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Written by Lauren Lefranc & Rafe Judkin
Directed by Jay Chandrasakhar
‘Yes I realize honesty is important in a relationship. Who do you think I am?’
Morgan is not the only one questioning you Chuck. Who are you indeed?
Liars never prosper. And in the ChuckVerse lies can lead to consequences that crash and burn with terminal results.
It is a strange dynamic that an excellent episode derives its thrust by using the over used cliche of characters lying. Lying to a point where it moves far beyond any ability for the viewer, or for me at least, to feel much empathy for the character and the reasons they feel justifies their lies. Chuck’s lie to Sarah about his issues with the Intersect in the Tooth was understandable. His decision to continue that lie in The Living Dead plus the compounding fabrications he tells his father really became a major irritating sore point the longer it went on.
So with that major caveat pointed out this was still an awesome episode. No pretenses on my part. Scott Bakula rules. No doubt I am too enamored with him ever since those Quantum Leap days but he owns the PapaB role. Scott walks back into the show, not having been seen since the Season Two finale, without missing a beat. If there was any guest star that I would love to see elevated to regular cast it is this man. (Making Carina a regular would be pretty sweet too.)
Scott takes a potentially stereotypical role of an absent minded professor and father figure and lends dramatic weight and layers of depth to the PapaB character. He often rises above the material and adds gravitas to situations that could end up being cheesy in lesser hands. I marvel at his ability to switch from being bumbling to brilliant to concerned to guilt ridden to caring – and often combinations of them – with ease. His scenes with Ellie and Chuck sharing a meal are so believable and natural. There is a real sense of family here.
The episode made excellent use of the entire cast with Morgan getting great material in every scene he was in. From a long, long overdue scene with just him and Sarah – just wish it could have been longer, to his scenes with Chuck, Casey, and Devon; Morgan has turned into the new Chuck. To the point where if Chuck does not correct soon with his lying I would be totally cool with the show being renamed Morgan. Right now he is the character I want to spend my time with. Morgan gets to play the voice of the audience questioning the other characters as to why they are doing what they are doing. Plus he is the only honest character in the show at the moment.
Ellie’s storyline continues to capitivate. Forced into a situation because the truth has been kept from her by everyone close to her, Ellie falls into the same trap of keeping the truth to herself as she does what she thinks is best. Unlike her parallel storyline with Chuck about lying, empathy exists for her. Being kept in the dark for three seasons for good reasons have put Ellie in harm’s way. As often happens with lies the end result is usually the very thing that the liar was trying to protect the person from. No good can come from Ellie’s storyline and the denouement is going to be a painful one.
Episode Flashes:
- The clutter of PapaB’s cabin – absent minded professor
- PapaB translating Ellie’s message without needing to decode it
- Ellie having to use rough notes to decode and translate PapaB’s response
- Morgan questioning Chuck on not being honest with Sarah
- Pop tarts!
- ‘Of course Shaw’s alive! Haven’t you ever seen a John Carpenter movie?’
- Morgan prepping for Shaw in the Castle
- Sarah and Morgan finally having a talk
- Morgan hiding behind the riot shield from Sarah
- ‘Reviewing pictures of people you killed? I do that myself from time to time.’
- Morgan in a ski jacket to hide his bullet proof vest
- PapaB quickly discerning Chuck is still a spy
- Casey gets a 2 for 1 needling Chuck and Sarah about Shaw – hilarious!
- Restaurant receipt musical chair
- Earrings! – the whole Shaw/Sarah interrogation scene was for one thing only – laughs.Please do not try to divine character motivations and backstory from it. The entire scene was a lark. Nothing more.
- customer paying Jeffster to NOT play
- PapaB/Chuck/Ellie dinner scene – HawkMan!
- Chuck and Sarah suction cupping up to Shaw’s penthouse
- Shaw’s book collection – Kama Sutra amongst others
- Sarah seen Predator style with the X-Ray/InfraRed glasses
- Shaw fake out – ‘Shaw is dead.’
- Veiled callback to Sarah’s real name at the safe
- PapaB to the rescue – ‘Just an analyst huh.’
- Wills – refuse to use the term spy will – and those left behind
- Morgan barricading himself in his ‘office’ hiding from Shaw
- ‘Shaw is alive and he is bringing the Reckoning with him!’ Foreshadowing Morgan style.
- Morgan standing up to Casey defending Ellie
- Morgan falling for Devon while checking up on Ellie – warm, fluffy towels – sigh
- Sarah with the hatchet throw saving Chuck’s life. ‘Does she have the Intersect too?’
- The Governor – this is a cool extension of the Intersect technology
- PapaB helping his son because Chuck is using the Intersect for the reasons that PapaB created it in the first place – ‘You’re my son.’
- Ellie clocking Casey with the frying pan
- Sarah entrusting Chuck with her will
- foreshadowing closing scenes of Chuck writing his will and the accompanying montage of scenes
- Ellie an unwitting captive of the Ring
- Shaw reveal and his Intersecting Ring style – is a portable version far behind?
‘Like I said. Nothing is what it seems.’
Rafe Judkins and Lauren Lefranc go three for three with their scripts this season. I dearly wish that they could have used another means beyond basing the storyline on the proliferation of lies. That knock aside, this was a crackling script. Take that out, and it would have been great to take some of the Jeffster screen time to explore more time with Morgan and Sarah or even an equally long overdue Sarah and Ellie scene, and this would have been perfection.
The show really needs to lock down the subterfuge that is being perpetrated between the lead characters. Especially since Chuck went through the whole lying scenario back in the Hannah arc. The whole reason about putting Chuck and Sarah together was because they trust each other and can be honest with each other, was it not?
The motives behind what the show is doing are quite clear. As Morgan said there is a reckoning coming. It is coming because of all these lies. I am in mortal dread for the little bearded one. He has undergone such a great character journey this season, one that has been a constant joy all season, that I fear him paying the price for Chuck’s indiscretions in the upcoming finale.
It could be a double whammy if PapaB also becomes a casualty. There is so much foreshadowing going on here I fear the worst. It is often the innocents that end up paying the price. I hope, I hope, I hope, I am wrong.
A season concluding double header next week. I am on the edge of my seat. How about you?
Great review as usual Lou. 🙂
I still can’t figure out which scene was better. Sarah talking Morgan in the Castle and him hiding behind the shield or Chuck having to listen to what Shaw and Sarah did in Washington. By far the best Morgan ep ever and they should have more scenes with Morgan and Sarah. They never fail to please. Oh! And that Kuma Sutra book. Hilarious! I was dying with laughter. And those of you who don’t know what the book is look it up. lol
Aw Man! How could I forget. Scotty rules man. So agree with u Lou that he should be a regular. And “RAIN.” Go Big Mike!
Morgan & Sarah having a little talk. Poor guy had not a pray to get out of this & he knows it.
You missed one of the best exchanges of the episode in your flashes:
Chuck: Knife! Head! What if you were wrong?
PapaB (with perfect delivery): I’m never wrong.
Morgan, What are you looking at? :0
hi!
there´s one thing that i just can´t agree: “Casey gets a 2 for 1 needling Chuck and Sarah about Shaw – hilarious!”
There´s nothing hilarious here, for me of course.
I just can´t understand why the writers give a line where sarah is using a earring from Shaw!
She must be angry about this guy, erased everything about him and instead, we have a uncorfortable scene about they relationship. Why?
why use old mistakes? i love this season, even more know, but, even in my life, i can´t imagine such thing. keep something from someone who lie to you.
too personal for a show, perhaps, but still sarah having feelings for shaw?
no, of course, but this scene was to dubious, for my taste.
i love th episode, in mu blog i wrote all the best things i could write, but this particular scene…ai ai, impossible!! :0)
Because the whole scene was a joke. The show was making fun of the Sarah and Shaw relationship.
It is only uncomfortable if one is so invested in something that they lose perspective and are on the path to obsession. If one loses the capacity to laugh at yourself or something they hold dear, that is a warning sign that they need to step back and reassess their position.
In my humble opinion of course.
I’ve noticed a few times that Schwartz and Co. aren’t afraid to take a jab here and there, whether it be to have a laugh at NBC or the fans or themselves. I’m all for it. It helps to keep things in persepctive.
Having a fan be emotionally invested in a show is a good compliment to the writing staff which kind of makes your comment to Vitamin a little offensive. Unless I am reading it wrong. Me personally, I didn’t mind that whole scene but different people will have different take and or reaction to that scene. Lets not kid ourselves, only the writers really know exactly what their intent is and what they are trying to portray in that scene.
I think the point that Lou is tring to make is that people sometimes become SO invested that they lose the ability to see the bigger picture because they latch onto and obsess on minor, sometimes insignificant details. S/S were dating. Sarah’s personal life when she was dating him was just that…and she had every prerrogative NOT to tell Chuck the details (the reasons why she didn’t are varied). I mean, c’mon, we ALL have ex’s lurking in our past. What makes Sarah so different in that regard?
I’m thinking everyone needs to calm down about the s/s issue THEY’RE DONE!! Shaw hates Sarah as much as he hates Chuck, Casey, and Morgan. And Sarah would have nothing more to do with him he did try to kill her after all.
hi hope!
please, believe me, that is no anger. it´s just a point of view.
mr lou write an article, express his point of you and, in the most polite way, saw one point in a diferent way.
him reply, and i admire that.
one thing is read, other is talk, but anger, no way.
respect above all other things. i write for the pleasure of share.
so, aloud me to say that is no angeer, just diferent´s point of view of something we enjoy to watch.
thank you,
tadeu(vitaminhaChuck)
that wasn’t my intention, sorry about that if I sounded angry I wasn’t.
that´s okay :0)
better write something and clarify than nothing 🙂
I agree with many of the points made regarding lies, for sure would like to see Sarah/Ellie time and more Morgan/Sarah.
So…I guess Chuck has become an unhealthy obsession for me. Am I the only one that found the Shaw/Sarah time-line interrogation uncomfortable, painful to watch? Didn’t see humor myself. Maybe I’m in to deep…not sure I want to see the finale.
I think people are just biased against Shaw and that is why that scene may have been uncomfortable but the way, I see it? They’re done, Sarah loves Chuck and no other and Shaw hates her as much as the guys Chuck, Casey, and Morgan so there’s no going back about that.
Nothing says more about Sarah loving Chuck like her giving him her RED BOOK. Sarah has shared very little about her real self over the the first couple of seasons and the fact that she wants to give Chuck her book of secrets says alot for the relationship.
Rod
So Daniel Shaw’s real name is Daniel Shaw I suspect the Spy Will wasn’t his real one. On the earrings yes I was in stitches, however seriously every girl I know has shiny things from previous boyfriends we just don’t talk about them. Remember from the pilot paraphrased “No one wants to hear about ex’s”.
I thought it was one of the funniest scenes Casey ever had. Any fears about him getting too soft on those two were put to rest.
I laughed myself silly while poor Chuck banged his head on the table and then raised a Law & Order type “objection! relevance?”.
Gold!
Yeah lol reminded me of season 1 % 2 Casey is so like the older brother he can tease and give them a hard time but if anyone else tries it he gets protective like ”No one messes with my Team/family but me” kind of guy, love him. 😉
In the fourth paragraph, before I had even read the entire sentence “If there was any guest star that I would love to see elevated to regular cast it is this man” I was thinking “Lou’s wrong — it has to be Carina. Then she caught the problem: “(Making Carina a regular would be pretty sweet too.)”
First on my wish list for Season 4 is more Mini Anden. Permanent cast member would be great but I’ll settle for a few guest spots.
Lou, thank you for your well balanced review; always good to read. Your flashes highlight how much was in this episode. I totally missed the difference between Ellie and PapaB in translating the coded notes; PapaB really is a genius.
So pleased we got a Caseyism: ‘Reviewing the people you’ve killed? I do that myself from time to time.’
It is good to get the entire cast in one episode – they are always the best by far. In fact this episode felt like we had got back the heart and soul of the show from Season 2 but so much more. LeFranc/Judkins really are great at getting the balance right.
Like you, I hope that the lying is the set up for the final showdown and I that the lessons aren’t too hard to bare. Morgan? Really? Wasn’t it Casey last week?
love every one of your points lou you have said everything great about this episode and told the anoying things in the sense of all the lies chuck told they just kept stacking up! and btw kudos for not reading into the interigation scene to much its just a scene for laughs who cares about the fricking earings!!!
Agreed I thought that scene was hilarious it was a great ep but Chuck version of ESB looks like it’ll challenge all comers next week.
I have to throw my two cents in, here, but did anyone else notice how faithful of a friend, Casey has become to Chuck? When Chuck asked him to watch out for his sister, Casey threw himself into the task full force (even begrudgingly seeking Morgan’s help) without a second thought. I can’t say enough about how great the writers have done with Casey’s character. Every episode impresses me more.
The whole episode was wonderful, and I’m simultaneously nervous and excited for the finale next week!
I totally agree. They’ve done an awesome job with Casey’s character. I always love to see the different layers of his personality.
Regarding the finale – nervous and excited is a great way to put it! I’m right there with you.
I agree too, love my Casey 🙂
Totally agree. He’s now comfortable enough with Chuck and Sarah now that he can tease them about Shaw. I didn’t see it as mean spirited. John Casey is now one of the guys, a friend, not a handler.
That’s the thing,
Casey is very loyal when it really matters. Someone at the forum compared him with a big brother. He’ll do everything to protect them from harms way. When he comforted Sarah in vs. the Tooth she was really hurt and it mattered. When it comes to jealousy it doesn’t matters much to him and he is not afraid to show them the truth about each other. He is rooting for them yes but he is also much more insightful than they are and often give them the RIGHT perspective of each other instead of the glorifying one they have.
I really like this Casey because he becomes even more likable to me than before.
Exactly what I’ve been thinking about Casey this whole season. I’ve loved the journey he’s taken it’s so meaningful.
I agree…Casey has certainly come a LONG way from the show’s pilot, when he had no qualms about killing Sarah and leaving her and Chuck’s bodies on a skyscraper roof while he went for a late-night pancake snack.
I agree. I love the relationship he created with Sarah and Chuck. They showed him their loyalty in “Tic Tac” and he is giving it incredibly back. I want to see him on a mission with Chuck. Just these two because they never seem to share enough screen time.
This is just what I needed to “wash down” my lunch. 🙂 Great review, and some great flashes to remind me what an awesome episode it was! I am REALLY hoping that the Chuck lying theme is just building up to the finale, where it will hopefully end. With the rumors that there will be a “significant death” in the finale, I can’t help but think PapaB will be the one to go… unless Shaw is back and he’s taken out for good. Maybe that’s just my own wishful thinking.
Either way, I didn’t think they’d be able to top some of my previous favorite episodes, but this was an awesome one! Can’t wait to see how the season wraps up next Monday. I’m not sure if I can take the suspense until then!!
I think my favourite part of the episode was when Justin’s henchman dragged Chuck into the cabin, and Chuck’s response? “Give me a break!”
He’s already jaded. 😉
Any thoughts on the Intersect 2.0 not being as super as in the past?
The flash before the jump seem perfectly appropriate only for him to not make the jump and get into trouble. The flash in the cabin for the fight only to be at the mercy of a knife throw.
Is he getting soft?
Also, i am worried about the the Charah thing. I understand they have been “together” for three + years, but since officially being a couple they have gone from 0 to 60 (dating to moving in to sharing wills) really, really fast. What is next?!
Mmmmm… maybe an engagement?
Well, the last episode that was titled “Chuck Versus the Ring” was a double-entendre reference, with it’s obvious meaning being a reference to Chuck trying to keep Ellie’s wedding on track, and meeting The Ring as the next big adversarial force being the hidden meaning. Perhaps this time fighting The Ring is the obvious meaning and the hidden meaning is…
;-D
I think Chuck might want to move the relationship along because of his condition. Maybe he’s rushing into it before its too late to do so, and maybe Sarah will stop and slow it down, maybe.
You maybe on to something, but not just his condition, the situation he and the others have gotten themselves into. They wouldn’t know who would come out of it alive. So maybe he pops the question just before he’s taken to trial and prison. or it’s is the scene where Papa B asks him who he wants to protect. If I know Chuck, I think he wouldn’t want to save one person, he’d want to save everyone that’s close to him but it comes down to choice I think….
Remember when the military guys went into Pop Bartowski’s cabin and cut the hose to the propane tanks and the main guy said not to use guns cause they could ignite the gas? Did anyone else notice that the cabin had like 10 lanterns that were lit inside? I think the guns were the least of their worries compared to the open flames all over the place haha.
Yes, I noticed the line about the guns could cause the gas to ignite. I also saw the spark that definately came from the collision between the axe that Sarah threw to intercept the knife. Thank goodness no explosion. Maybe Sarah has Superpowers! Ha.
Fuel vapor (essentially what propane is) will not explode unless there is the proper fuel:air ratio.
Well, actually there is a range in which it will explode. Below that range there is insufficient propane to generate an explosion. Above that there is insufficient oxygen to support explosive combustion. The point remains that if it’s too dangerous to fire a gun, it’s probably not a good idea to generate sparks by slamming two tempered blades together.
It was all in fun and to demonstrate Sarah’s general overall awesomeness.
I don’t know why anyone would be upset if someone dies in the season finale. I mean at this point, does anyone ever REALLY DIE on this show? If some long-term character does SEEMINGLY die, I would look for it to be Captain Awesome. I say this only because I (and I’m sure numerous others) saw reported earlier this season that Ryan McPartlin was job hunting during pilot season.
I do not know if these reports were accurate, but IF they were, they must mean something.
As usual, I loved this episode. I felt a little uncomfortable with the lying at first, but I think it´s one of major arcs of this season. Maybe all seasons. Chuck had to learn how to lie and this season, as Lou pointed in few her previous reviews, it is all about changes in Chuck´s character. His ending scene, with writing a spywill, is a point where he can see that this isn´t a game anymore. Morgan didn´t get there yet and I hope he never will. I wouldn´t call Chuck´s change growing up but maybe that he can see things how they are – that he can die any moment and that it will be his family who will have to deal with it.
The lying was a big topic this season, remember Sarah saying that he is too comfortable with lying in “Fake Name”? It should have been a waking bell for him but I think he needs to be hit hard and I am afraid his lying is going to bite him. I am sure Sarah (who is suprisingly the mature one in this relationship) can forgive him but I am afraid Ellie won´t be that understanding. It could cost lives, and I think the finale will change Chuck forever. And I am OK with it. If he would still be the squeeky geek he used to be, after what he went through, this show wouldn´t be as great as it is.
And I am repeating myself but as someone above posted, I LOVE Casey and Chuck scenes together and there are too few of them. They need to go to a mission together. And, I am not afraid to say that – they became real friends. It was so touching, how Chuck went to Casey to ask for his help without any doubt that he will agree. Without any teasing, or ironic smiles. I love it.
I never liked Morgan too much in the first season but I grew to tolerate him in S2. But let´s face it, he keeps living Chuck´s life. He lives with Chuck, he now started to getting into spy life thanks to Chuck. It´s time for him to start his own life. He is still very untouched and innocent, as Chuck from S1, when he can´t see the danger. He is aware that Shaw can return and harm him or the others. He is aware of it but he can´t SEE it. Chuck saw it, lived it and that is the difference between them.
Anyway, I can´t wait to see the finale but I am also worried what´s gonna happen.
And I am not looking forward to the waiting for god knows how many months for S4 🙁
About Morgan being untouched and innocent, that will change in the finale. Morgan is going to see and experience the hardships and dangers of a spy’s life next week like the rest of the gang, and I think it’ll help to mature and grow him up a bit more. And I agree 100% about Casey and Chuck’s friendship it’s been beautiful to watch this season. Love it.
If you live in North America, you won’t have to wait long for S4. Chuck will be back in September. It’ll be the shortest hiatus between Chuck seasons!
I live in Europe but I am getting Chuck online, so I will see it. If I should wait for our TV, I would wait forever. Season 2 just ended here 🙁
Nice review Though as you said the trust thing is being over played I can see how Chuck would be scared that his father would be disappointed in him for choosing to be a spy since he knows how much he is against it and his fear that the intersect news would break Sarah heart, it just bothers me more from the stand point that it makes sense that the doctor would of informed the General and not just Chuck his prognoses. Thus the General would of disclosed this to Casey and Sarah as well.
With the exception of Ellie I think a lot of the Ring attempt to crush TB is going to happen regardless Chuck being honest with Sarah about his condition. With the exception of papa B they couldn’t do anything about it anyway.
The more I hear about the Ring attempting to crush Team B, I’m always thinking of The Empire Strikes Back. I think if they’re going to do it Chuck style, it’s going to be pretty wicked.
So shaw is still alive.he knows exactly where chuck and
Sarah are (Burbank). So why doesn’t he just kill them and
have his revenge?
he wants them all to suffer first.
I predict Chuck’s family falling apart
Papa B dies in the first hour of the finale
then ellie also gets killed
cap Awesome, will no longer be awesome and turn evil to get revenge
Who can tell me: Was Shaw’s penthouse in DC or LA? Casey’s interrogation about what Sarah and Shaw did in DC included going off grid in the penthouse. But Sarah, Chuck, Justin and Papa B all show up for the penthouse scene at the same time, and just as quickly are back in LA. Plot hole, or did I just miss something in the dialogue?
That bothered me too, because it was said that Shaw was living in Castle when he first showed up. Maybe he was living in Castle because it offered more protection from The Ring?
After watching the episode again, I got the impression that Shaw lived in L.A. Shaw and Sarah made a trip to D.C. but the way that scene (Casey interrogating Sarah) went on, Casey was covering every minute that Sarah spent with Shaw, not just the D.C. trip. That’s what I think anyway.
I don’t think he lived in the Castle the whole time he was working with Team Bartowski.
I agree. Also, with regards to him living in a hotel in Fake Name, I think this could have been before he moved to the penthouse. Did anyone else notice that there were still fresh apples in the fruit bowl?
In a web page in Spanish there appears a photo of Chuck and Sarah drinking with champagne. This photo belongs to both final episodes. Do you know something of this????
Hey I got it! Maybe that’s when he tells her that the flashes are getting worse. Just a idea….
What web page?
Plsss send me the link.
Thanks>
That just looks like a cast photo rather than a scene from an episode since they’re both looking directly at the camera. It’s been a while since I could read Spanish…don’t know what the caption says.
Link Spanish Website is http://www.chuckonlineserie.260mb.com/spoiler/142-desglosando-la-promo-chuck-season-finale.html
The line below the picture says this in spanish…
“¿Que festejamos? sera un compromiso, y chequen ese reloj sera la solucion para poder controlar el intersec 2.0.”
Translated by me (I’m no expert but I was a Peace Corps Volunteer once upon a time) it reads…
“What are we celebrating? Could be a commitment, and check out the watch that could be the solution to control the intersect 2.0.”
I agree, it looks like just a cast photo. Maybe they are just celebrating the end of the season, kind of like a wrap party.
Your translation is correct, except it’s “engagement” instead of “commitment”.
Later on in that page, there’s a comment that Sarah’s blouse in the champagne pic is the same as when Shaw grabs her by the neck at the Buy More.
Can’t wait for Monday!
Well, I didn’t want to get anybody too excited. Compromiso could mean contract, commitment or engagement. I didn’t see any engagement ring on Sarah’s finger so I went with commitment.
Lou – do you think it would have been too dark – or too deep for TPTB to have had Chuck exhibit some sort of split personality? Like Fight Club – or the Dark Phoenix saga…. Rather than bring Shaw back – they could have just made us think that Shaw was back – but instead – its just a visual manifestation of Chuck’s alter ego…
It would be Chuck’s internal battle with the Intersect. I was wondering if all these lies he’s been telling are just the tip of that iceberg?
I was thinking it would setup a nice scenerio to have those moments with Sarah – who brings him back to being the “Real Chuck” [ like the end of TicTac] … vs the sinister Chuck on the “Shaw”-side…
Yep – way too much fan fiction here – but just thought I’d ask if you like the current direction of the plot and characters:
Cheers Amigo – have a wonderful day!
Hi there.
Chuck with a split personality seems too dark for the show to me. For the moment Shaw will fill the dark side of the Intersect.
Chuck really gets his feet held to the flames on the whole lying thing. Chuck’s withheld the truth from Sarah regarding his condition and he’s a bad guy. Up until Orion’s confirmation all Chuck really had was the doc’s opinion that bad stuff might happen. So he’s supposed to confess to a woman with significant abandonment issues that well, he’s not going to be around for her after all, maybe. Nobody’s really certain. Just be afraid Sarah, he might leave you at any time. Like all those other men. Oh, and him in Prague.
As for Papa B, well that was just incredibly irritating, but nothing compared to what dear old dad has subjected his family to over the last decade. Ellie still thinks the man is a crazy hermit, well just a crazy hermit. Besides, all those lies were only intended to build up drama so people shouldn’t take them so seriously. They in no way reflect on Chuck’s character. There’s nothing to see here. Move along.
And it’s not just Chuck’s lies that are coming up to bite Ellie. It’s everyone’s lies. Chuck’s, Sarah’s, Casey’s, Papa B’s, Awesome’s and yes even Morgan’s. Sorry, the little man isn’t actually a paragon of moral virtue. Lying is basically part of his DNA. See his attempted seduction of Hannah for the most recent dishonesty. Well outside of the fact that he, like Awesome is keeping the whole spy thing on the down low. The only reason he spills his guts to Sarah is because the man is terrified of her. Ellie’s own lies are also in play here, in fact it’s her lies and Papa B’s, not Team Bartowski’s that are the cause of her difficulties. The Ring’s after her to get to Orion, not Chuck.
Disagree on Morgan. The Hannah thing was played for laughs – much like the earrings. Morgan speaks the truth to those closest around him.
OD, you can’t simply discard things because they’re played for laughs. Yes, it was funny, but it still happened. Jeff and Lester being crazy, weird stalkers is played for laughs but they nonetheless remain crazy weird stalkers. Morgan was as well to some extent, as was Chuck although they both appear to have developed some aversion to the activity. Sarah’s tryst with Shaw in DC was played for major laughs, but it too happened. If we reject everything played for humor or excessive drama there would be precious little of Chuck left. I’d like to note, I think the earrings probably pushed a little to far given we have a fan base of which part obsesses over glimpses of a particular piece of jewelry. I really think that’s where the reaction stems from. Chuck’s gift of the bracelet is a big deal and some fans look for it obsessively. When Sarah wears a gift of jewelry from Shaw and the writers deliberately highlight it, it stings that group a bit.
If we want to talk about protecting feelings and keeping people in the dark as it regards Morgan, we can look at Big Mike’s relationship with his mother. It’s fairly clear that Morgan never confronted the two of them about their whale song in order to spare their feelings. Then there is Ellie, the woman that Morgan cares most in the world about. He’s as guilty of keeping her in the dark as the rest of the gang. The only person that Morgan’s always forthright with is Chuck with the exception of Marlin. He’ll lie to anyone else, even if intimidation by Sarah or grape soda will loosen his lips. On the flip side, Chuck hasn’t lied to Morgan since he came clean about the Intersect in “The Beard”. He hasn’t told him about the status of the Intersect, but unlike Sarah he’s never lied directly about the condition, nor do I believe he’s as obligated to tell Morgan, particularly since he has yet to inform Sarah.
We will have to disagree.
Short and sweet, that for me, Morgan has been consistently the best character this season.
next to Casey as well 😉
i don’t wanna bring this up but i got to say this cause i saw the word HONEST in the review……..i thought Sarah is truly honest with chuck and only love him but epic 3*17 made my idea so stupid…….Sarah is wearing Shaw’s earnings but not the bracelet that chuck gave her………Sarah said in 3*15 as chuck is available she has something to fall into once the spy work is done….i personally feel that sarah is with chuck cause he’s the only available option for her……hopefully seeing Shaw a gain will not make Sarah emotional or make her eyes bulging at him.
when we try to forget sarah’s weird and the mess she was up to when Shaw was around the writers come up with something annoying and refresh the whole damn thing again………i felt the chuck Casey,Sarah scenario was so creepy and unwanted scenario….there was nothing so funny to laugh but 100% annoying.
in the final episodes i would love to see Hannah return and chuck and Hannah having some intimate moments and make Sarah bit jealous and keep thinking whether chuck still have feelings for Hannah…..
It really was only played as a joke. Try not to take it too seriously. I’ll admit that the writers may have taken it one or two steps too far into the excessive range, much as they did with Chuck’s lies, but being repeatedly hit over the head with stuff like that is a hazard of watching Chuck. They did the same thing in previous seasons.
As for Chuck and Sarah’s relationship. I would say it’s fairly solid. They are both all in and committed. It’s not as if Chuck’s like comes out of a desire to injure Sarah, rather he’s being protective of her, albeit in a rather unwise and foolish manner that is shared by many males. Despite Sarah’s issues, she’s openly communication with Chuck and expression feelings and emotions with him. It’s rather extraordinary given the Sarah we’ve scene in seasons 1, 2 and even 3. Even if you can’t excuse the earrings as an attempt at humor, you should just shrug them off as something that do not have any significance to Sarah. Unlike the bracelet which she declined to wear in 3 words, the earrings have no emotional weight connected to them which is why she wore them without thinking. However the truth about Chuck’s Intersect problems are revealed, Sarah and Chuck will work through it. I think it’s fairly clear they’re committed and despite what others say trust each other. The relationship is just going to take work and time.
This episode should have been called “Chuck vs. the Truth” except for the fact that title was already used in season 1. The theme of truth/trust has been around since the pilot and the way that Chuck is still holding back the truth from Sarah and Casey and his dad just doesn’t hold a lot of water at this point in the series as Lou and so many others have very clearly pointed out.
Chuck and Sarah and Casey are closer than ever before as a team and a great deal of that has to do with the fact that they have been through a lot together and that they are relating to each other as much like family as a team of spies. Still I miss the way that Sarah (in Chuck vs. the Predator) and Casey used to keep Chuck’s feet to the fire on such vital issues as trust within the team. But this is what will obviously set up the season finale.
I wish that the writers would have had Sarah be a little more direct and forceful with Chuck about trusting her and Casey and his dad with the whole truth. Something like, “Chuck we’ve been through too much together to be still acting like this.” Then to show him her complete trust in him as she gives him her spy will. That would have been extremely powerful.
I’m looking forward to this truth/trust issue being resolved so that we can see a united Team Bartowski of 6 or 7 super spies come season 4.
I kind of see it the opposite way. As you grow closer to your friends and loved ones, you learn them. You learn what they can handle and what they can’t. You learn their baggage and their hang-ups.
As Chuck, Sarah, and Casey grow closer to each other, they also see each others’ weaknesses, and I think in their own (perhaps misguided) ways, they are trying to protect each other from the pain of the truth. I’m not saying that’s a good idea, I’m just saying that I can completely understand why the writers would put them in this type of situation at this point in their character development. They are close enough to feel protective of each others’ weaknesses, but they need to grow closer still, in order for them to break through to having the courage to tell the truth despite the pain it might cause.
I agree with Hazel. They lie in order to protect the ones they love.
I have to agree with hazel too. It’s a sensible explanation and a good thought out one.
I’ll ditto that. It echoes my own feelings. I would like to see Chuck and Sarah trust each other with everything eventually. Well, Chuck can still lie about liking Sarah’s corn dogs.
I understand what you are saying Hazel. The problem is the pain is going to come later as opposed to sooner. My hope is that no one in Chuck’s family or team has to pay the ultimate price in losing their lives- without the chance of them coming back in season 4 like Shaw has come back this season.
I guess that I believe in the value of tough love with with family and close friends. Still that would probably take too much away from the conflict and development of the characters within the show. Yet I still would like to see Chuck get to the place where he can be totally honest with everyone he loves.
I totally agree with you; all I meant in my original comment was that I believe that the characters aren’t at that point, YET, but I think they could be soon.
But, you know, how great is it that we love a show that allows its characters to grow like this? I’m still so proud of the writers for having the guts to show us real, dynamic, characters. That’s why I LOVE this show. The situations may be a little fantastical, but the characters are like real people, and that’s what makes it a joy to watch. It’s SO refreshing in a tv land filled with stale, stagnant characters (even the “reality” ones).
Go CHUCK!
Favorite line of the episode: “This should be interesting,” before Chuck proceeds to jump off the roof. Apparently the Intersect showed him how to make the jump but not how to climb up afterwords…? 🙂
While some people are rightly ticked off at Chuck’s lying, I’ve read more backlash about Ellie’s deception on various different sites. My fear is that both Chuck and Sarah are going to hurt the relationships of their respective partners, if not kill them entirely.
Backlash against Ellie? For what? For being kept in the dark by everyone for 3 seasons?
That would be her deception, and trusting someone she barely knows over the guy living next door to her for three years. The guy who Morgan, Awesome and Chuck appear to trust. In this case, it’s really her lies and those of her father that have placed her in danger. Even if she was completely in on Team B’s secret she probably would have been abducted and used as a bargaining chip with Papa B.
Agreed but Ellie is a Bartowski and we know that that family is some of the bravest people ever when it comes to those they love being threatened and she’s stronger and smarter then the others give her credit for even Chuck. I think Ellie will step up herself and be a heroine like the rest to take down the Ring. You don’t want to mess with Operation Bartowski when their blood is roused. 😉
I completely agree. Just pointing out to OD that there is room to see Ellie’s actions in a different light. Personally, I’m not so much sympathetic as I am scared for her. That and the moments where I can’t help but think “Oh Ellie, no.”
I know I’m not just scared for her, I fear for all of them. Chuck’s montage at the end is worrisome. Casey, Sarah, Morgan, Papa B, and Ellie..they’re all on death row.Strangely Awesome isn’t shown or mentioned, as he is one of the family. I’ll have to keep a close watch on them all in the finale. I hope they’ll come out ok…
A guy next door that she has had misgivings about all season? Misgivings placed there by Chuck and Devon in the first place?
Her actions are very understandable.
Seeing her actions in any other light is a very far reach.
I fear for Ellie too. She is going to be in a bad place at the end of 3.19. More guilt for Chuck to carry.
Those misgivings had to do with Casey being a drunk who exposes himself in public. That’s not exactly consistent with believing he’s a rogue NSA agent. It would support the claim that Casey is Jeff’s long lost twin. It’s like buying the line that Casey is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer because Devon and Chuck told her that he was laughed out of his creative writing course at the local community college.
I’d also like to point out that the whole, Casey’s a drunk, the cat’s a bear scene was played for laughs. Taking it seriously while dismissing the interrogation scene is somewhat inconsistent.
There was more to it than that. She saw Casey’s guns and his surveillance of her. The malaria remedy also raised flags for Ellie. Plus Devon blew off her concerns. She is handling the whole thing in a very similar fashion to the lead of the show and their father.
Her spy storyline has been deftly constructed this season IMHO.
Totally onboard with it.
Ellie will definitely be in a bad place at the end of the finale. Every person in her world Devon, Chuck, Morgan, Sarah, Casey and Papa B. have been lying to her. How unsettling will that be?
Still she will have one thing in common with Chuck and Devon. Both were drawn into the spy world in much the same way as she has been- as less than willing participants at first. Hopefully she will be able to accept that and see that the Bartowski’s desire to help people is something that can again bond her closer to Chuck and her dad than ever before.
This is one of the best reviews of an episode I’ve read in a long time, Lou, thanks.
I think “Chuck” at its heart is a show about family — about the ability of a fairly ragtag group of people to love, trust and be honest with one other so they can fight what’s wrong in the world. This whole season — if the writers were really thinking in this direction — was all about the pain and alienation that comes to those who lie out of a misguided sense of duty. As Chuck has been forced to grow up to become a full-fledged spy, he’s become less himself. And while I don’t think the writers handled Sarah all that well this season, it’s easier to see right now that she was positioned as a Greek chorus commenting on all that’s been wrong with Chuck during this evolution. It’s an ironic choice, since Sarah’s life has been built on lies from childhood and this season has certainly been about reckless choices because she has no idea how to be honest with herself. Even though Sarah has finally said “I love you” to Chuck, she doesn’t really fully understand her words. She’s that broken.
Whoever dies — and I hope it’s not Morgan, but it would be a heartbreaking and worthy dramatic choice — is going to shake everyone’s sense of balance about honesty and duty. It will be a very interesting place to put this show at the start of S4, but that’s what I loved about this series in the first place.
Um The Ring’s Intersect Room is way cooler than the CIA’s. I mean for real is the CIA’s Intesect computer from like 1993.
Lou, I love your reviews and I always agree with you…except this one. I was annoyed by Chuck´s lying but as other people here mentioned, he had his reasons and was tought to do so. But I don´t think it´s OK to just bash him for that. Sarah isn´t 100% sincere either. There are so many things she keeps in secret, even before Chuck, you can find the whole list what she isn´t telling him – like her name? I mean, Chuck lies to her for a good reason(maybe foolish but a normal reason for a person in love) and he believes he is protecting her because he loves her. Why does she keep secrets from him? His lying to his dad wasn´t so understandable but I think how he kept lying to him was maybe already part of him. He was tought to lie to people around him – even now, when Devon and Morgan know, he is telling them only what they need to know.
Your praising of Morgan is a little off – he is a liar, too! He knows and he keeps lying to Ellie, too. He is so excited to be a part of Chuck´s life (again) that he is practically back where he was two years ago. He keeps living Chuck´s life, not his. He nyt needs to see what is a spy life really about and that it´s not a game. I admit, I never liked Morgan but to call him an innocent and the only honest person is a stretch.
The lies will hit them ALL hard. Imagine Ellie when she realizes that her brother, father AND her husband have been lying to her for so long. Imagine Sarah when she realizes that Chuck didn´t tell her about his problems with Intersect. Or when Chuck will hear some more details about her and Shaw.
As Casey said very early in S1 – it´s LA, everybody lies. But in this case, it will probably have disasterous effects.
Chuck is the hero of the show. It may be unfair but he gets held to a higher standard for me. I really, really disliked the lying. Especially when everyone knew, including him, that they were so transparent.
Thought Chuck had already learned about the pitfalls of lying back in the Hannah arc.
Loved this episode… and the review… as well as having read everyone’s comments.
I just can’t believe there aren’t a lot of cheers for the scenes of “Jeff ?” and Lester taking the Ster with him… I really liked the comics…
And of course… Earth, wind, fire and RAIN… I laughed so hard!
Lou,
I usually agree with your reviews but not this week.
I don’t have as much a problem with the lying has you do. Everyone in Chuck’s life has been lied to from the very beginning. They were brought into the fold only when it became necessary. I don’t see how Ellie’s ignorance can be put at Chuck’s door since everyone was doing it. This was only brought into play by Shaw and not Chuck.
I lump Chuck’s lies to Sarah and PapaB as part of his personality. He never wants to hurt anyone he loves. He does this, in this instance, by shielding Sarah and PapaB from bad news. He is a coward in an emotional sense but haven’t we all? How often have we left something out so we don’t hurt someone we care about?
Morgan is no angel in this respect either. Morgan has, throughout the series, stolen (Chuck vs. the Marlin); stalked (Ellie); and lied (Chuck vs. the Three Words).
I believe the difference is that the writers have shoved the deception and lying by everyone into a very short span of time to get to the finale. The season 3.1 story arcs should have taken a full season to develop and bring to a conclusion. The Charah relationship should not have progressed so rapidly. The fans never had a chance to see them in a normal quiet relationship before throwing it into turmoil. Chuck’s condition should have taken longer to progress (even though there’s been hints of it for a season and a half).
Anyway, I know what I’ve said above has been say by you over the last few weeks.