ChuckTV.net The CHUCK archive
Written by Chris Fedak
Directed by Peter Lauer
‘I appreciated the tank.’
Chuck and Sarah are together. Huzzah! The elephant in the room has been set free. What was so great about this episode is that the Sarah and Chuck relationship was resolved early in the episode. That early resolution allowed attention to shift to other matters such as tracking down the Ring Leader.
The episode opens with the best teaser the series has done to date. Like Chuck we rightly believe that Shaw is intent on seeking revenge on Sarah. He leads her to an abandoned Ring location where monitors show Sarah’s Red Test playing in a never ending loop. Sarah learns that Eve Shaw was her Red Test while Shaw hovers menacingly in the background. With that setup a hilarious payoff is delivered when Chuck arrives on the scene after seemingly mobilizing the entire military to rescue Sarah. Including stealth bombers and tanks.
From the teaser the episode never falters as it gives resolutions and changes for the main characters all done in that uniquely comedic touching and heartfelt way that the Chuck show does so well. When the show shifts back to the spy world, the little beats between Chuck and Sarah as they worry about Shaw in general and about him finding out about them specifically; continue the fun of the previous normal world moments.
‘You saved me.’
The show shifts gears in the final act as Chuck really has to save Sarah this time as Shaw’s end game plays out. Season long threads are revisited as Chuck’s aversion to violence, his priority on family and friends, his Red Test, and the struggle to not lose himself even as he must do necessary things he abhors. The final act is the serious version of the teaser and this time it is all about Chuck handling it on his own with no backup.
Chuck tries everything in his power to prevent the eventual outcome from happening but once he knows there are no other options he does the necessary thing and pulls the trigger. A trigger pull that he knows will save Sarah’s life but may cost him Sarah’s love. If Sarah remains steadfast in her belief that if Chuck kills it means he cannot be the same guy she fell for. Fortunately for Chuck, Sarah was able to witness the moment in her paralyzed state so she knows the truth of that moment. She knows what Chuck did was unavoidable. She saw Chuck trying everything to not have to kill. Sarah knows he had no choice and that Chuck’s love for her is such that Chuck was able to have the stones, as Casey would say, to pull the trigger.
Chuck saved her.
Most fitting that the theme of Chuck doing the right thing no matter what the cost is the very thing that brings him and Sarah together.
Episode Flashes:
- Opening sequence – one of the best ever for the series. Tense, action packed, and funny.
- ‘And the tank too.’
- General Beckman chewing Chuck out for his rescue mission – ‘This bill is longer than my copy of Atlas Shrugged.’ LOL
- ‘I appreciated the tank.’
- MORGAN! Like every scene he was in!
- Morgan saying goodbye to Big Mike
- Casey and Morgan wishing each other well in their respective old lives
- Chuck on a nerd bender mixing whiskey, mint ice cream, guitar hero, and John Hughes movies.
- Sarah’s amazing ability to conceal knives no matter how she is dressed
- OMD -‘If You Leave,’ on vinyl! Or at least the show used a needle on record sound effect
- Morgan yelling he hates the song now
- Sarah admitting she loves Chuck – without ever saying it – and fell for him pretty well from the start
- Morgan obviously eavesdropping on Chuck and Sarah’s heart to heart and popping out at the mention of a mission
- Chuck and Sarah worried about whether or not Shaw knows about them and resultant shot down the elevator shaft
- the elevator scenes – including the cheesy Ring logos at the end of the hallways
- Morgan sussing out right away that Shaw’s fight was staged – Sonny Chiba for the win!
- Beckman does sleep sometimes! Plus she uses the clapper!
- Morgan’s Yoda line delivery, ‘There is another.’
- Morgan rallying Casey to help out Chuck rescue Sarah
- Chuck trying everything to avoid killing Shaw but doing what was necessary in the end
- Casey getting back on the team and adding Morgan to Team Bartowski!
- Joy at RingLeader Mark Shepherd not being dead somewhat muted by him being captured
- Sarah’s realization that Chuck saved her for real
- Beckman’s interruption – very Bondish
- Sarah’s, ‘Shut up and kiss me, ‘ followed by Chuck’s you betcha head shake before diving in
- closing shot of Chuck’s Chuck hanging out of the bed before panning to the Eiffel Tower
‘Shut up and kiss me.’
‘Chuck Versus The Other Guy,’ is a crackling piece of enjoyment. The action, the humor, the drama, nerd/80s references, and of course – romance are mixed together to provide a finale in midseason. Chris Fedak has introduced several major changes, the key one being the long awaited, and for many – way overdue, resolution to the Chuck and Sarah, ‘Will They, Won’t They,’ storyline. Yvonne and Zac nailed their heart to heart scene with Josh hovering in the background. Chuck at its best. Funny and touching.
There were many other things to like in this episode. With the Love Interest storyline between Sarah and Shaw finally put to bed, so to speak, the shift of focus to Shaw’s revenge storyline was most welcome. Too bad it was undercooked and left till so late in the game. However the production budget was apportioned for the episodes, this one felt like it had something a little extra as there was never a moment where costs seem to be an issue. The Paris scenes especially looked very authentic. Kudos to the production crew!
Most enjoyable was Morgan’s role in this episode. He straightened out Chuck several times, pointed out Shaw’s duplicity, and gave Casey a kick in the rear to boot. His inclusion on Team Bartowski opens up a wealth of story possibilities and the comedy potential is off the charts based on his interactions with Casey and Beckman. Glimpses of him in action from the promo for the upcoming episodes are hilarious.
Quibbles with the episode? Three minor ones. First one; the lack of Ellie and Awesome was a disappointment in what is a midseason season finale. Secondly; thematically the same material was covered again contrasting Shaw against Chuck. It felt like the character of Chuck was treading water, waiting for everyone to catch up until the last act. Finally, it would have been a nice call back to 3.04 if Chuck had repeated his nothing matters more to him than family and friends creedo in response to Shaw’s belief that Chuck would not pull the trigger.
The gang is back together and the next 6 episodes should be a blend of the best elements of Seasons 1 and 2 mixed in with the evolved characters of Season 3 to date. Safe to say, everyone is looking to the next half dozen episodes with great anticipation.
Lou, 3 days and 3 viewings later, I’m still grinning at every bullet point you mentioned.
What a fun episode!
As usual, an amazing review Lou. I’m with you about the resolving relationship issue on the early part of the episode, to showing us that Sarah already love Chuck, her Chuck before he save her life, to make sure to the “shippers” that Sarah love Chuck from the debut, not the one growing to be a spy. But between you and I, we all know anyway that Sarah did not dislike the new version of Chuck, the “You saved Me” thing either! 😉
PS: My favorite part of your reviews are the Episode Flashes.
See you after April 26th!
Just wanted to tell you that that issue comes for me at a very good time.
It would have been a nice touch, if Sarah had, at some point, showed up wearing Chuck’s mother’s charm bracelet.
I’m waiting for that to happen too!! I kept looking for it.
“It felt like the character of Chuck was treading water, waiting for everyone to catch up until the last act.”
Well put. That’s something I’ve tried to express myself, but wasn’t able to do as succinctly as you just did.
Not wanting to be a downer. After all, I’m as giddy as anyone. The “you’re still Chuck. You’re still my Chuck,” may be the highlight of the entire series.
But doesn’t the ending point out the sillyness of the plot of the past few weeks? That Sarah couldn’t love Chuck if she thought that he killed the mole? Even at worst, he was reluctent. He expressed to her that he didn’t think he could do it. And the only reason he would try was to be with her. Even if he had killed the mole, it would have been in self defense.
Sorry. Not buying it.
It’s actually one of two main things this season that I’m not buying. I also don’t buy that Chuck would leave her on that platform in Prague. At least not without a better explanation.
And since those are the two main plot points of the first 12 episodes, not buying them hurts.
But, enough of that. They are together. Hopefully, we can get on with the story that a lot of us have been begging for.
First off, Great review as usual Lou! (feels like I should have that phrase on permanent cut&paste 🙂 )
Second, wasn’t the point with Sarah’s reaction to Chuck’s red test that she didn’t see that it was self defense, she only saw the aftermath with Chuck standing over the guy with his gun?
Sorry to go a bit OT…..
No I don’t think so at all. Sarah wanted her Chuck to be normal. Killing for a test or on orders versus killing to protect or defend loved ones is a world of difference. Chuck would not have been in a position to kill in self defense if he had not accepted the red test to begin with.
I have other issues with the first 13 but the red test is not one of them. In fact, I feel it was used to demonstrate the difference between a regular spy and Chuck quite well. Plus it showed the difference in how Sarah feels about Chuck as opposed to other spies.
I think Sarah knew how much the spy life would change Chuck, because of how much it changed her. Chuck didn’t fully grasp what it meant to be a full fledged spy (killing, lying, living a double life) After her Red Test Sarah felt horrible, and possibly part of her innocence died that day. She didn’t want the same thing for Chuck. Chuck is a great character because he doesn’t like guns, his family and friends are important to him (he’s very loyal), and he hates lying … all things he has to compromise to enter the spy world. However, I think the last episode proves Chuck can still be Chuck and a spy too. 🙂
I agree with OldDarth killing in self defense to save a life is different than killing to pass a test just to be a spy. He told Sarah he’s becoming a spy so they can be together. She doesn’t want to see the spy world stamp out all the things she loves about him, because of her world.
I too am glad that hey are finally together again..But I have to agree with the other guy. Even though he accepted the red test He still refused to kill the guy. He would much rather arrest him which is why they got to the train tracks to begin with. At the train tracks the mole pulled his gun and was ready to kill him and Chuck still looked hesitant to pull the trigger, and thats when casey shot the other guy.
That’s why I am going to have to agree with bilatwork. I too am not convinced that Sarah would have chosen Chuck if Casey had not told her the truth. I think Sarah should have given him the benefit of the doubt
Chuck was shooting in self defense when he killed Shaw. When it came to the mole-like Wolfpack said- Sarah did not know and I don’t think even Chuck knew that the mole was reaching for his gun..
It seemed to me Sarah was going to fail her own red test. I don’t think she was going to kill Eve because she walked right past her without drawing her gun. It wasn’t until Sarah thought she saw Eve reach for a weapon that she reacted by shooting her.
Except for Mauser in ‘Santa Claus’, I don’t remember Sarah ever killing anyone in cold blood.
Chuck is no ordinary spy but in many ways, one can also make that claim regarding Sarah. If one were to compare her with Alex Forrest, Carina, Cole, Bryce and even Casey (from seasons one and two), Sarah is different.
I like the parallel. Chuck killed Shaw to save Sarah. Sarah killed Mauser to save Chuck. Chuck and Sarah have shown repeatedly that they would die to save each other, so that they would kill to save each other is a logical progression.
Yeefiver is right. Sarah and Chuck what’s best for the other. Sarah, knowing what she went through and what compromises she’s had to make to become an elite CIA agent, did not want that for Chuck. She felt he would have to compromise too much to become the spy worthy of here. You could see that at the end of Chuck vs. the Nacho Sampler and you see it again in Chuck vs the American Hero. She thought the last bit of “her Chuck” was lost when he “killed” the mole.
Sarah chose to kill Mauser because Chuck would effectively die if he lives. Chuck chose to kill Shaw because Sarah would literally die if Shaw lives.
Our Chuck has grown up and got the girl of his dreams. How can it possibly get better than that … unless there’s a bunch of things blowing up while they set up house.
The great thing about this show is the writers and directors and cast are so talented. I recall after watching the second to last episode last season thinking, “Wow, how can they top this for the season finale.” But they did top it! It seemed that Chuck’s Intersect 2.0 powers might ruin the show but it didn’t at all. They still found ways to keep it an awesome show. So I trust that they can still keep the show interesting even though Chuck and Sarah have gotten together.
Great episode!! Finally the two heroes end up on the same page at the same time! 🙂 Yay the team is back together plus one! Adding Morgan to the team should be a lot of fun! Can’t wait for the next 6 episodes!!!
I too loved the fact they resolved the Chuck/Sarah saga early in the episode. It was a huge sigh of relief! That left me to focus on whether Shaw was good or not. I actually found the Shaw storyline intriguing, especially after it was revealed that Sarah killed his wife. For five years Shaw was consumed with avenging his wife’s death. Unfortunately, the revenge shifted toward Sarah and ultimately the CIA after Sarah revealed she did in fact kill his wife during her Red Test. Shaw and Sarah’s relationship was revealed to be nothing more than what many perceived it to be, a passing interest for both of them with no deep emotions. Sarah admitted she fell in love with Chuck three years ago when they met. So through Chuck’s relationships (Lou, Jill and Hannah) and through Bryce coming back and Cole’s attempts to lure her away, and through all the “fake†breakups where Chuck said it was just too hard to pretend to be with her … she had already fallen in love with him. So it makes their “fake†relationship so much more enduring. 🙂
One small quibble. Sarah didn’t reveal she killed Eve. Actually it was Shaw who revealed to Sarah that the “mole” she killed was actually Shaw’s wife.
And he found out from The Ring.
I know. 🙂 I think the whole warehouse scene was to prove to Shaw what the Ring told him in the previous episode that Sarah killed his wife. He could have thought the tape was a fake, but Sarah revealed in the warehouse the tape was genuine and she was in fact the one that killed Eve.
what an unexpected punchline, heehee!
I’m not sure I quite understand your quibble. The way I interpreted your comment, you would have had Sarah come to the conclusion that her red test is Eve Shaw by herself? How would she have known it was Eve Shaw without the knowledge being imparted by Shaw? Without Shaw and the tape (especially the part that includes her laughing and talking to the camera) how would you have had Sarah figure out that her red test was in fact Shaw’s wife? Beckman said that *insert CIA director who died name (slipping my mind)* was the only person who knew about it. I might be mis-interpreting your comment but this is how I understood it
I don’t have a quibble. I’m simply pointing out possible reasons for the Warehouse scene. We are all saying the same thing, I’m just not explaining myself well.
I agree Sarah had no knowledge of who Eve Shaw was during her red test. Sarah was operating under CIA orders to kill a mole. I also agree, even in the Warehouse Sarah didn’t know who the woman was only that the tape playing over and over was in fact her real Red Test. Sarah was simply point out the authenticity of the tape, that she did in fact kill the woman on the tape. Shaw provided the name of the lady.
Now from Shaw’s perspective in the warehouse. He may have wanted to know from Sarah if the video was in fact real. Not some fabrication from the Ring to make Sarah look guilty. He also may have wanted to see Sarah’s reaction when she revealed she killed his wife. Those are possible reasons why I think the Warehouse scene was added – no quibble.
Good call, I never thought about it that way. I just thought its only purpose was to let Sarah know that it didn’t matter and that way get into CIA again.
Thank you for sharing this story with us and opening our eyes.
I’m so glad that the love situation was sorted out while Shaw was still alive. If Chuck had shot Shaw, and then had “the chat” with Sarah, he would have wondered if he’d won by default.
I have a hard time believing that one can kill an opponent in a love triangle and thereby become a default choice.
That was my main concern.. I don’t agree with her being okay for chuck to kill to save her life, but she wasn’t okay for chuck to kill to save his own life. I just can’t get over that for some strange reason.
First I loved the review and the episode. I loved how they showed Sarah decideing to be with Chuck in the previous episode and quickly worked through the warehouse scene that did not work except to provide some ligh humor for Sarah ” I reall liked the tank”, and get to the Question. The warehouse was entertaining but the timing was way off. In the previous episode, Shaw grabbed Sarah and ran through the desert and they showed her in the car wearing her non spy clothes and her gun on the bed. At the start of this episode, Sarah somehow changed clothes and grabbed a gun. Then they showed Sarah worried that Shaw was not behind her and sending Chuck an alert. How could Chuck assemble a team and get to the warehouse? And Shaw had the gun on her.
Picky I know So now that Chuck and Sarah are together, when will Sarah tell Chuck she loves him? I guess we will have to watch every episode live in anticipation. Chuck should learn, Never wake General Beckman up, she does not wake up happy.
I enjoyed how when struggling with Shaw, Chuck flashed but flashed on the wrong skill. I think Kung-fu would have worked better than choke but even as Shaw noted Chuck’s emotions for Sarah interfeared with his effectiveness to correctly flash and led to Chuck killing Shaw. But the fork flip was cool.
Wow these two points have you hurting. I would of thought other events that took place 3.01-3.12 would be more annoying.
My take at Prague was Chuck was trying to be Chuck the spy not Chuck the guy, that and they were going for a more emotional impact in 3.02. But If they hadn’t aired the two back to back I can see how that scene would be a bummer.
I think Sarah red test is so disturbing for Sarah was she didn’t shoot till she thought Eve was going for a weapon. But she didn’t know for sure if that’s the case. Did she actually murder and agent or defend herself. She was using this outcome to grade Chuck and she thought the same with Chuck when the mole died. Yes he was going for a weapon but only person who really knew that was Casey. Chuck tried to give Shaw every chance to not go forth and kill Sarah. Sarah and Chuck know that.
I’m sure the show plans to go back and revisit Chuck’s actions. I had no problem buying these issues though the train scene is a weak one I agree.
he he, thanks. I am waiting on your next post.
I can certainly understand how you feel.
How can you express anything fair Mel about this show? if you can t have a neutral opinion? This Season was horrible in all aspects and even this last episode was forced with the exception of the last ten minutes not counting with the bed scene. I know you from the forum and i know you just can t be fair.Because you have interests and you are a insider.
*endless love
for the endless love for wife eve, Shaw made his mind to kill Sarah.
for the endless love for the dream girl Sarah, chuck made his mind to kill Shaw.
*red test
Sarah’s first kill was eve Shaw.
chuck’s first kill was Daniel Shaw.
at last there’s something common about chuck/Sarah in the spy world.
this is exactly my thought when i watched the episode.in a way its fitting that it played out that way,that is if shaw is really dead…
Wow. Excellent observation. I am continually amazed how damned clever the writers of “Chuck” are. I am also amazed at how Chuck is not a huge hit.
Lou,
I’ve enjoyed reading your reviews since finding this site three weeks ago. This one is as enjoyable as the episode itself. Thanks!
BEST episode yet! Great review, too!
SO many things to love about this episode. It had all of the characters at their best. Fantastic!
Love. This. Show.
I am really so used to read.
The “You’re still Chuck…..you’re still MY Chuck” was the best line Sarah ever ever said.
When she said she fell for him between the time he fixed her phone and started diffusing bombs with computer viruses, that took us all the way back to the pilot episode. She probably started falling for him right about the time he helped the dad record his ballerina dancing daughter.
I completely, wholeheartedly agree about that being Sarah’s best line in the entire series. It was nice to think back to the pilot episode too.
My only beef with the episode, and this may be resolved during the next six episodes, was that the Ring’s big plan apparently was rebuilding their own Intersect. That’s it? If so, why did they set themselves back by killing Ted Roarke? I hope this is just a head-fake. Otherwise, rebuilding the Intersect kinda reminds me of Dr. Evil saying, “Oh hell, let’s just do what we always do. Hijack some nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage.”
I have to agree with ToddH, the seeming resolution of the ring plotline seems too quick and easy. There has got to be more coming. It just seems way to unrealistic that the looming organization behind fulcrum and everything else would end with this episode.
Other than that, this episode brings Chuck back to what I’ve been hoping for all season: The hope that is omnipresent in season 2 and the fun of season 1.
Quick sidenote, the Ring Director pointed out that Langston Grahm ordered Eve Shaw’s death. Could we expect a return of Grahm from the grave as a more sinister force?
But we don’t know if the Ring, in some way, caused Graham to believe Eve had gone over to the Ring.
Mabye Graham was a Ring agent and Eve almost found out and who better to take care of it then his own prodege Sarah Walker?!?!?!?!
I opened this blog post with the hope that that would specifically be addressed and I found your comments very insightful.
The final 6 episodes of the season will still feature the Ring, they aren’t done yet!
It would’ve been really interesting if the writers took the episode in a different direction. Have Shaw want to kill Chuck and make Sarah feel the pain that he felt. The only problem is, that wouldn’t allow Chuck to save Sarah. Also, one thought is, won’t Chuck be having some nightmares? I mean it was a big step for him to kill some one face to face, watching them look up at you as they fall into a river. Especially Shaw. He was the one who taught Chuck to pull the trigger. He had nightmares about Sarah killing someone, I think it will happen again. He did what he had to do, but knowing Chuck he should feel disturbed and haunted and guilty after all of his relief and happiness subside.
I was so happy at the end of this episode! Such a relief that they finally got together before the series ended(in regards to season 2. I’m hoping season 3 isn’t the last!) The last shot of the Eiffel Tower was just the icing on the cake. Was it symbolism of his growth? Probably, but all I was thinking about was that the two love birds finally got together. And the best part is, Sarah choose Chuck BEFORE she found out Shaw wanted to kill her. Also, thanks for the awesome reveiw!
I was thinking the exact same thing
In my opinion, the Eiffel Tower symbolism was very phallic (but that’s what all those English grad courses in theory do to you 🙂
I have followed this one-year process through your editorials and articles. Thank you for your clear and reasonable position.
Thanks again Lou for all your diligent and insightful work in writing these reviews. I hope that you can post a few articles between now and April 26 to help keep the momentum going.
I do have a question for you that I posted late last week but didn’t see an answer. In Casey’s admission to Sarah in Chuck vs. the American Hero he said, “the kid’s not a killer…just not wired that way…unlike us.†I found it interesting that Sarah didn’t say anything to deny their common connection considering the fact that she hasn’t killed many, if any, bad guys this season compared to seasons 1 and 2.
Is the fact that Sarah didn’t use deadly force even when her life was on the line this week with Shaw a reflection of the diminished role of her character this season or evidence of her becoming more like Chuck in his personal avoidance of killing others? Also who is going to protect both Chuck and Sarah since they both seem reluctant to pull the trigger? Casey? Morgan?
According to Chris Fedak, “For Chuck, (killing people) is very unnatural. He’s never going to be a hardened killer; that’s not Chuck Bartowski.” So what does this say, if anything, about the growth and development of Sarah Walker?
When did Sarah have a chance to use “deadly force” against Shaw? I’m not sure when that was. I know she had her weapon pulled when she turned around to face Shaw in the square, but if you remember she had already been tranqed. The toxin was having it effect before she knew deadly force was going to be neccessary.
She was very quick to draw her weapon on Shaw when she realised that soemthing was off in Paris. Unfortunately, the Ring director had already tranq’ed her. Funny that ‘super spy’ Shaw felt he needed to completely disable Agent Walker before he told her what he was going to do; a 220lb, 6ft+ man couldn’t get the better of a tall, slim woman. I think that was a shout out to how awesome she can be.
I think Shaw tranqued her more as a twisted act of “kindness” so that she wouldn’t feel anything as she drowned in the river. He also did it so she would sit still and listen to his reasons for killing her, not just to avenge his wife but to show the CIA they had betrayed the wrong guy.
But then he was going to kill her; so nobody would know what he said to her. Although that doesn’t bother me; the villians always tell the detective everything at the end of thrillers, just to let the viewers know what’s happening. I was just trying to give something back to the people who have been disappointed with Sarah’s lack of ass kicking this season.:)
Shaw didn’t tranq Sarah out of any “twisted act of kindness”. It was the only way he could control her. If she wasn’t tranqed, he’d be in danger for his life. So he tranqed her from behind her. He could even face her when he tranqed or had her tranqed.
At the end, he was a coward.
I wanted you to know how your work amazed me and become my tool to be stronger.
It shows who holds the gun in this relationship. 😉
That shift of thinking you talk about is so important..
Donovan – I think that is merely a result of the stories being told and less a conscious choice on Sarah’s part. It will be interesting going forward to see how Sarah proceeds. Also will Chuck continue to let Casey and Sarah do the dirty work or will there be a change in modus operandi for the team?
From what I’ve heard from CF, JS, and Zac Levi, Chuck will still be against the use of lethal force for the most part. I would say that he will only kill when it is necessary to protect the bubble of family and friends.
This episode was First-Rate all the way through. I’m glad we finally have Adorable Sarah back. Aloof Sarah was getting on my nerves.
It’s too bad we didn’t get to see bad-ass Shaw earlier. They introduced him as an elite super-spy type but never really sold it. In fact, he came off as borderline incompetent. What did he accomplish early on? He shot a woman in the back in 304. He gets himself locked in a vault and sets off a poison-gas trap in 307. He falls for a Ring feint and abandons Castle and Chuck in 309.
It’s like a new Shaw showed up in the last two episodes (even before he discovered the truth about his wife’s death). I know the one fight was staged, but he handled those Ring agents in 312 without a problem and handled Chuck easily even though Chuck flashed. I think his character would have been better received had we seen him do something awesome early on. Oh well.
I agree completely. Shaw was intended to be a James Bond/Bryce Larkin type character, and I really did not get that from him. For me, I think it is BR, but that is just my opinion. Shaw’s character did not really develop as well as I would have liked(this is the one problem I have with season 3). His motivations and attitude seemed off for some reason, I don’t know if that was the writer’s fault for not putting him in enough or BR’s fault for not being able to sell his character. I think that despite the lack of what Shaw’s character was intended to be/accomplish on the show, the writers superbly handled the character development of Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and more recently Morgan (I have thought this pretty much the entire season, not just after this ep). I dislike the character/plot development with Awesome and Ellie as of late. Awesome and Ellies scenes in “American Hero” were awesome, but other than that Awesome really only plays a major role early on in the season.
A case of very lazy writing. Sadly. They wrote this character very poorly in those eps you mentioned.
I think that was because they extended his story arc so that he would be in the fake finale (12 and 13), but they then needed to keep him around regularly throughout the original 13. I think the concensus of opinion is that the story was good but its execution could have been better. I wish they would just admit that Shaw didn’t work out as well as expected.
For me personally, 3.13 was fantastic and I can watch it over and over just like many episodes from seasons 1 and 2. This is why I got hooked on the show in the first place. The whole cast were on top form but Morgan was out on his own this week; he stole every scene he was in!
I think the writers tried to make Shaw unlikeable, knowing how they wanted the arc to end. They really didn’t want Shaw to be endearing like Bryce, for example. It makes sense for Shaw to be so cold (and stiff) in the previous episodes if he’s also the man who can turn against Sarah and the rest of his team so quickly.
I’m not saying I disagree with you. It might have been better for us to have had some emotional connection with him and then have him succumb to his blinding revenge (tragic hero style), but that might have been the wrong choice, actually, because it could have taken the focus away from Chuck, the real hero, acting on the best parts of his character: love for friends, respect for life, and love for Sarah.
I agree with you; I’m just not sure where it would have taken them, especially after seeing 3.13 and knowing what they planned for Shaw in the end.
Well I liked Shaw, he was not unlikeable to me. He was just an emotionally closed-off spy. He got really hurt when his wife died, so he was guarded at all times. He was empty inside.
I think it was until he met Sarah that he was able to connect emotinally with someone again. Unfortunately, he opened his heart to the wrong person. He was ‘sleeping’ with the enemy in a way.
But I know what you mean, they made Shaw that way intentionally to show how different he was as a very professional spy, from Chuck, and amateur spy totally controlled by his emotions. Plus this is Chuck’s show, so they couldn’t allow for the guest star to overshadow the main star.
All valid points. I definitely believe TPTB wanted us to dislike Shaw. You’re right about the ending; if Shaw had been likable and we really believed that Sarah was emotionally connected to him then his demise would have been too tragic. We would have ended the episode on another downer. Hopefully we are through with those.
But Sarah WAS emotionally connected to Shaw. She really cared for him. Not as much as she cared for Chuck, but she did have feelings for Shaw. Same thing with Shaw. They both had feelings for one another and were physically attracted too. This is why the Shaw’s betrayal was SO tragic. When he learned that it was Sarah who had killed his wife and that the CIA was behind it, it totally destroyed him. Still, he was ‘kind’ in his own way to his victims. He was not really a bad man, he was just consumed by grief.
I wonder WHAT would Chuck do in his case? You know, if the agency he works for killed Sarah. I think he would possibly do the same things Shaw did.
Shaw was either evil or incompetent from the start. Everything he did seemed to erode unit cohesion for Team Bartowski. He accused Sarah of being rogue, he took over command from Casey and treated Casey shoddily, he told them they were bad mentors and obstacles to Chuck’s development as a spy, he sent Chuck into risky situations poorly trained and with shoddy equipment (a tranq pen on a plane that doesn’t work at high altitudes?), and he hit on Sarah in front of Chuck which Shaw knew would upset him. Everything seemed “off” about Shaw from the start, which made Sarah’s attraction to him all the more implausible.
I complitely agree with you..Thank you for bringing it up!
AWESOME EPISODE! 3 days later and I’m still smiling. It feels kinda like we’ve all been on a journey up a mountain with these characters and finally….FINALLY… they reached the summit. I can’t wait to see what’s coming up next. This is the only show that can actually get me in a good mood whenever I’m feeling down. Thank goodness I have something to keep me busy for the next couple of weeks or else I’d be going crazy thinking about everything that’s coming up.
Lou, thank you for another great review. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts on the episode and I am always amazed at what people see or read into any given scene. You can guarantee that if you missed something, someone on this site will have spotted it and can offer an explanation. I think maybe the writers deliberately leave plot holes and ambiguous scenarios so the viewer can fill them in.
Overall, I think 3.13 concluded the arc nicely and we can move on from here with faith and conviction that Shaw in definitely dead (three shot to the chest and a plunge from a bridge into the river; even Bryce couldn’t come back from that!) but, more importantly, Chuck is indeed ‘Our Chuck’. Although I don’t think Sarah will be sharing!
lol, yes, surely…
Epic episode and awesome season. Can’t wait for the Back Six. 😉
Pros and quotes;
”Hey join the party”
”Enjoy my old life” ”you too”
”I see you brought Casey”
”Morgan, go to my closet and bring me my suit, the black one”
”Shut up and kiss me”
Loved Casey/Morgan interactions, like older/youngest brother bonding.
DYLM scene beautiful.
Shaw’s dead finally
and speaking of Finally, Chuck and Sarah are officialy a couple SQUEE 😀
Not to mention Colonel Casey is back in the game and Morgan is a member now.
Can’t wait for the Family reunions in the last six episodes, Casey’s reunion is my most antisapated of the season. I’ll say it again, Awesome season.
One more thing, when Shaw betrays Chuck/Sarah in the Elevator scene, I recognised that haunting intense music from the Tic Tac when Casey is arrested as a traitor. I fell in love with it. Does anyone know the names of the music stuff they use?
I think the song you are referring to is “Kettering” by the Antlers
but if you are looking for the music, this website is the one I have found to be most helpful.
http://www.tvshowmusic.com/shows/chuck.html
It’s not one of the songs it’s one of the instrumentals, I think you’d know the one I’m talking about if you heard it again, it has piano, strings, trumpets, very intense and hauntingly beautiful. That’s the best I can describe it. Thanks anyway.
it is painting with words.
Most of the instrumental atuff is composed specifically for the show by Tim Jones. Watch for his CD of Chuck instrumentals (release date TBA)
Typo: atuff = stuff
So right you are
Nice review OD. Though regarding the desire to have Chuck reiterate that theres nothing he won’t do for friends and family to Shaw at the denouement. I actually am glad they didn’t do that. Chuck is a fundamentely good man he gave Shaw every opportunity. Shaw gives his little eveeel speech Chuck plugs him immediately no hesitation no messing around, no explanation no justification. It was necessary, all options gone so he just did it. I remember reading a Terry Pratchett book years (Men At Arms) ago and there was a line about villans and heroes (paraphrased) ‘beware the truly good man with a weapon, he’ll just kill you with no ceremony because he has to’.
Actually if you watch teh bridge scene again, you will notice that Chuck almost gets Shaw to stand down, but his flash back to Eve dying prevents that.
I am soooo glad they ended the episode the way they did. This was supposed to be the season finale and could well have been the series finale and the producers thankfully choose not to end with a cliffhanger or another roadblock. Thank you guys for giving us (and chuck and sarah) the happy ending we’ve wanted. I never believed you need to keep the tension between them going on forever and I really look forward to the future episodes with C&S as a couple.
One quibble, Like most here I found the Sarah Shaw dynamic forced, akward and rushed. I never felt like there was a real connection and I blamed it on bad writing and/or bad acting. But in the last episode there was a chance to redeem it. How good would it have been to reveal that Shaw knew about Sarah and his wife all along and that everything he did had an ulterior motive.
Instead we are asked to believe that he goes from falling for Sarah to trying to kill her in like a day. Even he articulated the logical fact that Sarah was manipulated but he still goes from love to hate like a switch being thrown. And why would he not only betray her but his country? He didn’t need the ring to carry out his revenge so how does he go from super-spy to traitor so suddenly?
Still, I can now put Shaw in a box and forget him (unless he pops back up later) and enjoy Chuck and Sarah as the couple we’ve waited for.
How would you react if you found the person that murdered your spouse? I can tell you my emotions would flip immediately.
Also, it was not just between Shaw and Sarah either. The CIA was behind Sarah’s red test. That is why Shaw went to the ring. To get back at the CIA and at Sarah.
I can see where he is coming from. I mean, even Chuck was willing to kill for Sarah when he wasn’t even willing to do it for himself (red test)I think Shaws character played out pretty well in 3.13, and most importantly, it was believeable
Shaw already knew how Sarah felt during her red test. Then after he found out he articulated the argument that she wasn’t the first person to be manipulated by the ring. Maybe they rushed things because of time constraints but it seemed really abrupt to me. I can understand the anger and even his shutting Sarah out but to go from superspy to bad guy that quickly seemed…artificial to me. It would have made more sense that he turned his anger against the people that caused his wifes death rather than simply the instrument of it. It’s like he got mad at the gun rather than the person pulling the trigger. He knows the ring was ultimately responsible but he chooses to turn on the person who they used instead and joins up with the villians instead? Sorry I just felt that like the whole Shaw story arc, it was forced.
Nice review! I really loved this episode, although . . . I really wish we could’ve seen Casey taking out the Ring guys. I mean, I get that they only had a limited amount of time and that Casey has had his share of badass moments, but I still wish we would’ve gotten a little bit more than a few off-screen gunshots and the call with Beckman.
Yeah, still it was hoot to hear in the background. Unleash the Casey!!! Man, I’ve waited a long time to say that lol 😉
Am I the only one who thinks that Shaw will turn out not to be dead, and in fact the new leader of the Ring – the first super villain of the series. McGyver had Murdock, and I think Charah are going to have Shaw. Actually I think I’d much prefer him as a villain since I never liked him in the first place.
No you’re not alone. I would almost guarantee that Shaw will pop up again if the series returns for a fourth season.
However I disagree that he will make a good nemesis. His poor acting and single note performance will not go any better in the bad guy role. His characters motivation is bland and will consist of little more than “I’m gonna get even with you.”
I hope they choose not to do it but I am very sure we’ll see him again.
Great review and Great episode.
I know it is not going to be popular with others but i really liked shaw in this episode. First, Sarah did kill his wife and not is self defence but she was totally helpless. I probaly would have done the same think in his position. Second, he had her tranqed so she would not feel a thing when she drowned, because he really did have fellings for Sarah. Third, he explained Why and he was going to kill her he didn’t just walk up behind her in the Warehouse and shoot them in the head to take Carina’s line. And lastly, Shaw had a gun and chuck was unarmed (right before he flashed) and he chose to grab a Knife to fight chuck and get him on the ground. he then explaind that he was not going to kill chuck unless he tried to stop him.
Shaw was a respectable man even though he was about to kill someone. Now I am not some “I hate sarah, Kill her, go Ring” guy but I did respect Shaw in this episode and throughout his time on the series. You could also tell that shaw was annoyed that the Ring director was there when he explained to sarah why. I have to say I was a little mad when i read all these comments that said they wanted shaw dead over the past since shaw joined the show. He was a nessesary character for chuck and sarah to progress just like Lou, Jill, and Hannah were.
I am a Swimmer so i might be alone when i say i was hoping that shaw would have taken sarah in with him so Chuck could Flash on Swimming and save her again. when that didn’t happen i wanted chuck to ensure that sarah didn’t think that he was different by, again, Flashing on swimming and pulling shaw out and doing some last ditch CPR to try to save the already dead man. Hopes.
Great review Lou. i look forward to reading them so much i check Tuesday morning to see if you liked the episode so much and wrote the article unsted of sleeping. Hopes.
Viva Buymoria with A Ass Man that is a spy.
yes.
Very well said, Dylan. I also liked Shaw and feel very sad for him.
My wife was quite annoyed that Shaw died (she says that all the guy hoties always die 🙂 ) but I suspect that shaw might be still around in a later ep. I guess only time will tell. I also thought that season 3 was a little bit hard to watch for some episodes but there were nesisary things that needed to happen to develop the characters. I originally thought that Sarah might have gotten closer to Shaw and then Shaw got killed some how but I have to say that this was a fantastic ep.
Rod
Thank you very much,is a very interesting history
You missed one of my favorite lines, after Chuck and Sarah leave the elevator at the Ring headquarters and they hear Shaw’s gunshot. Chuck: “Did he just…? I think you’re right – we should wait to tell him about us.” Or something like that. Love all of Chuck’s quips.
i love the look of it,very hawt
Okay, this is out of character for me…. But I am finding myself quickly becoming quite obsessed with this show, especially with the Chuck and Sarah relationship. I agree that “Chuck Versus the Other Guy” was one of the best Chucks ever!
I adored the “You’re still MY Chuck” line; probably one of the most sweet, pure, and profound things Sarah has ever said to him. She feels a little more real, more normal, now. Chuck is helping her connect with another side of herself; he’s completing her.
My only wish is that Sarah would have used “The Three Words” at some point in the episode. Why can’t she say it? Baby steps for her I guess? Perhaps something to look forward to?
Interesting that Chuck had to ask her if she loved him. She would never have said a thing if he hadn’t. And according to her admission, he could have asked her the same question after he defused the Demova Virus bomb in the pilot episode, and gotten the same “Yes” that he got three years later. But he may never get a direct “ILY” out of her. She’s not wired that way, just as Chuck is not wired to kill.
I dont’ think so. Sarah has 3 years of hindsight to really come to grips with how she felt about him. If you would have asked her in 1.01, she would have likely told Chuck he was crazy. I don’t think she started realizing how deep she was in until mid-Season 1 (around Truth/Hard Salami).
I do agree that it will be a while for her to say ILY. But if anyone can get her to do it, it will be Chuck.
I guess I had to think more about what you wrote before i can comment on it..
Bwahahaha, brilliant!
@Doctor Bob-
I have to say that I think Sarah would have told Chuck how she feels about him, because it is part of how her character is developing. She is struggling with trust issues, and has refrained from admitting her connection to and feelings for Chuck because he isn’t “safe” like the others she’s dated. Chuck represents a real relationship for Sarah, probably her first, which means she could get hurt emotionally. She is very guarded, and has protected herself from this for a long time. Chuck talks so much, and Sarah takes a lot of time to calculate her responses, so I think Sarah just needs a little longer to verbalize than Chuck usually gives her!
Chuck isn’t wired to kill, but he did it when he needed to, to save Sarah. Sarah will tell Chuck she loves him, I think, as she continues to develop emotionally through her relationship with Chuck and his family. Right now, she just doesn’t know how.
I like your reasoning. Chuck always seems to monopolise conversations with her. He always insists on going first, and she is probably glad to do so because he is emotionally open and she isn’t, because his verbosity shields her from having to open up, and because it gives her, as you say, time to calculate her responses. While there’s nothing wrong with the traditional role of the male in pursuit, she has been reactive to an extreme, to the point of having to be asked if she loved him. A bit more proactiveness on her part would have been refreshing.
@ Doctor Bob~
I agree, seeing Sarah be more proactive would have been very rewarding for us, but she’s just not ready… yet. Back in Season One, Bryce called her on how “This was always the hard part for you, discussing your feelings.” And Sarah replies, “I just don’t like to talk much.” Well, we ALL know that very well! Also, when she did finally take the leap… Chuck let her down, which created a HUGE backslide for her. Chuck has, from the beginning, been very clear with his feelings for her, but she’s always treated him as if he were off-limits.
Which brings me to another point: I think that is precisely why Chuck didn’t run away with her. He wanted to be “worthy” of her, someone she could see herself with, and have a relationship that would last.. I think he knew that new identities away from family and friends, basically just disappearing, was not the best way to go about making a life with Sarah. Instead, he was trying to figure out a way that they could BOTH have the best of both worlds. Chuck has always thought things through on a different level than Sarah, because ALL Sarah knows is the spy life. She has a lot still to learn from Chuck about how to have a normal, happy life that INCLUDES other people.
I can’t wait to see how things continue to develop between them! I LOVE how each of their characters makes the other one better! I think that’s why I love them so much, because they keep eachother honest, growing, and they’re always learning from each other.The dynamic between them is brilliant.
We MUST have more Seasons!!!
I adored the “You’re still MY Chuck†line; probably one of the most sweet, pure, and profound things Sarah has ever said to him. She feels a little more real, more normal, now. Chuck is helping her connect with another side of herself; he’s completing her.
—————–
Sweet like honey!
Rod
thank them for being a beautiful part of your life.
Wisdom of human kids!
OK, what an episode…. I was seriously shocked by it at the end. 🙁 I didn’t want for Shaw to die or to betray his team like that, but I’m not writing the story so yeah…
I feel better now. LOL. It’s silly I know, this is just a tv show, but as a Brandon/Shaw fan, well, I couldn’t help but feel very sad about how things turned out for him. It was well done, though, so I’m ok with it now.
So, now after a second viewing, I was able to enjoy it more than the first time, and it is a very good ep. One of the best in the series. It was funny, VERY tense, dramatic and very well acted by all, especially by Brandon Routh. He totally sold those emotions the character was feeling, and he added a great deal of gravitas to the role of a broken man consumed by revenge. He was also very good in the American Hero ep, but here he was just brilliant, IMO (the writers FINALLY gave him meaty material to work with…). He plays the tragic villain very well. But he is not any villain, he is a villain with a conscience! He still tried to be thoughtful, and in his own way, considerate with his victims. He drugged up Sarah just to make sure she wouldn’t suffer while dying, and he didn’t reveal that Chuck was the Intersect. You could also see the guilt on his face when he met the Ring Director in the elevator; he knew it was wrong to betray his team, but his need for revenge against those who betrayed him was just so powerful. Not even his feelings for Sarah could stop it. His devotion for his dead wife was just much stronger. Very tragic and even poetic.
I believe he snapped when his wife was killed those many years ago, and since then he dedicated his whole life to find those responsible for her death. And it wouldn’t matter on what side he was. Very sad. I think his send off was very dramatic, classy and poignant. The whole location, music used, mood, was just great and worthy of the character.
Rip Especial Agent Daniel Shaw.
But is he really dead? Like others said, he’d make a truly badass villain for Chuck and team B.
However, I found it very disturbing how easily Chuck and Sarah were ready to jump into bed right AFTER what had just happend with Shaw…. They came off as very shallow, cold and unlikable. And that’s why I can’t stand them or root for them anymore at all.
And FINALLY Chuck was man enough to pull the trigger. If he wants to become a real spy, well, he will have to kill sometimes. There is no way around that.
Lots of memorable lines too in this ep, especially, “I see you brought Casey”. haha
Hi Stargazer:
I found your comments to be interesting. In the last two episodes, I thought Brandon Routh did a very good job. He seem to portray the tragic villian very well. He seem to balance constrained rage very effectively.
I was a little disturbed that Chuck and Sarah would be so casual about Shaw’s death as well. It is understandable that they might have felt betrayed, but I would think they would have at least shown some compassion for their partner considering the situation. I actually think Chuck would even be grieving more than Shaw if something like that happened to Sarah.
Also, I was a little surprised by some comments from fans that they were cheering Shaw’s death as well. I know many were not happy with Shaw’s performances, but I am not sure we should ever cheer a person’s death. This was not a villian in the traditional sense and I am not sure how any of us would react to facing what Shaw had to endure.
Anyway, in terms of if he is truly dead, I have no idea. It would appear that he would not have survived those three shots, but anything is possible.
Hi, Pat, yeah, I agree with everything you said. And it tell you a lot about this fanbase.
I meant, it tells you.
Chuck and Sarah had been keeping their powder dry for three years, while falling in love with each other. It was going to take some sort of cataclysmic event to shake things loose and break the dam. They were in love, in Paris and in bed. What were they supposed to do?
I love this quote.
Oh come on… you’ve got to be kidding. I don’t see it as them being “shallow, cold and unlikeable” at all! Sarah just had realized that Chuck, the man she loved, had saved her from a man who had betrayed her trust. Chuck realized that Sarah still loved him even though he had to kill for her. Of course they were going to “get busy” at that point. That situation would be an aphrodasiac for 98 percent of the population.
“Of course they were going to “get busy†at that point. That situation would be an aphrodasiac for 98 percent of the population.”
Wow… really?! Not to me. I could never think of sex in a situation like that. Shaw was a member of their team, Sarah’s boyfriend (yeah, I never saw them breaking up), Chuck’s mentor. I’d at least show some compassion and would be grieving for Shaw. Shaw did betray them, but at least his reasons had some weight.
See, I find it so creepy that both Chuck and Sarah KILLED the Shaws. Their first kills. I’d be feeling a little guilty about the whole thing because it’s really that morbid.
Just adding a detail that has’nt been mentioned.The reason Shaw did’nt kill Sarah at the warehouse is because he saw a flash of light in the monitor and knew help had arrived for Sarah.
I think Shaw was very tempted in the warehouse to kill Sarah but didn’t because he wanted the dramatic kill on the same street where Sarah killed his wife. He was tempted, but that wasn’t his plan.
You are THE BEST!!!
Good review, as always!
A couple of thoughts:
He didn’t kill Sarah in the warehouse because he was using that feint to further his actions to subvert the CIA. It gave him a chance to look like he wasn’t out to get Sarah and it allowed for a subsequent to help The Ring with their Intersect. Who do you think activated Sarah’s locator beacon? She wasn’t under extreme duress when it was activated.
More importantly in my mind, though, is a theme that pops up throughout this episode. Three separate times the issue of “saving” Sarah comes up. Once she thanked Chuck for saving her when he hadn’t yet really done so, once when he said he wanted to save her, and lastly when she said he really had. I really like this because Sarah’s redemption, her saving, is as much a theme of this season (1-13) as Chuck’s transformation is. Unfortunately, it took a while for that theme to be revealed. Having seen 11-13, though, I think subsequent rewatches will be far richer. I’ve generally liked the stories the writers have composed this season, some execution aside. But, I do wonder if this theme of Sarah’s redemption had been clearer, would some of the rough patches in both execution and fan reaction have been smoothed over? Just some thoughts.
I agree with you, Andrew. I didn’t think about the warehouse being a feint to set up the whole double cross when I first watched the episode but that really works. I also think the Saving of Sarah Walker has been a theme this season and that it could have been made clearer. I have said in previous posts that Shaw would have been better served as a friend and fellow spy rather than a love interest and then maybe Sarah’s battle with her demons wouldn’t have got so many up in arms about her seemingly out of character moments.
I am looking forward to seeing the whole series again when it is shown in the UK so I can sit back and enjoy.
I so agree with you that Shaw would have been better as friend/comrade in arms rather than love interest. I get the argument that Shaw was (yet) another roadblock but I thought briefly that they were going in another direction. In the first two Shaw episodes it seemed like he was NOT going to go for Sarah and I thought “Hey, they’re not going for the cliche plotline again.” Then of course they did so I joined the dissapointed Shaw haters.
I’m not sure changing Shaw to a friend would have really worked. Like I said, I haven’t agreed completely with the execution this season, but story-wise and idea-wise, I think the writers nailed it.
Had we seen the idea of Sarah’s redemption introduced earlier, her actions would have made more sense. The hurt from Prague was extremely deep and traumatic. She wanted to be saved. She wanted for her life to have meaning, and Chuck was the only guy that she knew that could give it to her. When he walks away physically, and then drifts, psychologically, into the spy world, her chance at redemption is gone. What follows is despair, and then resignation that she is stuck in the spy world and doomed by her choice to become a spy. This despair and resignation happens twice. First when he walks away and she goes off grid, only to resurface and dive headlong into missions. Second, it happens in 3.6, 3.7. Chuck burns Manoosh and then lies to her about Hannah. He has gone away from her again. She despairs, and then is resigned to the options available to her. In this light I think it makes more sense and will watch better.
You can also see the despair/resignation cycle at the end of Fake Name. Her look when she has the gun on her in the hotel room is nothing if not despair. From both his actions and her actions she might have completely thought she lost him in that moment. And then resignation occurs when she tries to make the life that she wants, but with Shaw. It’s not a coincidence that she buys Chuck-related stuff for Shaw. Even in that resignation that she has no other options but to dive into what has worked for her so far, she still tries to create that reality she wanted with Chuck.
I would gladly resignate any time of the week if I was able to hook up with a hottie like Shaw. Just saying.
Andrew, I think you have hit the nail on the head; that is exactly what the writers were trying to get across. It is also how I see it but not everyone got the message so something didn’t quite work. That’s why I thought removing the love interest part would have calmed the controvesy. However, I also see that we weren’t meant to believe Sarah had deep feelings for Shaw: 1 – it would have been too tragic an end and 2- we had to believe how easily Chuck could win her back once she sees that he has not changed.
Great episode!
Again great review Lou, finally Chuck and Sarah are together again Im very excited for the remaining episodes for the Chuck and Sarah tandem on how they will handle the mission.
Also i strongly agree with your review on EPI 3.12 that the Sarah and Shaw thing is not necessary. Hoping season 4(?) the writers will not be making the same mistakes.
I’m still grinning at the thought of Casey being compared to Princess Leia 🙂
That’s right, Yoda was refering to her when he said that to Luke. Haha now that you mention it it’s rather hilarious to think about. haha love Casey, he’s the best 😉
Although I did not like Shaw and his storyline, I have to admit that I kind of felt bad for him. It’s really tragic what happened to him especially because he transformed from a hero to a villian by his own thirst for vengence.
Other than that, I am overjoyed that he is gone away from Team Bartowski and the ever-so-adorable Charah.
anyway.. a powerful learning experience… all part of the circle of life ;o)
One of my fave lines was Morgan’s “Aye, Aye, Captain” to GB, and later a “Yes, sir!”… this exchange had me rolling on the floor laughing….ROFL 🙂
I believe it was mentioned before in previous episodes by other commenters, so just saying, I don’t neccessarily think what I’m going to say, is my original thought.
In this episode, Shaw serves more than just a way for Chuck to save Sarah. A lot of people say that they can relate to Shaw and his actions, and knowing Chuck’s character and his devotion to Sarah, I’m sure he would do the same. I think Shaw serves as a warning for Chuck, a could be would be kind of thing. The tragic hero who lost his love. Chuck has done a lot of things he wouldn’t have before for Sarah. If she is killed, Chuck would probably seek revenge too.
In the very beginning Shaw said something along the lines of, “I don’t like guns either, but I’ll use them when neccessary.” Chuck is willing to pull the trigger when Sarah is at stake. See a pattern? So in the end Shaw has shown us a very realistic future for Chuck, unfortunetly for his line of work.
I Personally would have liked the Shaw character to have gone “evil” a bit earlier than he did, let the audience but not the characters know his double agent role, but have the same ending we get by 3.13. I thought it seemed a bit fast for Shaw to flip sides. It could have made Casey’s dismissal more believable, and Morgan’s inclusion a bit more natural. Not to mention the Jeff and Lester stalking a bit more funny and maybe even more dangerous.
The whole double agent role could have made things a bit more interesting storyline wise. And maybe given the “shippers” more reason to keep watching as they would have known it would all worked out in the end. But hey I watched all the episodes this season and thought its a pretty good run so far. The story didn’t feel to unbelievable or forced and it was not bad considering how much the changed at the conclusion of season 2.
Season 3.5 (as I’m calling it) should be Awesome!
Awsome season so far, it strikes me as interesting that when Chuck started as a spy is was spy 1.0 and this season he is spy 2.0. Now we have Morgon as spy 1.0 … mmm interesting. I am thinking there are lots of intesting things the writers can do with that.
Rod
This episode could not have been any better for me! I hate watching shows over again, and I want to watch this one again and again. LOVED IT. Your recap rocks and one of my favorite lines was “I appreciated the tank.” I thought the storyline with Shaw was extremely well written and that the acting was tremendous by him and all main actors in this episode.
I too liked the “I appreciated the tank” line, but afterwards I thought it would have been funnier for Sarah to say something like, “Thanks for saving me. The tank was nicely extravagant.” And then wink at Chuck (as he had just sent her a bunch of flowers or something).
hmmm! we will have to wait and see!!
Great review as always!! This was an amazing ep!!!! I am just trying to contain myself for the next three weeks!! Morgan definitely stole the show, especially when he gets up after Sarah cuts the ropes and says ” I forgive you.” I couldn’t stop laughing…..And then when Chuck and Sarah are in the elevator shaft while Shaw is fighting the ring agents; the shots fire down the shaft and chuck screams” See See he knows! He’s having a mental break we’re like fish in a barrel!! That reminded me of the Chuck humor from season 1 and 2 (: Oh happy day
Absolutely one of the best episode of this third season, which actually i didn’t like as the others till now.
Eventually this episode has taken back the humor (“i appreciated the tank” is fenomenal, as well as “i would have done the same thing, maybe without the stealth bomber”) and one of the very best characters ever made, John Casey, who is one of the greatest mix of sarcasm and action ever: do you remember the t-shirts pro-guns or the wave at Reagan portrait? incomparable….
interesting also that this is probably one of the cheapest episode: a white wall, a radio and some audio effect, an Eiffel poster… (MAN!!! lokk at that the tower picture has to be LOWER!!! it seems an hotel room at the 300° floor ….)
anyway: great.
all the best for the future…
you do realise that wrote beckham instead of beckman, right? or was it intended?
Ooopsie. Thanks for pointing that out. Fixed it.
I have 1 question concerning this episode, I might be mistaken but didn’t the ring director say that eve shaw was aring agent. Icounldn’t here exactly what he said when they had taken sarah to the bistro. Can anyone help with that scene
He said ” Meet my NEW ring Agent”. Hope that cleared it up for you.
Oh sorry chrism … Good thing I read your comment again. I think he said that the CIA thought that Eve was a ring Agent. I had a little problem with that myself because nobody from the NSA/CIA ever really confirmed or denied the Eve was a ring Agent. Shaw only asked for who ordered the kill.
Thanks for clearing it up for me cas
love it, love it, love it. Can’t wait for more!!!
Finally! I’ve been waiting for this review all week. I agree that the episode was a nearly flawless mix of everything we’ve grown to love about this series, but I particularly was impressed with the acting — by everybody in this episode (and yes, that includes Brandon, IMHO).
Over on the Forum, members are dissecting virtually every line, smile, sigh, etc. which wouldn’t have happened if the acting weren’t spectacular. But Yvonne in particular showed incredible acting during the scene where she was drugged and could only express herself with her eyes, and her tears because she was drugged. Wow! I’ve watched that scene over and over.
That’s not to take away from Zach at all… he’s especially good in the hotel room when he apologizes that Shaw is dead and tells Sarah that even though he killed Shaw, he’s still the same Chuck. Then the relieved smile on his face when Sarah proclaims “You saved me!” and kisses him. I’ve watched it over and over again, and get shivers every time. And I’m a man… a pretty old geezer at that. But I must admit I’m a sucker for romance.
I totally disagree with Lou’s assessment in his last review that the whole Shaw storyline was a sham. In fact, as I have argued over in the Forum, I believe that Shaw was an absolutely necessary evil, if you will, in that he ended up bringing Sarah and Chuck together in a number of ways. I won’t reiterate my reasoning here, but if interested, it’s under the Episode Discussions section, entitled Episodes 3.01-3.13: Worth the ride?
SilverCat – the Sarah/Shaw relationship was a sham to my mind because the show deliberately left it vague. So we were never privy to the attraction between the two. If the show decides to put the two in a relationship, then show it to us definitively instead of leaving it nebulous.
That is the portion I am referring to as being a sham.
The character functioned best as a mentor to Chuck and a confidant to Sarah.
Well, I re-watched the Shaw episodes today, knowing how things ended up in The Other Guy, the vagueness now makes sense. In The Mask Sarah is only getting involved with Shaw because she thinks Chuck has moved on with Hannah. But it’s now clear that she never did really love Shaw, which is why we never saw much heat between them. In The Fake Name, Sarah unburdens herself to Shaw, and warms up to him in the Castle at the episode end, but at that point she doesn’t know Chuck broke up with Hannah. Then in The Final Exam at the stakeout, Sarah tells Chuck she’s not sure whether she’ll live with Shaw in D.C. because for her “things are different” than they are Chuck. I missed a lot of those nuances the first time I watched those episodes.
It’s also rather revealing that Shaw got his second kiss from Sarah after she returns from the Buy More with the crockpot/cooker. Maybe she found out Chuck was going to meet Hannah and her parents. That must have been a stab to her heart. Little did she know at the time that Chuck was about to break up with Hannah and reach his absolute low point.
For me everything worked in this episode. There was never a dull moment. When it was over it felt like only 5 minutes had passed.
One thing not really mentioned in the review, and maybe this is just a personal observation. We got to see Sarah being a part of the comedy in this episode, and based on the promos we will see more of Sarah being a part of the comedy (My favourite was when she closed the laptop on Beckman at the end). That was rare in S1 and s2, most of the time Sarah has been just in the serious portions of the episodes so I am really looking forward to that aspect.
Best Sarah line: “Thanks for saving me, I appreciated the tank”.
@ Gord-
I actually caught that too! Sarah has kind of loosened up a little in this episode, and as a result had a lot of opportunity to participate in the lighter side of things. I noticed it in other places too, besides the “Thanks for saving me, I appreciated the tank,” the turn the laptop around, shut the screen down parts though…
1st: The giggles after the “You’re still MY Chuck” line, and then when Morgan popped back in to help sober Chuck up for their mission, did you catch the grins from her?
2nd: When she and Chuck are getting ready to repel down the elevator shaft, she was again charmed by Chuck, telling him to “Shhh,” but grinning at the same time.
3rd: And perhaps my most favorite… “Shut up and KISS me!”
I LOVE how Sarah’s character is evolving! She’s still a kick-ass spy, fiercly loyal (like Chuck), and very smart… But now she’s becoming more real, more well rounded, and more personal- a little less reserved. She is starting to feel more and more like a real, normal person, rather than just a spy who lives only in the spy world. I look forward to seeing more of the normal, people world Sarah!
I found it very poetic that Paris was the setting for the progression of the Chuck and Sarah dynamic. Chuck has always loved Sarah and has always wanted to go to Paris. He saves his girl, proves he can be a real spy, and enters (finally) into a real relationship with the woman he truly loves in a place he’s always wanted to visit.
Remember when Chuck couldn’t get off the plane with Hannah in Paris? Seemed really sad for Chuck at the time, but if he would have seen Paris with Hannah, in my opinion it would have taken a lot of the romance out of this episode. Chuck’s finally getting what he wants! And doesn’t he deserve it?!
Lots of firsts for Chuck in this episode, and I LOVED that they all culminated in PAris. Kudos to the writers.
In the very episode before he also said, ‘I would however like to see the Eiffel Tower at some point.’ That last frame did add so much romance to that scene, just leaves you with a smile as it fades out. Good call on the Hannah thing too.
Best line from Morgan in the episode: When talking about Shaw taking Sarah to Paris, he said, “That guys a stud, and 99 times out of ten, they get the girl.”
99 times out of ten????? I loved that.
I really like your review Lou. FINALLY Chuck and Sarah are together! This was generally a great season, the one thing that just didn’t work for me was the Sarah/Shaw arc. I agree with your last review that this character would have been better as a mentor as a confidante to Sarah, it would have been more interesting to watch and frankly more believable. I just don’t watch for Chuck and Sarah, but one of things I love this show is, as most fans I’m sure do, we EMPATHIZE with Chuck and Sarah. The whole Sarah/Shaw thing made me like the Sarah character less, or at least empathize her less. Don’t get me wrong, Yvonne Strahovski is a SUPERB actress, but the Shaw PLI storyline did not work for me, I mean OK I get it she is so confused of the changes she sees Chuck is going through that she might seek to confide and open up with Shaw, but to start dating Shaw just because he’s there, and to be disgusted with Chuck for his first kill but went straight for a guy who is EXACTLY the guy she doesn’t him to become, and to appear to be have real affection for Shaw during 3.12? I just didn’t understand it, but just that’s me. I think the showrunners made a mistake with the arc, or maybe they just didn’t execute it well? Anyway, their together, and hoping the back six episodes will be really fun!
I originally didn’t like Sarah’s reactions in the last few episodes at all; they didn’t really seem to make sense (especially the end of this episode). But after rewatching some things, I’m really starting to like all of it a lot more and it makes a lot of sense if you figure out how the characters might actually be feeling in these situations and pay more attention to the details of what actually happens.
One really nice thing that I haven’t seen anybody mention is the juxtaposition between the endings of 3.12 and 3.13: We go from Chuck saving Shaw’s life because Sarah cares about him in one episode, to Chuck killing Shaw to save Sarah in the next.
Another thing: Anyone else who has this recorded, look at the shots staring down at Shaw’s face as he’s about to fall into the river, holding on to Sarah’s arm. Is it just me, or does he wink at the camera?
he actually does wink at the camera but it might be a reflex or something…
you have an eagle eye man xD
I actually loved this episode I cant wait for the rest of the season. Now everybody that can support chuck and pre order season 3 on DVD. “Shut up and kiss me”-Sarah was just sooo funny
Thank you for your comments , it means a lot to me, feeling that I磎 not alone on this Earth thinking this way 🙂