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(Its Not Will They, Won’t They? Its They Will, Won’t They!)
Of Journeys Versus Destinations, Work Environments, and Relationship Geometries
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Part II
(The views express in this article are those of the author and do not reflect those of the universe. (On this topic that is a certainty.))
Some great discussion was generated from Part I. Hopefully that will continue with Part II.
The work environment that Chuck and Sarah find themselves in bears examining further because it does not seem to carry the appropriate weight in the minds of many viewers. There are fatal consequences if either or both of them are compromised. Relationships in the spy world are hard to make work even when both partners are seasoned agents. At the end of the Ring and the bulk of the Colonel it would have been possible for Chuck and Sarah to be together. The Intersect was out, Chuck could return to his previous life, and Sarah could have quit her job to join him. No doubt they would have issues to overcome but they would have been in a place where mistakes would not be fatal and the opportunities to correct them existed.
All of that went out the window when Chuck downloaded the new Intersect.
Relationship reset is the verdict by many for what happens in the early episodes of Season 3. But the focus is on the wrong end of those concluding Season 2 events. The status of the relationship is a symptom. Not the source. The source lies with the reinstatement of the fatal work environment conditions. Add to that the role reversal for Chuck and Sarah and they have to face those previous restrictions again plus the added burden of walking in each other’s shoes.
Remember the video of the suspension bridge from Part 1? The forces on the relationship bridge were from Chuck and Sarah endpoints when they were on familiar ground. Now they are both in unfamiliar territory. Imagine the multiplying effects being a stranger in a strange land would have on that relationship bridge! The relatively stable ground, which itself has been under stress since the pilot, has now been replaced by a molten lava flow dotted with patches of solid ground floating separately from one another. An unstable landscape indeed.
Throw in the dynamics of the new Intersect and relationships are a luxury Chuck and Sarah cannot afford right now. They are both in survival, batten the hatches down and ride out the storm, mode. It will be instinctive for both of them to try to return to their original ‘country’ when placed under stress. Moments of such behavior are evident in every of the first 5 episodes for both of them. Sarah’s proposal of keeping things simple and returning to a friendship mode is the most prudent thing under the circumstances.
The moments of regression bring a new dynamic to the mix. It will make Chuck less sympathetic as we want to see him mature. His moments of emotional outburts will be even less tolerable. The irony is that these are the very qualities that attracted Sarah to Chuck in the first place. In Sarah’s case, attempts at going back will be more sympathetic to the audience. For two seasons we have been waiting for her to open up emotionally. In the third season we shall see this struggle. The turmoil it will cause her will increase audience empathy. So the role reversal has an intriguing indirect effect on character empathy.
Let us examine that a little deeper. Chuck and Sarah find themselves in undiscovered countries at the start of Season 3. Chuck has embraced a world where nothing is real. Everything is based on lies and deception. Trust no one. Sarah has opened the door to the antithesis of all that. A door once opened that she is no longer able to, or even wants to, close. Each of them are trying to exist in new environments. Such unfamiliarity leads to doubt and even fear; the true obstacles that Chuck and Sarah face.
It is the undiscovered country. The dread of the unknown. Of possibility versus certainty.
This is what prevents decisive action from either of them at the start of the third season. How can they take on more between them when they each are struggling with what is happening inside of them?
There are trains of thought that putting the characters together now is possible because together they could organically grow together and help each other. Besides the aforementioned fatal nature of their work environment there is something else to consider. The strictures of their work environment has them trapped in stasis. Like insects in amber.
The best way they can keep each other safe is to maintain the status quo of their personal interactions. Anything intimate at this stage of their character development would almost certainly end in tragedy. In such a sterile environment organic character and relationship growth would occur at a glacial rate.
A more expedient solution lies via the introduction of external forces. In a romance story arc this is usually done through the introduction of new characters. Often these new character turn out to be Potential Love Interests or PLIs.
A topic that will be looked at in Part 3.
Till then!
Thanks for a thought-provoking metaphorical melange, Lou. Let the grokking begin!
verkisto – We reach. 😉
Great article. I think you gathered the whole Chuck and Sarah season 3 relationship perfectly Lou. Let the rollercoaster begin. 🙂
You make some valid points regarding the current status of the Chuck and Sarah relationship. However the introduction of PLI’s is not the only means of expediting a romantic story arc. It has also been done by a revelation of a past act by one of the characters. Which in the case of “Chuck” would be a refreshing choice since they have gone the PLI route in both seasons 1 and 2. It’s now time for something completely different, to steal a phrase from Monty Python.
A man with a stereo up his nose? sorry, off topic. But yes, I agree that PLIs are not the only way. Hopefully this will be covered in Part 3. Can’t wait to read it.
Just looking for a little clarification. Chuck and Sarah can’t have a romantic, nurturing relationship where they grow together due to the nature of the job. How exactly are PLIs immune from the same rule? Let’s posit that something occurs between Sarah and Shaw, maybe not on a romantic level, but certainly a friendship with bonding over war stories complete with sharing of intimate details of her life and feelings that Sarah has not shared with Chuck. Given Sarah and Shaw are both spies, how would this forging of an emotionally intimate friendship be less risky than creating a similar bond with Chuck?
While I have problems with the methods the writers used to reset the Chuck and Sarah relationship, I have no problems with them stepping back and developing a friendship and close working relationship given their emotional and career statuses at this point in time. That isn’t exactly what we’ve seen so far this season. Other than the dinner party at the end of 3.4, there’s not really any indication of an evolving friendship, or amicable working relationship between Chuck and Sarah. There’s no flirting, light banter, shared jokes, affectionate touching, or warm glances. Sarah seems to act like an overbearing and extremely critical mother with either a scowl or pout affixed permanently to her face. Chuck seems to have accepted this new Sarah dictated dynamic and is focused on becoming a spy and wrestling with the morally ambiguous parts of the job.
There’s actually more of a sign that Chuck and Casey are deepening the brotherly thing the two have going on with increasing respect, common purpose, and support. It’s Casey at the end of 3.06 that indicates he realizes what Chuck is going through and reaches out when he suggests consulting with Johnny Walker. Sarah seems too obsessed with Chuck’s seeming corruption to realize the actions Chuck takes don’t necessarily reflect on the man he is becoming.
‘How exactly are PLIs immune from the same rule?’ Excellent question – which I will address in part 3. Short answer is that they aren’t – but that is not their purpose plus they don’t have the emotional baggage Chuck and Sarah have – their purpose is to push the characters in ways that are not possible between Chuck and Sarah.
As for Shaw and Sarah – the same dangers apply – ie even for seasoned spies relationships are a risky venture. The difference between Chuck and Shaw is Shaw may hate guns but he accepts that it pays to know how to use one. ie Shaw can protect himself fully whereas as Chuck cannot.
Hi All:
Lou, great article!! I think there is some validity that Chuck and Sarah need to keep it a friendship level, for now. Sarah’s fears for protecting Chuck and maybe feel he is not ready to be a Spy has some merit.
An example of where Chuck is definitely not ready to have a relationship till he has mastered being a spy, is evident in “Chuck vs. Captain Awesome”. Near the end of the episode his being unable to defend himself against Sidney is an example. Sidney could see that he is not able to pull the trigger. If Shaw had not shot Sidney, Sidney would have likely killed Chuck with that knife.
He needs to master all aspects of being a spy before he can think of having a relationship with Sarah. Otherwise, right now he is a risk not just to himself but to all his loved ones. He needs to focus on being a “Master” Spy at this point.
Chuck wasn’t in a relationship with Sarah at the time, so I’m not sure how his inability to save himself by shooting Sidney has any baring on the whole relationship dynamic between Chuck and Sarah in this instance.
Agreed weasel. That instance is to do with what Shaw said afterwards. The Sydney moment has to do with being a spy. Indirectly that can be taken as an example of what Sarah is worried about.
He coudn’t take the shot because he is well, Chuck. He is good person. When your emotions make up who you are, it makes it difficult to things like take a life or burn someone like Manoush even it is for the greater good. Chuck is not a killer. He has not become the cold hearted spy that Shaw, Casey, Sarah (well not her so much anymore), Jill, and Cole have become. He still the same old nerdy Chuck. If Chuck ever does kill someone it will be a last resort and will be probably be done to save someone he loves like for example Ellie or Sarah. Chuck will never gain full control of his emotions. He may become a spy but he won’t be like all the rest. He will be a spy, but human. Not cold and emotionless. Anyway thats my take on why Chuck can’t the shot. Hes just a good guy with a big, nerdy heart which is what we love so much about him. No matter how much of a bad ass he becomes he will always be the same all Chuck just with added confidence.
I’m beginnig to wonder if these two actually love each other. Or if any of us can adequately describe their relationship as a love affair/story.
It’s been three years of a little flirting, a couple of intense kisses, two dates cut short and one serious hand porn between the two in a seedy Barstow motel.
Maybe we were fooled by all the tender moments from Seduction, Cougars, Tom Sawyer, Graviton, DeLorean, Santa Claus, Suburbs, Best Friend, Broken Heart, the Colonel and Ring.
To me, it has little or nothing to do with the job. If these two truly loved each other there is no plausible reason why they have not sat down and found some middle ground by now. Reset or no reset.
I get it. The job is difficult, complex and extremely dangerous. And each has doubts and fears. Nothing seems real. blah, blah, blah. So what? Suck it up buttercup.
Lou, what are saying, Chuck can’t toss a nacho plate like a frisbee and save Sarah’s life if they’re a real couple? Yeah, I agree with whomever said Chuck is incapable of pulling the trigger on a firearm whether he’s with Sarah or not.
From what I can see, there’s plenty of down time between missions. Very rarely does one immediately flow into another. How can these two people time after time contribute to a team that consistently saves the world, but yet cannot find the time or are unwilling to make the time to work out their problems.
Therefore, I’m to conclude that we’ve been snowed or sandbagged. Certainly they are fond of each other and there is a level of respect. But love? Perhaps it simply is not there.
Or, if he is truly in love with Sarah, I must conclude Chuck is the biggest dope/idiot (wow I sound like Carina) in the world. How cannot he not see the number of times she has put it on the line for him? How can he not see she’s sincere? She’s picked him every time she’s had to make a choice. She was willing to throw away her career. The reasons for regressing and falling into the same old habits based on fear, insecurity, doubt and lack of trust are weak. How can they not trust each by now?
I guess I have a little more sympathy for Sarah. Chuck turning her down in Prague and her thinking his decision was primarily based on him not loving her had to be absolutely devastating. Then again, maybe she’s right, Chuck doesn’t love Sarah.
Truthfully, I believe that Sarah believes Chuck does love her. She was presented two examples at the end of Three Words (talking down Karl, and the memory stick confession by Chuck) and we saw her revealing expressions.
She’s not a dope like Chuck. She’s just very guarded and cautious with her feelings. Simple works for her. She’s needed time to slowly heal from the hurtful Prague rejection.
Basically, the ball is in Chuck’s court. He has to man up soon. It’s not up to Sarah. Although if and when he does, she’ll come around and help him. Again.
I just don’t know if it will be enough to reap the payoff many of us seek. I’m beginning to think that what has transpired in season 3 only works if we find out that secretly they have been together, they did work things out privately and will have a good laugh at everyone’s expense. That all this angst was fake and big show.
i don’t fink you can say “the ball is in chuck’s court” i think it’s something were they both have to meet half-way. In the first 2 seasons it was
sarah who was always denying chuck and in the third season chuck
denied sarah, therefore if they are to be together they both have to make a move.
As for your statement for chuck being a dope, i think that’s redicolous how much times has he made a move for sarah? alot!!!
I agree that she has to meet him half way. What I mean is that he’s too easily impressionable and talked into things despite the appearance of a smart, intelligent man.
He gave in too easily to the friendship thing.
You’re not wrong, Chuck Fan #1, so far as Chuck making a lot of moves, but show me one time when he actually follwed a move all the way through.
Please show me one time the guy picked Sarah when the choice wasn’t made for him.
I like Chuck. And I think he will man up.
Well, in a way, I think kg is right about the ‘ball being in Chuck’s court’ in a matter of speaking… but I think it’s a little more involved than that. Sarah has had the jaded life, from the rough childhood, to her involvement in the CIA, and since she’s met Chuck, he planted the seed of change within her that has shown her a better life, a life that she was willing to give up her CIA involvement and create a new one with Chuck (as was implied in the last couple of episodes of season 2).
Chuck on the other hand, after his download of the new intersect, made the conscious decision to open the door to the spy world, a door Sarah was exiting and ready to leave behind. Prague was just the vocalizing of that decision and the realization for Sarah of exactly where they were at. ‘The ball being in Chuck’s court’ for me is more of a tunnel that Chuck is going to need to travel through and experience fully to make an educated/conscious decision about what this life is going to mean, and what sacrifices he’s going to have to make. I think this is going to be a dark season as Chuck finds himself falling down this rabbit hole, and while I hate to see him going down it (because we all love our loveable geek Chuck), it’s a necessary evil- a pain that has to be purged for the sweet release felt on the other side of the tunnel. I believe it will get much darker before the dawn, but I think Sarah will be waiting on the other side, and everything else, Shaw, Hannah, old friends and new, will simply be scenery along the path.
Chuck Fan #1
The more I think about it, perhaps I was a tad hard on Chuck. I actually know how he feels. I’ve been there.
He has tried hard and made several attempts. I can recall times in my own life where I thought I did everything I could to impress a girl, made several attempts to show her how I felt, to let her know she was the one.
And, you’re correct, even though the feelings may not dissapate, you can only be balked and stalled and shot down so many times before you just stop trying.
The rejection, whether it’s blatant or slight, always hurts. Sometimes trying too hard can even be a little embarrassing.
You know, actually I think I termed Chuck more of a “dope” for not sensing that Sarah loved him, and that was the main reason she wanted to run away in Prague.
And although his decision was made for heroic intentions and reasons, he failed to tell her exactly why at the train station. Allowing her feelings of hurt and rejection to fester and grown.
And then he kissed her really coldly (half-assed my dad would have said) if you will. Therefore, she was left to believe that Chuck didn’t love her or had lost that loving feeling.
I’m sorry, but that qualifies as dope status.
I guess I don’t see Chuck’s ability to shoot a gun as the absolute proof that he has become a real spy. For example in the extended promo for this season Sarah says, “You’re going to become the world’s most dangerous assassin.” Yet there is not one clip of Chuck firing anything but a tranq gun.
Does this mean that Chuck will never fire a gun to save someone he loves? No. Still I can hear General Beckman eventually say, “Special Agent Bartowski we have been able to finally break the Ring after the unusually high number of Ring operatives that you’ve taken alive. Good work Team Bartowski!”
To Kg
When you said ‘you can only be balked and stalled and shot down so many times before you just stop trying’, that is the point i have been trying to make for along time.
That’s why when sarah cut chuck of completely when he decided to be a spy and not run of with her, i found a bit hypocritical. Yes i can understand that she has been emotionally wounded before, but so has Chuck. Yes chuck did throw a tantrum everytime sarah rejected him but he never ignored her
OK. I think we had a good debate and found some common ground.
hey donovan i was just wondering if you could post the link were sarah tell chuck “you’re going to become the world’s most dangerous assasin”, i havent seen that
@Chuck Fan#1 actually, what Sarah says was “you’re gonna make him the world most dangerous assasin” i think maybe Donovan, had heard it wrongly..lol anyway here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TQ0XXP3894
Agreed, Pat. It was really painful to see Chuck’s reaction in those scenes. 🙁
Simply put: There is no story that TPTB are telling that couldn’t be better told by putting your two chemically attractive leads together. This is television. You have to write a story that appeals to casual viewers each week, not just obsessed fans. Right now the casual fan tunes in and sees only dysfunction: no Chuck and Sarah, unhappy Devon and Ellie, wary Chuck and Morgan. There’s no reason to watch this show right now unless you’re obsessed and have digested every bit of the previous episodes.
TBTB are killing this show because they are making many of the obsessed fans unhappy with their dirge-like stories and driving away any potential new fans because it is an unhappy show that leaves casual viewers cold.
And the ratings prove it.
They do? Look pretty steady.
Funny how dysfuntion aka drama works so well on other shows.
Going from 3.0 to 2.4 in the key demo in four weeks is not steady. A million viewers have disappears in less than 30 days.
Take out the Sunday numbers and the show is holding steady.
Wow, you are living in your own world, aren’t you. If you take out the Sunday numbers, it’s down .2 in just four episodes. And for a show with Chuck’s low numbers to start, any decline in the audience is not good.
And why SHOULD we take out the Sunday numbers? After a massive promotional campaign (by NBC’s standards), a million viewers sampled the “new” Chuck and walked away. And as each week has gone by, more viewers disappear.
The trend line is bad, the storytelling is bad and the casual viewers, who will make or break this show, have noticed. No new viewers are coming and viewers who have sampled this year’s reset are leaving.
Monitor yourself. You are moving into personal attack territory.
Sunday’s numbers are not counted because it is not the normal airing night for the show.
NBC will not count the Sunday numbers when it looks at the show’s data to determine renewal.
That is fact.
A guy at work, finally watched Chuck after I told him that Stone Cold Steve Austin was on. It was the first episode he ever saw of Chuck and now he loves the show – can’t stop talking about it. I lent him my S1 DVD set last weekend and he is quite happy to have found the show.
You can’t get much more casual viewer than that. I don’t believe you can take a look at a few weeks worth of ratings and conclude that the show is turning off new viewers. If anything, I think the new direction is getting people to check out the show.
I personally am liking what I have seen so far this season. Chuck is evolving, and I see this season building to an amazing climax.
Other shows have way more “dysfunction†and get way better ratings then Chuck. “Dysfunction†seems to work on TV.
You’re not going to take into account that Chuck has gained nearly 700k viewers and 0.1 in the demos from the last half of last season? I’m using the last half of the season because that’s the same competition Chuck is going up against now.
Every show on NBC, excluding The Biggest Loser, have dropped in the ratings compared to last season. Chuck hasn’t. Chuck is currently NBC 3rd largest scripted show and their TOP hour-long scripted series.
And if you follow ratings, premiere episodes, especially those aired ON A DIFFERENT NIGHT WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT COMPETITION, get big ratings. This goes for ANY show, not just Chuck. Why single out Chuck? Just go to TVBTN and look at premiere episodes. You’ll see a hug drop off for any show after the premiere.
And WHY should we take out the Sunday numbers? Because Nielsen, the company who supplies the ratings, don’t add them to the show’s season average. NBC scheduled it as a “special†since it’s on a different night, thus when Nielsen doesn’t add it to their averages, why should we? NBC will be looking at the ratings post premiere, and this is widely adopted throughout the TV industry.
And remember the DVR numbers. Chuck averaged 1.7-1.9 million DVR viewers. Yes they may not be watching it live, but they are watching the episodes.
And your statement that “no new viewers are watching†is wrong. As I mentioned earlier, what do you say to those 700k new viewers?
I did see something somewhere recently that the industry is or will be soon adding TIVO numbers into their figures for advertisers, so that will help also.
I guess it’s true then that all television eventually gets watered down so it’s essentially unwatchable by everybody. I like the more “real” relationship that is layered and difficult and mature and takes twists and turns that are truer to real life and, we can hope, as Lou suggests in his article, will result in a much stronger love and connection between Chuck and Sarah as people and not cardboard cutouts when they finally are able to clear the decks and get together, because I also think that’s inevitable. I wonder what the BBC could do with a show like Chuck?
Same here,verisko. 🙂
I’m rather surprised and gratified that they haven’t done that, MaryFran. That would be much more like “television as usual”. Whether you think it works or not, you have to admit that what they’ve done at least offers a chance to rise above the mundane. Again.
Of course, the obsessed fan (Joe sheepishly raises his hand) already thinks it has.
Oh, and I have to say that my wife has been one of those casual viewers. I don’t think that, through season 2, she’s seen any episode more than once, and not many of those. But for the first 6 of S3 she’s had two reactions – “I want to see another episode right away!” and “I can’t believe the episode is over already. I want more!” Addiction and obsession seems right around the corner (and I’m her pusher… ;>) I know. “Data is not the plural of anecdote.” But still…
wow would have never thought about this. i love chuck fans and you, lou, especially!
Well-put as always, Lou. I just want to add this bit:
Even after Chuck returns apologizing and doing all he can to explain and make amends, even after Sarah sees the video of Chuck’s explanation that he refused to run because of what Sarah had taught him and his love for her, it makes sense that she would be even more cautious about jumping into anything but a friendship with him. She was wounded, and she’s still healing. AND she’s still Sarah: she loves Chuck as a friend and a person, but even more importantly she knows it’s her job to help keep him safe, no matter what General Beckman says. If she thinks it might endanger Chuck in any way to be in a romantic relationship with her, she’s going to sacrifice that relationship she wants so badly BECAUSE she loves Chuck and doesn’t want him hurt.
These are the kinds of things that real adults DO think about, contrary to the complaints of some viewers that in the real world Chuck and Sarah would have been getting it on by now. I would argue that in fact, most “adult” relationships on TV are more like adolescent, hormone-driven relationships than they are like relationships between actual mature adults. Chuck & Sarah’s relationship, where they’re both aware of the challenges and act accordingly, is more like a real relationship than most on TV.
That said, I’m not particularly a Charah shipper. I don’t think the PLIs are a bad thing. I think they’re another interesting element to the story that’s being told.
Well The article was sound. SPOILER POSSABLE( Don’t read any further if you don’t want to know) reading the casting sheets and tv guide on up and coming guest stars for the last 6 episodes. I get the impression they are going to split Chuck and sarah up before they get them together. This is a journey they both must take to become one. Because when they are paired together they are invinciable!
I think Lou makes some great points here. At the end of Episode 6 (just about halfway through the original 13 eps) I see Chuck at a point where too many things that he doesn’t like about his life are piling up. An Epiphany or a catharsis is coming, and I’m thinking it will be big time. What he has done to Ellie/Devon, to Sarah, and to Morgan is eating him up. Burning Manoosh may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. He never wanted this. Maybe we will see a new kind of secret agent. Chuck is a smart guy. Maybe he starts taking charge of what he does and begins living by a personal code. Think ‘Spenser.’ (RIP Robert B. Parker). This would go a long way towards repairing all those broken relationships.
You missed the point I as a fan don’t like to be teased enough is enough lets get Chuck and Sara to gether and move on to other storylines. It would be so bad if they tease so bad at the end of season 2 but they only did that because they thought it was getting canceled
i think teasing is the wrong word because we watch the show because we care about each character, not just broad chunks of the show like the romance, or the spy stuff, or the buymore. Its how it all fits together that make it so great to follow. So when chuck and sarah have problems or are not immediately together, we have to remember to consider each individual as opposed to the two of them as one thing.
In order for a relationship to have a prominent and emotional “up,” it has to have a comparable “down.” The writers have a lot of parallels in this series and the way they do that is to have the first essentially “practice run” have things not go well, in order to show growth and evoke happiness when on the second time around they do things right. Even just looking back on season 2, Chuck and Sarah broke up (Chuck vs. the Break Up) the third episode of the season. They ended up at a position where they both wanted to run away together and leave everything behind (Chuck initially said yes). The first break-up was a milder one compared to S3, so now that the bar has been raised, so has the pay off. People who tune out the dramatic events won’t have as good of a feeling when things finally work out.
If you look back on it sarah wanted to leave with chuck at the end of season 1 and 2 but chuck said no at the end of season 2 and beginning of season 3. By the end of season 3 they will have left on a vacation or something and thats where episode 14 picks up.
I don’t mind them not being together, i like the ‘internal’ problems they face, that keeps them apart, i think those kind of things will make there relationship stronger in the long run.
It’s the PLI’s that i have a problem with. Those i think make it look like their relationship is superficial, and i really hate that
to all chuck fans I have read the comments and I must say all of the different points of view show that we really love this show we all worked so hard to get renewed now with that out of the way let me first say this ratings in this day and age are not as accurate a measuring tool for a shows popularity as it was in the past thanks to sites like hulu and casttv watching shows online is getting alot easier that being said the relationship of chuck and sarah is just where it should be think about it all the factors that affect them and where they are now is the logical progression. to be continued . . . .
as I was saying think about when chuck and sarah first met she saw him as just an easy mark get the intersect back and then burn/kill him that faded after 5 min with him she realized that here was a guy she was not used to seeing which is why she protected him from casey in the first episode as season 1 progressed we see that she is starting to act against everything she is used to she gets jealous of his new girlfriend she kisses him when she thinks they are going to die from a bomb she was starting to get to attached to him and it was scary for her you saw in season 2 that she did not want him to see parts of her past because she thought that he would not feel the same about her after knowing how she was before she was a spy. also when jill came back into chuck’s life she was visibly bothered by the fact that he was not over the girl who broke his heart so badly and the thought of not being with him was painful so by the end of the season she wants to stay because he showed her that she does not need to cut herself off from her emotions is order to live her life but now with him stepping into her world and the resulting changes to chuck’s personality like his ability to lie to his sister so easily now and also burn an asset so quickly is starting to scare her into thinking that she may lose the chuck she fell in love with.
And to her credit, even though it was killing her, she was the one who fought Casey a little to give Chuck and Jill some time alone.
Good point KG. What Sarah did for Chuck and Jill was very mature.
Weaselone–I couldn’t have said it better. That has been my issue this season too. They have not done a very good job of showing us that Chuck even still has Sarah on his radar. She was in black lingerie last week and he didn’t appear to notice?? I am not a fan of dragging out C/S anymore, but if they’re going to insist on that, they need to be more consistent. I love Chuck and want it to do well, and anyone tuning in for the first time this season isn’t seeing a very consistent storyline for C/S, and that’s not a good thing. New viewers need to invest in them. There is absolutely no acknowledgement between them that they are supposedly in love and that there is still longing there and regret over how it was handled between them. Instead of Sarah and Chuck getting to know Shaw it would have been nice to see them having to rebuild what they broke.
He’s right. And that’s what I was basically bloviating.
I’ve watched the show before season three and I’m having a hard time believing they’re in love, or were they ever? How are new viewers going to make a connection?
I’m worried now that this potential “payoff” we’re all expecting and longing for is going to be believable.
It would be a hoot if they were secretly together and playing us all this time.
Chuck has a full plate juggling his spy and personal life at the moment.
Lou, I am being a good soldier & waiting on the romantic payoff & the coupling of Chuck & Sarah, that I & many others have been hoping for.
I love Chuck & am willing to wait for what I want to see.
I am getting frustrated though & I miss a lot of the good & heartfelt moments that I had seen between Chuck & Sarah in the past.
I just want the romance between the two to start heading back in the direction for the good between them.
Lou, can you give me an estimation, as far as which episode# you think, things will start heading back in the right direction for Chuck & Sarah?
As far as the romance between the two of them I mean.
I’m waiting patiently & thanks.
BMB.
P.S.
Lou, we all miss ya in the forums.
Lou I agree with you when you say, “The best way they can keep each other safe is to maintain the status quo of their personal interactions. Anything intimate at this stage of their character development would almost certainly end in tragedy.” However safety is not just safety in the life and death sense of the word. Chuck has said previously that Sarah is worth dying for and I have to believe that Sarah feels just as passionately about Chuck.
The real issue of safety is having two individuals who are not emotionally whole come together prematurely. Chuck’s personal world is experiencing seismic upheaval right now while Sarah’s is still experiencing aftershocks. As frustrating as the delay is in them getting together it is more than understandable given the circumstances.
As for Kg’s frustration that Chuck and Sarah should be talking at least between missions and working things out, sure I’ve wished that their personal sharing could move beyond mere sound bites, but that’s the nature of television and keeping viewers tuned in. After the interruptions of the first two seasons (writers’ strike, etc) I just have to remind myself to be patient as new viewers get hooked like the rest of us.
I think that most of us know that Chuck and Sarah will eventually get things resolved individually and as a couple. The best thing we can do is to sit back and enjoy the ride (or not) until we get there.
Overall, I think we’ve seen the worst. HOPE we’ve seen the worst.
My piece had a little bit of frustration, but not as much as it sounded. I know they care for each other a ton, and I too miss the tender moments and flirtations of season two (those used to get us through when they weren’t together then, remember?) I just wondered aloud if it’s really love? Their feelings are certainly strong and sometimes intense, but is it real love? Based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure anymore.
It looked as if they were en route to a really nice place last spring, but this reset has been tough with a capital T. Very hard for the characters and the same for the fans. I still watch with great interest, but like a lot of folks have intimated, the fun is NOT evident anymore.
Remember in the past, when these two weren’t officially a couple? At least the moments were lighter, there was always hope and the two seemed to be getting closer and building something along the way. After Beek Cake positive momentum was heading down hill. WHACK. Then came Pink Slip.
I would hate for the “payoff” that is often bandied about to be a big disappointment.
Lou’s right. Things may change for the better when Chuck pops Shaw in 3-8 and Sarah may reveal her name as sign of love and trust, but it will take several episodes to get things straightened out for good.
Sarah was devistated when Chuck would not run away with her. Since she put her total trust and love into the relationship for the first time, and then betrayed by the man she loved, she was angry. She told Chuck to keep his feelings to himself to protect her emotional self. Every episode shows that she really loves him and wants to protect him, but is still distant not wanting to be hurt again. Chuck is on a mission to become a spy, so that he can be with Sarah like Bryce. When Sarah would not succumb to the cover Girl friend Chuck was more determined to become a spy. Chuck and Sarah are both dancing aruound love because Chuck wants to be a spy and Sarah does not want to have her heart broken again. For Sarah, Shaw is safe. Shaw was married to a spy which brings potential to Sarah that she could replace Shaws wife. That Shaw did it once maybe he could find another love in Sarah. Having Shaw take her down that road could show Sarah that it is possible to have a relationship with the spy she truly loves. Sarah is the one holding up the Charah relationship. Hanan is there to bring forth the feelings in Sarah that Chuck is the one she truly wants. Chuck is focused on becoming a spy so one day he can be with Sarah. Hanah raises his flag.
How safe is Shaw? He was married to a spy and now she’s dead. What does Sarah know about this guy?
As far as we know, he might have been responsible for Eve’s death? He certainly didn’t protect her, obviously didn’t prevent it. How do we know that he didn’t set her up?
Even at his worst, Sarah must know Chuck would do everything in his power to protect her in every way, would even die for her himself if that’s what it took.
Shaw? Potential? Sarah is smarter than that, isn’t she?
well according to me,chuck is a another unlucky guy in this world.If anybody says chuck got to be matured and give up all the childish qualities to win Sarah, i have a answer 4 all of them, that is…..CHUCK IS BEST AND WELL MATURED GUY IN THE CHUCK T.V SEASON…..Zarah’s dedication is nothing compared to that chuck has done.
*Sarah is a CIA agent who has nobody in this world, if something happens to her during a mission CIA will have a charm funereal for her…….on the other hand if we consider the life of chuck………..he has his father,sister and brother in law, friends and he has all the pleasure in the world….he has people to cry if he dies.
*……chuck is dedicating his family, friends and all his good qualities..in order to win the heart of Sarah walker……he works in the buy more, holds the intersect,do the spying job and importantly keeping secrets away from his family and friends something that he’s not used to.
*Chuck does everything coz of Sarah……despite of all chucks efforts its so sad to see Sarah is more impressed by crafty and emotionless spy’s like Bryce,Cole and now creepy Shaw……if anybody would say chuck overlooked Sarah and fell for other girls…..i must say he didn’t fall but he was seduced by Jill and now Hannah in order to complete some mission……..anyway i suppose Sarah also an agent with the same intention. If anyone don’t agree with me…..i must say in season 2 finale Sarah came to farewell chuck because she was so excited to go and work with Bryce, on the new intersect…..that clearly shows that all the hope that Sarah gave to chuck was a fake…….
*one last point….don’t always comment saying Sarah is there to save chuck…coz it was chuck who saved casey and Sarah in season 2 to finale when all the weapons were pointed on them, in the episode suburbs,…and also in 3.06 when Sarah was about to get shot…….when writers put Sarah like a character who always ready to cling on to all the agents she works with,,I must say you’ll make this character so disgusting…..and feel sorry for chuck….and as a fan i personally lose my interest on this show…..well its up to you’ll to decide.
i stated this in another thread but ill do it again here.be patient all of you want for Sarah and Chuck to be together but your not even the slightest interested on how they come to be together.i realize that the same old same old is getting a little redundant at this point but its not an excuse to dis on the show the way some people do on these threads.its ok to speak your mind but understand that if all this keeps up you will personally dig Chuck its grave.i think that the writers have something big planed for what would have been the second half of the season so be patient.last but not least i highly recommend that everyone stop reading the spoilers your only hurting the show by not watching because you don’t like the upcoming storyline.
i really think all of you have good points, but it is hard for the writers to fulfill everybody`s interests. I think there should be a season finale in where chuck and Sarah get together and then at least one season of them working together as a couple. I would really like to watch chuck on TV but i am form Bosnia so i have to watch it on the internet. And i think there should a love interest for Casey in the future. hehe
I think I read somewhere a couple years ago where Zach Levi thought his r’ship with his character and Sarah would lead. I think he said “friends”
I think—at the end of the day—that’s how this will end up. The writers found an unexpected gold mine in the chemistry of the two…and started to “go there”…but there has been no shared character development beyond a few moments of “I know you, Sarah”, longing looks and mild PDA . I think they will make peace with their decision not to couple and fight the good fight as friends…
And believe me…I’m not pleased with my feelings about this.
Ihope they do!!!!!!!!!!