FRIDAY FIVE: Favorite Chuck Scenes

This week’s Friday Five comes to us from KrisWatchesOn. Enjoy! – Mel

Okay, so we all have our favorite Chuck scenes and episodes. But recently I’ve been thinking about some of my favorite Chuck shots. These are shots that either moved me, made me laugh, made me cry or took me completely by surprise. Some of them I love for the composition and the thought that obviously went into them (I’ll spare you my artsy analysis here), some I love simply for the content. There are probably hundreds that I’m forgetting, so please go ahead and add your own in the comments section.

Here we go, from the bottom up.

5. Chuck versus the Ring – Chuck Uploads the Intersect: Shots of the Intersect room are always neat. You have all of those bright, seemingly random pictures flashing around in a dazzling display. But the wide shot of Chuck uploading the Intersect at the end of this episode wasn’t just cool, it carried a deeper meaning. Look closely and you’ll see Chuck standing in the center of the room at the computer. And off to one side you’ll see the shadow of the slain Bryce Larkin. In this single shot one hero dies, another is born and Chuck, both the character and the show, takes a huge leap forward.

4. Chuck versus the Dream Job- The Elevator: This is one of my favorite Team Bartowski moments and a pretty cool shot as well. Chuck’s dad is forced to head off with the bad guys. Chuck watches, horrified, and suddenly we see Sarah and Casey silently appear in the elevator behind him. That’s a pretty great reveal, one that I didn’t expect. It’s even better since it’s sandwiched in between Dad’s two comments: “Remember how I told you not to trust your handlers? Maybe I was wrong.” Combine that with the wonderful song “Daddy’s Gone” and I dare you not to get goosebumps.

3. Chuck versus the Couch Lock- Casey In the Stormtrooper Helmet: There are way too many awesome Casey shots. All they need is a full-length shot of Adam Baldwin towering over the Buy Morons and right there you have comedy. So forgive me if I have to pick a recent shot, because I just can’t recall all of them now. But here we go: Casey in the Stormtrooper helmet. It was so simple, yet so effective. We all know that Casey is a by-the-book military guy who has no patience for Chuck and Morgan’s inherent nerdiness. So to see him in his finest uniform, sitting straight up with that Stormtrooper helmet on? Comedy gold. No words are necessary for this moment, just a helmet looking into the camera as millions of Chuck fans imagine Casey’s grumbling inner monologue.

2. Chuck versus the Other Guy – A Guy, A Girl and A Guitar: Again, too many awesome Chuck and Sarah shots to count. And while this episode brings to mind that fun final shot of Chuck and Sarah on the bed and the pan over to the Eiffel Tower, I’m taking the earlier shot of Chuck and Sarah back in the apartment just after Sarah confirms that he’s still “my Chuck.” To me, this was the real “Chuck and Sarah get together” moment. Okay, so it’s a bit of a cheat as it’s actually a series of shots. Two close ups: a huge smile on Chuck’s face, then a huge smile on Sarah’s. And then the shot of the two of them sitting in the hallway. No spy stuff, just a regular guy and a beautiful girl in love. Sure, Chuck will save her life later on and they’ll have their big romantic moment in Paris, but I like the sweet simplicity of the apartment and Chuck in his boxers with his silly plastic guitar.

1. Chuck versus the Subway – Ellie’s Reveal: I’ll admit it right now. This single shot just killed me. And so, while I’ve found room on my list for a few bright moments, this dramatic shot has to be at the top. Most of us figured that Papa B. was doomed the minute he told Ellie that this was the last time he’d ever walk away from her. And even if we saw it coming, it was still pretty upsetting to watch Shaw take him out like that. Chuck holding his father on the floor was definitely a sad moment, but it wasn’t until they pulled back to the wide shot and I saw an absolutely devastated Ellie turn around that it really hit home. Maybe it was the song, or the composition that allowed us to see Chuck holding Dad behind her, or just the look on Sarah Lancaster’s face, but they got me. I’m not ashamed to admit that my eyes watered a little. This shot was not just about Chuck’s dad dying, it also reinforced the idea that his spy life has serious ramifications, not just for the team, but for the people they love. Chuck lives in a dangerous world, and with all of the fun they manage to have on this show, I like a reminder of that once in awhile.

So there you have it, Chuck fans. What are your favorite shots? I’m sure there will be quite a wide range, so please sound off in the comments below!