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Chuck: Chuck versus the Colonel

“Do you want to be a loser for the rest of your life?”

So much happened in this episode that I don’t even know where to begin. Chuck and Sara on the run, hunted by Casey. Scott Bakula locked in a room (and who hasn’t dreamt of that?) and trying desperately to communicate with his son. Beautiful and sunny Barstow, which is now just a fireball memory. I keep harping on the sense of finality of these past few mythos-heavy episodes, but I don’t think I’m over-analyzing. In just 45 minutes, everything ended. And many other things began.

When Chuck and Sara were on the run all by their lonesomes, Casey’s sangfroid at hunting down the two people that he’d spent an inordinate amount of time with for two years was really disturbing, as was his willingness to do the wrong thing just for a promotion. I’m not actually sure that him being willing to help them out, in the second half of the episode, was that reassuring, either: he did it so that he could keep his word to Chuck, not out of any sense of moral duty to his buddies. While I enjoy many cop and federal government shows, I have always been a bit freaked out by the wanton use of lethal force by our government, and the creepiness of heroes being people who constantly intrude on reasonable expectations of privacy. When the Major asked Casey to hunt Chuck and Sara “dead or alive,”—well, that really brought it home for me.

Chevy Chase’s plan to build an army of Intersect-loaded Fulcrum agents did seem destined for the fate of all over-reaching Napoleons: scorched earth. Specifically, scorched Barstow. At least now I know why I don’t know anyone from Barstow, or anyone who has visited it: its only resident is a rocking-horse seal on a spring (now deceased).

The pragmatism of using all the snafus to bolster Casey’s promotion and keep Sara and Chuck safe was probably wise, although I’m surprised the General bought it. And now Chuck is free of his burden, at least until next week.

The coitus interruptus between Chuck and Sara was hilarious. Whenever characters on TV have spontaneous sex, I always wonder why they’re not using a condom, and now I know. Morgan, you sneaky bastard!

Back in Burbank, Awesome got locked in Casey’s apartment, and almost caved under Ellie’s questioning. It was nice to see that Awesome has his weakness: he really is a horrible liar. I worried that he would pass out when Ellie confronted him in the kitchen.

The Godfather—or should I say, The Stepfather?—theme continued at the BuyMore, with game-changing results: Morgan is off to Hawaii to become a Bachi chef. (I must admit, I don’t know what this is, and I don’t even know how to spell it, so I can’t look it up. It seems to involve knives. Assistance would be welcome.) Big Mike is going to look after Morgan’s mother, UTI and everything. UPDATE: Morgan is going to become a hibachi chef. Thanks, dear readers!

So how will it end? Going into next week’s episode, which looks (dare I say it?) awesome, we have Chuck and Sara finally together and friends with Casey, Morgan on his chef-pilgrimage, Ellie and Awesome about to get married, Scott Bakula back with his family and done being a spy, Chuck not the Intersect . . . and Chevy Chase hangin’ out with a trucker. They're calling it a “season finale,” but I’m not sure that means much.

Bytes:

• The mini-dynamite (dynamini?).

• The condom thing. (Yep, it gets two mentions.)

• Was Jeff and Lester’s dialogue about bacon from Wayne’s World?

• Chevy Chase as a motivational speaker at the drive-thru.

And Pieces:

• Emmett: “Not many people in our line of work can afford friends.”

• Casey: “Nerd bludgeoned by radiator.”
Chuck: “You can’t kill me with that radiator. It is far too confined in this car for you to get the appropriate torque.”

• Casey: “I hate this whole family.”

• The Major: “In the meantime, enjoy your last few minutes in Burbank, Colonel Casey.”

• Awesome: “There was a time in my life when I didn’t have a lot going on: dead-end job, no girl. . .”
Casey: “Really?”
Awesome: “Well, no.”

Four out of four scorched Barstows.

Josie Kafka is a full-time cat servant and part-time rogue demon hunter. (What's a rogue demon?)

10 comments:

  1. "Scott Bakula locked in a room (and who hasn’t dreamt of that?).."


    ROFL'ing!!!! High five sistafan!!

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  2. I have to say that I haven't been a loyal watcher of Chuck--I really love The Big Bang Theory and don't have a DVR--but this episode was really good. I actually cared about the characters and wanted things to work out!

    A "bachi chef" I assume means a hibachi chef (like the way chefs cook at "Japanese" restaurants where they fry everything on one grill).

    The radiator moment in the car was one of the best lines ever...

    So what do you think is going to happen now that the intersect is gone?

    Allison

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  3. I loved this ep, and I hated this ep. It was a great episode, but it really made me nervous about the end of Chuck. I mean, its obvious that it was written so that if NBC cans the show, fans wouldn't be pissed.

    *Sigh*

    There's not much to be said that Josie hasn't already mentioned. The only thing I disagree with was Casey's motivation. Yeah, he seemed like an ***, but after watching him through the last 2 seasons, I think he really did feel betrayed that Sarah and Chuck ran off without him, leaving him holding the bag.

    My favorite scene was the one between Ellie and Awesome. Her slapping him around was hysterical, and, well... awesome. Hee hee.

    Alright, I'm going to pretend that Chuck is coming back next season. Do you think Scott Bakula might join the cast? (Please please please please please!!) I have loved him since QL, and how perfect is he as Chuck's dad?

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  4. A girl reviewer and 3 girl comments make me feel the need to point the the most awesome part of this episode (which was full of awesome parts) was, in fact, Sarah's ass before she hopped into bed.

    THAT is good television.

    I tried to find a good hibachi example for you and this was the best I could find. IIRC Hibachi is also a small personal grill.

    When you're dealing with fiction, condoms are like toilets, you really only see them when they are there to advance the plot.

    A wedding. 2 guest stars. A big hanging plot thread shows up (Brice.) And the concept of the show has dissolved (Chuck = intersect.)

    Sure sounds like a SERIES finale to me. But I'll be sad.

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  5. Chevy Chase gave me a real Steve Jobs vibe. :)

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  6. That make out moment was great! Finally they give in and get it on. Those two have such wonderful chemistry on screen. Its nice to see some resolution to their feelings for each other and not have it drawn out over a billion seasons like JAG or Moonlighting or Cheers.

    Obviously things may end differently in the finale. But I am very curious to see if Chuck does return for a 3rd season how they'll handle their romance as well as the premise of the show.
    Alias was able to squeeze out another 3 seasons after they wrapped up much in the 2nd season. I just hope Chuck doesnt wake up in China 2 years later.

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  7. Exactly. Who hasn't dreamt of being locked in a room with Scott Bakula?

    BTW, why haven't you done any reviews on Quantum Leap? Do you only review current television?

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  8. Hi, Ranting Raconteure (great handle, by the way): We do indeed review classic shows as well as current shows. Jess Lynde is working on The X-Files right now. I usually do retro reviews during the summer. This past summer, I finally finished Highlander, and caught up with Torchwood. We're still catching up with Doctor Who.

    I loved Quantum Leap. Watched every episode. I'm not sure if I'm going to get around to doing retro reviews for it, though. We'll have to see where our muse takes us.

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  9. FYI, I think it is General Beckman, not Major Beckman.

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  10. This episode certainly felt like the end to me, but in a good way.

    I agree with Serena in that I thought that Casey was really hurt that his "team" hadn't included him. He rather strongly makes that point to Chuck and, as he is doing so, loses his customary growl. He looks sad.

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