Season 3 Episode 11: Chuck Vs The Final Exam

[osced]

Have we Actually seen her laugh or look really happy whilst in the presence of Shaw, yet she is considering moving to DC with him, DOH!! when she could have the chance of moving to Rome, if she asked nicely and have laughter in her life and proper coffee.

Where do Sarah considered moving in with Shaw in DC? It was Chuck that wondered if Sarah was thinking about moving in with Shaw.

[happydayz]

Do not post spoilers in the episode discussion thread. Thank you. ~ happydayz

[Scarlet Spider]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and defend Scarlet Spider, because, in this, I think she does (assuming she's a she) have a point.  The introduction of intersect 2.0 did, indeed, have consequences and I think it's actually quite astute to label some of what's happened with Sarah's character lately as "a necessity created by the presence of Super-Chuck."  Because it's true.  Chuck acquiring these spy abilities threw a complete monkey wrench into the dynamics of the show and, as I think everyone knew since the tail end of season two, the writers were always going to have some serious fall out do deal with because of the decision to give him powers.  And what's going on with Sarah this season, just happens to be the direction they chose to take it.  It's as simple as that.

Cheers OB.  Though for the record, I'm a he.  'Scarlet Spider' is a comic book reference (presuming it was the 'Scarlet' that drew you to make that assumption, as opposed to my rather vocal dislike of Sarah's less-actiony role this year).

And your latter point is certainly true too.  Maybe I have been generalising when I've described the treatment of Sarah's character this year as being 'bad writing'.  What I'm trying to say is, I think it's been a bad writing decision to take her down this path, for what could well have ended up being the entire season.  As another poster has mentioned, all we've had this year from Sarah (at least for 95% of her involvement) has been monotony. 

So even if it was the right path for her character, and a natural progression for Sarah's development, that still doesn't make it pleasant, or even desirable viewing.  Particularly for those of us for whom Sarah is our favourite character.

[Scarlet Spider]

Like a wise friend of mine said once, this season is all about role-reversals, and he was totally right about that. In season 1 and 2 Sarah kicked ass in every episode, while Chuck had to run and hide. This season Chuck doesn't need his body guards, and of course because of this Sarah's and Casey's roles change too, they are more his mentors now.  Sarah's reaction to Chucks change is seem pretty natural too me because from the episode one she has noticed that he has gradually has changed but also seen that he still struggles with maintaining the "old" Chuck.

I've mentioned my problem with the 'role reversal' concept a few posts ago.  In theory, your wise friend is not wrong.  Naturally, once Super-Chuck was created, there was (potentially) always going to be less need for Sarah and Casey.  OK, so technically that didn't need to be a 'reversal', but instead perhaps a role 'equalising', as there should have been no need for Casey or Sarah to then fulfill the 'run and hide', or at the very least, the 'need regular assistance' roles.  But of course that had to happen to some degree, simply because drama needs someone to 'rescue'.  But I digress.

Going back to the fundamental idea of a 'role reversal' for Sarah and Chuck means identifying their previous roles.  So, before Intersect 2.0, Chuck was primarily comedy and Sarah was primarily action.  And both shared equal duties on the drama side of things.  Since Super-Chuck appeared, Chuck has indeed now adopted the primary action role in the show, supporting the idea of a role-reversal.  However, it's no stretch to say that Sarah hasn't taken over on the comedic duties.

So, it's been less of a 'role reversal', and more a case of 'giving one character more to do, and another character less to do.' 

[BloodBank]

And your latter point is certainly true too.  Maybe I have been generalising when I've described the treatment of Sarah's character this year as being 'bad writing'.  What I'm trying to say is, I think it's been a bad writing decision to take her down this path, for what could well have ended up being the entire season.  As another poster has mentioned, all we've had this year from Sarah (at least for 95% of her involvement) has been monotony. 

So even if it was the right path for her character, and a natural progression for Sarah's development, that still doesn't make it pleasant, or even desirable viewing.  Particularly for those of us for whom Sarah is our favourite character.

I see your point entirely, but I've gotta say, you should try and have a little more faith. Sure, thus far the writing has seemed.  Inconsistent [all of a sudden her splashing her emotions about the place] but the writers have an intended destination for the characters [which we've gotta presume we'll all, as a collective fanbase, want from the show] So yeah - there's been some weird writing for Sarah, but we can be pretty sure that the outcome's gonna be pretty sweet - it's probably also safe to bet on a future episode where there'll be a Sarah and Bryce-esque fight scene, but with Chuck instead of Bryce - then we'll see your Sarah back

Here's to hoping you can look forward, rather than backwards, on Sarah's character 

[Valmy]

Scarlett clearly does have faith because she keeps watching the show every week to see if it gets better.

Sarah has not just had a really great season.  When she is around Shaw she is a submissive doormat and when she is around Chuck she is overly emotional.  Her chances of kicking ass are slightly higher when she is with Chuck but since he can become a superman and kung fu everybody alot of the time he gets the fight scenes.

[BloodBank]

Fair play :L I'd not considered that part - only the comments have really registered, which were what I was replying to - but all the same, I guess my comments were more leading to the final part of, rather than keeping the faith, try to be more optimistic!
If you start watching the show with the view that "Sarah's not very good atm" then It'll probably be even harder to watch. Personal experience anyways! Might not apply to yourself.

Feel free to ignore my ramblings - I wouldn't even consider it rude :L

[PNy]

When Sarah hand over the red test at dinner Chuck says:
“Sarah when all this started I didn’t think I had a chance of becoming a spy”

What does he mean with that? Is he referring to 3 years ago or is it when he started his spy training this year? If the latter then I am clueless. He reject Sarah for something he never believed in. That makes no sense to me.

[Valmy]

When Sarah hand over the red test at dinner Chuck says:
“Sarah when all this started I didn’t think I had a chance of becoming a spy”

What does he mean with that? Is he referring to 3 years ago or is it when he started his spy training this year? If the latter then I am clueless. He reject Sarah for something he never believed in. That makes no sense to me.

He either means 3 years ago or when he just started training to be a spy a few months before the train station thing.  Either way.

[claire]

When Sarah hand over the red test at dinner Chuck says:
“Sarah when all this started I didn’t think I had a chance of becoming a spy”

What does he mean with that? Is he referring to 3 years ago or is it when he started his spy training this year? If the latter then I am clueless. He reject Sarah for something he never believed in. That makes no sense to me.

I hadn´t really thought about that line, but I think you are right. It doesn´t make a lot of sense, that he wouldn´t have believed he could be a spy in Prague. Otherwise his decision not to run with Sarah would not be all that sensible. So he must be referring to the very beginning. On the other hand, he sure didn´t want to be a spy when he first got intersect 1.0. So that doesn´t make all that much sense either.

I guess he might have decided in Prague, that he had to try and do what he can, but wasn´t really sure that he would succeed as a spy.

[osced]

I hadn´t really thought about that line, but I think you are right. It doesn´t make a lot of sense, that he wouldn´t have believed he could be a spy in Prague. Otherwise his decision not to run with Sarah would not be all that sensible. So he must be referring to the very beginning. On the other hand, he sure didn´t want to be a spy when he first got intersect 1.0. So that doesn´t make all that much sense either.

I guess he might have decided in Prague, that he had to try and do what he can, but wasn´t really sure that he would succeed as a spy.

I think he are talking about Sarah's encouragement that Chuck can be an hero.

[dzeims]

I hadn´t really thought about that line, but I think you are right. It doesn´t make a lot of sense, that he wouldn´t have believed he could be a spy in Prague. Otherwise his decision not to run with Sarah would not be all that sensible. So he must be referring to the very beginning. On the other hand, he sure didn´t want to be a spy when he first got intersect 1.0. So that doesn´t make all that much sense either.

I took it that it also recalled their experience on the Sizzling Shrimp episode, where after Chuck elected to help in the rescue, he seemed to be an enthusiastic participant in the spy action.  Thinking back to a time when his biggest concern was how far to properly trail a tail, he probably never thought then he'd be at the point where he is now.

[BloodBank]

It'd be hard to think he'd be anything but a spy, with the intersect v 2.0 uploaded, so maybe it's more a suggestion that he's talking waaay back along - Pilot, perhaps?

[PNy]

AAhh back then I remember thinking what if Chuck countered Sarah’s:

“Congratulation, it looks like you’ll get what you always wanted”

With:

“Yea you too for finding the type of man you always wanted”

It would be so fun to see how Sarah would have reacted.

[stathis]

hahaha...good one.