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And all good things must come to an end…
When I sat down to watch a new show on a Monday night in September of 2007, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I’d just moved 3000 miles from home a few weeks earlier. I was starting over, and looking for some comfort and escapism. An hour later, I had found all that and more, and had embarked on a journey the likes of which I certainly never thought I’d take, all because of a television show. It was definitely with sadness that I sat down in front of my television last night to bid my favorite show goodbye. In addition to sadness, I was (am) also filled with gratitude that Chuck was able to finish on its own terms, rather than just not returning or ending well past its prime, as I’ve seen happen to other shows. This show will always hold a special place in my heart!
Chuck vs the Goodbye picked up two weeks after the events of Chuck vs Sarah. Quinn is aboard a private jet with another man, Edgar, who was slightly familiar as a Fulcrum agent (and very familiar as Jacob from [easyazon-link asin=”B0036EH3WU”]LOST[/easyazon-link]). Edgar has a piece of a device, the Key, that he got from Ted Roark. Quinn wants to buy it. Edgar tells Quinn that it’s useless without an Intersect and Quinn tells him that he has one, but it’s glitchy – it fries your brain or your memory – and he needs the Key to fix it. Edgar tells Quinn that it’s only one part and there are two other pieces needed to assemble the Key.
While they talk, Sarah is in the baggage compartment, unfolding herself from a large piece of luggage. Quinn sees her as she enters the cabin with a large gun and they have a stand-off. Hector hits an emergency button on his seat and the plane tilts dramatically, throwing Sarah off her feet and making her lose her weapon. Sarah blows out the cabin door with a grenade and all three hang on desperately as the plane depressurizes. Sarah is the first to lose her hold and hits her head hard on the side of the plane before being sucked out into thin air and plummeting unconscious towards the earth.
Back in Sarah and Chuck’s apartment, Chuck’s alarm goes off – 11 am. Clearly he’s settled back into his S3 moping over losing Sarah, only this time it’s sans facial hair and cheeseballs. He rolls over to find Morgan is in his bed next to him, watching him. It turns out that it’s intervention time. Ellie enters the room and opens the blinds. Devon and Clara also show up and they all tell him that it’s time that he get out of bed and fight to get Sarah back. Chuck thinks it’s hopeless – he’s not a spy, he’s lost his wife, and he’s right back where he was 5 years ago. They try to convince him that he’s come a long way in 5 years. Ellie tells him that if he can find Sarah, he might be able to get her to remember and fall in love with him again.
Ellie’s words motivate Chuck to get out of bed. He puts on his Nerd Herd uniform and gives himself a pep talk. He can do this after all – he took down the Ring and Fulcrum and is a “very impressive spy for hire”. For the first time in two weeks, he dares to think that maybe Sarah can fall in love with him again and that he can get her back.
Sarah, meanwhile, comes to her senses and pulls the ripcord on her parachute allowing her to safely land in the ocean. She walks out of the water wearing her catsuit/wetsuit, no doubt turning a few heads in the process.
In Washington D.C., Casey is in Beckman’s office and she has tasked him with taking out Quinn. She wants to make sure that he’s up to it, however. He assures her that he can be “old Casey” and then to prove it to himself, he ignores Alex when she calls.
Chuck, Ellie, Devon and Morgan try to come up with a plan for getting Sarah back. Morgan suggests that kissing her will bring back her memory – one single, magical kiss. Chuck, Ellie and Devon are a bit skeptical of this “plan”, however. At a loss as to how to find Sarah, Chuck enlists Jeff and Lester and their team of stalker-perverts. They find out that Sarah got into LAX and is headed towards Burbank. At a matter of fact, she is standing at the Nerd Herd desk right now!
Chuck goes to the desk, and there she is, looking almost exactly how she did in the pilot. She tells Chuck that she needs to use Castle. She knows that Quinn wants the device called the Key. There are three pieces and Quinn has the first and another agent, Renny Deutch, has the second and she needs Chuck’s help to find him. While Chuck uses his hacking skills (bottle of Chardonnay at his side) to find Deutch, Sarah wanders around Castle. Chuck soon finds the agent in Berlin. Sarah tells Chuck that her plan is go to Berlin, kill Quinn and then disappear forever. She only knows how to be a good spy, not be part of Chuck’s life. Chuck convinces her to let him and Morgan go along although she’s not entirely sure of his competence, especially when he tells her that he is well-versed with one of Casey’s big guns. The three of them head to Berlin.
In Berlin, Morgan and Chuck are in the back of a van. Chuck is trying to figure out what to do as he told Sarah that he could use this huge gun when he really can’t, plus there’s the whole issue that he doesn’t really shoot people. Morgan reminds him that Sarah fell in love with him for not shooting people and that he should not, under any circumstances, shoot someone. Sarah comes back to the van and her and Chuck leave.
Chuck and Sarah enter a Mexican restaurant where Deutch is having a meeting. The restaurant is very similar to the one that they went to during their first date in the pilot. Chuck tries to get Sarah to remember, but she tells him to stop talking and focus on the mission. Deutch has a change of plans and leaves the restaurant with Chuck and Sarah following.
They all end up at a fancy gala, with Chuck and Sarah in formal clothes. Sarah tells Chuck that she is going to find someone to dance with to get close to Renny. Chuck is offended and tells her that he can dance – she taught him. They dance closer and closer to Deutch but before they get to him, he gets a phone call that the meeting location has been changed again.
The final meeting location turns out to be the Berlin Weinerlicious! Sarah and Chuck infiltrate it dressed as employees. Sarah finds herself absent-mindedly cleaning and straightening up the counter. Chuck tries to trigger her memory but just then Quinn shows up and everyone draws their weapons. Quinn grabs the second part of the Key and shoots Deutch and his man. Quinn’s goons come into the Weinerlicious with Morgan in tow and Chuck and Sarah are forced to drop their weapons. Quinn is about to shoot Chuck when Sarah throws a corn dog stick and impales his hand. Chuck, Sarah and Morgan all start fighting Quinn and his men and in the melee, Quinn manages to escape. Chuck chases after him, with the big gun in his hand.
Meanwhile, Casey is also in Berlin (and still ignoring Alex’s calls). He’s in a chopper hovering above the Weinerlicious, waiting for his chance to take out Quinn. Chuck has a clean shot at Quinn out in the street, but refuses to take it, instead shooting a “warning shot” into the air. Unfortunately for both Chuck and Casey, the shot hits the fuselage of the helicopter, forcing it to land in the middle of the street. Needless to say, Quinn once again escapes and Casey is furious.
Back in Castle, Casey has arrested the whole team. Sarah and Chuck are in cells and he has handcuffed Morgan to a chair in the main room. Sarah can’t believe that Chuck screwed everything up and tells him so. He reminds her that she always liked that he wouldn’t shoot people and she encouraged him not to change. Back out in the main part of Castle, Morgan can’t believe that Casey would do this to them, and to Alex. He tells Casey off for ignoring Alex and shames him for abandoning the team. Casey tells him that he got soft, lost his edge. Morgan calls him an ass and tells him that he is just afraid that he isn’t the best anymore without his team. Casey considers this and seems not to care, but then he relents.
Casey removes Morgan’s handcuffs and they go to release Chuck and Sarah. When they get to Sarah’s cell, she’s in the middle of an escape attempt and Chuck is hurt that she’d do this without him. She tells them that she wasn’t thrilled with Morgan’s whole pep talk and thinks she would be better finding Quinn on her own. She walks off towards the entrance and Casey and Chuck tell her that she can’t leave…because Mama B is blocking the hallway and she has a gun.
As Mama B stands there with her gun pointed at Sarah, Ellie, Devon and Clara show up and Ellie and Devon admonish her for having a gun out where Clara can see it. Turns out Mama B has intel on the Key. It is used to program the Intersect and Roark, Papa B and Hartley (Volkoff) split it into 3 pieces so that no one could alter the Intersect without their agreement. Papa B gave his piece to someone in the government and it has one more upload on it. If Quinn gets the entire Key, he can do nearly anything with the Intersect, including adding new skills.
Ellie pulls Chuck aside and tells him that she thinks that they can use the Key to restore Sarah’s memories. They decide to try it. Casey calls and tells them that Quinn has been spotted at a symphony performance where Beckman is entertaining a foreign dignitary. Chuck realizes that Beckman must have the third part of the Key. He and Ellie leave the home theater room and we find out that Jeff and Lester were hiding behind the couch listening (of course!). They decide to also head to the performing arts center to see if they can help.
At the arts center, Beckman is engrossed in the music when Quinn sneaks up behind her and places his hand on her shoulder. He shows her the bomb under her seat. If she gets up, it will explode. He then takes one of the ribbons off her uniform. Inside it is the third part of the Key.
Chuck and the team arrive and Beckman shows them the bomb. They realize that the bomb will detonate when the music stops. Mama B sees Quinn heading up to the roof with the Intersect glasses on the security feed that she’s tapped into. He’s got a helicopter headed to pick him up. Chuck and Sarah go after Quinn as they need him to disarm the bomb and Chuck needs the Intersect glasses for Sarah.
While Casey and Morgan try to come up with a plan, Jeffster arrives and Morgan has an epiphany. On the rooftop, Quinn tells Chuck and Sarah that the bomb can’t be stopped and will explode when the music ends. Seconds later, they hear the last notes of the orchestra and then, before the hall goes entirely silent, a different kind of music starts playing – it’s Jeffster, performing [easyazon-link asin=”B001O7SVLI”]Take On Me[/easyazon-link], by A-ha. Quinn is frustrated that he keeps getting foiled by the Scooby gang and tells Chuck and Sarah that if he dies, they are going to die with him. He draws his gun, but before he can aim it, Sarah shoots him.
Chuck grabs the glasses from next to Quinn’s body. He tells Sarah that he had a plan to retrieve her memories using the Intersect glasses. However, there isn’t enough time and he needs the Intersect to disarm the bomb. He tells her that he can’t help her because he has to save everyone else and he puts on the glasses and uploads the Intersect. They run back down to the seating area, where Jeffster is still playing and the orchestra has joined in with some encouragement from Morgan.
Chuck flashes on the bomb and manages to unlock the control unit, but the laptop is old and could be tricky. Sarah suggests trying Irene Demova but doesn’t seem to appreciate the significance of this memory. Chuck finds the virus online and uploads it to the computer as Jeffster’s song reaches its climax. Just like it did in S1, the virus kills the computer, disarming the bomb. The audience, still oblivious to the danger they were in, gives Jeffster a standing ovation.
Back in Castle, Beckman congratulates the team for their work. She tells them to come find her if they ever want to save the world again and leaves. Casey follows behind her because he wants to avoid the weepy, emotional stuff. Chuck follows him, though, and Casey gives him a big hug (aww!) and shakes hands with Sarah before leaving.
Once they are alone, Chuck asks Sarah about Irene Demova, but she doesn’t know where she got the idea. She tells Chuck that she needs time to think, to be alone. Chuck starts to tell her about Morgan’s “magical kiss” theory, but stops and lets her go.
Upstairs in the Buy More, Jeff and Lester excitedly tell the whole story to Big Mike, emphasizing how they saved the day. Big Mike’s not buying it, though. He’s kind of preoccupied as the store has new owners – a giant Subway sign is being hoisted into place at the back of the store. He tells Jeff and Lester to get back to work, but before they can, they are approached by a German record producer, who wants to make them famous in Germany. They decide to go to Germany and try their luck.
At Morgan and Casey’s apartment, Alex and Morgan break the news to Casey that they are moving in together. He’s not surprised, though, because he’s still a spy. Casey tells them that the place is all theirs because he is leaving. Morgan assumes that he’s going to Gertrude and he confirms. Alex gives him her blessing.
Devon and Ellie are in the middle of packing to start their new life in Chicago while Mama B takes care of Clara. Ellie tells Chuck that she doesn’t know how to leave him, but he assures her that she’s taken care of him for too long already and that he’ll be okay. Devon asks him about Sarah and Chuck tells them that he doesn’t know.
Out in the courtyard, Morgan and Chuck sit on the fountain and talk about Sarah. Chuck tells Morgan that he has no idea where she is. Morgan tells him to look into his heart and ask himself where she is. Chuck thinks about it and has an idea.
We see Sarah sitting on the beach as the sun sets. Chuck arrives and sits down in the sand next to her. She knows the place is important, but doesn’t know why. Chuck tells her that on that very beach, 5 years ago, she told him that it would all be okay and to trust her. He assures her that he will always be there for her, no matter what. She asks him to tell her their story, and he starts at the beginning and we’re treated to flashbacks of their lives together interspersed with scenes of the two of them sitting on the beach, with Sarah smiling and laughing at Chuck. At the end, Chuck tells her that Morgan has a theory that one kiss will restore her memories. She looks at Chuck and asks him to kiss her.
And so it ended, like it began, with Chuck and Sarah (and the Intersect), sitting on the beach together, wondering what the future holds for them.
I thought this episode was a very fitting and beautiful end to a really unique show! Although I had my doubts about Quinn, I think the character was much more believable in these two final episodes and I liked the additional back story on the Intersect that Mama B provided, even if I’m still a bit confused by “Intersect lore”. It was very poignant that the Intersect, the very device that tore Chuck’s life apart repeatedly but also brought him Sarah and a sense of purpose, was the tool that he realized that he needed to restore her memory. However, on the rooftop, with everyone’s lives on the line in the performing arts center, Chuck made the very difficult choice of saving everyone even though it meant possibly losing Sarah forever. This choice reflects the true character of Chuck – his complete selflessness and devotion to his family, friends, and the common good.
From the live chat and comments posted online and on Twitter, I know that many fans were unhappy with the ending and some even felt “tortured” or “betrayed” because although the other characters all found some sort of closure, Chuck and Sarah remained in limbo. Admittedly, part of me would have liked the series to end with the two of them getting into bed together on their first night in their dream house, but the rest of me thinks that a storybook ending like that would have felt rushed and a little too tidy, potentially undercutting the gravity of their emotional struggles.
I’m satisfied with the ending because there’s not a doubt in my mind that Sarah will eventually regain both her memories and her love for Chuck (if it didn’t already happen on the beach) and their relationship will be all the stronger for it. Someday, when they are both ready, there will be a family as well. I don’t need to see this scene play out before me, I just know it will happen. There’s just no way the story could end otherwise, even if the last episode may have. How can I be so sure? Because Chuck, at its heart, has always been a story about a good guy with a great heart who overcame adversity and made a difference in the world – the nerd who really did get the girl!
Memorable Quotes
The Ring….amateurs! – Edgar, the Fulcrum agent
Saaaarraaaah, you’re upset, and I can tell – Quinn
Every impossible mission starts with what? James Bond taking that giant leap and getting out of bed! – Morgan
She may be the best spy in the world, but I’m Chuck Bartowski. It’s not like she’s out of my league. – Chuck
Five years in Burbank could turn a man to butter – Beckman
And yes, I’ve been watching a ton of Disney princess movies with baby Clara – Morgan
Unleash the perverts – Lester
I read your profile, and you’re good with computers? – Sarah
Yes, I’m small, but I’m worth 3 spies on a mission plus I’m a good listener – Morgan
You, your wife, and my little roommate are going to help me track down Quinn – Casey
What did we say about Baby Clara seeing firearms? – Devon
It’s a no-no, I’m sorry. – Mama B
Women and men will adore you! – German record producer
I’m a Casey, I don’t run, I stalk my prey – Casey
Call backs, shout outs and other awesomeness
The BEACH!
Chuck getting back the Intersect
The Weinerlicious
The Mexican restaurant (“I’ll be your baggage handler”)
Dancing
Morgan and Chuck heart-to-heart at the fountain
Flashbacks during Chuck’s story
Sarah’s outfit when she came to the Buy More to ask to use Castle
Sarah’s dress in Berlin
Sarah’s video journal
Irene Demova
I want to thank you all for letting me share my thoughts with you over the past year. It’s been great fun getting to know you all through the comments and during the Live Chats. All of you have been part of my Chuck experience and I can’t thank you all enough for sharing this journey with me!
Cay
Great final review of the greatest series in TV history. One minor quibble. Casey didn’t threaten to court-martial them. He was saying that he didn’t care that he was going to be court-martialed for what he was about to help them do.
Goodbye Chuck.
Good call, I’m sure you’re right. I’ve fixed it above 😉
Cay- Thank you again for everything.
I have already posted so many messages. Mostly about my very negative reaction to the ending. So I will try to say something I have not said over and over.
For 89 episodes I was priviledged to see the radiant smile that is Sarah Walker’s (and acted brilliantly by Yvonne). I really missed that most of all in the last two episodes. Instead the fans only got to see Sarah with a scowl on her face to carry out the finale as directed. It was unfair to us, and I believe also to Yvonne. Now I have to erase the finale in order to remember her warmth in the past.
Loved the episode, although I had to fight back tears over the last few minutes. Does anyone know what the iPhone dock is that Chuck uses in the first minute of the show
Thank you Cay for a good review,i can’t watch again the last two episodes my laptop might get short circuit.But this show is sooo amazing.I kinda feel a little relieve for what you wrote about ur thoughts to the closure of Chuck and Sarah cause ive feel its kinda a ‘betrayal’ for the fans that CHUCK ended like that..
Maybe i can put it this way:Sarah will fall in love with the real Chuck,no more bad memories(shaw especially),only the good ones she remembers and live a normal and happy life with Chuck Bartowski….(wow my room is so dusty!!!)
>no more bad memories(shaw especially),only the good ones she remembers and live a normal and happy life with Chuck Bartowski
That is an excellent point. I hadn’t thought of a positive for what happened to Sarah but this is a good one.
Before this episode aired, I really wanted Sarah to get her nemories back and for her and Chuck to live in their dream house. However, the actual ending was the second best possible thing, as it leaves the rest of the story up to the viewer. But I think it’s quite obvious that Sarah will eventually regain her memory. I rewatched the ending several times, qnd I think I shoukd stop because I may be getting dehydrated.
I’ve only been watching the show a year, but it’s made this past year a whole lot more awesome. Goodbye Chuck. Wish I’d started watching earlier. Now back to my beets.
I am glad you get to feel that way Cay. I sadly am one of those fans who was very disatisfied and will probably remain that way. I really really dislike that as you put it, they left Chuck and Sarah in limbo. I hate that they left open the door (even if its small) that things didnt work out for them. What if Sara felt again after their kissing on the beach that she just wasnt feeling it? Again, a small possibility, but one the creators left for us to ponder. For me, I dont get to really imagine how it happened but if it happened at all for them. While you felt if they had wrapped things up in the storybook way, it would have felt cliche, I felt it was extremely cliched cop out to leave the two main characters on such an ambiguous note. I did not even need that storybook ending of them in their house or something like a flashforward to them with kids, all I wanted to know definitely was if Sarah remembered, something I honestly cant say with confidence happened. While I will gladly support the actors going forward, I will not be supporting any other projects by the shows creators in the future.
Couldn’t agree with you more!!!
I agree with your points on the final. It just couldn´t be satisfying because there is this opportunity that all is lost forever what have been built over the seasons. And especially that we don´t get to see real Sarah or them as a happy couple at the final is so sad. If I would know that there would be a movie or something after this then I bought this ending but as a complete ending of the series it´s not good at all.
But I don´t ban show or creators for this because we still have many great moments and memories to watch on DVD.
I agree with this. I hated the ending. It is sad a great show went out like this.
I have been feeling similarly. I think that they could have kept everything they did but made it so that right after the kiss you hear Sarah say, “My Chuck!” I think that would have been extremely powerful and just enough to tell us everything we need to know.
can’t agree with you more, anything, even the smallest flash or talk would have just make it clear, and I would have felt free to imagine any happiness possible for both of them
Ditto, my friend. A sad and disappointing ditto 🙁
Thanks so much for your detailed reviews Cay. I love reading each and every one of them.
I totally agree with your thoughts on this last episode. I was so glad the ending was not tidied up for us and was left somewhat open for us to draw our own conclusions. NO matter how they chose to end this final episode, there would have been unhappy fans anyway.
It just showed to me, how devoted Chuck was to family, friends and the common good, as you said. Isn’t that what Sarah loved and admired about him the most anyway?
I think we needed to be reminded of what a dangerous profession Chuck was in and that his life was changed forever when he downloaded the intersect. Dramatic events such as this and Chuck and Ellie losing their dad brought some reality to this show and I relished those moments as much as the comedic and even goofy moments as well. I hated to see Steven Bartowski die and it took me a long time to forgive Fedak for killing him off, but it did make this whole series a bit more believable and richer (for lack of a better word) for it. And so with Sarah losing her memory and us not knowing when or even how much of it she will get back added another level of believability to it. Life is not perfect and I am glad that we were shown that at the end of this episode.
I was so impressed and in awe of Zachary and Yvonne’s performance in these last two episodes. I only wish that they would be recognized for their wonderful, heartfelt and emotional performances at Emmy time.
I will sorely miss this wonderfully entertaining show.
I cannot wait to see all these wonderful characters in a movie soon.
Wow Liz, I loved your commment, never considered the dangerous aspects theory and totally agree with everything you said…the Intersect took Bryce Larkin, our beloved Papa B., and now Sarah’s memories. It is a dangerous device, Stephen warned Chuck and us, which is why he wanted it destroyed. Thanks for that perspective.
After reading Cay’s review I was heartened again by her thoughts in the last paragraph. I’ve gone back and forth since Friday, between feeling sad that Sarah lost so much of who she is (she’s grown so much over the years), and feeling hopeful (after a second viewing on Saturday) that there were enough clues she was getting her memories back…albeit slowly. Between the bumps on the head and the strong emotions Chuck kept evoking, I felt, as Cay did that she will definitely remember. I never had a doubt she would fall in love with Chuck again b/c that is their destiny, but I was sad for Sarah’s loss of self. Afterall, we are the sum of our experiences…a wise fella once said.
Last night I re- watched Chuck vs. Bo (still had it DVR’d) and when Chuck laments to Sarah out in the courtyard that he has a bad feeling b/c the Intersect keeps trying to find him and destroy everything (I’m paraphrasing), she promises him that it’ll all be finished soon and they will be out of the spy life, and later calls him to suggest destroying the glasses. I felt really sad at that moment, knowing now what is on the horizon and that Chuck’s premonition will shortly be comming true. Hopefully, someday, I’ll be able to go back and re-watch from S1 on through, without feeling like that, so bad for Sarah and of course Chuck—knowing that she will lose her memories eventually.
Time heals…and according to Fedak in his interview with Sepinwall, there are several minutes left on the cutting room floor from the finale, so I’m looking forward to the DVD. Ultimately, I am so glad I stayed on this journey for the entire 5 years and got to have a real ending to a beautiful saga.
I keep reminding myself that the show is called Chuck, not Chuck and Sarah. Yes, the love story became the heart of the show, but the journey has always been about Chuck. A reluctant Hero’s journey, and Cay reminded us of that in her final comments. We will all hope for a Chuck movie, I’m sure, and do what we can to help make that happen, b/c we are the greatest fans in the universe. 😉
Sorry for double post but come on I dont think Chuck ever going to get a movie. This was it for Chuck.
I loved the ending. It was Chuck saving Sarah. The love story going full circle.
Also the fact that it was Sarah that asked to be kissed showed that she also WANTED that magical kiss to happen (it was not Chuck that pushed for it), the fact that she wanted to be kissed shows me enough that she’s already fallen in love again. Does she have her memories back? We don’t know, but does it really matter? All I see before the credits roll are two people in love sharing a wonderful kiss looking towards their future.
Granted it was Sarah who asked to be kissed. But i wished it was Sarah who reached up and touched Chuck’s face as they kissed. As in dream sequence of Chuck vs Phase Three when Sarah saves Chuck.
I agree with you. That would have showed that she is really loving him again and maybe even remember something. And that was the most dissappointing thing that we didn´t get to see that. That really was the all I would have asked for more at least to see her make some move towards Chuck when they kissed to make this a better ending.
I agree, but I am comforted to see Sarah laugh and cry at the last scene, I assume that what he was telling Chuck, trigger some feelings and memories.
I think they are two excellent episodes, and amazing ending for a magical TV series, zachary and yvonne left their skin in two amazing performances.
The scene in the dream house where Chuck leaves his heart in his hand and and is beaten, was hard to wacht.
Tv will not be the same.
Goodbye CHUCK,
>But i wished it was Sarah who reached up and touched Chuck’s face as they kissed
But I think that would have arguably been too much. I think her asking is more believable because it showed she is coming around little by little rather than by a quantum leap.
I am not truly ‘angry’ only just a bit disappointed, for me it’s okay how things played out in the end but couldn’t they just add a small flash-forward for Sarah? Just to show that it did worked! When I heard season 5 was going to be last season I already imagined how Chuck and Sarah would be doing in the end. I thought maybe of kids? Everything is fine as long as they are together. Still they are together in the end but not the way I hoped it was going to be.
Maybe like many Chuck-fans I feel a bit down.
So what are the chances of another network picking the show up? And maybe even a movie? Chances are slim, maybe they can put something on DVD for us… I am kinda dealing with right now but when I finished watching I was like
WTF
despite or some all good words about how som people think they will be in love again bl bla bla its still ruined for me and i really looked forwrd to rewatch the whole serie but that is out of the loop the worst ending ever and the worst thing is that i started to suspect that already at the bullet train episode… nothing execpt a small webepisod or extas at the dvd/bluray really showing that sarah loves chuck or remembering will change that, i really hate it , i used to watch all the other season over and over again becouse i really loved it but now its ruined. im have newer been this dissapointed ever on a TV show they call it entertainment but this was a real dissapointment, . The best show ever crashed and burned
Taken from IMDB
I wish I hadn’t watched season 5 because Sarah’s memory loss seemed like a betrayal. I wouldn’t have been upset if this is how Battle Star Galactica ended but this is Chuck. As some reviewers have said when we re-watch Chuck and see all those special episodes where Sarah grows and falls in love with Chuck it will all be for nought. At the end of the day it was a sad and depressing end to a fantastic and mostly light hearted show.
I expect Morgan’s words about the kiss might also have been influenced by the advice given him by Big Mike. Remember…’hot sweet jams’? Chuck and Sarah must have those when they kiss, surely? So the memory impaired Sarah would know instincyively and immediately that Chuck’s kiss was in a different league to ones she’d shared before. And, as Ellie said, the heart remembers. If the kisses [there were two!] on the beach didn’t do the trick, they would certainly have re-inforced and enhanced the healing which had already begun to take place.
I agree, i don t remember advice given by Big Mike, but you’re right.
Besides, we all saw Sarah laugh and cry at the beach, dropping the shield, sure it was the history telling by chuck, trigger those feelings, and the kiss was magical.
Is an excellent ending to a amazing TV series, Yvonne and Zachary took off the skin in two incredible performances.
I must say, the scene in the dream house where Chuck leaves his heart in his hand, and Sarah say “you really love?” and then beaten. was hard to watch.
TV will not be the same.
I think that the dream house scene is really hopeful. At the end I mean. Sarah remembers names and clearly have some feelings back when Quinn shot Chuck.
Hi All,
Brillent review Cay as always! Im going to miss them!
Next time we Chucksters watch watch vs The Intersect – Just before you press play imagne Chuck & Sarah on the beach, when Sarah says “Chuck tell me OUR story”. So everytime Chuck says “Hi Im Chuck, and heres whats going on in my life.” – he is saying it to Sarah! I think Fedek said in an interview that they wanted the final scene to be the 1st scene but the decided against it incase the got cancelled – the story would be uncompleted. I think that makes sense. What do the rest of you Chucksters think?
That was a perfect review!!
You know what? Imma watch CHUCK all over again from the very beginning ! I just can’t accept the fact that this very best show is Over :(:(:( AND DON’T SHUT DOWN THIS PAGE PLEASE !
Long live chuck!
Sorry to say i still feel robbed
I read an interview with Chris Fedak about the finale. When asked about Sarah and her memory, he said, “I would certainly say it’s not erased. It’s not all gone. It hasn’t been five seasons all for naught. It’s in there. And the fun will be remembering it and falling in love again. How could you imagine anything better?”
Throughout the episodes they were hinting that she was already beginning to remember some things (the carving on the door frame, Wienerlicious, Irene Demova, the beach). Also, asking Chuck to kiss her showed that she truly wanted to remember, and wanted him to help her remember.
So, even though that kiss may not have instantly brought back her memories, I believe it shows that Chuck and Sarah will work together towards Sarah remembering everything. They will have their house with the red door and the white picket fence. 🙂
The ending was bittersweet and somewhat open-ended, but a more emotional and moving way to end the series (as opposed to some convenient quick-fix).
Nerd Herd for life!
*Link to the interview: http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/interview-chuck-co-creator-chris-fedak-on-the-series-finale
Thanks so much for posting this interview, it is actually giving closure. I don’t think the writers gave enough clear signs that Sarah’s memory wasn’t all gone, they should have given a few more hints. The interview really does show what the writers intended to happen had we had a ‘future’ episode.
I’m not one for believing that the magical kiss brought everything flooding back, but the idea of Sarah’s memories coming back little by little is a good one. We all know that they will always end up together, it would have been nice to see it. I thought long and hard about Sarah permanently losing her memory but that just makes the past 5 years pointless and obviously not what the writers intended.
Thank you for the best piece of television I have ever had the pleasure of watching! I’m really depressed right now because its over =(.
This may be lovely, but I want to SEE it, NOT imagine it!
Exactly. I want to KNOW everything ends well, not hope it does.
I torn about whether it brings back her memories or not and what happens after that. But then she also got CHuck back with a kiss in phase three when they have almost emptied his mind.
I agree with you Sven , I feel the same way
For any of you Browncoats in the audience there was a very special call back by Adam Baldwin. In General Beckman’s final scene she commends the team and Casey answers that they were “just glad to be able to do good works.” That is a word for word quote of a line that Jayne Cobb made in the Firefly episode Serenity. Chuck and Firefly are my two favorite TV shows of all time. Interesting that Adam Baldwin was in both. He seems to get involved in quality projects.
For me the show Chuck was primarily about Chuck and Sarah and their growth as individuals and as a couple. Up until the last 3 episodes Chuck had learned that he is a hero without the Intersect and Sarah had come out of her emotional shell and learned to love and want to settle down and have a “normal” life. The final 3 episodes turned all of that upside down. Also, I think it was too bad that we ever wasted time with Morgan as the Intersect this season. For me season 5 was a bust. I would have preferred things ended in season 4… without Morgan becoming the Intersect.
I agree with you completely, Paul. I wish I hadn’t seen this finale (or season 5 for that matter). It’s making it very difficult to go back and watch earlier seasons.
Hi All,
I really hope the cast & crew get a chance to reprise their roles @ some point in the near future, say in a 2 hour movie as Zach has been suggesting.
Personally Id love the story to take up 18 months after Goodbye. Maybe Chuck & Sarah are at the Market (et al S3’s vs The Subway). Sarah’s memory is 70% restored – maybe their relationship is back to where it was @ in the middle of S4. Sarah’s on the phone to her Mom while the happy couple are shopping for Thanksgiving & organising things for the family meal that everyone is coming for. Then suddenly Chuck says “Baby I just flashed, we have to contact Beckman” I’ll need some help with rest of the plot! My question is this: If the story had continued (hopefully it will @ somepoint) what would you Chucksters like to see happen?
You are right. I don’t care if it is a movie or they come out with a book. This ending was very disappointing and it needs to be updated for an ending that the fans deserve.
Ive said this in other posts but i really think there should be a movie, will it ever happen though i dont know but i hope, you know a movie with an ending thats definite something that gives us closure no ambiguous crap.
Really hope some form continuation to wrap this up. Like Dark angel ended with their couldn´t touch each other and then there came 2 books that wrap it up pretty nicely.
Wow that clip and music great tribute to this great sole mate couple Thanks Cay for the sharing this Show definitely has burned an impression in my heart and mind and I won’t forget
chuckster54
It is a great show to watch. I loved the show. The show has so much potential to continue.
Just like Sven said, Quote: “So what are the chances of another network picking the show up? And maybe even a movie?”
I prefer to see several movies coming to the big screen!
Greetings from Holland
At the time I was prepared to cry, but never did. I turned to my wife (who was crying) and said “That’s it?” So count me in the initially disappointed. But as I’ve thought about it and watched it again a couple of times, I appreciate it more.
I think the reason so many commenters feel unhappy with the ending is because after all the build up towards the happy ending for Chuck and Sarah that we were expecting, the writers managed to surprise us with a very tragic twist of events that kind of brought the entire dynamic of those two characters back to square one. Even after hinting at the possibility that Sarah’s memories would return, fans are left with nothing but a big question mark at the end of series, and a desire to explore the story further that of course now can never be fulfilled.
I’m so sad. Still can’t believe the show is over. And never returns. This was the best show i’ve ever watched.
after watching for this amount of time I am disappointed, I think they really deserved a happy ending and this was a little bitter sweet
do you think this really is it? There will be no more? What is the possibility of a once off movie?
I think the possibility is unfortunately really low. Even an online only movie…I dont know. An episode of Chuck costs at least a million or two to make. I dont see how anyone could look at it and think they could make money off an online movie. And they would have get to license rights from the WB…which, Im honestly not sure they’d be willing to give or the WB would have to be persuaded to make it. The ratings were just too low. If they sell it and it does well in syndication, maybe. But I just dont see it happening.
Great episodes! Great show! Loved the finale because it revisited in so many ways my favorite episode of the series: The Pilot. Could’ve been longer, maybe less tragic and ended diffrently but then again it was perfect.
I don’t know but am I the only one who thinks that the cast in the Pilot episode had this almost radiating presence? I don’t know if it’s the make-up and hairstyles but every time I see Sarah coming to the desk and speaking with Chuck and Morgan, I can’t help but notice it.
That’s probably really the only thing I would have loved to see. This light mood with laughter and gorgeous beaming smiles.
Like they said they had to cry so much during filming these, I think it wore off a little.
I was a bit disappointed at the end too.
What bothered me was that Sarah was too cold hearted, she wasnt like this in the pilot. There needed to be more hints of her memory returning too.
I have come to think that this coldness really means that. Her feelings have returned but not memories and she is confused and afraid. And that´s why she is so cold that Chuck wouldn´t noticed that. The same that in the beginning of the season 3, with she being hurt that he didn´t runaway.
With 10 minutes left of the episode, I didn’t think Sarah would be getting her memories back. Initially, I had wanted to be able to see Chuck and Sarah in their dream house. However, I think the ending on the beach was the second best thing. Yeah I wanted confirmation that Sarah got her memory back, but it’d seem lame if she said “I remember” after their kiss. I’m positive that she regain her memory slowly, and she seems to be falling for Chuck all over again at the end of the ep. I’ve watched the ending several times, and it gets better for me every time I see it. But I think I should stop because I may be getting a little dehydrated.
I’ve only been watching the show for a year, but Chuck has made this year that much better. Wish I had started watching earlier, would’ve been great to see
episodes like Ring and Other Guy live. Goodbye Chuck!
Now back to those beets…
I loved Chuck but hated the finale. By taking Sarahs memories of all the great moments that made Chuck and we the fans love her it was as if they killed her off. Even if they fell in love again its a DIFFERENT Sarah unless she gets those memories back. A disconcertingly mean spirited ending to a show that always ended on a high note before.
Yes It would be a “cheesey, predictible happy ending” but you know what? That’s what I want. I don’t want a risk at the end, Chuck took risks all along, this was the payoff. For 5 years of loyalty and subway snadwiches I want my happy ending and you know what? They could have done it.
Keep everything the same but as the kiss ends Sarah says “I remember” thats all, two words. It even leaves the ambigutiy of WHAT she remembers but gives the fans the happy ending they deserve.
Chuck is at it’s core a fairytale so I would have liked the fairy tale ending. Chuck was the nerd who became a hero, in the process he won the heart of the beautiful princess. So why not give us the snow white moment and have the kiss bring back the Sarah Chuck and we loved?
I believe that Sarah got her memories back because throughout the last two episodes she was remembering little fragments of Chuck. I believe that her time in the beach and Chuck telling her their story made her remember because she was laughing and being playful with Chuck and she was the one who asked Chuck to kiss so I think that she did get her memories back.
Loved all the ‘Callback’s also another one no one talks about is the Helicopter as in ‘Chuck vs the Helicopter’, at least I took it as such.
Overall loved the episode like, many I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, I kept waiting for Sarah to get her memories back. Even thought that bang on the head flying out of the plane would cause her to wake up. Thought perhaps with the kiss on the beach would have been an intersect like flash of Sarah’s memories and then go dark. Alas it didn’t happen, not sure why.
Loved Chuck got the intersect back, would have also loved to see some talk about that fact in the end. Beckman doesn’t know or doesn’t care, Chuck has the only intersect in his head again. They sold the buymore, loved Subway taking a bow, but why sell the store from Chuck’s side,. Does Morgan stay as manager, is Chuck planning to stick around the Nerd Herd?? Some questions I would have liked answer.
I’ll choose to believe that Sarah gets her memories back, would perfer the magic kiss idea, (yes I watch disney movies also). But if not that, then Chuck is working on rebuilding the key to reconstruct an intersect device to restore Sarah’s memories.
I hope for a Chuck movie, but know chances are slim. So I will take Chuck for what it was, 91 hrs of fun, laughs, thrills. I hope it finds a good home in syndication like USA and be repeated to audience that was busy watching DAncing with the stars on monday nights.
A show that combines comedy, drama, action, spy and romance genres is hard to pull off, but the guys at Chuck did it better than anyone.
I can’t do this, but you guys can. Go around and get a survey of people who want chuck back for season 6 and send it to NBC tv studio or whatever. That will be seen by them more than them seeing these comments. If you get enough people surveyed maybe they will put chuck back on. Ask people to survey their friends too. Good luck if you do. I. Just giving an idea. I really miss chuck. He is awesome.
I have to admit, that the ending was not what I expected, but I wasn’t disappointed by it. I thought it was a beautiful ending to a magical show. Sarah’s character growth over the 5 seasons still shined through for me in that final scene when Chuck is telling her their story.
Also regardless of how much of her memories returned, the fact is that she did remember that she really does love Chuck- hence the “Chuck kiss me”.
It is unfortunate that so many fans hated that ending, and I understand why, but hopefully over time they will come to appreciate it, the same way that I have.
Regardless how you felt about the ending, it doesn’t negate the fact that these past 5 seasons have been an incredible journey, and I’m glad I got to share it with all of you.
Remember, we will always have Omaha.
Ok, so I can see both sides to the finale controversy. We all can trust that Chuck and Sarah stay together. That’s not really the point of contention for me. My issue with it is couldn’t the writers have come up with something more befitting to the title character-Chuck? After all, this started with him having his whole world turned upside down with the whole spy/intersect thing,so why not end it that way instead of such an emotional way- (yes, I cried at the end because it was so bittersweet and I hate bittersweet). Why not reboot the last episode with Sarah escaping from Quinn with her memories intact. Team Bartowski then has to hunt down Quinn to retrieve the intersect. Intersect is saved/destroyed whatever, Quinn escapes. Flash to the beach or dream house (again whichever) and Chuck and Sarah think they are finally free when Quinn, or better yet Shaw,shows up. The only thing Chuck can do is kill him. We see him fire a real gun (sorry, no tranks this time, buddy), we hear the shot,and then the scene goes black. Did Chuck finally have to do the one thing he was against the most? I think that would have been a more interesting/open-ended ending to his character than to have him trying to win Sarah back yet again. I mean, come on- he’s been there, done that! Talk about cliche!
I was not thrilled with the ending. I’ve had some difficulty in figuring out why. In short, I believe that Sarah either immediately gets her memories back, or alternatively, that they have a romance that brings them together in the end. So, why does this bother me? After a couple of days to think about it, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is because the writers have, on a number of occassions, damaged Sarah’s character, particularly during Season 3. Both in how she left Chuck at the beginning of the season and with the whole Shah debacle, Sarah was in self-defense mode. The old Sarah did not let her feelings out, and acted in a way damaging to her relationship with Chuck. She overcame this in Seasons 3.2, 4 and 5.
Now, of course, Sarah is not a real person. She is a creation of the writers, but the writers have created her personality. They are her and she is them. Had the writers not shown in Seasons 1, 2 and 3 a propensity to have Sarah take one step forward and two back, I would assume that she and Chuck would overcome the memory issue and move forward. But, while there may be some new Sarah coming through (this is what gives hope that my concerns of her rejecting Chuck after the kiss are unfounded), the writers have on many occassions had her act in a way harmful to the relationship. Worse yet, during the 5 years of the show, she was forced to be with Chuck and work through those issues. In fact, only once (with Shaw) and once in Season 1 with Bryce was she seriously considering leaving AND would have been allowed to leave. Now, out of the CIA, the team gone, and already having made the decision to disappear after killing the bad guy, if Sarah decides to leave, I’m not sure that there is anything to keep her around.
So, in short, my frustration is at the writers. They wrote a character that was quick to run to another man, prone to leave and not mature in a relationship, and slowly redeemed her/grew her in the later part of the series. Now, at the end of the series, they put her back to the character she was at the beginning, and yet expect us to not see the danger ahead, without the requirement that she stay and work through her issues with Chuck. In the fictional work of Chuck and Sarah, we are left to assume that they will be together. In the character that the writers wrote, we may have trouble believing that they actually will be.
If anyone is interested, I think this is the iPhone dock alarm clock that Chuck has on his bedsite table: http://www.iliveelectronics.com/products/clock-radios/clock-radio-plays-and-charges-iphoner-ipodr-5.html
Hansn’t had very good reviews on Amazon though. A shame, I was really looking forward to have a ‘Chuck’ alarm clock next to my bed
I absolutely loved it! I thought it was very obvious that there would be a happy ending and that everything will work out. It was a perfect way to end the perfect show. Sarah losing her memory was the perfect way to make so many references to the previous seasons. Now that Chuck has the intersect could he possibly flash and make new intersect glasses to save Sarah. If the kiss didn’t work Im am positive she will get her memories back as she was already remembering them. I have rewatched the last 5 minutes a millions times and I cry every time. I usually hate series finales because the feel rushed or cliche. This one did not feel that way at all and it was great. with so many other shows i find myself having trouble rewatching after the end because i know the end but now i find myself excited to rematch this amazing series. Even though I will miss Chuck i am grateful for the years we got and am content with everything we have. I was worried about what I would do without chuck but with this ending I think i will be able to cope knowing it ended on such a good note. Goodbye Chuck
Taylor: I´m happy for you that you can see it that way. I had preparing myself for a real closure and then I would have been ok that it end. But with this ending I´m just spiraling and don´t know how to stop.
Hi All,
I disagree with David4, thats whole point of Sarah Walker’s character – She was a lone wolf who is emotionally immature! I think thats why she falls for Chuck. Chuck may not be versed in the dangers of the ‘real world’ as Casey says in S1’s Tango but Chuck has the emotional strengh that Sarah lacks. In Nemesis Bryce makes a comment: “You were good @ this, saying your feelings part”. Through out Series we see Sarah come to rely on Chuck for emotional support. The Issue about Sarah loosing all that growth goes back to the end of S5’s vs Bo. I think Sarah decided to download the faulty Intersect because she knew that ‘Her Chuck’ wouldn’t give up on her & he would Fight to bring her home – Thats exactly what he did! I would argue that the Bo decision was made by a character who was showing alot of emotional maturaty, trust & faith in her man. Am I wrong? What do people think?
Hi All,
That Bryce comment should be:
“You were never good at this, Saying your feelings part”
I have NO DOUBT that Sarah will get her memories back–whether through the “magical kiss,” Chuck continuing to jog her memory, work by Beckman and CIA scientists/Ellie, or some combination of the above. The way she smiled as Chuck told their story, coupled with the few memories she did get back, and the kiss at the end cemented for me that she will remember the last 5 years and will continue to live happily with Chuck into the future. It doesn’t need to be specifically spelled out. With the overall nature of the show, and the way things ended for everyone else, I don’t think we need to worry at all.
I thought it was a great ending for special show.
I like how the series end and i’m sure that chuck and sarah are going to have everything that the have dream.
But i have a question about the buy more and will really appreciate if someone answer it. So, the buy more still belongs to chuck or he sell it??? And is he still own the carmichael industries???
Thank you!!! 🙂
yes he sold the Buy More to Subway, (LOL) I guess he still owns Carmichael but he was going to retire so it doesn’t matter.
i’m so glad for your reply…thank you
elpida13,
Yes, it appears Chuck sold the Buy More to Subway, or at least someone who is also putting in a subway in the store. No reason for it other than Chuck and Co are retiring. I assume he still owns Carmichael Industries in name, although it was likely shut down also.
However you can believe that Sarah got her memories back after the kiss, Chuck and Sarah moved on with Carmichael Industries and as a computer security agency and found nice office space above ground.
Otherwise, I wonder what happens to Morgan? The store was sold, and if no Carmichael Industries, does he still manager the Buy More. Sure he gets Alex, but he maybe needing a job.
Has NBC posted a “new” alternative ending?!
I like it! Seems, at least a little bit, more closed-ended.
http://www.nbc.com/chuck/video/The-Story-of-Chuck-and-Sarah/1381756
Thanks for link. I really loved that from this I really got the feeling that she remembers too. I hope that they would put that ending to the dvd intead of the final we have seen 🙂 That would be then be a perfect ending 🙂
I rewatched the finale today, after I read this awesome, comforting review. I thought I might feel better …but I didn’t. I never got emotionally involved in anything on TV like I did with Chuck… that’s why getting not the ending I hoped for hurts so much. Even after watching it twice, it hurts…. now don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to convince anybody, because I’m happy seeing people being happy with this finale and I almost envy those people who loved it, because I honestly hope I could feel the same.
Now what I need to do is to tell you how I feel and why I feel, one more time after rewatching the two episodes. Not because I want to convince anybody but in order to get this of my chest:
The final scene was cruel. The way how hesitantly they shared that kiss and the way Sarah said Chuck, kiss me, made it christal clear that they may have a spark of hope, but that this spark is a mere shadow of what they once had.
From a more neutral perspectiv I’d have to give probs to the acting of Yvonne Strahovski. Her face, her gestures and the way she moved and even sat showed that this wasn’t the Sarah we saw in Chuck vs. the baby. All the character developement was gone.
The greatest thing about Chuck has always been that the characters were evolving constantly. Even during the first 2 seasons where these developements were not as visible from the outside as they were as of season 3. Now as I see it – that developement has gone for good. Sarah will remember a thing or two, eventually…but it’s not likely that she’ll be entirely the same person ever again… from what I’ve seen on screen – from what my heart tells me, it’ll be like this. And that is what makes me sad. There are people who like the idea of Sarah falling again for Chuck….but as for me – I think that your memories define who you are and that Sarah who said: Chuck, kiss me is not the Sarah I’ve known for 5 years.
So this is why I’m still sad. I’ll never picture Sarah having all of her memories back, because that would be whishful thinking – not more… as long as I don’t see it on screen, it hasn’t happened. The last Sarah I saw was not the Sarah I’ve known for five years. The Sarah I’ve known for five years – after those five years – would have made out with Chuck like there was no tomorrow. They would have rolled into the water and wouldn’t have stopped.
So this is why I’m sad
Totally agree with you Max, that is exactly what i also have a big problem with, regardless of what everyone else says ,
it feels more that people really want to find a happy ending in all different angles but i cant becouse that isn´t Sarah at all,
“All creed to Yvonnes acting ,but i also want the spark the chemistry the love and its not there, not anything really, i cant see it in her acting at all.
sadly but true.
Seems almost that shes been ordered to play a totaly cold Sarah without any feelings or moves and that what really ruined it for me to. just a few seconds with real love would made a difference
You are right that all we need is a little warmth in the end. That´s why I love this new version on nbc web page because just memories and kiss brings that feeling to the scene. Without those words with little hope.
Bittersweet is how I felt about this ending. I felt like I had a family member or friend who had a stroke and whose full recovery is up in the air. I know that Chuck is our hero and that if anyone can help Sarah recover it has to be him. Still I felt a real sense of loss.
One disturbing thing for me is that it felt like everyone was resigned to Sarah’s erased memories. Why didn’t Casey and General Beckman, Jack Burton and Mama Burton tell Sarah what Chuck had meant to her? Why didn’t Ellie and Awesome and Beckman consult with the leading brain researchers in the world to see how or if Sarah’s memory could be restored? Why didn’t they show Sarah and Chuck being de-intersected if the device had created such a profound sense of loss?
I realize that TPTB only had so much time to try to devote to the final chapter of Chuck but with everyone moving on with their lives before Sarah is convincingly on the road to recovery just felt like Chuck’s extended family was falling apart and letting Chuck and Sarah just fend for themselves.
For me this finale was like eating chocolate éclair without the filling.
1 more thing. The ending reminded me of the sopranos. I don’t know how many Chuck fans watched it. But that was a very good show, that ended badly, and tried to get to cute.
I just read this review http://www.spoilertv.com/2012/01/chuck-series-finale-review.html and it sums up how i felt about the episode pretty well. I really loved the finale. Goodbye Chuck