ChuckTV.net The CHUCK archive
Part I
Where Things Stand At The End Of Season 3
Hey Chuck fans! Trust everyone is having a great summer. It has been a hot one up here in the Toronto area and the family and I have been getting great use of the backyard pool. Time is flying by and before we realize it Chuck will be returning for Season 4. It is already August and with Chuck on the fall schedule instead of midseason this time, that return is even quicker.
In between seasons I have been formulating a wish list of items for Season 4 based that I am hoping the show will touch upon. Now that the 2010 San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) Chuck Panel has come and gone and we have had our media blitz until the September season premiere let us take a look at how things are shaping up.
Before the SDCC or any Season 4 spoilers surfaced I jotted down some wish list thoughts. Let us see how they match up against the spoilers we have learned about since SDCC.
Season 4 Wish List – this is raw. I thought about cleaning it up but decided to leave it as is as it better represents my gut feelings. Please feel free to add to the list in the Comments Section. I will review the comments and add any items that pique my interest in the next article for discussion.
1) Chuck
- becoming a hero
- master of his destiny
- picking up Orion’s legacy
- no longer a spy, will do spy activities
- reconcile with his mother – guilt from childhood, guilt from his father’s death
2) Sarah
- her quest to find love and family largely accomplished
- new goal needed to maintain her individuality
- how to prevent her from becoming just an appendage to Chuck
- reconcile with her father and/or mother
3) Casey
- becoming softer
- connecting with Alex
- relationship with Morgan
- protective ‘daddy’
4) Morgan
- becoming more valuable to team
- continuing growth arc
- finding that growth in relationship with Alex
5) Ellie
- becoming integrated into the team
- powerful persona – stop wasting her as worrying mother hen
6) BuyMore = NoMore
7) Better Spy Mythology/Recurring Villain – Shaw?
Before we get into comparing my scribbles against the recent spoilers a table setting exercise by reviewing how things stood at the end of Season 3 seems in order.
Chuck and Sarah are together.
This came a season late for many. Definitely it came half a season too late. With “Chuck Versus the Mask” the show took the ill advised step of pairing up Chuck and Sarah with other people and turning the Potential Love Interests in Actual Love Interests. Mercifully Chuck and Sarah were put together by episode 13. Fortunately they had another six episodes to explore the two of them together.
Chuck is no longer a spy and for the first time since the series started is in a position to control his life. This is an important turning point in his destiny. Now Chuck has free will. He can decide what he will do with his life. Yes, it is a foregone conclusion that he will pick up his father’s legacy. The quest to find his mother is the motivating factor but even without her in the equation it is a fait accompli that Chuck will eventually decide to carry on his father’s work. For it is the work that calls to Chuck on so many levels, least of which is all the nerd culture material he grew up with.
For a brief shining moment we saw the entire Team Bartowski clan working in unison to thwart a common enemy. That is why “Chuck Versus The Subway” is not only the best episode of the season for me but the best episode of the series. Subway had the best balance of ALL the elements that make up the show. How exhilarating and exciting was it to see Ellie released from the fetters of falsehood that have hobbled her character since the pilot? Too potent a character to waste as merely a nagging mother hen IMO. More Team Barktowski, not just Chuck and Sarah, working together is what the show should aim for.
The most exciting thing at the end of Season 3 was the everyone was in on the spy world. The initial dramatic and comedic opportunities of keeping Chuck’s friends and family members had been panned out. The plot contrivances and inertia that built up over time began to have a negative impact on the characters and storylines. It is high time the lying stops in the real world. When Devon found out, when Morgan found out, and finally when Ellie found; more story telling doors opened than the ones that were closed. The time has arrived for the main cast members to come together as a cohesive whole.
The primary beneficiary of these newly opened doors is Sarah. She was finally allowed to let her guard down. Sarah smiled. Sarah laughed. Sarah was happy. Now is the time for the show to give her moments with the other members of the team. Now is the time for Sarah/Ellie scenes. For more Sarah/Morgan scenes. More Sarah/Ellie scenes. Time for Sarah/Devon scenes. Did I mention more Sarah/Ellie scenes? Time for scenes with Sarah and anyone else besides Chuck. Why? Because in those scenes she will be able to function as an individual. And those moments will make the scenes with Chuck that much more vibrant because they will be happening between two individuals instead of Sarah being an appendage to Chuck. Which is a big concern for me going forward. Sarah needs to be given her own purpose. And if that purpose provides some tension – not unsolvable BTW, do not freak out – between her and Chuck all the better for story telling purposes.
Rounding out the character growth for next season is the story potential between Casey, Morgan, and Alex. Thanks to expanding Casey’s backstory this is a rich, new field to till and harvest.
Turning to the story arc for next season we already know the focus is on family and the search for MamaB. It would be great to see the show streamline story telling by removing extraneous elements such as the BuyMore – (yes we know the BuyMore is back next season but for the sake of this article spoilers are being excluded) – that are becoming increasingly difficult to integrate and should be dropped.
Also the antagonist needs to be better developed. It is a maxim that a hero is only as good as the villain that opposes him. Team Bartowski demands a better foe in Season 4. Certainly either a new organization or individual better developed than the Ring or Fulcrum has been to date. Preferably one with that has history with the family. Right now Shaw is the only such character. The show needs to create one that has history with the Bartowski clan.
This wraps up my thoughts pre-spoiler. Next article will look at the spoilers and see how things stack up. I will look at which spoilers excited me and which ones are raising flags of concern.
Post away folks! The better comment you leave the more interesting the next article and subsequent discussion will be.
From two things Stephen Bartowski said to Chuck [and Ellie] IMHO, Ellie is going to get a version of the Intersect and/or get more actively involved with Chuck’s world.
I would say it’s highly unlikely that Ellie would get an Intersect. If anyone on team Bartowski other then Chuck got the intersect, i think it would ruin the premiss of the show.
i agree with u if anyone else got the intersect its not going to so interesting.
agree with you both
ellie with intersect would be too much
Chuck’s being able to exercise his free will will be somewhat liberating for Sarah. Her ties to him are no longer forced. He’s not her asset. He’s not her spy-trainee. He’s not her partner in the CIA. Now the “Will They/Won’t They” can be “will they choose to work together” during this or that particular crisis. Sarah is still in the CIA and still liable to danger. Chuck would have to interact with her professionally if she were in peril. But he could be more of a sounding board most of the time. She trusts his judgement. Always has. But Sarah’s liberation will be limited as long as the CIA places demands on her.
I agree. Ellie has a Bartowski brain too! It is apparently very special and can hold lots of data. It would be great to see Chuck and Ellie working together for a common cause, especially because they have brother and sister shorthand. For Sarah, I would like to add to the wish list that she become a part of the Bartowski family. It would be nice for her to have that inclusion, something she did not have growing up, and multiple people to have her back. I think there could be some delicious moments ahead, of her basking in the familial love and loyalty. Sarah gaining Ellie as a sister would be a nice touch….finally a woman friend/mentor. The rest of the cast…they just make me laugh! I love their antics. Oh…and one episode as an homage to TRON.
Ellie is so wasted, She’s Chuck’s older sister for goodness sakes! She’s supposed to have protected him through childhood.
I agree with you on the thought that Sarah needs more scenes with Ellie and other parts of Chucks family. Also completely agree about Chuck and Sarah as individuals. I would for example love if they, as said, reveal more about Sarahs background, like family and how she learned to fight like she does, and what now in the present makes her life better/or different because of her relationship with Chuck and because of her new family.
All this should happen, but there is one thing I am concerned about. Don’t forget Chuck and Sarah as a team again. Working together as partners. This is one of the best elements of the show, which was neglected in episodes 5-9 and what, in my view, made them not as interesting as the rest of the series . If Chucks only purpose is to search for his mother alone, secretely with Morgan and Sarahs only purpose is her new goal given by the CIA, it’s not them working together. No spy couple (hate the word, didn’t find a better one). No chance for more Team B either, as you say Lou. Here is hoping that both, C and S, will have their own big goals and big missions at the beginning which will tie together later in the season, like after the first 5 episodes, but still work together at least every second episode on smaller missions. If they only have scenes together, where they are in the house and talk about their relationship, its going to get boring pretty soon and it’s not really what makes C and S so special. Its not really C and S.
Thanks for sharing your Season 4 wish list Lou. Here are a few of mine.
Chuck- fulfilling Casey’s comment when he said, “Forget about being the Intersect, forget about being a spy. Before all that your were smart.” I’d like to see Chuck use more of his smarts than the Intersect in Season 4 similar to Papa B. Also would like to see him make his commitment to Sarah official.
Sarah- personal mission to reconnect with her mother and sister.
Casey- become more of a big brother to Chuck and Sarah; reconnecting with Alex and his mother.
Morgan- using more of his tech knowledge to assist the team; finding his father.
Ellie- becoming more of the fiery Ellie who told Chuck “If Sarah is the one, then you don’t stop. You don’t quit, you never go too far. You’re a Bartowski. Start acting like one.” Let’s see this Ellie in her search for her mother.
Lester & Jeff- exploring relationships with Lester’s high achieving family and Jeff’s felon mother and family.
Big Mike- growth through more than being the BuyMore Manager
I agree. Let’s see Chuck using his smarts. His dad said Chuck was smarter than him. I want to see that in action.
I am thinking back to what General Beckman said to Sarah in episode 3.1 or 3.2 about protecting the world from Chuck now that he has control of Intersect 2.0 and has left the CIA, I think it would be cool to actually see what this version can do. Can it pick up abilities ala neo in the Matrix, we have seen it combine abilities but is their more. I hate to say this but let’s see more of Chuck”s intelligence building gadgets and such like his dad did.
You raise some interesting points, Lou. I agree that Vs The Subway is far and away the best episode of the entire series so far. It balances the cross genre elements of the show well and, imo, this is because Team Bartowski are working together. The best episodes of the previous season were ensemble pieces with all the main characters present and interacting. I want to see more episodes with Chuck, Sarah and Casey in the same scenes and the extended team working together; whether on spy missions or with their personal issues. This is where the show excels and that got lost last season with the arrival of Shaw even before the dreaded PLI/LI arc started. I can see the sub plot of season 4 being the assembly of the full team; the main 6 characters working together with additional involvement from Alex and possibly, by the end of the season, Mama B. Then there really could be multiple seasons.
I shared your concern over the usefulness of the Buy More but didn’t expect it to be removed from the show; it’s too integral to the shows image. I
accepted that it would probably remain and was okay with that; it was never my favourite part but I could live with it. However, I’m quite excited about what they have planned; it will give it a new direction and I am looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
As for the lying, I don’t think that is going to stop. Schwedak have said that you can’t have a spy show without secrets so I think that will go on for a while. I can see your point about who you lie to and maybe Chuck still has to learn more about that. I hope it doesn’t become too big a part of the
storyline though.
As you said, it was a good job they had the additional 6 episodes. They returned my faith in the showrunners and I’m really looking forward to
season 4. I’m taking Chris Fedak at his word in that they want to get Team Bartowski back together as quickily as possible.
Man, I love that wish list. But I want to add only a couple of things.
I definitely want to see Chuck and Sarah engaged this season. That would make me happy.
I want to see Ellie become a real mother, and I kinda wish that Casey at least reconciles with Kathleen (if not more).
Well, maybe those last two could wait for season 5, but I wouldn’t mind that happening in season 4.
Morgan is the hard one. Like you, I want him to find something meaningful with Alex. But after that? Well, what more would he need? 😉
I’d love for Chuck to rely more on his natural streets smarts and less(but not all) the time on the Intersect to solve a problem or to survive. Propose to Sarah, and for heaven’s sake stop lying.
More of Sarah’s past, her father to return and some small tidbit about her mother would be nice.
Casey to grow closer to Alex and Vice versa; and reconsiele with Kathleen. I don’t want him to be too soft, I like his badassary. 😉 but there’s a great balance for that.
Devon to get in more in the shenanigans of his extended adopted family and I miss seeing him in his work shrugs.
For Ellie to have a meatier role and be more involved since she’s in on the secret. How she’ll feel to being a new mother and how that effects her relationship with her own mother MEB.
More family interactions/meals ect.
Who knows maybe even a wedding to top it all off. 🙂
idiot the buymore has been renovated and taken over by the CIA
No need to get personal, Micah.
sorry just trying to make sure u knew but I guess it pays to read it all
It does indeed.
there is better villains the ones that the intel in stephen b’s base listed did u not catch that
There ARE better villains – you mean. is = present singular. are = present plural
I most certainly caught them but until we meet them and/or find out about them how can anyone know they are better?
because of the family history
A plausible starting point but that is all. There is no examinable evidence. Until then there is no way of knowing.
good point what do you think about having TI guest star as a spy he does have that look
I want to see in 4 season finale or 5 begining, Morgan with his own Crown Vic LTD, its would be great! Greetings from a Brazilian Chuck fan . . .
More Sarah/Ellie scenes absolutely. I envision a mirrored scene to the one in Undercover Lover. Ellie comes over to talk to Chuck and finds Sarah alone drinking wine after her and Chuck have had a fight. However, shortly after Ellie arrives she gets called to the hospital and has to leave. Enter Morgan, who once again ends up in the same position.
With respect to Chuck, I think he will be back with the CIA, primarily so he can use their resources to further his Orion objectives. Also the show needs Team Bartowski to be working togehter.
As for Ellie, I would like to see Chuck show her Orion’s lair and explain to her why he must continue to be a spy. However, I don’t see her being an active part of Team Bartowski, but occassionally gets involved. Although from the spoilers it looks like Chuck will once again be lying to her – not cool.
Gord, Chuck returning to the CIA is the ONE thing I do not want happening to his character. Chuck needs to remain autonomous. I’ll discuss why in my next article.
While he may not be on the CIA payroll, I believe he will have to be something like a “consult” or independent agent that the CIA uses a lot.
That way he would be free of direct control by the CIA et al, yet still be doing work for them. Otherwise why have an NSA agent and a CIA agent around. Would they be needed?
Also, since Chuck isn’t independently wealthy, unless his dad had a bunch of money stashed away, he’ll need resources that may not be at his disposal, it would seem to me.
Good list Lou. I agree with a lot of those here are my brief hopes for the main characters: Chuck-Continue the Hero’s Journey, Sarah-Reconcile w/Dad and learn more about why Mom wasn’t around. Casey-continue to be a “bad boy with a soft-side” but since Papa B isn’t around I’d like to see him mentor Chuck a little more. Also, he needs woman (maybe he’ll like Mama B, afterall, she is Linda Hamilton). Morgan,-continue to be the best-one liner guy on the show, Chuck’s best friend and get his own love-interest. Devon and Ellie need to start a family and individually come to terms with the fact that spying seems to be the Bartowski way. As for CHARAH, they should continue to work on their trust issues, be great partners, and get engaged sometime this season. I for one would like to see them do fun couple things. Maybe they could have a Beach Volleyball game with the Awesome’s and the rest of the gang, it could be like the scene in Top Gun only co-ed. That’d bring up those ratings!
These are nice ideas. The only one I have trouble with is the Casey-Mama B proposition. If Casey is into women about 15 years his senior, it could work. But TV pairings don’t usually go in that direction.
Um no, not a chance. If Casey does get a woman this season, I want him to be with Kathleen,Alex’s mother and no one else. Besides, we don’t know what side Mama B will be on….
If MamaB is not on Orion’s/Team Bartowski side that would be utterly shocking.
Almost impossible to believe that someone as intelligent as PapaB could be be fooled into protecting someone who is a criminal.
Then again, love is blind…..
True. TPTB said to expect some shocking surprises about MEB in the premiere…I hope she comes round to the good side.
Good Point Doctor Bob, she’d be a little mature for Casey, I keep forgetting how old everyone is, probably cause I’m getting old too. 😉
I agree with wishing to see Casey showing his tender side alongside the usual badass role! Adam has an amazing range which he doesn’t get to show that often; writers, please let’s see him flex his other acting muscles!
Mama B might not be THAT much older than Casey. Scott Bakula was born 1954; Mama could easily be 5 years younger. Which places her 2 years older than Adam’s RL age. There could be sparks :-). Even if Linda plays her real age, that’s still 6 years difference, not 15!!
I’d like to see Chuck and Sarah play a small screen version of Mr and Mrs Smith; small spats and disagreements, sexual tension and fun. Like the classic ‘Avengers’ or ‘New Avengers’ on UK telly!
I think season 2 left Jill’s running off wide open for a nice tension filled return in season 4. She has a history of associating with rather nefarious types and she’s smart and devious in a way that makes me think she’s pretty scrappy. I don’t think it would be reaching for Chuck to encounter her again while on the hunt for Mama B or on some other sort of side mission of discovery in the files of Orion and other identities. And we know how Sarah feels about Jill and Chuck’s still apparent weakness for her (based on his allowing her to escape in First Kill). I’m not suggesting anything happen but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little jealous Sarah tension on the show. Its fun when she hits things in anger.
In the same sort of vein, and I know some people think we need to move forward from Jill/Bryce/Stanford and that whole history, but Bryce clearly was working with Orion and Chuck only got a glimpse of that storyline. Now that he has access to Papa B’s secret life, I’d like to see how far back Bryce was in touch with Orion and maybe it bringing up something about a past mission with Bryce and Sarah.
I think there is a lot of premise on the show now that everyone is tied together in more ways than anyone is yet aware and I don’t see much reason for abandoning that premise.
Guilty pleasure wish? I think it would be hilarious if there was an episode that somehow tied up the multiple plotholes and inconsistencies, particularly between the first and second seasons (I’m thinking specifically of Chuck’s “file” saying he was from the East Coast and then showing he and Morgan in grade school but there is many many others.) I’d love to see all of those continuity issues explained in about 15 minutes. And I think Jeffster should be involved.
I think, similar to the show Alias, Chucks mother will be the main villain? I mean it would make sense that she is because it would be a great complication to the Bartowski clan.
If that did happen, it would throw a bit of a wrench into the classic spy family heroes genre. I guess not all memebers of the family need to be good it gives a bit of spice to the show keeps things shaken up.
firstly awesome article, I’m really looking forward to the next one
but what do you think about carina being the next villain, i dunno how or why she would go against the authorities and in particular Sarah, but she’s someone who as you mentioned, has history with the clan and it could lead to unravelling more of Sarah’s still relatively unknown backstory.
I also think it’s an opportunity for more girl on girl fight scenes that they love to do some much or intense emotional ones that Yvonne’s so go at.
Or maybe in season 5 or 6 (i’m an optimistic person), there could be an arch based on someone like Carina holding Sarah and Chuck has to find her, kinda like how Shaw took Sarah in 3.12 but extended…hopefully shippers will be ok with that.
🙂
doubt that the fans will like that idea (they like carina too much)but I would
On the topic of a more active participation by Ellie (which I would really like to see), I am expecting to see a storyline around Ellie’s Neurology Fellowship, if she ever finds out about the Intersects effect on Chuck’s brain I see her working on and finding a cure.
This also brings up a worrying line of thought for me. If as Chuck said that she has wanted this since high school, what prompted her focus along that branch of medicine? Has she know about her fathers work and the possible implications to a person with an intersect? Will this amke a mockery of her 3 season apparent cluelessness? I hope not.
I really really hope we don’t come across Jill again. Not a fan of Jordana Brewster. But, if Team B did have a run in with her in the search for Mama B, it would be a cool storyline to have Chuck get amnesia of some sort (temporary of course) and Jill use the ring he gave her to convince him they’re engaged and on the run from the ‘bad guys’ aka Sarah and the CIA. Throughout the ep he starts having flashes/flashbacks of the truth, but in the end it’s Sarah that saves him by reminding him of what they have together. Cue Sarah/Jill full on ‘get-your-slimey-hands-off-my-man’ throw down!
– I hope Mama B is a bad guy. It would make for an interesting twist.
– I think Ellie will get drawn into the search for Mama B, because she was older than Chuck when Mama B disappeared and might remember things he doesn’t. I also think she’ll pursue the search because of becoming a mom herself.
– I’m with you Lou on the Sarah/Ellie bonding scenes, but I hope Ellie is pissed at Sarah to begin with (because of the whole lying and leading her brother into danger thing). Then I hope they bond/unite over something stupid Chuck does (with the assistance of Morgan of course).
I have tonnes of other things I want or don’t want to see in season 4. Far too many for the comments section. Mostly just looking forward to have Chuck back on my TV screen!
CAN’T WAIT 4 IT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Lou,
So much happened at the end of last season to blow up the existing relationships in the Chuck-verse, and I am not sure they can tell a story while grounding the characters in this new world in only 13 episodes.
Here are some of the things I am looking forward to seeing:
– Chuck and Sarah operating as a team at home and in the field. In season 3 we learned what happens to the show when we don’t see the two leads working together.
– Chuck becoming the actual head of Team Bartowski outside of his work with the CIA as he takes the mantel from Orion.
– No more secrets with Ellie. She is a smart, strong character and it would be a real disservice to the character and the show to keep her (or any non-Buy More character) out of the loop.
– Ellie and Sarah. If the season picks up shortly after the finale, it would be funny to watch Ellie interrogate Sarah about her life and relationship with Chuck. Ellie is probably the only character who can turn the tables on Sarah and make her feel uncomfortable under questioning, and that opens up comedic potential. Remember the the deleted scene from the 2.22 from S2 DVD after Chuck quits the BM? Aside from the interrogation, having Ellie and Sarah build a real relationship will be interesting.
– Casey building a relationship with Alex without losing the tough guy we all know and love.
– Credibly integrating Big Mike, Jeff and Lester into the new BM and the show without detracting from the 42 minutes we get to watch each week. Against the wishes of many (myself included) the BM is back. For it to work, these characters have add something meaningful to the story rather than serving as some cheap comedic B storyline each week. Morgan’s addition to the spy world allowed for comedic moments to naturally come up within the A story, so adding the BM as a B story may be overkill.
Sarah:
# new goal needed to maintain her individuality
# how to prevent her from becoming just an appendage to Chuck
Yes and yes. I hope they can do that for Sarah.
For Sarah to branch out more into her adopted family, sisterly bonding with Ellie and maybe a little brother/sisterly banter with Devon and Morgan just to stretch her more so she can fully begin to trust again. The ones in the family Sarah’s close to and absolutely trusts is Chuck and Casey. I’d love for her to trust and lean on the other members of the Bartowski clan as well.
Lou,
I’m generally down with all of your list. I’d be overjoyed if they delivered a season that took on those directions energetically and with renewed focus on developing the character interrelationships. I guess we’ll just have to see.
I have one exception and one addition to note.
The exception is your list item for Casey, “becoming softer”. Because you described your collection of items as a “wish list”, it comes across as your desire for Casey to become softer. Here I’m in disagreement. He’s plenty soft already and his humanizing happened at far too fast a pace for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the “nothing will cheer him up more than seeing you” and Sarah encountering him at Dr. Dreyfus’s scenes. In fact I won’t be happy until Casey becomes the gruff but insanely protective uncle bouncing one of Chuck and Sarah’s children on his knee, but…
I think Casey plays better when he’s trying to cover up the “Sugar Bear” and we see his caring peeking out from underneath. The overt displays should be rare and only used in those cases where he decides it’s necessary or it’s unavoidable. At least, for the present. Note that this doesn’t preclude the other goals for him on your list, just how they’re played. My two cents, anyway.
My addition is something I knew you wouldn’t address because it’s not something you seem to need or want. But for me, I desperately want them to stop assigning all of the comedy to Jeffster, Morgan and the BM crew. I want *more* of the lightness and comedy to come from Chuck, Sarah, Casey, Devon, Ellie and yes, even Beckman, like they did in the first season. The spy world – normal world schism provides ample opportunity for situational comedy, particularly now that everyone is in on the secret and they’re all trying to adapt.
In addition, Chuck trying to balance his own spy world with the one coming home with Sarah every evening is its own avenue of comic relief. While I’d like Sarah to join Chuck in his independent gig rather than soldier on at the CIA sooner rather than later, it doesn’t have to be a torturous decision for her, but a hopeful, optimistic one. A page turn in the chapter of her life that comes through reflection rather than trauma in her more important relationship. And thus a source of positive, rather than negative energy for us. We don’t know how the rest of the “I’m not in spy shape” spoiler scene plays out, but if it stays comic it could be the beginning of exactly the kind of thing I’d like.
Anyway, good article, and best of luck with part II!
I agree about Casey. Much as I adore his caring tender side, I love his badassery in equal measure too. I think they can find a balance and AB is a great actor as we all know. So I’m not too worried.
I have one wish for S4. I want Ellie to be the first person to find out about Orion’s Lair.
Won’t happen, but would be cool if it did.
I guess I’m the opposite of most of the people making suggestion. I have always liked stories (whether spy stories or superheroes) with secret identities, I think I provides a lot of opportunity for humor as well as grounding the character in a life outside of whatever adventures they have. I was an alias fan for the first two season, and once everyone was in the spy world, it lost a lot of the duality that I thought made it interesting. I don’t want the same here. With everyone in the spy world, there would be less opportunity to contrast the real world with the spy world. I also would like Chuck to still be part of the CIA. Firstly because I like Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Beckman all working together on the same side. Second, Chuck isn’t Bruce Wayne (or Lamont Cranston) he doesn’t really have the money or the experience to really work independently. Third, as much as a like superheroes, working as a spy independently seems too much like a mercenary or vigilante — most of the things spies do are only justifiable (or legal) because they are serving a greater good. Finally, Most of the things Team B does is only the first step to finding out something before giving an object to a piece of information to someone higher up the chain to deal with or figure out. They need someone to arrest the people they capture or to confiscate the device or to use the information. If Chuck worked independently that wouldn’t happen.
I reckon we discover that the RING is a faction that exist within the Government who disagreed with their fellow colleagues in fighting this unknown evil organization. They wanted to fight the same brutality and amorality as their enemy, so they created the RING. We know that RING agents believe they are fighting on the right side, and are ardent patriots to their country.
We see the history of the Bartowski family, where the Mother was an agent of this evil organization whose mission was to recruit and turn brilliant young engineer Stephen Bartowski. Instead she fell in love and went off grid with chuck’s dad and had a family. They found her (CIA) and she volunteered to go their custody and divulge her previous employers secrets, in return they would leave her family alone. The Government discovers the extent of the organization’s plot and influence, through the co-operation of chuck’s mom. So the split within the ranks began in how to best deal with the threat, thus the RING was born.
Meanwhile chucks’s dad discovers the truth when developing the first intersect for the Government when he discovered the CIA has his wife. So he goes awol and in search and rescue. Thus ORION was born. He later discovers his wife’s past, when he receives a message from her, and telling him to protect their children. The evil organization later captures him and threatens him by killing his family, if he does not create an intersect for them.
Later the organization discovers a sleeper virus within the intersect that has been downloaded within the organizations agents and leaders. Planet by Stephen, he then makes a deal he will not activate the virus in return they would leave his family alone. The deal was broken when Chuck’s dad died, as the organization believe the secret to undermined their intersect died with him.
Chuck later develops not only can he recall information download into his brain. But he can also record information into his brain efficiently and fast. he finds his dads schematics and continues the legacy of ORION.
First of all, great article Lou. And great comments, everybody.
I would like to say my expectations.
First, i wouldn’t like for Chuck to leave CIA, and i’m hopeful it won’t happen. Why – because it would be to hard for him to function and work alone, without the CIA and Sarah and Casey helping him. And if he leaves CIA, Sarah and Casey would have to help him without the CIA knowing that, and that’s kinda unnecessary fuzz. Besides, it would ruin the basic premise of the show.
Chuck should stay a spy. In the first two seasons, Sarah and Casey guarded Chuck, and he just flashed around. But, in third season, he started to develop as a spy. It would be nice to see the three of them working as equal partners. I also think that chuck should use his brains more, but not too much :), and lower the use of Intersect, but still, he shouldn’t retrieve from spying, because then the Intersect would lose it’s purpose.
And, it would be nice to see Chuck and Sarah as a partner, with Casey as their backup.
I wouldn’t like marriage between Sarah and Chuck to happen this season. I hope that Chuck will have 5th season (and many more) as well, so there is time for that. Engagement is okay. Also, it would be nice to explore Sarah And Chuck more further as couple (their fights, nice moments and stuff like that).
I expect that Chuck will return to the espionage and that he will lie to Ellie that he’s done with that for some time, but i hope that won’t last.
Also, it would be somewhere disappointing to concentrate the whole season on finding Chuck’s mom. I’m hoping for at least 5-6 episodes that have nothing to do with it, just for the good old times.
As others said, it would be nice to develop Sarah character, knowing more about her past and everything. Still, i believe it is unrealistic that all of them become spies. I mean, Morgan can help sometimes, but not as a full time team member (like Devon did in Chuck vs El Angel de la muerte and vs Operation Awesome).
Regarding the Buy More, i don’t know what to think. I mean, honestly, now, that even Morgan knows Chuck is a spy, BM has lost every meaning and is kinda disconnected with the rest of the show. But, what to do with Jeffster then. They provide comic release, when the situation with Chuck and Sarah or somewhere else is to serious.
And for the end – the villains. It would too cheesy to find (pull out) another organisation that would replace the Ring, or to find out that Fulcrum is a part of ring and the Ring is a part of … something even bigger 😀 (that would be the end). Maybe, the fair solution would be that fractions of Ring surrvived everything, and managed to recover themselves and now work to bring Chuck down, with Shaw being their main operative?
I would like to see Carina in the show again, as well as that MI6 agent, with whom Sarah had a little flame :).
And that’s it from me, for now.
The BuyMore is important if Chuck continues to lie to Ellie about being in the CIA–he has to appear to have a regular job. I will miss Sarah’s Orange Orange outfit–Is she going to have another fake job? She could always act like she has a civilian type government job. If the BuyMore returns I hope Jeffster is back –they are funny and not half bad vocalists. I would like for Sarah to have a closer relationship with Ellie–and also get more of her background exposed–What is up with the Sam deal? Even Shaw threw that back at her–almost like saying you can’s fai;t Chuck for keeping his secret while you are doing the same thing to Chuck.
HOPE WE HAVE MANY SEASONS TO GO–of course with Chuck and Sarah staying the committed couple.
Glad to see we still have the wisdom of old Darth on board–always appreciate what he has to say!!!
Lou, you hit the nail right on the head with your observations of “Chuck vs. the Subway.” It’s great seeing an “all inclusive” team Bartowski. Also, I agree that having Sarah open up to her real feelings was a great move and makes her role in S4 very intriguing. But I don’t want to see Chuck get too slick and Sarah to get too emotional. Both characters need to regress a little bit to stay true to the “roots” of the series. Chuck is most charming when he’s slacking, unmotivated. His heroic qualities are illuminated when he rises above his own shortcomings. If he’s the “perfect” spy, he’s no longer that attractive. The same for Sarah, too. It’s very important not to let her become the “tropy” girlfriend, overwhelmed by her emotions. Of course we want her to express her emotions. What was better then hearing her say that “You’re still my Chuck”? But we also want her to represent that female empowerment and strength that we’ve all come to know and love over the past 3 years. I trust Josh & Chris. I know they’ll do the right thing. I guarantee that they’re already thinking ahead to S5, as they should be. S4 is the season that our boy Bartowski takes off in the ratings!
I wonder if we’ll see Ellie’s baby by the end of the season, and if so, what Sarah’s reaction to the child will be. She obviously hasn’t been around babies much and it would be pretty entertaining to see her totally out of her element.
Probably the most potential pairing for me, though, is between Morgan and Casey. Put them together and it’s always good for a laugh. Throw Alex in the mix and it will be even better!
I also wonder what General Beckman’s role will be in the upcoming season. Now that she’s been made a regular (took them long enough!), I imagine we’ll see more of her. I wonder if she’ll be like M from the James Bond series? In the books, M holds the rank of admiral, which is the Navy equivalent of a 4 star general; I believe Beckman is a 4 star general now, isn’t she?
I commented earlier, but I also agree that Sarah should pursue her family situation. What about her mother? Does she have a sister? I am totally committed to having #Bailey4Greta. #LittleChuckFan, Bailey, should be cast as Greta for an episode in S4 and it should turn out that she’s Sarah’s long lost little sister. There are many possibilities for a storyline and nobody (I emphasize NOBODY) could play Sarah’s little sibling better than Bailey. Totally believable! Wouldn’t Sarah be more humanized and vulnerable having a little sister to protect? And what if that little girl is already a spy? #Bailey4Greta would forever place Chuck in the hearts of not only fans of the show, but fans of every TV show in the universe. A ratings coup!
this is a test — Chuck is the best.
I think it would be awesome if all of them team up including Devon, Ellie, and Alex. They become their own mercenary spy team trying to find Mama B and saving lives on the side. Ellie and Devon can be the team doctors as Alex can be trained to become a great spy. Morgan becomes a kind of tech guy and he stays in the van as Chuck, Sarah, and Casey go out on missions. Obviously Ellie will be reluctant to the idea but chuck can convince her.
I disagree- I think the BuyMore should still be an important part of the plot. So important many scenes have happened there that I think it would be a shame and a mistake to take it out. Personally, I am not all that excited for the search for Chuck/Ellie’s mom. It would be nice to see them reunited, but part of the appeal of Chuck is that they are all independent and Chuck & Ellie provide support for each other. I agree though that Sarah should be more developed as a character and have more moments with the rest of the gang, not just Chuck. We saw plenty of moments between morgan and ellie, devon and chuck, ect., but very few with Sarah and other people besides Chuck/Casey. And lastly, I think for the show to continue to grow in popularity, it needs a better villain than the Ring. Shaw was a very good character and I liked him as a villain a lot, but he is worn out. They need a new evil nemises, one who the average viewer can enjoy. If Chuck wants to get a 5th season, it needs to have episodes that are good enough that a random person flipping channels will enjoy, but also ones that will keep the story moving along. Almost like what Burn Notice does(USA network), but in a better way. As long as Chuck sticks to its roots as a funny show about an innocent guy who is overwhelmed by the spy world, I think the show will be just fine.
CHUCK rules. Can’t wait until the new season. Bring it on.
what’s up with this?
Originally posted on Twitter:
I don’t really agree with http://bit.ly/cu84Ad about the #Chuck storyline. I mean it would be nice to see the people work together, but it’s not what the show is really about. It’s about chuck and him balancing his personal and spy life. It’s not a Disney-type team work, even though somewhere in my soul I’d like that, actually… LOL