive got a secret…how perfect!
Sarah choosing Chuck over Bryce yet again with the simple shake of the head.
Ellie drunk in her wedding dress in the tub…LOL
So much more I can even describe because then I may as well just post the entire episode!!!
Just watched it.
…think i about had a chuckgasm. I might actually literally burn down my entire dorm if this show is canceled.
WOW. Just…OMG. wow.
If you went to Subway and they had no comment box, like mine, try this url.
http://www.subway.com/Applications/CustService/frmCustomerService.aspx
It’s Subway’s online comment section.
What an ‘AWESOME” episode! NBC would be crazy to end Chuck! They did an incredible job of setting up Season 3 with a new villian to fight and a new improved Chuck to fight them with. I cannot imagine Monday nights without Chuck. Without that crazy group at the Buy More, without Big Mike, but mostly without John Casey. Adam Baldwin makes me laugh every single episode! Last night proved to me exactly why this show absolutely deserves a third Season!
After such a high from last night’s ep, I was not happy to see NBC refer to the online listing as a “series finale”. What series finale ends with a huge “TO BE CONTINUED . . “?
Pre-orders for the DVD were #40 on Amazon this week. People are watching hulu and nbc and buying dvds and downloading from iTunes. What else do we have to do to show Silverman that we like this show?!
OMG guys! NBC.com lists the Ring episode as the SERIES FINALE. Please tell me some idiot from NBC made a mistake!!!
NBC must pick up the show for a 3rd season. Especially after this awesome episode!!!!
Thanks again to Kath and SB for hosting live chat – it was great to watch with everyone. The only consolation if this was it, albeit there is no consoling me, is that a new and improved Chuck moves forward into the unknown.
Chuck me is now a classic but my favorite line from Casey was ‘clashes with the bunting” 🙂
Series Finale? It still says that on the http://www.nbc.com/chuck
Say it ain’t so!
“chuck me”. Of all Casey’s lines (and there have been many including “men who have their men parts don’t hug”) “chuck me” has to be the best.
Chuckles … hmm. It does say that on the right hand side, with the episode synopsis. But in the little rotating box, just to the left, it says “season finale”. So … maybe NBC still hasn’t made up their mind?! Wishful thinking … this show is WAY too amazing to cancel, especially after last night.
Also – LOL to the commenter who said Chuck is the Slayer. TOTALLY!
Thanks for turning me onto another great show GMMR! And for giving me and my brother something to share.
This finale proves why this show continues to be must-see TV for me. No show on television combines the funny with the heart with the action as well as Chuck does.
“Guys, I know Kung fu.” Awesome ending to an awesome season. Hopefully NBC will support this fantastic show with a 3rd season.
AMAZING episode! I laughed, I gasped, I laughed some more – that’s what TV should be! I bought my subway sandwich last night and ate it while watching “Chuck” – I hope it helped ’cause it was perfect.
“chuck me.” that goes on my list of caseyisms, including my previous fave, “what? i wasn’t hatched!” what are your fave caseyisms?
please oh please nbc powers that be, renew this show.
because they so rock the world, there’s a jeffster site.
http://www.nbc.com/Chuck/exclusives/jeffster/
I’m taking Sepinwall’s tweet to heart and not panicking because this is not the way that NBC would announce this. I just feel that they should fix the darn thing or make an announcement instead of fueling more spec.
I just checked the NBC Universal Store, and 12 of the 30 best sellers are Chuck items. If that doesn’t show that people are willing to monetarily support their show as well as the sponsors of the show, then I don’t know what will. Heck, I’m even going to buy an Insight instead of the Fit despite the massive amounts of student loan debt that I have to begin paying in 6 mos. How’s that for brainwashing me with ads just seen during Chuck viewings–on the net and live!
LOVED LOVED LOVED this episode! Chuck has easily become the show I most look forward to in a week. They can’t cancel it! C’mon NBC, BE AWESOME!
LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE,LOVE!!!!!
Chuck Me! Has to be the best line ever!
Think of all the new possibilities with the new intersect. I’m guessing it can download whatever skill is needed for whatever situation Chuck gets himself into. The potential for comedy is huge!
I don’t know how NBC can cancel Chuck at this point. They don’t have a better show on the air right now.
I haven’t posted here in a long while, but I just finished watching the finale of Chuck and that was the BEST EPISODE EVER!
Chuck me!!! Oh Casey how I love you…especially when you parachute in through glass ceilings.
Sarah and Chuck…so sweet.
I was saddened to see Roark get killed because I really like Chevy Chase as a bad guy.
I even enjoyed Lester and Jeff…I thought they sounded pretty good for a sucky band.
I don’t buy that Bryce is dead because of the way he was dragged out of the room by one of the “spys”. I guess we shall see.
Loved this episode and I hope that NBC grows a pair and keeps this show on the air.
Awww, Kath, that was so sweet! Thank you!
WOW!!!!! This show gets better and better…what an amazing finale! It had laughs, recurring characters, some mysteries solved, lots of speculation and game changers for next season! I LOVE CHUCK! The fight scene in the reception room with the Jeffster playing in the background…and then the pyrotechnics? Amazing. The episode was jam packed and fast paced..loved it.
NBC – do you hear us???? This show can only get bigger AND better. I’m not worried at all about next season in terms of story line…The Office writers and now Chuck writers are the two shows on my “trust the writers” list, I’ll watch and be happily along for the whole ride, b/c they know what they’re doing!! 🙂
Excellent review as usual, SB. I totally agree with your assessment of the finale. I think that season 3 will merely take Chuck to new places, not change him as a person. Regardless of whether or not he can do kung fu or detonate a bomb, he will still be a loveable nerd trying to cope with his newfound “powers.” I’ve seen people wondering what this means for Sarah and Casey and whether Chuck 2.0 would even need them. I feel that even though Chuck has the power of the interesect, he will always need someone to guide him and make sure that he stay strue to the mission and true to himself.
I could never get into The OC or Gossip Girl–I’m just really turned off by pretty people behaving badly–but this show makes me have a big fat crush on Josh Schwartz.
P.S. Eonline’s Save One Show: CHUCK made the top 5…voting ends Wed night! VOTE!!
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b120751_save_one_show_play_game-changer_round.html
I don’t know which I’ll miss more if Chuck is not brought back, the show itself or SB’s reviews 🙁
I’m ready for whatever they bring on and let’s hope they bring it on. Go ahead and Chuck me 😉
This was AWESOME! I am blown away by how good this ep was. The wedding sequence left me giddy. Loved Sarah’s dad seeing her on the floor doing yoga to calm down, looks like he is about to say something, then thinks better of it and moves on. heh. Too many good lines and scenes to recount. Loved it. I don’t think Bryce is dead. I love Bryce. Have from the start. And he moves a lot more like a superspy, fighting machine than Chuck did in the end sequence. I’m worried they will bring him back as the ubervillian after he is reprogrammed by the new big bad. I like good but shady Bryce.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED last night’s episode!! I cannot describe how perfect it was. I literally screamed out loud three or four times, because evrything was just awesome. My love of Jeffster did not fail me last night, they stole the wedding.
I was also excited for the Awesome. Ellie, my heart went out to her. But she got exactly what she want in the end (thanks to Chuck and Casey). And everything with Chuck & Sarah was GOLD. “I love her.” *ded*
It would be an awesome 18th birthday gift if NBC renews Chuck. As well as season 1 on dvd (thanks for the recommendation SB) and my friend and I are getting shirts.
Thanks so much for the recap – not just today but all season long. They have been awesome all along. I loved last night’s episode. Casey – I love everything about Casey. But his eyes when he and Sarah were watching Chuck bust out his new Kung Fu moves. I could not stop giggling. The Chuck Me. Casey helping with wedding preperations. How cute was all ofthat?
I was also thinking that Bryce wasn’t dead. I mean, yes, he looked dead with his open, not blinking eyes. But I thoguht he was dead at the beginning of the show when Casey shot him. Sooooooo, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised. Also, they carried his body out. What the what was that? WHy wouldn’t they just leave his dead self there and deal with the live people? All of that I found strange.
Chuck quitting the Buy More was awesome. I’m with you in that I think they will find Awesomeness no matter where they go, but I just assumed that next year Chuck would be back at teh Buy More, back under cover. But, I will also agree that I will follow Chuck wherever it will go.
I sincerely hope that wasn’t the series finale and sincerely hope that we will see you back recapping next year.
Like someone already said, the show I look forward to the most.
Excellent finale, watched it with my wife and son. And yes Matthew does get up and dance to the show’s theme.
Chuck Vs The Ring aka To Spy Or Not To Spy That Is The Question!
There is a new force present in the spy world, Chuck Bartowski.
After two seasons of desperately grasping at every opportunity to reclaim his old life, Chuck Bartowski finally acknowledges that a greater path lays before him. After being told time and time again that he is a spy, Chuck is faced with a choice and though his primary motivation may have been love, a force which guides much of his decisions, in the end it is the realization that he does indeed have the ‘Right Stuff.’
The Ring bears many of the trademarks of the preceding episode – Chuck Vs The Colonel – a breakneck pace, major revelations of story and character, humour, action, drama, all laced with nerd references that end with significant changes for the series.
Whereas the Colonel closed off issues for the Second Season, the Ring delivers exactly what Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz said it would – a game changing episode that culminated in PONRs for Chuck and Sarah.
Throughout the episode the wonderful cast shone in every respect. Major kudos to the three leads – Zac, Yvonne, and Adam who work off of each other so well and each having their moment to shine.
Casey’s, ‘Chuck Me!’ could replace BattleStar Galactica’s, ‘Frak Me!’ as the curse word slogan du jour.
So many great things happened in this episode from Casey’s team rappelling into the wedding, Sarah frantically searching for the wedding gift knife set, PapaB putting the smack down on Roark, Morgan’s willingness to take the blame for Chuck at delaying the wedding, Devon’s acceptance of the delay once he knew Chuck was behind it, and all the way to the game changing sequence at the end in the Intersect Room.
Chuck not only decided to become a hero but one with ‘superpowers.’ Of course having such a moment in the Chuck Verse can only lead to awesome comedic opportunities. Especially if Chuck cannot control what power he flashes on and said power arises in a non-spy moment.
So a pretty great finale. The pacing of this episode suffered the same relentless, high speed tone of the Colonel but not quite as frenetic. As a lover of stories and their structure, great stories need room for the characters, and the readers, to reflect on what has happened, what is happening, and most importantly – what is to come. More quiet moments would have turned awesome episodes into amazingly, awesome ones.
These last two episodes could have been 2 hours each.
Finally, another small caveat, given that this could potentially be the last episode would it have hurt to give a small bone to those to whom the relationship is the raison d’être for watching the show? A quiet moment where Chuck and Sarah exchanged verbal affirmation to one another seems like such a small thing to give. Even more so, when everyone else in the show knows and/or has heard how the one feels about the other.
For me there was enough there that I am content with where the relationship stands in terms of expression. For others a moment of open, direct communication between Chuck and Sarah seems like an unfair thing to have withheld.
With an eye to the third season, I am very excited to see what further adventures await Team B and seeing Chuck comedically struggle with his new found powers.
To the cast, crew, showrunners etc, and those all important writers a big THANK YOU! for a fantastic season.
Here is to continuing Chuck’s journey – Cheers!
You guys are all so great! I feel so loved! You’ve all been so great yourselves, commenting and participating and generally being awesome. Group hug? Awesome!
It’s a semi-bummer that “Chuck Me!” happened after the big push to save the show, because I smell t-shirts! But I bet we’d all still wear one. 🙂
Maybe the Buy More will be back–I truly don’t know, I’m just trying to prepare myself for any eventuality. 🙂
Becky, VERY interesting point and observation about dead Bryce being carted off instead of them dealing with the living … you’ve got me thinking now!
And Lisa, if you’re a Top Chef watcher, you won’t have to miss me for long! They’re doing a summer season of Top Chef: Masters (with the famous chefs and guest judges and stuff), and I’m going to recap that for GMMR! And I’m still hopeful that I’ll be back for more Chuck next year. 🙂
CHUCKing Amazing ep! I figured “Kung Fu” scene will come in handy when team Bartowski got surrounded. And the upgrades… I WAS paying attention ‘coz it was just a bit more than halfway through the episode when the supposed “finale moment” came in (the dance thingy). Buy More will surely be back, but a nice formula for next season would be Chuck pretending to still be a “loser”, when in fact he does kick ass. “Awesome” will make an awesome sidekick.
It will also be funnier if Chuck’s Kung Fu skills aren’t that reliable, e.g. turns on and off at times, since it was Bryce-made…
Randomly, I was sent an in-depth survey from NBC today about NBC sponsors and the green initiative. I made sure to praise Chuck as much as possible and all of the Chuck sponsors that they mentioned (no Subway!) like HOnda. I said that I was considering buying a Honda Insight due to the Zachary Levi commercial I saw during the show Chuck. Overkill? Nah! I spent twenty minutes on the thing, just to get the Chuck word out.
We need NBC to be awesome…can they do it?
Good work, Nicole!
Aww … SB, your recaps rock. I will miss them over the summer as much as I’ll miss Chuck. You tackled everything I was thinking of … how awesome the episode was, how amazing it was that Ellie & Awesome’s flashy wedding was ruined, so they could have their beautifully real beach wedding … Chuck and Sarah goodness … OMG! Such amazing things. And Casey the wedding planner? “Chuck me”?!? Seriously … fantastic finale. SEASON finale. (Btw – NBC doesn’t have the “series finale” thing up anymore … it appears to be gone now, which is good. I don’t believe for a second that it won’t be returning for a third season).
I’m not certain that Bryce is dead, but if he really did “die”, then you are right … nice to see him die all peaceful, and get to see Sarah’s awesome reaction. Each and every one of those cast members SHONE yesterday, from Bike Mike, to Ellie and Awesome, and EVERYONE else.
Man, I love this show so much I could hug it all day long 🙂
Wow i honestly think this is the first time i have acually blogged. So where better to start than the my favorite show. At first i doubted the show’s capabilities. the pure awesome vibes thrown out by chuck and cast soon won me over. in fact i didn’t start watching it until the second season. but after chucks weekly trials at defending the usa and trying to capture sara’s heart i was hooked. and with this most recent masterpiece i can’t even remember the matrix on kung fu chuckie. so let this finale be only a temporary withdraw from our many more chuck me moments!
Before I saw too much, TVGuide.com posted an interview with Josh so some of the questions mentioned like “Is Bryce truly dead?” are talked about.
Whoa…simply just WHOA! I can honestly say that this finale kicks all finales ass this season. Even shows that haven’t had their finales yet, I don’t care because they can’t even wish to be as fantastic as Chuck’s finale. The only show’s finale that I can think of that can top this moment is Lost’s.
Everything that I could have asked for in this episode was surpassed. I am so glad I knew nothing that was going to happen because it was just incredible. I’m to the point that everything I want to mention has just one word to describe it: AWESOME.
I can’t see a reason why NBC would cancel this show and after seeing this episode, I can’t even imagine that it’s on the bubble. It’s out of my mind now. This show has secured a third season, to me. Whatever else I can do to make sure that becomes a reality, DONE.
Guess I’m in the minority here, but I was kind of disappointed in the finale. I literally groaned when Chuck went all Matrix on the mysterious new bad dudes. I like my Chuck defenseless and nerdy, thanks. Even so, I love this show and hope it comes back next season.
I was absolutely entertained! I LOVED the JEFFSTER performance! It was everything I needed after my fear that we would not see much of the buy more crew!!! I am so fearful of a future announcement of cancellation…(and on that day my heart will be broken and empty!!!) Everything seemed to have such a finality about it! I can only pray that we will get to see more of the KUNG-FU Chuck….(How funny was Casey facial expression when Chuck went ballistic on the new enemies!!) That in itself deserves an Emmy!! I Love this show…please NBC head our prayers and save this show!!!!
I was absolutely entertained! I LOVED the JEFFSTER performance! It was everything I needed after my fear that we would not see much of the buy more crew!!! I am so fearful of a future announcement of cancellation…(and on that day my heart will be broken and empty!!!) Everything seemed to have such a finality about it! I can only pray that we will get to see more of the KUNG-FU Chuck….(How funny was Casey facial expression when Chuck went ballistic on the new enemies!!) That in itself deserves an Emmy!! I Love this show…please NBC answer our prayers and save this show!!!!
I’m a new poster, but I feel like I know you all already! I don’t have TV, so I get all my Chuck action thanks to Hulu, and GMMR is the first page I open when the Chuck closing credits start to roll. I’ve been reading SB’s recaps since I discovered them a few months ago, and I just can’t hold back my comments after seeing last night’s episode.
And … I’m afraid I have a lot of comments. The episode was SOOO GOOD!!
I could reiterate what so many of you have already said (Mr. Roboto, Chuck Me, Clashes With the Bunting, and LOVING [A LOT] the different iterations of the Intersect from Daddy Bartowski up through New Chuck).
But I also have some speculation. Becky already mentioned that Chuck will probably somehow stay at the BuyMore undercover (now that he’s the Intersect again). I agree with her — unless, of course, he starts selling yogurt with Sarah or gets a job at the Underpants, Etc. next door.
Also, excellent point about Bryce dying with his eyes open. That means if he’s *not* dead … he’s ALSO an Intersect! He watched the whole thing, same as Chuck.
Anyone notice the Back to the Future shout-outs, too? Lester’s “watch me for the changes” — I was so ready for him to add “and try to keep up.” And “To Be Continued …” (okay, not the most original phrase ever) is still a consistent BTTF stinger.
Like Naomi said, Kung fu Chuck bothered me a little at the end of the episode, but I’m also with SB: I think the writers have proven themselves this season, and I trust them to keep it consistently awesome next year. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a show as consistently satisfying as Chuck was this season.
I look forward to Chuck every week. It’s the perfect blend of everything entertainment. You’ve said it on here every week: it balances silly with serious, hilarious with heartbreaking, escapism with examination. It’s everything entertainment should be, and I’d be sad to think something that’s this good couldn’t make a go for more than two seasons.
Wow! This truly was another great episode from the producer’s of Chuck. I have to say that I liked just about everything that was done in this episode. A few of favorite points include:
– Jeffster singing Mr. Roboto / the banquet room shootout was perhaps one of the best scenes in all of television history, it combined all of the elements that I loved about the show
– Chevy Chase was finally right on the mark as the villain, his humor was really well put this episode
– Speaking of Chevy Chase I love the wide-eyed look that he gave when he saw Casey’s team descending through the roof, it was much like the one he gives in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation whenever he does something really dumb
– Seeing Casey interacting with his team was awesome, I would really like to see more of Casey interacting with people he considers friends in future episodes
– I originally predicted that Chuck would need to get the intersect back and that it might be a little less than good, but just the way that it all played out with Chuck choosing to be the hero was awesome
– Lester is referred to as an “Indian lesbian”
– “Chuck me” and “You rang” — more Casey one-liners!
– For some reason especially after this episode I really want to one day own something similar to orion’s wrist computer, that thing is so damn cool!
Overall, I can’t say how much I enjoyed this episode. This truly was a pilot for the rest of Chuck. The parallels to the original pilot are great, everything from going from a party in the Bartowski courtyard to Bryce bleeding in the intersect room. I just can’t wait for season 3!!
Oh and one question, whatever happened to Jill, I thought for sure that she would have showed up in the finale?
Hey you guys! [/Sloth] I just read this article and really enjoyed it, and felt like Josh Schwartz addressed a lot of the stuff we’ve been talking about and you all might like it. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Chuck-interview-Schwartz-1005538.aspx
Did anyone else read the story about how one of the heads of marketing at Subway put in a call to NBC about how happy they were for the publicity and they hoped Chuck would be around for a third season? I think if we get one, we should do Premiere and a Footlong as thanks. 🙂
Loving
Hey guys, wanted to share this really great article http://www.tvguide.com/News/Chuck-interview-Schwartz-1005538.aspx where Josh Schwartz addresses a lot of the topics we’ve been talking about. I enjoyed reading it and wouldn’t post a link to garbage, I swear! 🙂
Did anyone else read the article about how happy Subway was with the finale and a footlong campaign? Apparently one of their marketing execs called NBC to say how happy they were with Chuck and hoped they’d be back for a third season. I think that’s absolutely everything you could hope for from the footlong effort, and I think if we get a third season, we should do premiere and a footlong as a thank you. 🙂
I’m loving reading everyone’s comments! Keep them coming! I haven’t been responding as much as I normally do because of sheer volume, and because you guys are doing such a great job of keeping the conversation going. I love our little community of Chuck lovers here at GMMR!
Well, crap. I thought the internet ate my first post so I tried again, and now you get it twice. 🙂 Oh well! It happens to all of us, right?
Hey, two posts is twice as nice. MOre Chuck love. Because we’re all kinda obsessed with the show at this point SB. (:
Good point, Hilary, and thanks for making me feel good. 🙂
Loved the finale! I’m glad that the Buy More is no more. I’m glad they didn’t spill the beans to Ellie. I’m glad Ellie got her dream wedding.
I LOVED the Indian lesbian line. Brilliant!
Loved Devon’s reaction to Jeffster.
Loved that Chuck is not a wuss anymore. He will be coming to grips with his Kung Fu abilities, as will Casey. I forsee a karate chop when they both reach for a cookie next season.
off topic: RIP Justin Shronk, age 27, Poker Road Radio producer (pokerroad.com)
wow chuck me that is the most amazing line ever i had to watch it over just to watch ever thing around that line -by far the most amazing finale ever i have watched it 3 times already one live of course eating my subway and twice on nbc.com next season cuz there will be if we all have any say in it will be great i have to see more of chuck the new kung fu master !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did anyone try calling Casey’s personal number? I haven’t yet ’cause I was hoping someone else would have mentioned it, but I don’t think anyone did after skimming all the comments. By the way that number is 323-555-0173
Thanks for the heads up on that article SB. That interview with Josh Schwartz was great and somewhat reassuring. It’s good to know that no matter what NBC does, the writters already have ideas for next season. This would make it very easy to pitch to someone else if need be. However, I don’t think that will have to happen. I’m confident that Chuck love is spreading at an increasing rate. I’m looking forward to a third season.