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This week’s episodes of TVLine’s Spoiler Alert! video includes Zachary Levi joining Michael Ausiello, Matt Mitovich, and Parenthood‘s Sam Jaeger to talk about his new pilot, Let It Go. He also addresses the fan reaction to the Chuck series finale and gives his interpretation of that final scene.
I’m impressed that Zac would admit that there is dissatisfaction. Even more impressed when he admits that he can see it himself when he looks objectively.
The problem with his interpretation of the ending is that you have to make an interpretation of the ending. We didn’t see that on the screen at all. The series ended at the very second when you bagan to have hope for a happy ending.
To not resolve the key storyline of the entire series is unforgivable, IMO.
Certainly that’s not Zac’s fault. Unfortunately, Zac and Yvonne have the most to lose from a fractured base. The people ultimately responsible don’t.
That seems unfair to me.
Bill, I see where you’re coming from, truly, but I’m with Zac – I thought the ending was great. I thought it was a happy, hopeful ending that allowed fans to imagine whatever future they wanted for Chuck & Sarah. Obviously that’s not satisfying for everyone, but it is for me and, apparently, it is for Zac.
Hi Mel i hope u are filling better now . and i agree with what you & Zach said about the ending of CHUCK ive been wacthing reruns of season 2 on 5* the one i just see was when Sarah and Chuck went bk to her old school and it ended with them eating a beefburger in her hotel room.
Alison ( Ali )
From
ENGLAND
Hey Ali, I am feeling better, thank you. Glad you’re enjoying revisiting season 2!
It’s funny you would say that. Because I think I’m with Zac. I understand that you could interpret it as a happy ending. I’m even willing to do that. But I also know there was some ambiguity introduced there that simply wasn’t in line with my expectations.
I think that’s what Zac said. I also think that Yvonne has hinted pretty broadly that she feels similarly. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
The part that I can’t get out my mind is why would TPTB do this? Why risk it? What was to be gained? They knew full well what we were expecting. Why introduce “Maybe Baby” storylines, show a drawing of them standing in front of the dream house with a baby, and leave those storylines simply hanging unresolved?
They didn’t do anything of the sort in the S3 or S4 finales, only when it was assured that it was the real finale. I’d be less than honest if I said anything other than it feels like an intentional slap to me. And it honestly sort of spoils my 5 year experience of a show that I obsessed over.
I’m happy that you found it satisfying. I am.
Well, when we interview Chris Fedak, we’ll be asking him those questions from fans and getting you the answers. 🙂
Trust me, I’ll be listening. 🙂
For the record, I’m angry at him, not at you. I know that you know that, lol.
He had to know that there would be some dissatisfaction within the base with that ending. Yvonne was warning us weeks in advance that it would cause some heartbreak and wasn’t what she was expecting.
He had to know that. I’m not buying that he didn’t.
I’ll be very interested in hearing if he will admit that, and if so, why he would do it anyway. Did he underestimate it? Was it intentional?
Mel, I just don’t get it. How on earth can writers possibly justify the destruction of five years of character develoopment for Sarah at the end of the series, due to the actions of a character who has been on the show for five minutes. Then again i need to remind myself its just a tv show and nothing to be angrily ranting on about. As always thankyou to the creators of Chuck for a great show and thankyou mel for your wonderful work.
Maybe because they don’t see it as the destruction of five years of character development? I didn’t. I saw it as an opportunity to highlight and celebrate how different this Sarah was from the Sarah who first walked into the Buy More 5 years ago, to raise the stakes for Chuck in his final mission, and to show us that the Sarah we knew was still there and would be fully restored soon. Again, my take on the final episodes. Yours is obviously different.
I agree, Bill. This isn’t a happy ending, as more of a hopeful one, and I am at least grateful that Zac understood the dissatisfaction some fans had. Loved that he used the word “apoplectic.”
Bill, you hit the nail right on the head IMO. To have the most important characters on the show have an ending that is questioned like that is terrible, in my mind.
Every other character got closure & the Happy Ending On Screen, that the fans saw.
The writers knew, that the fans loved Chuck & Sarah as a couple & that most of all, we wanted to see for ourselves these two people get their Happy Ending Together.
For S & F not to give the fans that, was unforgivable in my eyes.
Of course, I was not a fan of the idea of Sarah being Intersected & her characters memories & growth over these past 5yrs being wiped away in the first place.
However, I don’t write or own the show & they are not my characters.
As I said before, that ending of Chuck, will forever hurt the enjoyment of the overall series for me. I again, took it as a slap in the face to the fans who loved Chuck & Sarah as a couple. (Certainly not a Love Letter to us) To me, as I said before, S & F, took one last chance to mess with the fans & screw with the relationship that they knew people really loved, with how they wrote those final two eps.
It was very wrong of them to do that to the fans, in my mind.
The final two episodes really tainted Chuck for me, forever.
BMB.
“But I also know there was some ambiguity introduced there that simply wasn’t in line with my expectations.”
That’s the real problem with the ending for many people; it wasn’t what they were expecting.
The finale not being what you were expecting doesn’t mean that it isn’t a happy, or hopeful one! And the many storylines that are not resolved, are resolved, actually.
It’s just that as soon as Sarah will get all her memories back, and we could already see it in 5.13, and the fact that she connected with Chuck on an emotional level, to the point of asking him to kiss her, pretty much insures that all their future plans (baby, house, computer security firm) will happen.
It’s as if Season has started with the ending; like we would’ve seen Chuck and Sarah on that beach, and everything that happened in 5.12, and then, we would’ve seen 5.01 to 5.11, and then an expanded beach scene. From 5.01 to 5.11, we saw what will happen after 5.13, and that’s pretty much what Fedak said to Sepinwall (They’re happy, together, planning their future, and starting their computer firm).
This whole show has always been about expecting the unexpected. That has not changed in 5 seasons!!
I’m so glad to hear Zac confirming what Mel and Gray and I have discussed on the podcast about the finale. He even used some of the same words! 🙂
I’m truly sorry that you feel this show has been ruined for you, Bill. It’s very hard for me to understand why you feel slapped. I can’t think of a nicer gift to the Chuck fans than to allow them to imagine their own conclusion, as Zac clearly stated. And as he also stated, Chuck and Sarah do end up together. Fedak has said that many times in interviews – he said it to me at the Chicago convention – that he and the writers have always known that Chuck and Sarah were meant to be together. Why do you need to see it to know that it actually happened?
I don’t know, I said all I want to say on the finale podcast. I’m just repeating myself now. 😀
Hey, Liz,
I’m not sure that I understand the argument that the best gift is to allow us to imagine what happens for ourselves. Isn’t that why we watch the show in the first place? To see what happens? Certainly at some point the show was going to end and we would have to imagine what was going to happen from there on. I don’t dispute that.
But there were several episodes that were designed to be possible series finales. And after every one, we would have had to imagine what happened next, right? My problem isn’t that they are making me fill in the blanks on my own. My problem is that they left me at a spot where I’m not sure if the central story, the love story, is going to have a satisfying ending.
Why didn’t they do that in any of there other finales? At the end of Other Guy, Chuck and Sarah were rolling around in bed with the Eiffel Tower in the background. At the end of Ring II, Shaw was defeated, Chuck was out of the spy life, and Sarah committed that she loved him anyway. At the end of Push Mix, Chuck was on one knee proposing and Sarah was clearly accepting. At the end of Cliffhanger, Chuck and Sarah were happily married and fresh off their honeymoon.
In every one of those possible finales, I would have been perfectly happy to imagine them happy, together, and planning their future.
Why do I feel slapped? It’s a good question. It’s pretty simple really. They left me at a spot where I’m not sure that they’re happy, together, and planning their future. They left me at a spot where I can only hope that’s true. I think that Zac actually said pretty much that same thing. I even think he said that he could understand that thinking once he looked at it fresh.
And yes, I understand that you can interpret the ending as happy. I’m even willing to do that. But you have to admit, you do have to interpret it. Yes, Zac, Fedak, et al have assured us that is the proper interpretation. But based purely on what you saw on the screen, that was not at all assured like it was in the previous finales.
Not only that, my favorite character disappeared at the end of Bullet Train never to reappear. Even with the most liberal interpretation of the ending possible, that wasn’t the Sarah we knew on that beach. We missed her for the last 2 episodes and never saw her again.
So my question to Mr. Fedak is, why? Why take that risk now when he didn’t in the other previous 4 potential finales?
I don’t like the answer to my own question.
But if Zac, arguably the person most invested in the Chuck character and his future, liked the ending, then shouldn’t that count for something?
My goodness Bill,
I so agree with everything you’ve said. This wasn’t how I wanted to say goodbye to Sarah, and even though Zac liked the ending, he also understood why some people wouldn’t, so shouldn’t that count for something? Sometimes I feel like an ass for saying how I feel. Like I shouldn’t feel this disappointed, or that it’s wrong to feel so sad about a show. But the Sarah I grew to love was not the Sarah we saw in the last 2 episodes and that’s heartbreaking to me. The fact that Chuck and Sarah have to rebuild their lives is heartbreaking to me, and the fact that this finale left me so upset and still obviously does is heartbreaking to me. There isn’t a right or wrong answer. Some are happy; some are not. I’m one that isn’t. I admire the ones who loved the finale. Not sure if Fedak will answer your question with a satisfactory answer for you. I feel like he’s had lots of time to prep for any questions, good or otherwise, that may come his way. But you’re not alone in your thoughts. I really sympathize with you.
Mel,
Do we honestly expect Zac to be critical of the show in any way? I don’t think that’s a reasonable expectation. I would be disappointed in him if he didn’t try and put a positive spin on it. That’s part of his job. I’m honestly impressed that he was as frank as he was.
Even if it doesn’t appear like it, I’m trying really hard to be fair. 🙂 There were parts of the finale that were very well done. I’d have to say, on balance, it was very good. Sarah watching herself on the video mission log crying that she was in love with Chuck Bartowski and didn’t know what to do about it is a top ten series moment for me.
The problem was that it ended about 2 minutes too soon. When I was watching it live, I honestly thought there was something wrong with my cable box. Surely they wouldn’t leave it there.
I didn’t have to see Chuck and Sarah in the future pushing a baby stroller. What I did need was to leave them knowing that they would be okay.
I know that you (and many others) got that. I (and many others) didn’t. And my question remains, why risk that? For what reason?
I dunno, Bill, he sounded pretty sincere to me when he said he liked the ending. He hasn’t been circumspect about stating his disappointment in how LOST ended, or the fact that he was a huge fan (and not just in interviews; he’s talked about it in private conversations with me and others as well), so for him to bring that up as a correlation to how much he liked how Chuck ended tells me that he’s being genuine. He’s also being genuine when he says he can see how other people would be dissatisfied with it, as am I. It’s just not how he experienced the ending.
As for your point, why risk it, believe me that I’ll make sure we ask Fedak that question in our interview. It’s a big one, it’s a fair one, and I think he should be given the opportunity to answer it at length.
I’m not guestioning Zac’s sincerity. Just like I’m not questioning yours. A reasonable, intelligent person could watch that finale sittng next to me on the couch and love every second of it.
I accept that fully. I’m sorry if I’m giving any other impression.
But I also think that a reasonable, intelligent person could feel empty, disappointed, and even a little betrayed.
Why would he risk that at this point in time when he never did before? I admire your willingness to ask him that question. Thank you for that. I’m really looking forward to his answer.
Bill, you nailed exactly how I felt, and still feel, about the finale. The only thing I could possibly add is that I have a crappy imagination and am therefore unable to make that emotional leap to a happy ending. I need to see it, I wish I didn’t, but I do
Totaly agree with you Bill, just saying
Bill, I respect your opinion, but I can’t disagree more. Sarah’s last two sentences of the series were “Chuck, tell me our story” and “Chuck, kiss me.” I think there’s NO DOUBT that the two of them ended up happily ever after. Couple that with the fact that Sarah had remembered a few things throughout the episodes and it’s easy to say that if the kiss didn’t work, she’s well on her way to remembering most, if not all of what happened through the last five years.
After rewatching the finale, I am even more convinced of its genius. The fact that they had so many quasi-finales painted the writers into a corner–they had many big confrontations (Chucs vs. Shaw, Chuck vs. Volkof, Chuck vs. Decker), Chuck saved Sarah’s life many times, they’ve gotten together, been engaged, gotten married, there wasn’t much left for the final push. That’s why the finale worked so well. Chucks Hero’s journey was completed when he kicked Shaw’s butt sans intersect in Santa Suit. Sarah and Casey’s journeys were completed in Baby and Kept Man, respectively. The Quinn character served to throw one last monkeywrench into the assumed happy ending, it created a new conflict, Chuck vs. Sarah (literally). Chuck getting Sarah back was the final task for him to achieve, and he did it with the help of his family and friends. Simply a perfect ending.
CA1410,
This is not directed at you. Because a lot of people have expressed that same thought. But you’re making the wrong argument.
Once again, I’m perfectly willing to accept that Chuck and Sarah had a hopeful ending that would lead to a happy future. I am, I am, I am. In fact that is provable. Chuck and Sarah are fictional characters. They only exist in the imagination of their creator, Chris Fedak. Since he is the only one who would know, if he says they’re happily ever after, what choice would one have but to believe him?
But that misses the point by a mile.
I’ve asked this question several times and nobody who loved the ending has answered it yet.
Did Sarah leave that beach wanting to leave the spy life and have maybe babies? Would she ever come to that conclusion? And if you think you can answer, point to what evidence you saw on the screen to support that.
That was the main theme of this season. What would Chuck and Sarah’s future look like? They had resolved to stop the spy life and raise a family in their dream house. It was the final step in the evolution of their relationship. But with 3 flash cards Quinn erased that resolution. Suddenly the question is again unresolved.
That theme was never answered one way or the other. We simply don’t know the answer to that. The main theme of the season was simply abandoned and left hanging. Personally, I would have to conclude that Agent Walker is back to where she was 5 years ago, and that was a long ways from motherhood.
So forget if it was an appropriate series ending. It wasn’t even an appropriate season ending. It didn’t answer the main question they spent all season asking.
Let’s compare Goodbye to another of their potential endings. Push Mix was equally as ambiguous, right? It left us at the very last second, literally while the credits were rolling, with a long shot of Chuck on one knee. If that had been the last episode, we would have been left to our imaginations what happened next, right?
But if Push Mix would have been the last episode, my feelings would have been completely different. Because they earned the happy interpretation. I knew over the course of half a season that Sarah was waiting for him to propose, knew she would say yes, knew they would get married and spend the rest of their lives together.
Goodbye simply didn’t earn any of those same emotions for me. It just didn’t. Up until literally the very last minute, Sarah had given no indication that she was even thinking about staying. I’m honestly happy for those of you who saw something more. It left me empty.
I guess the point is, this is a TV program, not a story-writing competition. So I’d expect the writers to write an ending rather than require viewers to write their own! Just my view. Otherwise, why write anything. Just start off “Once upon a time there was …” and we can fill in the rest 😉
For me the problem is not “do they end up together?” cuz of course they do. The problem is “does Sarah remember the events of the series?”. I will never undertstand taking away 5 years of character development. And sure the counter argument to that is she was remembering some things, and she will remember with that kiss or overtime; and just so that I can enjoy the rest of the series I have convinced myself that is true. But to even leave it as a question…just boggles my mind.
Bill, I pretty much agree with everything you said. Especially the part about it ending 2 minutes too soon.
Mike, I think my imagination was part of the problem, as it seems to be for you. And you know what, it was partially rectified by another TV show. There is a Fringe episode called “A better human being” even if you don’t watch Fringe the episode is worth the watch. A character very similar to Sarah remembers her past life, and her past love. It is very well done, and has helped me to imagine how it would be for Sarah to remember.
134sc, thanks for the head’s up! I’ll give it a look.
The ending could have worked if it had been earned over the course of the series.
It was not.
Well hello, stranger. 🙂
Evening Mel i’m glad yr filling better now Zac’s new show sounds good i cannt wait .
mel take care .
Alison ( Ali )
from
ENGLAND
Hello Mel – still fighting the fight I see. 😉
Hey Lou, I’ve missed your commentary here since you disappeared during last season. I always enjoyed your insights.
This is very true. It wasn’t earned. That’s a very valid point to make.
Oh boy! This could turn into 69 pages of comments. I don’t think I can comment here and add anything that’s not in the episode discussion.
For me the ending was sad and tragic–and not even slightly. I understand the hope that’s there and I believe they’re destined to be together but in the end you can’t deny their shared hopes and dreams were taken away and now they’re starting over. That’s what is sad and tragic.
It was sad and tragic, especially compared to how happy Chuck and Sarah’s relationship had been for the previous 2 years.
I don’t think the actors feel the same way about the show as the fans do, of course they love it too, but it’s a different kind of love. So no… Zac liking the ending doesn’t really make me feel any better. Fedak & Schwartz royally messed up.
But they aren´t. Sarah already remembers the house (flashback with writing) and when she gets rest back they will get it all.
Great video, shows what a gent Zac is that he can understand and appreciate all points of view. I don’t mind admitting I found the ending absolutely heartbreaking. It genuinely upset me, and I can’t recall a TV show ever doing that before. I needed to see a happy ending because they showed us too much heartache and pain to leave it open. They shoved so much relentless and overwhelming negativity our way in that finale that they needed a big positive to outweigh it. It didn’t happen. For me after all the sadness and gut wrenching of the finale it’s too much of a stretch to imagine Chuck and Sarah even have a future together. Too much bad, nowhere near enough good. That’s why I needed to see a proper, happy ending.
The show went out on a massive downer for me and it’s always made me feel good. It didn’t feel like Chuck anymore. It was like another show just with the same characters.
With the end of Chuck, my family and I started our re-watch of the whole series to see if we would still fall in love with Chuck if the show premieres today and we did, right at the Pilot. Chuck had always been a unique show, different from the others that’s why we Chucksters love it so much and were willing to go to lengths to secure another season and another. We, at least my family and I wouldn’t have done so much for another TV show, not before and not sure if after. There was never any doubt in our minds that Chuck and Sarah would be together no matter the obstacles and Chuck was about hope and possibilities, as such we love the ending of the series. It’s a unique ending befitting a unique show, white picket fence house and baby on the screen would have been good but a tad too ordinary and the show ended with hope and happiness, it gives us hope of a movie or a web show down the road to continue with the Chuck & Sarah story.
Thanks for sharing that, Patty. I’m looking forward to rewatching the entire series with my nieces & nephews this summer.
Mel, just checking in as usual to see if there is any new Chuck related news. Have to say it again, you do an admirable job creating and maintaining this website. It’s not easy. Kudos to Liz and Gray too.
I rewatched Chuck vs. the Break Up for example and the despair in the fountain scene is much more poignant knowing how the finale ends. Especially when Sarah tells Chuck he’ll forget all about her.
I just needed more to tell me they’d be okay. The ending didn’t really provide that. It’s a blank I have to fill in. There was no “Chuck-like” cure for her amnesia. Heck, I’m at the point where I don’t even know for sure Sarah remembered anything besides the carving in the house. Everything else she remembered could have been something she saw in her own video logs–a gripe about Scooter telling her how to stack the cups, documenting where she found Chuck after there initial date, how he diffused the bomb with a porn virus, etc… all could have been in her logs that she watched.
I’m stuck at their last fountain scene where she told Chuck she didn’t feel it because it was a much more powerful scene than the one on the beach.
But it´s clear that she is lying in that scene. because she really feels it while watching log and watches down before saying it just like vs truth.
Im glad that Zach said he would be down at San Diego Comic-Con and would try to get as many of the gang back, now i have something to look forward to at the convention.
One thing is pretty clear though, we will no be getting extended closing scene in dvd extras.
We’ve known that from the beginning, hpz. Fedak stated clearly that the extra 8ish minutes are primarily additional time with the “family” stuff.
I hope they can explain in less than eight minutes why a Neurologist who had apparently given up her career to raise her child would leave her brain damaged sister-in-law for a job in Chicago when she needed her the most. Just saying.
Chuck was pretty much the only one who really showed any emotion over what happened to Sarah.
Ellie, Awesome, Casey… they just left.
jmc… If you think about it, they really couldn’t let any of the characters honestly react and emote to what happened to Sarah. Do we remotely believe that Chuck didn’t want anything from her at the beach? If they allowed the characters to react and emote honestly, I don’t see how anyone could have interpreted the ending as anything but sad and tragic.
I agree with jmc in that Chuck seemed like the only one who was willing to do whatever it took to to help save Sarah. After all they had been through over the past 5 years it seemed like everyone else was giving up way too easily. I mean, if my wife had suddenly lost her memory I wouldn’t let her walk away without doing everything I could to prove my love for her.
I think the answer to this is a simple one. No one wanted the show to end. The actors, writers, viewers or anyone else involved with the show. Everyone who loved the show understood what a great story it was. So why end it in a conclusive way? Allow there to be more of a story to tell. I think that was the point. Would anyone still be discussing the finale to this extent if it ended in the happy way every other season ended? Everyone would say “That was great. They ended it the way I hoped”…and that would be it. In the end this is also a buisness. He clearly said in the inverview he is hoping for a movie or for Chuck to continue in some format. With full satisfaction in anything comes a loss of interest at times. Everyone is still very interested wanting the story to continue. That’s not a bad thing.
But Al,
None of the previous endings were endings either. In Ring II, we found out that papaB wanted Chuck to look for mamaB. And if we hadn’t gotten S4, I would have been a little disappointed that we didn’t get to find out what happened with her. But I knew that the central story, the one I really cared about was resolved. Chuck and Sarah were together and happy and unquestionably moving forward.
And that’s the same for all of the faux finales. Until the real one.
It’s not that there isn’t more story to tell, there always has been. It’s that the central story, the love story was left in a less than good place.
That’s the core problem.
If that was their plan, the showrunners could not have ended the show more dishonestly for the fans.
It certainly had an opposite effect for me. I feel like they lied to us when they called it a love letter to the fans.
Schwartz and Fedak have lost my trust. If they can swing a movie deal and get all of the original cast back. I’ll drop my cash on tickets to see the cast. As for anything else these two guys might produce, I’m going to avoid them like the plague. I can’t trust they’ll do their characters justice.
It’s been about a month since the season finale and with that length of time I was hoping that my disappointment in the ending would begin to fade. Unfortunately it has not. I have many of the episodes of season 5 on DVD and when I look back at them and knowing how the series ends it makes me angry. Why introduce the various happy story lines only to have them butchered at the end. For example, the sweet scene between Chuck and Sarah at the end of Chuck vs. the Baby is no longer a happy scene but a tragic one in light of Chuck vs. Sarah. Other story lines such as quitting the spy life and “maybe babies” were left unresolved and so as a fan I feel like I had the rug pulled out from under me at the very end. Of course, I don’t blame Zach or any of the other actors, but rather Fedak and Company. My resolution to all of this is that series ended for me with season 4.
I’m going for the shallow end of the pool and would like to point out how cute and funny Zac is in the video. Also what a great comedy team he and the Parenthood guy make.
Good news about NerdHQ at Comic-Con. And a possible panel.
Now I’m looking forward to seeing Zac as a straitlaced dad coping with an energetic son and perplexing friends and relatives. Does this mean he’ll be the straight man this time and other people will do the comedy?
The ending? Well, okay, since you asked. I have one word: Fanfiction! Woo-hoo!
😉
Oh yeah, I’m WAY more interested in the show Zac described than the official logline we were given in the press release. The fact that he’s playing a dad (to a kid who lives in a Spider-Man costume, no less) has me stoked!
Hi Mel, i just wanted to know when is your interview with Chris Fedak and also i know that theres been a lot of questions sent in about continuing the chuck story, via movie, web series etc, will you ask him what he thinks about Zach being so out spoken about continuing the story?
Eh to lighten things up verkisto! 🙂 Good points made, it was an enjoyable interview!
Beauty, eh? See you at Timmie’s, Mike. 😉
LOL… Yep, you got me! And I HAVE had my Timmie’s today. 🙂
Since about the end of Colonel (It’s real!) a huge section of the Chuck fan base were expecting/believing they deserved a show called Chuck and Sarah. If you have been watching the Chuck and Sarah show, I could see why you were unhappy with the ending.
But the showrunners were not writing that show. They were writing Chuck, the story of a guy at a quarter-life crisis. Everything else in the show, including Sarah, was in service of that story. The ending they wrote is the ending of the Chuck show: Chuck on the beach telling someone to “trust him” because he now had the skills and the ability to be someone who could fix things.
As it happens, I was one of those trying to watch the Chuck and Sarah show after Colonel. But I understand now that the showrunners wrote the ending to the show they have been writing for five years.
The show called Chuck ended properly. At a certain point, if you wanted to be watching Chuck and Sarah, you had to realize that you just weren’t on the same page as the showrunners.
Actually you’re wrong, since the showrunners themselves said that the show was always about Chuck and Sarah.
But MaryFrann,
At the risk of being repetitive, this same set of showrunners wrote 4 other episodes that they fully believed could be series endings. I’m not counting Ring because they clearly didn’t think it was a series ending. Unless “To Be Continued” was a cruel joke.
It every instance prior to this, they made sure to leave the love story, the Chuck and Sarah show , as you describe it, in a good place. In each one they had progressed, were clearly on the path to the next phase of their relationship, and if that proved to be the end we knew that the love story was in a good place.
Until the ending that they knew for sure was the ending.
So I reject the argument that I’m simply not on the same page as the showrunners. They’ve proven to me time and again that the Chuck and Sarah show is what they were telling, what they knew their existence depended upon.
What’s different this time? What’s different now that they absolutely knew this was the real ending?
The only answer I can come up with is one I don’t like.
Bill, you keep saying that the only answer you can come up with is one that you don’t like. What is it?
The answer I come up with is that they wanted to let the fans imagine their own future for Chuck & Sarah, using all the clues we’d been given over the past 2.5 seasons.
And they couldn’t have done that without erasing Sarah’s memories?
Right.
What was “different” this time was that the showrunners definitely knew at the beginning of the season that S5E13 would be the end of the show. So they took the iconic moment of the show pilot and gave you the exact opoosite. The frightened, confused Chuck on the beach in the pilot has become the empowered, focused Chuck of the finale. Chuck has completed his journey.
Sarah? Not so much. Ellie and Awesome, dispatched because they were no longer needed. All the others, off to search for other things.
But the show was called Chuck and the showrunners completed Chuck’s journey. You were watching a show they literally were not writing. I understand you don’t like hearing that. But the showrunners have told you and shown you time and again that the show was called (and is about) Chuck. Everything else was and is secondary.
You can keep repeating that till you’re blue in the face but that is still incorrect, and that’s according to the showrunners too.
Perhaps you do not like the fact that the show has always been about Chuck and Sarah, even during the first two season when they weren’t together yet, but it’s still true.
Mel,
If that was the case, why didn’t they do that in the other 14 finales? Here is my answer to that question. And up front, you’re not going to like it. My answer is that while there was still some hope to continue, they needed the fanbase engaged and reasonably happy. Once they knew that the show was ending for certain, the base became much less important to them. I hope that Fedak has a better answer because I really don’t want to think that.
MaryFrann,
I would actually agree with you, to a point. Chuck stopped being about the heroes journey at the end of S3. Chuck was now the full agent. He had defeated his nemesis and won the girl. At that point it became the Chuck and Sarah show.
Seasons 4 and 5 were totally about Chuck and Sarah and the progression of their love story. The first half of S4 was wt/wt get engaged. The second half was wt/wt get married. S5 was wt/wt quit being spies and start a family. I really don’t see how that can be argued. In fact, it was Sarah’s growth that was highlighted in S4 more than Chuck’s. Chuck actually regressed in some ways.
For those who love the ending, and I’m not being hostile in any way or trying to talk you into being miserable. 🙂 i really wish I could love it too. I’d be happier.
But tell me something. Did they come off that beach still resolved to quit being spies and start a family? You can’t tell me, can you? Well, maybe you can, but you can’t point to any evidence to support it. Yet, that was a lot of what early s5 was about. it was actually Sarah who was pushing for that more than Chuck. Now it’s gone, suddenly unresolved.
Bill, if you’d met Fedak in person, you’d never think he would turn his back on the fandom or in any way intentionally disappoint us. I know that’s one of those “you had to be there” kinds of answers, but I hope it helps.
As one poster said earlier, I really believe they thought there might be a “future mission” in the tank, as either a TV movie or an on-line pay-for-view. I would love to see a Chuck movie quarterly or twice a year like Tom Selleck’s Jesse Stone series.
The ending was suffering from exactly the same issue as the 13th episode in s4. There was really so much that needed a payoff and they just couldn’t fit it into the episode.
I do think Fedak even had to go out with that Sarah actually said yes to the proposal since some fans was not sure weather she did or not, and now same scenario with Sarahs memory loss. I am not a writer, but in my eyes this seems to be some kind of wrong.
To leave something open ended like this only works for the people who invest a lot of time into the show. Many casual fans just don’t bother and just accept is as a bad ending and jumps on to next show they like. And I can only assume that the major part of the viewers this show had did NOT spent a lot time figuring out their own ending.
I myself don’t have that much of an issue with the ending scene, the most annoying about it is the gray weather, makes the scene a little gloomy… The thing that I don’t like is the good bye between Sarah and Casey. For so much their relation have meant to the show and all they get is a handshake?!
And also the whole baby storyline was in my eyes just a waste of time that could have been used to pace the ending better and actually make the final arc a bit more well explained.
And lastly I am glad for the ones who liked the ending. Personally I can’t really accept it as good, the main reason have to do with that there was too much story was packed in to the last episode that many potential pay offs either were forced or just left out (like the scene between sarah and casey).
There’s still such rawness to this finale. For me as well, since it left me so disappointed, I ordered the S5 dvd, but will give it away or sell it because on the off chance there is a movie, I know WB needs to make back some of their $, but S5 simply doesn’t exist for me. My season ended at S4 wedding finale. The Sarah that I knew didn’t exist in the finale, and it just broke my heart. Chuck and Sarah having to restart their lives broke my heart. So BillAtWork, I agree with you, sympathize with you and wish I could find something profound to say to make you, me and others feel better. It always amazes me how people can watch the same thing and see completely different things. No right or wrong, just different.
I just finished watching the ending of Chuck last night and because of nostalgia, I had to look at some of the old websites that I frequented when I was very passionate about the show.(seasons 1 & 2)
During this time, Bill and I would discuss our differing opinions about the two main characters. I found it very stimulating because we did not agree on what Sarah was feeling primarily.
Three years have passed and I must say that Bill and I still disagree. I found the ending to be a complete redemption of season 3, 4 and 5. I absolutely loved the last two episodes because I got to see the character that I hadn’t seen in three years…Sarah, the CIA agent.
I can’t say I really understand where Bill and the other fans are coming from because, for me, the central theme of the show, at least early on was not the Chuck – Sarah relationship. It was more the Sarah internal conflict for doing what she knew she shouldn’t do. The, ‘I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but I can’t help it” aspect of the show.
So for me, I can’t imagine a better ending after what I believe was the travesty of seasons 3, 4 & 5. I mean Sarah went from being the best in the CIA to being an average run of the mill agent, at best.
Now, let me say that I have the utmost respect for BillatWork because of his dedication to the show and his countless hours of fanfiction work. He has every right to feel the way he feels, and I know that he has consistently advocated his point of view over five years.
From my perspective, there aren’t as many people with differing points of view because they left the show a couple of years ago.
I’ve watched the ending now a couple of times on youtube and it reminds me of the show I couldn’t wait until Monday to see. I’ve not had a show impact me like that in my life and I doubt I will ever again.(I am not a young man) I’m sad to say that for me that show ended during the start of season three.
I probably represent a very small portion of the people who still frequent this website but I guess my point is that there are many points of view from the millions of people who watch a TV show. The writers of this show have to either deal with trying to make all of them happy or make themselves happy. My guess is they chose the latter.
LeeCan
LeeCan
try watching 2 deleted scenes from “First Class” (Season 3 Part 2 deleted scenes) – they may have changed your whole interpretation of Sarah’s character motives and actions in season 3.
You know what? Here’s the thing: I am choosing to be happy that I got 5 seasons of a great show. That’s it! The finale was filmed, end of story. It’s done. I am making the decision to move on instead of roaming around this same mountain.
I can’t wait to find out if this new series gets a pick up! 🙂
Wow, I had no idea that people were THAT angry about the ending. I really enjoyed it.
In my mind, like Zac was saying, there was never any doubt that Chuck and Sarah wouldn’t live happily ever after. I mean, the fact that Sarah made it her mission to go after Quinn because he took her life away, and that she told Chuck to kiss her in the end because she wanted to remember him, said to me that she still loved Chuck. So why wouldn’t she stick around and be with him again?
Besides that, she was already remembering things anyway: Weinerlicious, Irene Demova, the beach… why put all of that in if she wasn’t getting her memories back? It’s just a matter of time.
And in the mean time, I like Fedak’s idea of them getting to fall in love all over again. It was that time that made us all love them in the first place; they were adorable when they were getting to know each other. Giving them the opportunity to relive that was kind of sweet.
So for me, of course they stayed together. No question about it. Would I have preferred to see a Chuck baby? Yes. But I guess that will have to wait for the movie that will undoubtedly *cough* happen sometime in the near future. 🙂
Hayley,
I don’t know if you were a part of the discussions that we were having in the weeks before the finale when it became clear that Sarah was going to lose her memory.
I was in the camp that said it didn’t really matter if she regained her memories. I hoped that they would show her falling in love with Chuck all over again. That’s fully what I expected, a romantic repeat of the first few episodes. We knew that Sarah said she fell for him quickly the first time, so I figured she’d be defenseless this time.
I was looking forward to that process. But we really never got that. Sarah really showed no sign of falling for Chuck again until the beach scene.
There was no kiss in front of a bomb. No lying to him under a truth serum. No asking Casey if he ever thought about a family. No wistful looks behind his back.
If we had gotten those things, I’d probably feel better with the ambiguity of the ending.
Hi Bill.
I wasn’t part of those discussions but I can totally appreciate where you’re coming from. It would have been nicer if they’d have actually shown Sarah falling in love with Chuck again rather than just leave us to imagine how it would happen after the beach scene. I guess to do that, they would have needed more episodes to really concentrate on it. Maybe they should have spared a couple of the Morgan-centric episodes (which I personally was bored by) in order to get to the storyline sooner. But then, would the finale have been as dynamic?
I completely understand why others were dissatisfied with the ending of Chuck and Sarah. I just think that overall, the episodes were great fun and I can accept that there was (more than likely) a happy, romantic ending even if we didn’t fully see it.
By the way, if you’re the same BillAtWork as on ff.net, I love your work. 🙂
Actually some of this were there. She lied to him the same way as in truth when telling she didn´t feel it because you see that she does when watching log. And there are couple looks also, when leaving to find Quinn and the other when saying goodbye to casey.
I hear you Bill and I hear you Mel and Liz For me the final scene kinda like a football player just as he entering the end zone he spiked the ball and perhaps he did it a bit to soon and it could be argued that he didn’t have possession the moment he crossed the line.
I think Sarah was reconnecting emotionally during 5.13 She was again experiencing the same things she did in pilot that lead to her falling in love. But like the spy log showed she loved him but didn’t know what to do about it it showed Sarah wanting time to think to figure out what to do end 5.13 What Chuck did by again letting her know she can count on him to be there for her by re-stating his wedding vows asking her to trust him that she was willing to try.
But for me that was all they showed willing to try and for what was missing was some additional sign that Sarah was indeed starting to heal from trauma she suffered, a smile a hug or shoulder bump something that would been bit more that the ambiguity we left with.
I read what Chris is saying he believes Sarah and Chuck will reconnect and acquire the life they showed but part of me questions that as a story teller why not show us what you say is the result instead of leaving us to a much larger extent assume it to be especially since it was the Series finale. It falls in line to S3 Chris talked about how it feasible Sarah/Shaw can be in a relationship to me they showed very little and left it us to assume. I didn’t have the privileged to personally talk to show runners and Like you say Mel have a better understanding as to what his thought process was.
Since my rather long reply is not allowed for some reason, I’ll be brief.
chuckster54 mentions S3. To me the finale belongs during the misery arc of S3. It certainly has the same tone.
And in both cases, the SW we know is nowhere to be seen.
The real tragedy of the ending is that where we should celebrating the show, we’re arguing about it, and that rest solely of the shoulders of the people making the decisions, not the fans.
Capt, next time something isn’t showing up, email me! We’ve been hammered by spammers this past week, on all of our sites, so it’s been a challenge to find the legit comments that get flagged as spam (in your case, for length) amid all the junk about how to make a billion dollars online, how to remove blackheads, and where to buy the best router. Anyway, I approved your earliest timestamped comment that was in the spam queue, so it’s there now.
when i first watched the ending i was upset & angry at how it ended, i was hoping for the happy ending after what we had all been through for them to get to where they were pre Sarah intersect. now that i’ve had time to reflect there is no doubt that Sarah was starting to remember her feelings for Chuck & would ultimately end up together in there house & live happily ever after.
In some ways i feel that they have left it open for a Chuck movie, hopefully they can get together sometime next year & start planning one.
anyway it will always be my favourite show, i wasnt this gutted when Lost finished, probably the best show ever made, but Chuck will always be my favourite
have to say that since the finale i have got the boxsets out, upto season 4 episode 2 already, i feel im going to be gutted all over again after season 5 lol
Hi Mel
Have never commented before but wanted to weigh-in.
Firstly want to thank you, this site’s awesome! I live in New Zealand so don”t get ANY type of forum like this, am a huge chuck fan so really appreciate being able to interact and get news. Kudos to you, love ChuckTV.
Secondly in regards to people’s opinions on finale (since has predominated the comments) I loved it. Can understand why others would have issues though, but way I see it is same as what fedak, zac and few others including yourself has said. That is a happy, hopeful ending. I mean Sarah went to the beach when could’ve gone anywhere. So count me as a fan that liked the ending.
Thirdly really enjoyed the interview, found it funny & insightful. Am eagerly hoping Zac’s new pilot will get the green light, sounds great am definitely going to watch.
My two cents, thanks Mel
Ash
from NZ
You know as I read these comments, I just think people are missing Bills point. And obviously no amount of detail, which Bill has more than provided, will make people understand his point; which by the way I’m 100 percent in agreement with.
For me, I don’t get the whole “Let the fans imagine what they want…” Does that mean they wanted to satisfy fans who hated Charah and would love to see them not make it? Because really, there was only two options to imagine, they were together or they were not.
Not to mention, people are bringing up about the 5 previous seasons to build upon to know what the outcome was. Well, those previous 5 seasons (in show terms) were erased from Sarah, so what’s to imagine about that?
So go back to the first few episodes, are you positive they would be together? Because stick in Shaw and Bryce in their and I can’t honestly say they were meant to be together.
Someone pointed out the most powerful scene was at the fountain when of course Chuck just let Sarah go for some unknown reason. She told him she didn’t feel anything if I remember correctly, that was after the video logs. Not to mention, up to the exact moment on the beach, Sarah gave no indication that she would be staying.
But that is neither here nor there. We could argue till we’re blue in the face whether it was a great ending or not. But it all comes back to what were we supposed to imagine? Wouldn’t it have been better to imagine if they had kids, got their house, so on. Why put the “imagination” more towards if they made it or not? That is what bothers me.
Whether you’re a shipper or not, a Charah fan or not, you will never be able to convince me that the ending was better because we didn’t know for sure they would be together. Why is that even a debate?
I still think F & S are big Fanfiction fans and wanted to give the writers ammo to continue keeping the Chuck story alive. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Hi ThereIsAnother
You make valid points. Obviously it’d be impossible to have an ending done that absolutely, 100% satisfies every fan. Have never considered the ambiguity in regard to WHAT is left up to our imagination, so do appreciate your point on that, am definitely mulling that over and will do so when re-watch finale. As there are good points on both sides of table & like you said “could argue til blue in the face” might be best to quietly hope they do make a movie someday. As a mean to clearly define what happened as granted was left vague & debateable.
Ash
I’m not sure about anyone else, but I’m sure I’ve not missed the point. I understand Bill’s point even if I don’t understand the emotions behind it. For Bill, as I recall, the show was always about Chuck and Sarah and their relationship. I get that…
That is not what drew all of the fans to the show. I suspect that during season 3, 4 and 5 that was what drew the fans to the show that stayed passionate about it.
I have two points to make…the first is that not everyone breathed for the Chuck and Sarah relationship in the sense that they had to see it consumated in some fashion to feel as though the show had come through for them. That’s not to say that the relationship was not important. It was paramount. But for some it could have stayed olblique and full of inuendo.
Point two…In writing, there are many avenues that the writer can choose to use to make the reader (watcher) feel what he/she wants them to feel. Telling the story from start to finish, is one way…and they lived happily ever after. But there are other ways as well and this method employed by Fedak was certainly not unique. The fact that there is an argument about it weeks after the end shows from a writers perspective that he chose correctly, in my opinion. I doubt we would be having any such argument if they chose the ‘happier ever after’ route.
LeeCan
LeeCan,
First off, I miss talking.
I don’t disagee that for many, the relationship could have remained oblique for a lot longer. I probably am one of them had it been done well. My point is that it was the writers who made the relationship the prime emphasis of the show, not me or any other fans.
Starting in S2, the relationship became the undercurrent of nearly every episode. The 2nd half of S3 and beyond, the storylines were all created to service the relationship storyline. I don’t think that can be seriously debated. Again, they did that. I didn’t.
I also agree that there are a lot of different ways to skin a cat and the writers should be given broad latitude.
But you misunderstand my complaint. It’s not that they didn’t wrap up a storyline that i wanted wrapped up. They had already wrapped it up, artifically unwrapped it at the very last second, and left it unwrapped.
What was the central theme of S5 to you? To me it was Chuck and Sarah deciding what their future looked like. The first 11 episodes were pretty much revolved around the theme that they had been more partners than married couple and maybe that needed to change. It was actually more Sarah who was the driving force to make those changes.
Then in the last 2 episodes, they totally wiped out that theme and never even address it. Even if you assume a happy ending (and I do), we have no clue if Sarah still wants to have maybe babies. All the growth over the entire season (and some would say the entire series) was wiped out The major theme of the season was simply abandoned.and left hanging.
I just don’t see how we can call that good writing.
I just find it interesting that only the debbie downers are still flooding the comments sections with their litany, while Fedak, Zac Levi, most of the critics and many fans are pleased and have arrived to the same conclusion with what they have seen in the Finale and for the last 5 seasons; that Chuck and Sarah are meant for each other, and their love will always beat the odds and grow stronger.
In fact, it’s not a question of imagination, it’s a question of faith; after 5 years of seeing Chuck and Sarah interacting, do you believe (or have faith) that they will spend the rest of their lives together, or not?
If so, then what are you complaining about?
That’s true,
comes down to interpretation i guess, and that has clearly differed depending on the person watching. the “debbie downers” have taken it as a disappointing, unresolved ending perhaps.
Of course they did!
Because they expected to see Sarah and Chuck in that dream house, with the babies in an hypothetic epilogue; and when they didn’t see what they were expecting, they went mad with disappointment.
Their response is emotional, not rational. I know, I was one of them at first! But when I rewatched the finale the day after, I saw the light, so to speak.
And now I like the ending; there is no doubts in my mind that Chuck and Sarah are in a good place, and that they will execute their plan about their future. Just a matter of time.
I’ll say that it probably would’ve been better if we had seen it, that I can agree with, but to piss on what we were given under the pretext that it’s not what they wanted to see, while the finale IS obviously happy, and that it’s clear that Chuck and Sarah are back together, that I can’t agree with.
My repsonse is based on an literal interpretation on what was broadcast without inventing my own ending.
The creators of the show are happy with the finale? Wow, that’s a huge surprise.
Also, I really don’t care what the “critics” think, I care about my own reaction and that was very negative and unfortunately I was not alone on that.
And it *really* shouldn’t be too hard to understand that many people who were disappointed by the finale still believe that Chuck and Sarah live happily ever after. That’s what I believe too, but the finale was still poorly executed, underwhelming and far too ambiguous in my opinion. So yeah, I’d say there’s plenty to complain about.
Kindly stop with talk about “debbie downers flooding the comments”… you liked it and that’s fine, many people didn’t and it’s their right to express it.
jmc, you’re entitled to your opinion, you have the right to say it, I totally agree with you.
It’s just that it’s getting tiresome to read time and again the same comments about the finale, that’s all. It’s the same chorus on and on; as soon as there is something about the finale (especially positive), all of you debbie downers cannot help but complain about how much you disliked it (entitled to your opinion, true).
Sometimes I don’t think you people realize how tiresome it is for those who liked it, that’s all! Can’t we just discuss positively about the Finale for once?
One more thing; if you didn’t like the Finale, how would you have done it? Details, please, I can’t wait to hear a constructive thought instead of all that bashing over the Finale!
Robert,
Debbie Downers seems dismissive. Did you mean to come off that way?
Okay, I will change the name I used. Instead of “Debbie Downers”, I will say “St-Thomases”. Is that okay with you?
Because you have to “see” to ” believe” ;p
Anything you say is okay with me. I try not to take things personally. I was just trying to understand your motives. I think is see them clearly now.
Thanks,
Wow! St. Thomases?! I was one who was very disappointed in the ending, in spite of the fact that I thought it was hopeful. I was disappointed that they chose to go down this road at the end of the series. I was disappointed that there wasn’t enough time for the characters to say “goodbye” to each other. I was disappointed that the ending was more open ended than I would’ve liked. But there’s no doubt that Sarah wants to take the leap of faith and trust what Chuck and others have told her. That doesn’t make me downer OR a St-Thomas. Just disppointed.
I’ll take exception to that. I don’t consider myself a Debbie Downer just because I was a little disapointed with the ending, and I certainly don’t mean to drag down those who enjoyed it. I actually really loved the story they chose to tell and how the last 2 episodes played out.
For me the ambiguity never lay in whether Chuck and Sarah end up together. I just don’t like not knowing whether Sarah gets all, some or none of her memories back. Morgan never fully regained all his memories, so it is possible Sarah doesn’t end up remembering everything. Some of you may be ok with that, I’m not. I’d like to think what I watched for 5 years, she’ll get back. Yes, I know, I can “imagine” that’s what happened, but when the credits ran, I was sad rather than hopeful. I wanted to see it, and didn’t.
rpsad…I completely agree. That was my issue as well. Why must showrunners mess with memories? I would assume that a character they spent 5 years developing has some importance to them, correct? If so, how can they justify earasing 5 years of character development and memories of said journey and then not resolve/fix it? I just don’t get it.
hi Robert
Likewise, glad is at least one person who feels same. I too watched the finale next day, as certainly elicited an emotional response from me my first time viewing too. Now i totally get the ending, and love it. But am one of those that has faith i guess and who wouldn’t choose to have a happy ending if is left for us to imagine. some people creating the resentment based on what they interpret.
Ash
I’m also a first time writer although I have been a big fan since S1E1. I really WISH I would have spent more time on ChuckTV and other blogs thru the series since I had few people that I could talk to and analyze the show with. But I spent much of my time during the week re-watching episodes all the time….and still am. I actually looked forward to Mondays just so I could get home to watch Chuck. I had all week to re-watch it before the next Monday. Fridays were no different, however it does seem unfortunately, like the “semi-fan” never noticed it moved.
One of the things that I have always enjoyed discussing with my sister are the things you didn’t see on screen. It has always amazed me how much they could fit in an episode. For example, the Push Mix starting in the hospital with Casey, the Contessa (and one of my favorite Chuck quotes “Mom..mom..mom…When we get back we need to have a serious talk about the benefits of trang guns”), the cabin, the virus from Orion (was it really just what Chuck planted, or were the nightly messages to Frost really from a not-really-dead Orion?), Ellie giving birth, the proposal, and all the emotional ups and downs. It was amazing how much they could pack into an hour.
But there was also so much that they never showed us. We didn’t have to see how they always got to various locations. Logically, somethings didn’t seem possible. But I think for all of us, we (or at least I) just excepted some things whether logistically it made sense or not. We knew the characters enough that I think many of us could fill in the blanks of the steps it took to get to that place. Sometimes they hinted at what happened, other times they didn’t.
As for the ending, I’ve had a gut ache pretty much since the finale, not so much because of how it ended….well, maybe a little…but because I really want more. Watching or just listining to any of the season 1-5 (S5 still on my DVR) still makes me feel great. I still have the same emotions and was always impressed how the show could make you love to hate (Bryce and Shaw), and the hate to love (Bryce….or maybe just love). I wouldn’t give that up for anything. The emotions, family, humor, throwback to old movies and shows (the mention of Max Headroom in S1 action got me to go watch that series again), action, and of course, the wt/wt of Chuck and Sarah….it was all just terrific in my book.
I for one am glad that Chuck got the Intersect back, I’m assuming Beckman does really know that (although Sarah and Casey do), that Sarah IS remembering things and it may take a while but she will get the memories back (or maybe Ellie will figure out how to unlock the memories for both Sarah and Morgan), that Casey is getting a romantic and action packed life, and everything else. Morgan’s future may be the only one that hasn’t really improved career-wise..although he is back with Alex.
So, yes, maybe I do have too much of an imagination on what comes after. And I will still assume the best, but I am truely hoping for a follow-up movie or better yet a mini-series run, but not 5 years from now but maybe a year from now. I know I’m a dreamer, but I have to try to think possitive about it. And to make it right, you would still need the Buy-More in there somehow…Beckman is a must…all the cast back etc. A baby in the mix would be interesting, but you still need the action and “tense” moments in there too….that is, some kind of “mish”.
Anyway, not trying to stir the pot, and I’m sorry about rambling on. I can’t imagine finding any other show any time soon that will give me the same pleasure as Chuck has for the past 5 years, but if anything ever does come up, I hope a fan base as strong and devoted as this one is can make a difference again.
Any although I know I’m late to the game and in saying this…but a BIG THANKS to the cast, crew and writers. PLEASE figure out a way to give us more.
It is a joy to see Levi so genuinely enthusiastic about a Chuck movie. The odds of this happening, though, are about zero. There is little doubt at this point that Yvonne Strahovski is in the process of becoming a legitimate movie star, and Levi himself is either going to be carrying a new series or headlining on Broadway. Throw in that everyone else of importance on the show will be working as well and the logistics are just about impossible.
I know post-finale films of some sort have happened in the past, but it’s quite rare. Every show I’ve watched regularly during the Internet era has had its final episode followed by hopes and even rumors of something more, a tendency which is exacerbated when the ending is not entirely resolute (recall, for instance, the theory that The Sopranos ended the way it did to allow room for a movie). After the final episode of The O.C., Schwartz made the *exact same comment* he made last month, nearly verbatim, about some younger writer picking up the story down the road. It’s what you say.
I just don’t see it happening. The best chance, in my opinion, of a more concrete canonical resolution is something akin to a one-off, Levi-as-Chuck cameo on a similarly-themed show–Psych has been thrown about just this week–where he flashes a few times and mentions his wife Sarah and a kid or two. Even this poses difficulties because of ownership of the character of Chuck Bartowski and the same concerns with Levi’s schedule, but it’s easier to imagine than getting the whole band back together.
If it happens, it will not happen for at least 5 years, and even then, as you say, it will largely depend where are Zach Levi’s and Yvonne Strahovski’s respective careers.
I can’t really say why, but I don’t think Yvonne Strahovski will be a movie star; I think she will be much more successful as a TV star, much like Zach Levi.
This discussion is quickly veering toward personal attack territory. Keep it civil, folks, or we’ll have to start deleting comments.
I find it interesting that because I didn’t like the ending as the series finale, I have been accused of not only having too much imagination but also of not having any imagination by those who liked it.
It’s an ambiguous ending that’s open for interpretation. Is there really a wrong answer?
I don’t want to sign off with people believing I thought it was all bad. Other than the out-of-character abandonment of Sarah at the end (no way Casey, Devon, and Ellie leave in that situation), I thought the the finale was a very good stand-alone story.
Oh Boy is right Aces – 78 comments already!! This has the potential to turn into 69 pages of comments just like in the forum!!!
Certainly could be huge debate, looking forward to chris fedak podcast that’s for sure.
Thought I’d buck the trend and just say thanks in regard to the clip (thing above all these comments) loved it, was insightful and funny, hoping pilot gets picked up. thanks for posting mel.
Ash
The part that truly annoys me about this discussion is when people use CF’s (or ZL’s) comments about the finale to support the POV that the ending was happy and hopeful.
By their own admission, in the same interview(s), CF said he left the ending ambiguous because he wanted people to decide for themselves where the story went or what happened next.
So, his opinion (or ZL’s) DOESN’T matter in the least. The finale started in Sarah’s old bedroom and ended on the beach – make up your own mind. Any interviews before or after are totally irrelevant to the story as presented. The only opinion that matters is the viewers.
TPTB cannot tell us what happens next. Since they never showed it, they don’t know either (you know what I mean). And if they feel they have to TELL us, then they absolutely should have SHOWN us.
For the record, I see the ending (or actually – lack of an ending) of the series as sad, tragic, woefully incomplete and a total relationship (assuming there is still one) reset, that essentially ruins the rewatchability factor of any episode of the series.
However, I cannot PROVE this to people just like they cannot PROVE to me that the ending is a happy one. Neither one is right, or wrong, they’re OUR opinions.
Such is the life of the ambiguous ending.
(What is truly tragic about the series end, is that where we should be celebrating the show, we are arguing about it. Something that is completely TPTB responsibility, IMO. )
Has definitely got potential to be slugged out in massive detail!
So thought I’d be different and say something in regards to the clip (just for kicks).
Loved the interview, was insightful & funny, thanks mel.
Ash (from NZ)
I think it’s great that there are plenty of people that saw a positive in the ending, but please don’t try to belittle those that didn’t. With all this ambiguity the only thing that can be said with certainty is that there is no right or wrong answer. The only people in a position to tell us definitively what followed are the writers, and they didn’t.
Even if the writers did write a more definitive ending, there would be fans upset or in disagreement on how the show should have ended. The writers wrote an ending they were very pleased with and thought most of the fans would be happy with. We can’t change it. Let’s try not to over shadow the GREAT performances given to us in the last couple of episodes. Let us just accept it as it is.
A fair point Liz, that is the only thing we can do. To clarify, my problems with the finale lie purely with the writing. The performances by the actors were as always second to none.
MEL- Wow, just finished reading the 80plus comments. ChuckTV.net is really lucky to have such a dedicated fan base. So I do not feel it is necessary for me to repeat my feelings about the ending.
At one point you were saying to “BillAt Work” something regarding meeting Chris Fedak might help Bill understand Chris’s integrity. I would absolutely love to hear a discussion between Chris and Bill, because I feel Bill is someone who could do a great job for those of us anti-ending fans. It would be great for your Podcast: one fan getting to be part of your panel. I know you could pull it off Mel. Please.
I remember looking at the clock on the wall as the final minutes of the show approached and thinking “how will they resolve all the loose ends in this amount of time?” What did transpire seemed rushed and forced, and the resolutions never really materialised. I reflected afterwards that they were going for the “fill in your own blanks” approach. All in all I did not hate it to the point of cursing Fedak, nor did I adore it to the point of singing his glories. I enjoyed a show for 5 years that had gems and duds scattered throughout, but mostly gems. That it ended in a gasp of mediocrity is, for me, a minor complaint, taken in the larger scheme of having had such a fun show to watch all these years.
Zac said he is the only one casted in his new show so far I vote for Yvonne to play his wife and Sara Landcaster as his sister in law. If they do that Yvonne could finally play the comedy she has been asking for and Sara Landcaster could go back to her natual blonde hair to play Yvonne’s sister what do you think am I crazy
Earnie. And Joshua Gomez can play his best friend. The Chuck fans will forget about the ending and start a new TV show to write about until the movie is made.
BillAtWork,
Sorry, I hope you find this reply…I didn’t find a reply icon at the end of your post and had to start a new one.
Yeah, this has brought back good memories for me.
I don’t disagree with you about the writing of the show. I thought it was the worst I’ve ever seen. I’m talking from a technical point of view, leaving out the disapointment I feel towards the direction the show went in season 3. I know people will say, “who are you to pass judgement on the show”, but honestly, I don’t feel one needs to be qualified to make this statement. The writing was done with no attention to detail that I’m sure many professionals in the biz are aware of it.
You’ve made your point about not getting a payoff after the writers took you down a certain road. I see that POV and have to say I agree with you that in that light, the ending was technically botched as well. But there was nothing consistent about the writing of this show. It could be a university class on how not to write.
I’ve heard CF and JS say over and over that they had storylines planned out months and years in advance and I’ve got to say without saying that I don’t believe them, that, if that is the case, this was the worst case of story planning I’ve ever witnessed. You plan so you don’t have huge holes in the plot. I’ve seen other mistakes from other shows but this was an order of magnitude worse than anything else I’ve seen.
I know it was a whimsical show, but there were many times over the last three years where I just didn’t understand why the story couldn’t be true to what had come before it. Sarah’s Mom is a prime example. Another example is Sarah’s sister. I believe when the writers wrote season 1 Sarah had a sister and for whatever reason that just slipped away. I was always waiting for a reference to her after that.
Then this last year…There are three or four episodes that I haven’t even seen yet and I doubt if I ever do. I went from my wife having serious doubts about my having a compulsion about the show to not caring if I saw the show…that was the writing, not the acting. So we agree about that.
I’ve come to believe that some of the fanfiction work on the site you and I frequented back in the day had better written stuff.
I still believe that after talking about all of these weak points technically, for me, the biggest blunder made was where they took the character of Sarah in season 3. In my opinion, when they made the show about Chuck and Sarah’s relationship, they painted themselves in a corner and they took away the most powerful character(TV, movie or book) I had ever seen, at least potentially.
I would have never allowed Chuck to be an agent… he would have continued to have some shining moments from now and then but basically would have stayed the same character is in the first two season. And of course, Sarah would have always been a bad-ass CIA agent with no equal with just glimpses of who she was leak out over time. For me, the exiting thing to witness would have been her relentless effort to keep Chuck at bay and keep him and herself from the truth of her feelings for him. She is the best in the world at being an agent, but over time would have been done in by a Buy-More clerk. That would have been powerful.
I would have never introduced another love interest after Bryce…again that was too easy and it did not play well.
I realize that this is a minority position.
I guess that this is all water under the bridge at this point. I’ve went back to watching the Science Channel almost exclusively and my wife has begun to breath easy about me again.
I’m not sure if this post will make the site or not. I hope it does because I want to express my opinion here and I hope not in a malicious way, but in an honest way. I still have respect for all who were employed by the show, even the writers, who I used to defend with ardency. I don’t know the reasons the show was written the way it was, I just know as a viewer it did not come across very well.
Bill, good luck to you and I hope you find another show to care about and write about in the near future. Who knows, maybe we will one day write stories about another show.
LeeCan
I agree that it was a mistake to make Chuck an agent. I think we saw Chuck and Sarah similarly through S2. They both had huge strengths but were also both seriously flawed. Chuck depended upon Sarah, not only as his physical bodyguard, but more importantly as his guide through this new world that he didn’t understand and wasn’t equipped to survive in, a world where the qualities that made him a wonderful person were all too often a liability. She was the only one he trusted enough to depend on in that way.
But conversely Sarah depended on Chuck for almost the same exact reason. He was her guide in the normal person world of friends and family that she craved but simply wasn’t equipped to survive. And he became the only one she trusted to protect her.
I loved the romantic notion that they completed each other, that together they became much, much more than the sum of their parts. So I never would have made Chuck an agent because that diluted Sarah’s value to the partnership. I would have had him grow by using his natural strengths but always needing Sarah there to steer him through the minefields. Similarly, I would have had Sarah grow, come to depend on Chuck’s family as her connection to normalcy, but also always need Chuck to guide her.
In S3, I would have had them make a decision. Both would agree that they would be together someday, but this wasn’t that day. TPTB wouldn’t allow them to be together romantically, and if they were caught they would be separated. But both would commit to do everything possible to get to the point where they could be together.
So if I was going to introduce Shaw, it would have been as the new head of the team, who was looking for any sign that the C/S relationship was causing issues.
I would have told a series of stories from a “you and me against the world” perspective and once they finally got together all the conflict would have come from outside the relationship. There is a very good reason why Phase Three is such a loved episode. It’s not only that we got to see Sarah kick butt, but she was doing it in defense of the guy she loved. We saw Sarah say “I’ll do anything to get him back. I’m different without Chuck and I don’t like it.” It was the most overtly romantic part of the series.
So the Sarah losing her memories story could have worked. If it had been portrayed as Chuck’s Phase Three. He was going to do whatever it took to save her, including making her fall in love with him again.
That’s the story I would have told, of a couple who would both do anything for each other, and faced an often very hostile road, from their enemies, and sometimes from their friends. Those are the characters that I’ll miss. The ones we only got glimpses of. They are the ones I try and keep alive in my fanfics.
I’ve meant to say this for some time but always got caught up defending my pov on the ending. 🙂
But this is just another example of how impressive a young man that Zac is. Not only as an actor. He truly understands his audience, and his business, understands that the way it is funded is rapidly evolving, and is willing to strike out and be innovative to try and take advantage of that.
Whatever we think about the show, I think we can probably all agree that we hope Zac succeeds.
If there is to be another venue for Chuck, Zac’s vision is it’s best hope, IMO.
1. Agreed with Mr. Levi about the ambiguity of the ending but that these two crazy kids are falling back in love with one another.
2. Ms. Strahovski will go onto doing movies. I don’t see TV in her immediate future. (So she isn’t going to be cast in this new pilot for Levi)
3. Don’t hold your breath on a Chuck TV or Film movie. With the actors all going in different directions, movies, tv pilots, ect. it would be a scheduling nightmare and there has to be financial backing to make it happen. What does an episode or two of Chuck cost? That’s what you would need to green light a movie. Chuck was never cheap to make. (But they did a good job.) Plus you’d have to have the creators “want” to make a movie and in their eyes they ended it on the beach the way they wanted it to end. An addendum to that ending won’t serve anything except the fans.
They told their story. Full circle. End of story. Do we need a Chuck movie from these guys?
Nope we need like 30 sec official webepisode to fix their broken circle we mayby only need like 5 sec to get rid of the doubt.
Dont trust these guys anymore to let them do a movie until its fixed
Do we need a Chuck movie from these guys? Yes. Let the story continue. William Shatner was broke when Star Trek was canceled. He lived in a truck bed camper in the San Fernando Valley. Star Trek unexpectedly gained a cult following like Chuck is now. Star Trek movies came. He did T.J. Hooker, The Practice, Boston Legal and now Priceline commericals. He will always be Capt. James T. Kirk. But has a blooming career. Buy the DVD/BDs and Chuck merchandise. WB needs to make up their loss from licensing fees. Then the movie can be made and all this arguing about the ending will be forgotten. Trekkie/Nerd Herd for life.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a Chuck movie on the big screen. IMAX style. Fulcrum is still active and still trying to take over the CIA. Flash forward to them finding out Chuck has a pristine Intersect thanks to Edger talking to Quinn. They hire his firm to crack the CIA database un·be·knownst to him and Sarah. Fan fiction maybe but a good segment from the beach ending.
WOW! Filter much.
I’ve tried to post since late Friday.
Just watched a video link Yvonne tweeted even Hitler is upset about how Chuck ended it’s the same thing they did in Season 3 after Chuck VS the Mask aired I try to find the link to post it
Zac tweeted the hitler ending first. Zachary Levi @ZacharyLevi Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Some people don’t think it’s funny to joke about Hitler. But I think it’s always good to take the piss out of him. youtube.com/watch?v=qYgihE…
With all due respect to all of the stuff I have read here, I am very happy that I have 5 Seasons, 91 Episodes, that I can enjoy again, again, and again!
I think if they were going to make a choice to take away Sarah’s memories, they could of at least added something at the end to show she actually fell back in love with him. The only thing we know for sure is that she wants to remember, everything else is just faith or belief or whatever you want to call it. And after all the heartache and sadness of the 2 episodes, that last scene wasn’t enough of a satisfying ending. If Schartz and Fedak have to actually say it was a happy ending in their interviews, it seems apparent the ending was too ambiguous. I don’t think it was necessary to know if they were going to get their house or baby, just that she felt actually for feelings for Chuck, not just wanting to those memories and feelings to come back. This was a sad but hopeful ending, I don’t really see the “happy” in it
Hi All,
While I liked the ending in general terms I have spent the last while trying to figure out what was wrong with the ending this is what I come up with:
1. I can see Billatwork’s point about the ending & I agree with elements of it. We all know what lenghts that Chuck would go to save Sarah so that didn’t really need to be explored! What I think would have been interesting is this: Chuck uploading the faulty Intersect @ the end of Season 4 & Chuck turning into a pilot Sarah or Casey. Seeing Sarah being the emotional strengh for Chuck would have given us a showcase of how much Sarah has grown over the last five years. Also the effect of the faulty intersect may not have been as serious. Chuck’s Season 5 journey could have been a condenced verson of Aniken/Darth Vader’s journey in Star Wars. People may not agree with my theory – I would have had Chuck on the way back to himself by the end of Episode 11 of a 13 episode run.
Regards a potental movie – an Intersect Legacy would be interesting i.e. How the Intersect changed the spy world.
What do people think?
Look I understand this whole debate about the ending being too ambiguous. But thats the job of a writer, to make you think. To come up with your own conclusion. This ending was exciting, it was different. I don’t think they could have done it any other way. Long live the nerdherd.
Chuck and Sarah became who they were because they were forced together by their circumstances, shared totally unique experiences and they had to depend upon each other, she couldn’t walk away because it was her job and she was a dedicated agent. This is not the case at the end of the finale she has no obligation that requires her to stay with Chuck nor to protect him. Chuck is not the person he was, perhaps he is better and stronger but he is not the person that Sarah had to protect and instantly had strong feeling for. Their situations are totally different and Sarah has the option to just walk away if she is fearful of a relationship which of course we all know she was for at least the first two seasons and which is where she is back to now. Much has been made of Sarah asking Chuck to tell his story and to kiss her but even this is ambiguous and not at all conclusive. It could mean she wanted to remember but likewise it could be that even though Chuck was essentially a stranger to her, she knew he had to get it out of his system before they could both move on with their separate lives. Use your imagination and you decide, this is what the writers wanted.
Dear Zac,
Start collecting for a movie, and I will gladly contribute.
Billatwork, you have eloquently expressed my exact feelings. 29 days now and I’m still disheartened and depressed about the ending.
Reading through these comments I tend to agree with Bill.
I was disappointed when the show moved away from that in season 3. In fact I stopped watching until I saw season 5 would be the last. I rented season 3 and bought season 4 on faith and watched the episodes back to back. I recorded season 5 and watched that in a Chuck marathon this weekend. Maybe being that immersed in Chuck gives me a slightly different perspective.
I think the show was primarily about the relationship between Chuck and Sarah. Episode 1 began with Chuck being this loser working at the Buy More when this beautiful woman walks in. From that point forward, the driving force behind the show was his pursuit of her. The enemies came and went, Fulcrum, The Ring, etc. But throughout there was Chuck’s pursuit of Sarah.
Certainly subplots to the Chuck and Sarah relationship were how the two characters changed and evolved so they would ultimately end up with one another. Part of those changes occurred because of the missions they went on and the people they were close with. That evolution of Chuck helps explain why the writers took the show in the direction they did after season 2 ( Chuck wanted to become a super spy to impress Sarah).
Its because that relationship was so important that the ending was so disappointing. Chuck and Sarah spent the better part of 5 years finding one another and moving to a point where they could give up the spy business. That couldn’t be said of Sarah in season 1/2 nor of Chuck in seasons 3/4. But by season 5 they were both in the same place and wanted a family and to move on. Then 5 years of her life is erased.
The show went to great lengths to show that Morgan never recovered his memories, so there is no basis to think that Sarah would recover her memories. Once the intersect erases your mind, its gone for good. Sarah at the end of the series is much more like Sarah at the very beginning. She knows that 5 years have been taken from her and she may have memory fragments left but without the details of those memories and the context in which they occurred, she couldn’t possibly be much different from Sarah CIA assassin.
I don’t really believe that they could start over because part of what made Chuck and Sarah succeed were the 5 years together as spies. It was the influence of everyone around them–Ellie, Devon and Chuck became a family for Sarah and showed her a new life that didn’t involve spying. Even Morgan, Jeff, Lester and the Buy More played an important part of shaping who Sarah became. I don’t see how she could return to the place she was on the bullet train absent the cumulative effect of the missing 5 years.
The show seemed to leave off with Chuck still madly in love with the Sarah he married. He has a profound sense of what he loss and desperately wants it back. The problem is, she has no concept of the loss he feels because everything that contributes to Chuck’s sense of loss has been erased from her mind. It ends with Chuck being in love with a Sarah that doesn’t exist anymore.
Given the whimsical tone of the show and the fact that this relationship between Chuck and Sarah was so key, its an awful way to end things. I get what Zachary is saying about viewers interpreting the ending the way they want. But I hope that my logic is clear enough for people to see why some of us find the “happily ever after” argument a bit implausible and therefore are disappointed in the ending.
I do sincerely hope that someone can point to something to change my mind. I really loved the show so would like to feel better about the ending.
Morgan did begin to remember things when he needed to . In the Bo Derek episode he remembered how he hid the glasses and eventually found them. As soon as he saw the safe he remembered the glasses were in there. This is similar to Sarah seeing the “Sarah loves Chuck” carving in the house and remembering she wrote it. Sarah wants and needs to remember what she lost. This was proven by the lengths she took to get revenge for her memories being taken away. Plus, while Morgan had the intersect his feelings for Alex began to diminish and he treated her poorly. But once it was removed he remembered how he cared for her and that those feelings never actually went away. He needed her back. What we can take from that is the intersect removed memories but couldn’t erase emotions. So Sarah’s feelings for Chuck returned on the beach scene once they kissed. They were never actually erased. She just needed to be reminded of them. Her memories will follow because she needs them too and Chuck will help her.
I hope this can help you feel a little better about the ending. It’s a great show and hopefully they can figure out a way to bring it back in some format.
Dizmo…everything you said is true. I really can’t find any holes in your logic, at face value the finale was sad and dissapointing. The Sarah Walker we saw develop over 5 seasons was erased, and we never saw saw her return. Sure there were some hints that could make us believe that maybe she was remembering, but to even leave it as a question continues to boggel my mind.
However, to enjoy the episode for what it is and so that the end will not ruin the rest of the series, maybe we are not supposed take it at face value. Maybe we should just take it as an idea that was not fully developed and very poorly executed. From interviews I have read and watched I think that TPTB believe Sarah will remember with that magical kiss; or overtime because of her interaction with Chuck etc. I firmly believe that is what TPTB intended, and that they truly belived they included enough in the episode for us to come to the proper logical solution (how they honestly believed this, I will probably never understand).
You mention that CHUCK has a whimsical tone and it never took itself to seriously, and I do agree that it was never properly expressed in the finale. But maybe because of all the sadness, we are just not seeing it. The magical kiss theory was a very prevelant part of the episode and it was no accident that the final scene of the series is Chuck and Sarah kissing. Maybe this is the whimsy of CHUCK that the finale seemed to be missing. The theory is so ridiculous, and based in reality there is no way that it would work, but CHUCK and by extention the Chuck and Sarah relationship have always had a fantastical aura. I will even admit that when the clock was counting down and Sarah still hadn’t remembered, I really thought they would use Morgan’s theory, and I was ready to buy it hook, line and sinker because its CHUCK (wouldn’t have bought it if it was Law & Order for example). Turns out they did use his theory, they just never confirmed or denyed if it worked. So if I was prepared to buy that it worked, then I guess I should be able to imagine that it worked (for some reason that has been very difficult though).
Anyway. So yes, you are right. At face value the finale did dissapoint many people by not bringing back our and Chuck’s Sarah. Unfortunantly, to enjoy it and understand it, extra steps need to be taken, but with those steps maybe you can feel better about the ending.
Also if that doesn’t work, there was a review that made me feel better about the ending. It may be a bit over the top, but still worth the read.
http://chuckthisblog.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/past-is-prologue-and-epilogue/
Wow that made me feel a lot better, thank you for sharing this.:)
Thanks for the link. It´s a amazing review. Really liked the added ending though I already think they end up like that 🙂
Yes, it´s true that it´s pointed heavily that Morgan´s memories didn´t return, but we know that Chuck & Sarah are soulmates and have a really strong bond. So with that bond they can connect in different way and with that Sarah has already restored Chuck´s memories in phase three. So why this time would be any different?
So I firmly believe she remember everything at the end.
Late to the game as usual, but here goes.
BillatWork, Early on in the comments you asked us if anyone could tell you that Sarah had decided to give up the spylife and maybe have babies. The short answer is, she turned Beckman’s offer to be a spy down at Castle. Season 1 or 2 Sarah would not have hesitated to accept. I think we are supposed to take away that she doesn’t want to be a spy. Althought she walks out of Castle she ends up in a place that is clearly special to the Chuck and Sarah relationship. She is showing that there is something there, a connection, and the story and kiss cement it.
Do I think the ending is “happily ever after”? No.
Is it happy? Basically yes.
Do I want a little more to confirm that this relationship is “happening”? Yes. Am I happy with the ending? No, because it is the end, at least for now and the “happy” didn’t really balance the grief and heartache of the final two episodes In other words the payoff didn’t match the drama, and that is too bad.
But you didn’t answer my question. I didn’t ask if they’re happy or together. I asked if Sarah was still resolved to quit being a spy and have Chuck’s maybe babies. That’s the point they spend most of S5 getting to.
This is a nit. But I don’t think that Sarah turned Beckman down, she didn’t respond. That’s different.
Bill,
Are you a writer? Because you have been quite prolific in your view about this. I’ve agreed with questions and issues you’ve raised, and am more impressed with the way you’ve said them. I’m naively hoping that CF reads this and sees what you’ve written and can answer your questions and give those who agree with you some resolution to this. Really well done and thought out though:)
Bill, I am pretty much on your side…but, here is another way to look at things.
If you can buy that Sarah will remember everything one way or another (I believe TPTB intended this, but just failed miserably in their execution), then season 5 was basically telling/showing us exactley how their future will turn out.
So in this case yes, Sarah will quit the spy life, have babies etc.
The more I think about the finale, it reminds me more and more of season 3: episodes 1- 7. Those episodes were for the most part entertaining, and had some endearing qualities (after all it was still CHUCK), but portraying their intentions of the Sarah storyline was executed extremely poorly. In the finale, I find the same to be true, as the episode(s) were entertaining and had some endearing qualities, but their execution in the Sarah storyline (particularly making it clear our Sarah Walker was returning), was very poorly done.
I never just throw in those season 3 episodes, the only time I watch them is if I am watching the series or season from the beginning. And the more I think about it, this is exactley as it will be for the finale as well. Most of these episodes I am referencing have individual scenes I can watch on a whim, but not the whole episode. And particulalry for the series finale I am a bit dissapointed and sad, that I feel the same way.
Lianne,
Thanks for the nice words. Am I a writter? That’s a tough one. The only thing I’ve ever written are performance reviews and Chuck fanfics. If you’re asking the question you must not have read any of them, right? So if you’re going to read one, please start with this.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6670682/1/The_Long_Brick_Road
It’s the one I’m most proud of. I co-wrote it with my oldest Chuck friend, BrickRoad16. She reminds me a lot of our Mel, English major, gets disgusted with me when I critize the show, loved, loved, loved the finale, hardly ever agrees with me. Sound familiar? 🙂 In fact, I’m not totally convinced they aren’t really the same person, lol.
The story starts at the end of Lethal Weapon with Sarah sitting on the fountain waiting for Chuck.
She and I are currently coming out of retirement to write a story that continues from the beach scene. It’s called The Long Road Home. We’re on chapter 7 now. And it starts out where I think the show ended. Chuck and Sarah aren’t exactly back to normal, in fact it’s not assured that they will make it at first. But quickly enough the same things that caused them to be together in the first place kick in. And Chuck quickly finds that he actually likes Sarah better now without her memories. She’s more fun, more affectionate, more open. So when they have a chance to go on a mission and use the intersect to get her memories back, the question is — do they want to?
But enough of that. I’m trying to go out of my way to be fair to Fedak. I don’t have a clue what it would be like to try and produce an hour long show for 5 seasons. I do know, from my little bit of experience, that it must be hard.
And I didn’t have to deal with a network, having to fit my stories to run exactly 42 minutes, or worry about servicing every minor character.
And I also know a little about hearing from angry fans. In the sequel, there was a part where it looked like Sarah might sleep with a bad guy to save Chuck. She didn’t… but OMG. My inbox was full for a few days, lol.
But having said that, I’m so adamant about this because I think he needs to know that there are some of us (how many is open to debate) that feel betrayed… (betrayed might be too strong) how about let down? So I was really happy to hear Zac admit that he knew about us and sympathized. I would love to hear that same sentimate from Fedak.
I will go and read it! I admit that I just started reading some fanfic because I’ve been searching for a finale that would satisfy me, and not make me feel as sad and disappointed as the real one did. And like you, I was really happy to hear Zac’s interview where he sympathized with the fans who were “apoplectic” with the finale. Makes me feel like I’m not crazy or alone. To be honest, I’m not sure if Mr. Fedak will say anything that can be satisfying when he answers these questions. He’s had lots of time to think about what questions/comments people would have about the ending, and so the cynical side of me thinks he’ll be prepared for anything that gets thrown his way. So I have little expectation that I’ll be satisfied by what he says. And yes, I’m sure this is the result of my own disappointment over the finale, and the rawness I still feel. But I hope that will change and that I can have an open mind when I hear what he has to say.
In the meantime, Bill, I look forward to reading your work. Is there a place that I can comment on it after I read it?
I agree with this, garnet. The payoff didn’t match the grief, heartbreak and drama in those last 2 episodes for me. There was no balance at all. Not only is it too bad, it’s sad. And disappointing.
The best I could come up was a partial answer. Sarah did not accept the offer that Beckman made, so I take that as her turning down the spy life. As above Season 1 or 2 Sarah would not have hesitated.
The babies part is harder as there is no evidence from the final scene, but the whole of season 5 was an exploration of their future and their wants/needs. I look at it as TPTB showing what they want, and now that they have reconnected that is what will play out, likely sooner rather than later. I know that we have not “seen” this, but it appears to be the structure that they have been working with. I can argue that it wasn’t fully successful, but I can see what they appeared to be doing.
The finale did leave things open, but I suspect that what they were trying to do more than leave us with a will they/won’t they get back together was leave us with a will they/won’t they go back at least temporarily to the spy life. Some fans would like to see them go off on more adventures, and some settle down and raise their kids. I think TPTB were trying to keep both of these factions happy, and overlooked the (to us) obvious question, “Do they really get back together?”
This site is FANTASTIC!! It certainly has provided some help through the grief of no more Chuck.
I was upset with the way the show ended. The 5 year journey of the relationship was what we all experienced. Without her memories, WE (the viewers who were along for the ride) lose. Even with the positive outlook that Sarah “would fall in love with him again,” it’s not the experience we endured, nor will we. That’s why it was so disappointing. I am still holding out hope that somehow, I’ll get the closure I need to restore my faith in the original relationship.
But, I have to admit, that without it finishing the way it did, I may have gone without realizing just how impactful the show was to me. I watched every week, but didn’t really see it too deeply. At the conclusion of each episode, I simply moved on without further contemplation. Since the devastation of the last two episodes, I’ve realized how the progression of the relationship had meant, and how much I will miss the show. I’ve purchased all available seasons, and have already re-watched every one of them. Each triumph tasted sweeter and each setback more bitter then when I first saw them. Now, I can’t wait for the release of the 5th season.
I have tried to express this elsewhere, as it seems to me that this was TPTB’s attempt to “elevate” Chuck from “a bit of fluff” to “high art”. By giving us this ending they have affected the way we look at other episodes. Scenes that were somewhat sad become tragic.
The ending has been discussed as much as any other recent finale and possibly more. I will agree that it is memorable, it just needed a few seconds more to “seal the deal”. For me it will remain a potentially happy ending. Some days when I am in a good mood it will be definitely happy. Other days it will be somewhat tragic; “Because I love CHUCK and I don’t know what to do.”