Monsters of Television

“Oh, cool. A tiny weapons standoff!”

Interesting that Chuck’s Brunette that Ruins Everything of the season is actually his mOH MY GAH did they light Frost so that her hair would look blonde like Sarah’s to further beat the point into us?

What is this I’m feeling? There’s this disquiet. Loudness in my voice after the show ends. I — is this — actual anticipation for next week?

Chuck finally dished out an all-purpose good episode. There might have been a few stumbles here and there but, for what we get, I think finally shows some direction and gets into what this season is supposed to be.

But why am I surprised? Chuck did the same thing last season with its slow start. They are the San Diego Chargers of television, constantly digging out of the hole they put themselves in so they can make the playoffs. It’s like they have the talent to field and the pieces in place but they just can’t make it all come together until everyone’s written them off for the season. Maybe that’s why NBC picked up the back half of their episodes since they know the show is capable of making a run. Hopefully, Chuck won’t leave its audience the way the postseason usually leaves Philip Rivers: broken-hearted. End extended sports metaphor.

But what is it about this episode that makes it different from the rest? Why is it so good that we curse Matt Lauer for pre-empting it next week for a dumpy interview with a former president? Stakes, my friend. Or at least what appears to be stakes. Ten dollars says what was lost in this episode will be regained within the next couple. But there’s also ten bucks in meowing loud enough to make that old guy turn around.

First of all, let’s disabuse everyone of the notion that, despite the title, this is Chuck and Sarah’s first “fight” as a couple. Even if they weren’t officially a couple, they’ve had fighting like one down pat for years. Remember their first sleepover? Or the premise of the season 3 opener where Sarah deals with being rejected by Chuck? Or how about any number of small arguments they’ve had in this season? No, this is Chuck vs A Larger Fight but not vs The First Fight. So it’s a misnomer in that way but comically addresses the stark difference between Chuck and Sarah: Chuck is kind of a blabbermouth about his problems with Sarah while Sarah can maintain a bit of professionalism. Though Sarah’s professionalism has been slowly eroded away this season.

And as bored as I have been with the whole Chucknsarah thing this season, they’ve been very good at establishing their bond under pressure. Even when they don’t get along or when they don’t speak, they are very good fighting together. It’s the only thing rooted from the dreadful “vs The Honeymooners” that I can get behind. They have a natural connection that transcends Chuck’s overthinking and Sarah’s underlying doubt.

So, yes, they have a fight about Chuck’s mother being taken into custody but even Chuck doesn’t seem all that upset about it in the opening. Even Morgan’s tiff with Casey about being the “magnet” or “staying in the van” instead of going out on missions isn’t really a fight (although I love that Morgan considers his bond with Casey to be a special relationship). It makes me feel so good that they’re letting this bond grow and having Morgan take on more responsibility.

How far we’ve come with Casey, too. For so long they didn’t know what to do with him, which meant he ended up being a two-dimensional grunt. Him having a daughter didn’t really flesh him out much (except for adding that psychotic father element). It’s really the Morgan relationship that is making him a well-rounded character. Chuck was always Sarah’s project that Casey interjected into every once in a while. But Morgan is his protege, his “Chuck” without all the whining. Sure, Morgan is prone to lock up with fear or bumble through missions but he’s willing to do the work. Chuck as a rookie was constantly fighting for normalcy and working against being a spy. While Casey and Sarah considered each other partners, Casey was always a third wheel to Chucknsarah. Now that Casey has a special buddy, we start to see a more complex character. Warmer isn’t the right word but I think you get what I’m saying.

While these things are well and good, what makes this episode is the willingness to take some chances. And Timothy Dalton.

The comedy is not lost on a former Bond being impressed with field agent work. White Collar and Chuck seem to share a world because their lives are populated with villains that are tremendous actors. You knew that Tuttle wasn’t who he said he was (or maybe that was my suspicion of Frost) but I was kind of hoping Frost was Volkoff. It’s good either way. We have a relatively defined place for Frost now (as defined as you get in a gray area premise like this one) as the lackey and we have a face to our villain.

And he ‘splodes Orion’s “life’s work.” So that crutch is gone (though they never really used it that much in this season). Chuck may have lost the Intersect (just when he was getting the hang of it). And Ellie is riding around in a car left by her dad that apparently has a flux capacitor underneath.

The scene with Ellie and her mom (Sarah as chaperon of course means the three most important women in Chuck’s life in one room) discussing everything that led to Frost’s departure: (1) begs the question why the writers Chuck can’t just give Sarah Lancaster some meat in her role because she always knocks it out of the park when given the opportunity, (2) makes you question whether or not anything Frost said that was ellided was true, (3) if it was true, did Sarah think to herself, “Oh, man, that’s totally me,” (4) might be the first time anyone in the Bartowski family has been straight up honest with Ellie in the past three years. I’m not sure what this car is supposed to be although I have a feeling that it contains the most important information that might have been lost in the explosion.

Also, quick note on big explosions in Chuck: stop writing them in. You don’t have the budget to make them look good.

Chuck losing the Intersect seems to be a little glossed over in this episode, like they didn’t have room to discuss the entire premise of their show might have just been eliminated. I think some meditation on Chuck as a spy minus the Intersect is great but their lack of focus on that thread makes me think he’ll be back to flashing in no time. But, if it does become a big storyline, kudos to them for doing it.

I think this episode hit on all cylinders. Maybe it’s my low expectations or maybe things just finally fell into place but the tone was right throughout, they were able to balance the comedy and the emotional issues, and there wasn’t a whole lot in here that made me roll my eyes. And that, my friends, is a win in itself.