Season 3 Episode 8: Chuck Vs The Fake Name

[berksboy]

SW: I probably was a bit harsh, not normally, your right, they are both as bad as each other, always have been, Chuck can be a very incensitive SOB sometimes, wonder how he would feel if the tables were turned.

Claire: It's not that I don't like the drama, I do, iv'e also always faught in Sarah's corner before but it just annoyed me from her first comments at the restaurant to her reactions watching the dinner to  then the name reveal and kiss, the kiss doesn't bother me, it's just she seems to go from one to the other, in the long run, for me, it all boils down to the name reveal, being a man of extreme loyalty and honour, I felt betrayed for Chuck, apart from her body her name is the most personal thing to give, in a nut shell, it appears I have lost respect for her since then, will need something special to gain it back.

Please don't think I'm one of these that doesn't watch it properly, I do, I also know it has to have all the elements to make a good show, which I also like, I know that the scenes are set for more progression for future eps and how Sarah deals with Chuck for what he heard, if she does ot vice versa, might not happen, Prague was never discussed, I guess I just over reacted.

[claire]

@berksboy, I did not mean to imply that you donīt watch the show properly. Everyone is completely free to watch the show for whatever reason. I think it is totally legitimate to enjoy the comedy and action more than the drama.

However if you do like the drama as well, that is great for you too.

I do agree that hearing Sarah tell Shaw her real name hurt Chuck deeply. However as you do compare it to sex, Chuck did sleep with Hannah without second thought. I donīt think neither did that to hurt or betray the other. They just really tried to move on.

For Sarah it felt very important to make any kind of emotional connection after she felt she had lost any lingering connection with Chuck. She was determined to keep things with Shaw professional until she watched Chuck having dinner with his family and Hannah. She has been on that assignment for nearly three years and doesnīt seem to have any life out of it. So far her connection to Chuck has been her lifeline during the assignment. She always seemed lost when Chuck broke up their cover relationship as well.

She asked for reassignment in the beginning and was denied and for whatever reason she hasnīt been able to connect with Chuck anymore. That may have been stupid, but it was the reality of it.

So her just saying her name out loud to anyone was really an act of desperation and not intended to hurt Chuck in any way, also I think she realized that it did.

[berksboy]

Claire: I agree with what you say but I need to make myself clear about the sleeping part, what I meant was the 'Sarah rule' (sex) for Chuck only, then what I meant was the second Sarah rule, not that there is a second rule but her revealing her real name, again I thought that would have been for Chuck only, obviously when she told Shaw her real name she was unaware Chuck was listening, don't get me wrong, I don't compare sleeping together the same as the name reveal, it's just a name, sleeping together is a bit more diferent, all I meant was when Sarah wants to sleep with somebody, it will only be Chuck and I felt sure it would have been the same for the name reveal. IMO. I really do understand why she mentioned her name, it's just me, a bit of a shock but I'm climbing down from the walls now.

[Girl_Tuesday]

It's taken me a while to post on this episode (I've watched it 3xs now) because I hate to admit, I'm starting to like Shaw.  I still think his acting is mediocre, but you can't help but like a guy who can ask if the girl he's interested in is okay with her ex moving on.



Other random thoughts:

Damn, the mafia boys were funny.  ("I hate that will they won't they stuff!" ~ classic) As were the Buymorians.  Creepy, Jeff.  Just creepy.   

Loved that we got more Casey this episode.  "One in Five!"  (ALIAS reference?!?) 

Funny to see how the roles have switched on Team Bartowski.  Suddenly Casey is the supportive one and Sarah the reluctant.  Nice dynamic switch by the writers.

I thought Hannah was pretty on with her assessment of Chuck dumping her, at least from her POV, but then realized she did have dinner with Chuck's family, so perhaps she was a bit harsh?    Anyone else have thoughts on that???  I know it was meant to reinforce the fact that Chuck's changed but.

[nesh]

I thought Hannah was pretty on with her assessment of Chuck dumping her, at least from her POV, but then realized she did have dinner with Chuck's family, so perhaps she was a bit harsh?    Anyone else have thoughts on that???  I know it was meant to reinforce the fact that Chuck's changed but.

Well Chuck admitted to her flat out he was dishonest then went on to probably the worst breakup speech ever (there are things in my life that you can't understand and I can't explain to you) so  . nah I don't think from her point of view she was harsh.

[pdmspy]

I think Hannah was spot on with what she said, and was probably easier on him than he deserved, but she couldn't really have been surprised that he was a liar.  He was lying the first time they met on the plane.  He was evasive whenever talking about Sarah or the yogurt shop.  And she knew his actions were questionable at the museum - that he'd clearly been caught in some sort of lie.  Yes, Chuck was a jerk, but all the warning signs were there up front - she chose to overlook them.

[Atlee]

Claire: It's not that I don't like the drama, I do, iv'e also always faught in Sarah's corner before but it just annoyed me from her first comments at the restaurant to her reactions watching the dinner to  then the name reveal and kiss, the kiss doesn't bother me, it's just she seems to go from one to the other, in the long run, for me, it all boils down to the name reveal, being a man of extreme loyalty and honour, I felt betrayed for Chuck, apart from her body her name is the most personal thing to give, in a nut shell, it appears I have lost respect for her since then, will need something special to gain it back.

Sarah didn't tell Shaw her name to hurt Chuck, nor did she do it to curry favor with Shaw.  Her emotions have come unbound.  She's no longer the "iron" maiden with ice water in her veins.  Being with Chuck and his family the past near three years has given her a look and taste of what a real family is all about.  Something she never had as a youth or as a grown woman.  She had sort of of hitcched herself vicarously to Chuck so she could have something like a real life outside of CIA agent.

When Chuck went all gung ho on being a spy, she lost that anchor.   She is a drift in in turbulent emotional waters and is looking for anything, including wooden man, to grab a hold of.  She just needed a sounding  board just to hear her name out loud.

All the while seeing the guy she fell in love with change in front of her very eyes. 

[Atlee]

As were the Buymorians.  Creepy, Jeff.  Just creepy.   

Here is what I found interesting about Jeff.  The crazed, burnt out, alcoholic Jeff who has obverved himself that only when Chuck is with the "smoking hot wiener girl" does his eyes really light up.

The entire world, including the crazed, burnt out, alcoholic Jeff, knows those two are very much in love.  If only they would (or to be more correct, the writers under the direction of Schwartz/Fedak) sit down and just talk to each other, and more importantly listen to each other.  The world would be a happier place.

[Girl_Tuesday]

Here is what I found interesting about Jeff.  The crazed, burnt out, alcoholic Jeff who has obverved himself that only when Chuck is with the "smoking hot wiener girl" does his eyes really light up.

The entire world, including the crazed, burnt out, alcoholic Jeff, knows those two are very much in love.  If only they would (or to be more correct, the writers under the direction of Schwartz/Fedak) sit down and just talk to each other, and more importantly listen to each other.  The world would be a happier place.

I think that was the point.  As was the shout out about "this will they or won't they stuff drives me crazy" by the mobsters. Both were a shout out to the fans from the writers.

It's the journey that makes the destination worth it, in my opinion.   

[armynurseboy]

I think that was the point.  As was the shout out about "this will they or won't they stuff drives me crazy" by the mobsters. Both were a shout out to the fans from the writers.

It's the journey that makes the destination worth it, in my opinion.

Yeah, I think it was the writers essentially saying to the fans "yeah we get it, we drive you crazy with the WTWT stuff."

[instead]

Yeah, I think it was the writers essentially saying to the fans "yeah we get it, we drive you crazy with the WTWT stuff."

yes !! and IMO they're saying to us: we know we're getting this routine a bit too long, be patient ! we'll gonna resolve this WTWT stuff soon. .
 

[Girl_Tuesday]

I think Hannah was spot on with what she said, and was probably easier on him than he deserved, but she couldn't really have been surprised that he was a liar.  He was lying the first time they met on the plane.  He was evasive whenever talking about Sarah or the yogurt shop.  And she knew his actions were questionable at the museum - that he'd clearly been caught in some sort of lie.  Yes, Chuck was a jerk, but all the warning signs were there up front - she chose to overlook them.

True.  She was spot on about the lying thing.  I was just thinking that the "dump you after he sleeps with you" guy usually doesn't make dinner for you and his family.  If she'd thought about it, she could see there was something else going on, but you're right.  His behavior has been so wierd, it looks like just another thing. 

Wow, looking at it in the context of everything, he looks 'mental' as the Brits would say.  So you are right, pdmspy & nesh,not too harsh.

[Rom129]

My thoughts on the show having only seen it once on Monday and it is now Saturday.

I like it.  It is starting the process of Chuck learning what the cost is to being a spy.  Before it was his "Spies are cool" or "spies are heroes" ideas (no pun meant for the show that used to follow Chuck) from childhood.  Now it is - I have to lie to my sister/best friend/any LI that comes along.  I was expecting a flashback scene to Jill telling him "Don't let them change who you are" somewhere in the show.

As far as Sarah telling Shaw all the info - when you've been accused of having a special relationship with the asset that hinders the mission, you have a new boss whose job is to train the asset into being a spy - I would have gone to the boss who could have changed the situation.  I wouldn't want to hinder my job or my relationship with my co-worker/friend if I saw something happening that I didn't like.  Shaw understands the change neede to be a spy.  Chuck would not.  Appeal to the person who understands and could do something about it.  Chuck may not have understood.

One other thing I thought about - IMO Shaw had a relationship with spy that was deeper than what Bryce/Sarah had.  While Shaw is training Chuck to be a spy I think he is around to help Sarah understand what it is to have a deeper relationship with someone else who is a spy.  He is the (possibily) perfect trainer for Sarah in learning to have the emotions when in private but keep them hidden when in public.

The tone of the show and season does come across darker to me.  It makes the moments of humor stand out more.  I like that the show is changing tone.  I thought I had posted here (or somewhere else but cannot find the post on either site) this season feels like there is a plan - a disjointed one at times yet there is still a plan with a goal.  I like that and will go through more to see if they meet the goal set forth.  Another season of season 1 and 2 fluxuations without a sense of the series growing and changing would have left me possibily looking for a different show.

Others may not agree but I could see Chuck becoming a "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" type show with the humor coming from trying to live "normal" lives at the Buy-More/Yogurt place and the family while being spies all the time.

[Storm]

Wow, nice writeup Rom129. I especially like your comment on the dark tone vs the humour. I also thought Shaw to be somewhat of a duffer, but I actually liked him more after this episode.

[Atlee]

Wow, nice writeup Rom129. I especially like your comment on the dark tone vs the humour. I also thought Shaw to be somewhat of a duffer, but I actually liked him more after this episode.

I will like Routh best when he is gone and no longer messing up the show.