Chuck is back! No more Mr. Nice Spy!! I had mentioned earlier that I was sort of a casual Chuck viewer, but this season is not to miss. I am a Chuck convert, and I’m so excited for the return! When last we left Chuck, he suddenly had new powers (due to the Intersect 2.0), he and Sarah were in love, and all seemed pretty good in Bartowski-world.
The season premiere picks up where they left off. Chuck Bartowski is trying to embrace his new role as a spy. He is slowly grasping his new powers with the Intersect 2.0, and suddenly knows kung fu, how to play musical instruments, and get out of the stickiest situations. But what makes Chuck the character we adore, is not his Intersect powers. At heart, Chuck is still that lovable nerd from Buy More who is head over heels for Sarah. And it’s those things that make Chuck who he is, that can interfere with his ability to perform as a spy. If he can’t flash (Intersect 2.0 lingo that means to gain the information to do those aforementioned crazy things), he risks failing at a mission. And he can’t flash when he gets nervous or upset or scared or shows any sort of emotions. And let’s face it, if you are at risk of being beat up, you probably would get scared too.
The season premiere addresses both Chuck and Sarah’s relationship, as well as their abilities to perform as spies (and Sarah’s job as Chuck’s handler). There are still some amazing kick-ass action sequences, but Chuck grappling with and attempting to embrace his new spy responsibilities is certainly the most interesting part of the season premiere. The premiere spans over 2 nights, and the next several episodes (I have seen the first 5) are fantastic. They are filled with amazing guest stars in Brandon Routh, Angie Harmon, Steve Austin, Josie Davis, Armand Assante, and Vinnie Jones. Brandon Routh plays a very interesting “bad-guy” type, who grapples with his emotions and the myth that spies don’t fall in love. The Buy More favorites Morgan, Lester and Jeff are still around, and there is some new management coming to the Buy More. And of course the Chuck/Sarah storyline continues to be done in a very unique way. Of course, I am rooting for them (I have been all along), but like any great show, the creators (geniusws Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak) cannot just hand us their love story on a silver platter. I’m sure all the Chuck fans out there (I know I am one of them) might not want to wait, but gratification will come.
Chuck is a show that was in danger of cancellation, but it is so incredibly brilliant. Even if you didn’t catch every episode of the last 2 seasons, you can absolutely catch on. It has everything a show should be, down to the fantastic music and theme song. Seriously, don’t miss it! The 3rd season premiere is tonight at 9 pm and continues on Monday at 8 pm (it’s regular time slot) on NBC.
The TV Chick 