So you’re saying that the show was nearly cancelled BECAUSE most people, including hardcore fans and general fans, didn’t like the eps where Chuck and Sarah are with other people?? That’s a Big assumption. It could be just that general audiences don’t find the show about a nerd with a computer on his head all that interesting, or maybe the show hasn’t been promoted properly, or they might like it but prefer to watch House, who knows??

I just find it arrogant that a lot of fans on the Chuck boards assume that most people watch the show mainly for the Chuck/Sarah relationship. Personally, as much as like them, I like other things in the show just as much. Here is hoping the showrunners deliver a great season 3. I’m very hopeful.

She had feelings for Bryce. That’s 1/1
She has feelings for Chuck. That’s 2/2
If she develops feelings for Routh, that’s 3/3
She doesn’t have feelings for Casey 3/4

If you add Cole that makes it about 3.5/4.5. She doesn’t really develop significant feelings for him so that’s not a full point, but at a same time they’re only around each other for 2 days so it’s not a full fledged working relationship either.

It’s all assumptions at present but to my mind what people are saying is quite right Sarah is starting to look pretty bad. IF she goes off with Shaw and its sounds like she will be “exploring a relationship outside of work” sounds like boyfriend and girlfriend. I do not care why they do it that means nothing to me. Maybe it’s due to Chuck becoming an arrogant agent guy that makes Shaw look great. It may not be but all the evidence from Zac saying the door is open for romantic relationships sounds like they will all date other people. Maybe people that say it will be ok maybe correct but who knows. All we can do is respond to what we know; it is fine to say if we do not like something. I do agree that chuck and Sarah’s relationship is not the only things in the show but it’s not pleasant to see them go off with other people. Casey is brilliant. Really I am not getting worked up; I will not watch Shaw’s and Sarah date or chuck and Hannah I and many others are just not interested in that. As I said I will read what happens in those episodes then pick them up if I like what I read. The story is such that missing an episode here and there makes no difference.

Bryce: they were as in love as she could be at that point, and she was betrayed when Bryce went rogue (or so she believed). As a result she’s erected even more walls around herself and appears to have made a vow not to get involved with anyone she works with again.

Chuck: a work in progress.

Cole: she kissed him as part of her cover when they still thought he was the enemy. She may have felt some superficial attraction to him at some point, but during pretty much the entire 2-episode arc all she talked about was Chuck. Even Cole knew she wasn’t into him.

Casey: Nope.

I don’t know who you’re counting as number 5.

I’m not one to go around chanting “in the writers/Ali we trust”, but it does seem silly to get all worked up about something we won’t see for several months, don’t know the context of, and can’t change anyway.

I think HHIZ’s point was that Sarah often dredges up the dreaded “P” word (professional) regarding her lack of relationship with Chuck. The other one is her ability to protect Chuck. Dating your partner, sucking face with a foreign intelligence agent, and fraternizing with your spy boss wouldn’t qualify as professional, making Sarah’s protestations rather hollow. Sarah’s involvement with Shaw is as egregious an offense as a relationship would Chuck would be. Could the relationship lead her to put Shaw’s life above the Intersect’s safety? Would Shaw’s relationship with Sarah compromise his decision making process, placing the entire team at risk?

for some thats fine but many as we know did not watch the beefcake thread thats one reason why the show was nearly cancelled. There is some really good points in the NBC angst thread which i always go for great debate. Season 1 was great, that was the season where the other parts of the show ruled as you mention and there was few angst other than Bryce but it was not real. Everything we are hearing points to this being real. Season 2 was ok i cherry picked some of the episodes and Season 3 i will do the same. It does seem that the show has hit self destruct given it needs viewers. Most general fans will just switch over if they do not see something they like. If you stop caring or having any sympathy for the main characters then people will not care if we get a season 4 or not which is a shame its another great show that started well that dies off second or third season. They are going to need those extra episodes to repair the damage they do to the characters in having relationships in front of one another. In real life you never forgive or forget and you do not stay in love long or friends for that matter when you see your so called love go off with someone. This is going to be a very difficult season for fans and I think for the show as its make or break and I think alot of fans just think I will not watch the shaw with sarah and chuck with hannah.

all the best