She Said: Chuck vs. the Seduction Impossible Review

Hey fellow Chuckophiles,

I’ve been enjoying the “he said, she said” reviews of the episodes this season and was disappointed to hear that Josie was stepping down. Sometime over the weekend I got the crazy idea that maybe I could channel my Chuck obsession into a women’s perspective review of my own. This is my first attempt at an online TV review and constructive criticism is welcome. Let us know whether you would like to see more reviews in the future.

Thanks!
Cay

Chuck 4.14: Chuck v the Seduction Impossible

This week’s theme = Girl Power

It’s really sad that this week’s entertaining episode garnered such low ratings. It was great to have a fun stand alone ep this week after the first half of the season was so heavy on mythology. The episode reminded me a lot of seasons 1 and 2. Not only that, but all the female characters got great scenes!

I loved that the episode started out with what appeared to be domestic “bliss” as everyone helped out with baby Clara, but as soon as the conversation shifted to Chuck and Sarah’s upcoming wedding, it became clear that our three favorite spies had about overdosed on family togetherness and were eager for a mission. I feel for Sarah, she’s really had to absorb a lot of changes in her life since she met Chuck – she went from an independent, devil-may-care kicka** superbabe to a kicka** superbabe with a ton of complicated emotional attachments! It reminds me of the pilot, on Chuck and Sarah’s “first date”, when he promised to be her “personal baggage handler”. They’ve both done plenty of “baggage handling” since then.

I also enjoyed the packing scene in Castle – nice sex reversal where Sarah is the light packer and Chuck wants to make sure he is prepared for anything, including a “shoot dance”. Also great that Sarah wants to elope and Chuck wants a big family wedding. I have to come down on Chuck’s side for the packing, but Sarah’s wedding plan is tempting with my large family, I’ll admit.

How inevitable was it that Chuck would end up getting them captured in Morocco? I found it very amusing that they were worried about his sneeze giving them away, but not their loudly whispered conversation about the sneeze giving them away. Of course their capture led to Chuck finally being honest with Sarah, while Roan plays his role as therapist. I wish they would be more honest with each other without a third party involved, but at least Roan seems to give better relationship advice than Morgan. (Anybody else wishing they could pull off that belly dancer costume like Sarah?)

It was nice to get a bit of the back story on Beckman. I wonder how she and Roan influenced the 2000 election – did they give new meaning to “hanging chads”?

The scene with Ellie and Mama B was perfect – Ellie has come a long way towards healing since both of her parents came back into her life (even though Papa B’s time was short). I liked that Mama B started fiddling with Clara’s bottle when Ellie told her that she made Chuck quit the CIA but then made eye contact and told her that “he is a Bartowski” – she didn’t give Chuck away, but subtly planted the suggestion that Chuck is doing what he is meant to do. I appreciate the fact Ellie is no longer in the dark about her family’s history. I hope that she will be understanding when she finds out that Chuck hasn’t given it all up after all.

The last scene with Chuck and Sarah nicely set up the future episodes and it appears that the first half theme of “family” is going to continue to be a theme in the back 11. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the episodes unspool!

Other stuff I liked:

• Chuck and Sarah both trying to seduce each other into submission re: wedding plans
• Mama B’s spy/fairytale bedtime story
• Roan tied to the bed – first Chuck, then Casey, now Roan – are we to believe that male spies often find themselves in this compromising position?
• Female revolutionaries in camo pants, tank tops, berets and BIG GUNS
• Casey’s failed attempt at seducing the guard
• Fatamah’s repeated use of “1 trillion dollars” – I wanted to hear an evil laugh and see her pinkie up by her mouth
• General Beckman gave Roan a watch with a tracking device for his B-day
• Chuck: “all this interpersonal stuff on a mission – so unprofessional” followed up by a discussion of the wedding while Casey is still stuck in the wall
• Little General Beckman with a huge rocket launcher