Monday, February 28, 2011

CHUCK 4.17: First Bank of Evil - Reactions

Vivian accepts that she can never be as hawt as Sarah - Property of WB

Blahblahblah what did you think of it?  Did it suck?  Was it awesome?  Did you fall asleep?  Did you set fire to your living room?  On a scale of 0 to 100, what would you rate this one?  Does Vivian look like she could be Mo Ryan's sister?  Speak your mind... but don't be stupid.  Unless you have donated, then be as stupid as you like.

135 comments:

  1. Great ep so far. Wow the amount of Lost thrown in this ep! Pierre Chang and that tunnel that looks like the hatch being built with guys in jump suits and hard hats

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of the best episodes in a long long time. Sarah in the wedding dress try-ons? Ohgod.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ah this episode was awesome. can not wait to see the next episode. when will that be??

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great ep... I guess now we get to know who's going to take revenge for her daddy.... and crazy Sarah on the loose for her wedding!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I really want that castle wardrobe it would save loads of time in the mornings

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like Morgan and Casey are gonna be roomies... :P

    Also, looks like Beckman's decision not to let Vivian see her father might explode in everyone's faces...

    Vandevere

    ReplyDelete
  7. This episode was so awesome that the critics are bound to not like it. They tend to love crappy episodes and crap on great ones.

    I am going to enjoy reviewing this one on the podcast.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I didn't appreciate the way Vivian was looking at Chuck in the beginning of the episode haha

    but I love Sarah and her realization of wedding craziness and the Charah Bonnie and Clyde moment!

    I need more awesome in my life though!

    Btw not even close to being over Zachary's performance at the oscars last night!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sarah's moment in the mirror was tone perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Of course, Magnus. Though I really hope people figured out Zachary Levi was on Chuck and showed up to watch tonight. That'd be amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I doubt that happens, Wyndzorz but if they did, they picked a great episode to check out.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I loved it turning on the engines to set up the great end stretch

    ReplyDelete
  13. Had a wonderful pace a real relationship building ep. Good writing great Yvonne performance

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yay! I really loved this episode. The parallel of Chuck/Vivian completely worked for me this time. I felt like they tried to force it in my face last week. I'm also very happy I liked the Vivian character more.

    The Morgan/Jeffster stuff was funny if only because of Morgan's reactions.

    The Sarah/Ellie stuff was super cute. Total aww at Sarah and the dress.

    The Sarah/Chuck robbery scene was comedic gold. So much love for that scene. Also really loved Competant Spy Chuck.

    Casey was just a big ? in this episode. Eager to see where that is headed.

    Finally the Morgan/Casey roomates situation. So much potential for comedy. Can't Wait.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This episode was excruciatigly slow. I was hoping to be done with all things Volkoff. The wedding parts were fun- especially the wedding dresses. It was great to see Sarah as funny even if it was a little out of character. The banter between Chuck and Sarah during the robbery while they yelled at the guards will be one of my top moments of the season. Overall, the episode had some good moments but has generally left me confused as to where they are taking the next storyline.

    ReplyDelete
  16. CreativeSherry, the episode was awesome. You are banned from this site (mind you, I have no way of doing that).

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great Episode!! Vivian is COOOL!! Sarah is AMAZING!! Magnus is AWE-INSPIRING!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I could see the Vivian storyline coming from a mile away but it really worked cause I think Lauren Cohen is really solid. I look forward to her being somewhat evil. 96

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm so not happy with Casey lately. I want him to find his niche, but not this way. I'm not a fan of splitting the team. I keep telling myself to just give it time, though.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous, if that even is your name, while Casey had a very small role tonight, he had a couple of great lines. So, I was happy with him.

    P.S.

    You are banned... or something.

    Man, I need to get that power.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Magnus,

    I thought you can put people in a spam folder ....no? am I incorrect? Man when they put chuck and sarah together they really spun the wheel......and this episode showed that they really have walked away with the jackpot! Very nice and sweet moments for chuck and sarah, sarah and ellie and sarah and casey! excellent episode, loved the bank robbery!

    ReplyDelete
  22. tonights episode was freakin awesome.......and I'm not jus sayin that so magnus doesn't ban me

    ReplyDelete
  23. Amrit, I can do that but I see no point. I am just being silly.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Luke, I was close to banning you... but now you have been unbanned for life! Pro and retroactively!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I also forgot to mention I loved the scene with the lawyer and Vivian, where he was reading the letter in the accent because it would make her more "comfortable". Totally felt like something the character would think of. Made me really miss Timothy Dalton so much in that moment.

    I'm saddened by the fact that the people who were practically flailing over last week don't feel as strongly about this one. I think it was head and shoulders better than the past two even.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sue, last week's was at best a C+. This week is an A+. Just goes to show that some people have really weird taste. But hey, I guess that is what makes this show something for everyone.

    You know, there are those of us who like quality and then those who like CRAP!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really enjoyed this episode. The robbing of the bank, and gushing about the upcoming wedding while simultaneously threatening people was hilarious. Does anyone know whats happening with the schedule though? I hadn't heard Chuck was taking a break so I was surprised to see The Event was going to be airing at 8 next week.

    ~Haylee

    ReplyDelete
  28. This was the best episode of the second half of the season! By far my favorite scene was the whole bank robbery scene however I strongly disliked Volkoff's lawyer. I don't know why but every time he was on the camera I just was turned off. Also I have to give major kudos to Yvonne she made all of her scenes amazing tonight. The music for the episode was amazing and I felt that the episode flowed very well. My last thought was the bridezilla ellie made sarah into. I just couldn't stop laughing about the whole idea of it. One question does come to mind, doesn't the CIA pay Chuck and Sarah for their services, so then why does Chuck worry about money for the wedding? Overall I'd give this episode a solid 95, loosing points because of the lawyer

    ReplyDelete
  29. I loved last week's episode but loved this week's even more. Last week was pure comedy gold even if it had a bad horse chase scene and was a little bit off the rails. This week was the latter era "Grown up Chuck" - a touch sinister and menacing with light comedy sprinkled in here and there kind of like adding a little sweetness to a red hot curry. If our show is going out, its going out on the top of its game. :)

    Zman

    ReplyDelete
  30. I really do love how Yvonne has played sarah in drama and especially comedy since chuck and sarah have gotten together...I mean we have seen her smile a lot since 3.13, but has she ever had such a massive giddy smile when she realised that she was getting married...my heart melted a little, actually a lot! it was pure glee and that is awesome! It is nice when someone looks like they are enjoying their job, next up! we need to get casey a women, because he has a very nice smile too!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Loved this episode. Classic Chuck, and Zach and Yvonne nailed all their scenes. The holographic computer stuff was really cool also. I'm ready for a gamechanger though. Something that will make me say holy crap did that just happen. Keep on keeping on Chuck. I'm loving every minute of it.

    Kyle

    ReplyDelete
  32. As for Sepinwall he can kiss my......asno, borrico, buro

    Yeah I went there!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Chuck is only taking a one week break while NBC reintroduces The Event to Monday night. Chuck returns March 14th at 8e/7c, followed by The Event.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I was lukewarm on last week's episode, but liked this one a lot. I'm not a big fan of when TV shows go into "wedding mode", but they put enough of a Chuck spin on it for me to like it much more than I expected I would.

    The banter while robbing the bank was fantastic. Seeing Sarah turn into a Bridezilla was worth it just for seeing Yvonne perform it. You could tell she's enjoying it.

    I'm really appreciative of episodes when Chuck can really be the fully realized spy he's supposed to be, while still being the sensitive Chuck we love. When he said he'd go and tell Vivian about the CIA's backing out of their promise, I felt a callback to "Nacho Sampler".

    Ray Wise is one of my favorites and I'm glad they got him. It looks like he'll be back.

    I haven't made a decision on Lauren Cohan. But, I think that ambiguity about her character serves the story.

    I hate NBC for not showing a promo for the next episode and telling viewers Chuck will be back in 2 weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  35. this week episode made up for everything from last weeks. it was epic- good! the comedy was great - i felt like it was going back to the old writting-way of chuck. it was brilliant. loved the robbery scene

    ReplyDelete
  36. Having now watched the episode three times, I actually think it is getting even better the more I watch. There are lots of little things in this one. Definitely one of the series best. I would call it a Tic Tac for season 4 type in that it has lots of fun stuff with Chuck and Sarah... the kind of stuff that reminds you just why we loved them in the first place.

    If they can keep doing these kinds of episode, the relationship should never get boring. Oh and I am not huge on wedding stuff either, but this episode showed how to do it right. Have a very good actor get to sink her teeth into what she loves about acting.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Yeah the non promo diss by NBC has me worried as well. Chuck comes back and DWTS and it's 20 million viewers will be back.

    NBC did not do Chuck any favors tonight by promoting the Celebrity Apprentice.

    I loved the episode. Sarah trying on dresses and the epiphany moment were so well done. I also loved the bank scene. Chuck trying to act all badass, You move and I break your face. lol

    rac2873

    ReplyDelete
  38. NBC not promoting when a show will be back on is usually a bad sign. But if they had decided to cancel it already, I would have heard about it. I just think they figure it makes no difference.

    ReplyDelete
  39. The only time I ever remember NBC bothering to promote the show was when it returned following the Olympics.

    This episode is probably going to end up being one of my favorites. The bank robbery scene was hilarious, and the Vivian/Chuck parallels worked well for me. I'm looking forward to re-watching it tomorrow without the screeches of hyperactive toddlers in the background :).

    ReplyDelete
  40. This episode was one of the highlights of this season. I Loved the bank robbery and Sarah wedding dress scenes.

    I'm troubled by the lack of preview, but I tend to agree that NBC realizes that the results will be the same regardless of the promotion they give it so why not save the money.

    ReplyDelete
  41. magnus at the moment how do you think chuck is fairing for a season 5? because i went over to chuck tv the other day and they don't seem too worried. but the numbers seem quite low. how worried are you about chuck not been renewed? i really love this show and not ready for it to end!
    Maddie

    ReplyDelete
  42. best episode since push mix

    ReplyDelete
  43. Maddie, anyone who is not worried is out of their mind. The ratings are low and likely going lower. However, there are scenario where the show sticks around for another season (if for only 13 episodes) so I am not going to call it one way or another until an insider tells me otherwise.

    If I were a betting man, I would bet on cancellation. But I am not a betting man.

    ReplyDelete
  44. RE: S5

    What's the likely hood that Warner Brothers lowers the licensing fee next year for 13 or 22 episodes ? I would think they would like to have enough episodes so the show could be stripped if sold into syndication .

    ReplyDelete
  45. I don't think WB considers CHUCK a much better syndication sell at 100 episodes. It is just not the type of show that does well in syndication. Plus, how much more can they cut? When they lower the licensing fee, they also cut the budget.

    ReplyDelete
  46. This episode was awesome,hilarious,and scary.

    I hated Volkoff's lawyer (I think we are MEANT to hate Volkoff's lawyer), but I felt that the actor playing him did a fine performance. Everyone was performing brilliantly this episode.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Best episode ever full of awesomeness! the bank robbery was just... AWESOME, yes, awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This episode was freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! Best of the Season so far

    ReplyDelete
  49. I just watched it once but it was really a good episode. It happened more often sthis season than in the past that an episode is "good" from the beginning to the end, in previous seasons "excellent" episodes always had some weak moments, this had not, IMO.
    And I agree with you, Magnus, the wedding stuff was managed as it has to be, for once. And Sarah freaking out for her white dress was adorable...
    Plus, 13 epiosdes? Please, don't throw hopes that might show up to be vain...

    ReplyDelete
  50. I liked the episode (the Bank robbery scene was hilarious).

    I'm not normally a nitpicky person, but I did get bothered by a glaring plothole in the ep. How the hell didn't the bank realise that the 2 robbers were the same as Vivian's security a few days earlier? For a high-tech offshore bank they're pretty damn stupid.

    Other than that, I really am interested by this Vivian arc.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Great episode!

    a) Honey-bunny;
    b) Pierre Chang;
    c) Barbie's Dream Closet is apparently owned by the CIA;
    d) Ray Wise!
    e) Bridezilla Sarah!
    f) Killer Matrix-like robbery moves;
    g) Once again a glimpse of Morgan's Star Wars sheets;
    h) Chuck's porn-star-mustache.

    Well, I could go on forever!

    How come an episode this awesome had a promo so lame?

    The Vivian character is kinda growing on me... the actress doesn't seem so bad anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  52. WOW ! Why couldn't EP4.15 and 4.16 be like this?!?!?!

    This is going to be a painfull March/April.
    No Chuck Mar 7th:(
    Ep4.21 is scheduled to air Arpil 25:(
    That leaves 6 weeks for three episodes (a-team, Muuurder, and Family Volkoff)

    I feel the shakes from Chuck withdraw already.

    TS

    PS now Vivian will swing to the evil side and make up her mind to be good or bad once she sees Alexi in action.

    ReplyDelete
  53. im not worried about the no promo thing. I mean they promote the hell out of the cape and event, and the ratings still plummet . They know at least chuck will be consistent.

    I wouldn't mind if it ended after this season. usually after season 5/syndication the writing quality starts to decline

    ReplyDelete
  54. I shouldn't say last week's sucked, but it wasn't up to the quality of the show I love. Anyone who can't see that this episode lives up to the CHUCK quality we expect... well, I think you should watch this episode when you are not a major idiot!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Unless of course you have donated to this site, then I respectfully disagree.

    ReplyDelete
  56. One thing I was surprised with was how good the mirror scene was even that it was expected after Ellie mentioned that it would happen. Many times you want such scenes to come as a surprise for them to be good and not forced.

    The Vivian stuff was really good, think they who dont like this storyline with her already have decided long ago that they dont like it.

    The courtyard scene in the end, just awesome and funny.

    Really good episode overall, Hard to rate but somewhere between 97-98!

    /Oliver

    ReplyDelete
  57. Magnus,

    Don't get me wrong about EP4.15 and 4.16

    They just didn't measure up like this one did.
    I just hope the next 7 episodes are all hits like this one.

    I'm still LOL at Sarah become Ellie's wedding monster. The whole bank robbers reminded me of the 1992 movie Undercover Blues.

    Chuck is now on the up swing cycle they go through every season. What will be the season climax?

    Vivian will spoil Chuck and Sarah's wedding?
    The Volkoffs will take advantage of the tension between the CIA and NCS by pitting them against one another?
    Castle will fall into Volkoff's hands?
    Ellie and Devin will hare Morgan as a nanny?

    TS

    ReplyDelete
  58. Wow. Some of the reactions here are crazy. It's like someone's playing a giant practical joke on me.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I liked the episode but it did not bring the intense what will happen next like 4.9, 4.12, 4.13 had. This episode did have a confident Chuck a hot Sarah beautiful Ellie. They did a good job with Vivian and the Lawyer making Chuck into the bad guy (in Vivians mind). I liked how the used some of the music from the Pilot, I made the connection that Chuck was developing Vivian as an asset by helping her with who she was as what she was capiable of like Sarah did to Chuck in the pilot. 6 weeks to show 3 episodes is concerning but then I hope there is no new Chuck when DWTS returns. I think they are leaving their options open based on the Event restart. As for this episode the more you watch it the better it gets,and yes confident Chuck in my opinion is the way to go. But did anyone else noted that Yvonne suggested in an interview that they should have a outfit costume room either last year or two years ago???

    ReplyDelete
  60. Paddy, life played a practical joke on all of us when it introduced you.

    ReplyDelete
  61. One of the best eps this season. I still like Seduction Impossible better but this ep comes in close second. Can't wait to hear your podcast Magnus. :)
    Brittany

    ReplyDelete
  62. Ha ha. Very good. Maybe I just forget all the good stuff in an episode when there's a crappy ending.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Brittany, I like Seduction Impossible more too. I probably like any of the Volkoff episodes more (but then I am a huge Timmy D fan). But this is definitely one of the better episodes of the season, and series for that matter. Just pure fun... the kind of stuff that made me fall in love with the show.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I can't wait to your podcast Magnus :) . I read some comments in other sites, and some of them already said what you expected. I remember when you said, some fans gonna have some problem with Sarah.and Her epiphany
    And now, they actualy starting to say. Sarah was OOC in the Wedding dress scene, and it was cliche, or how it would be better LOL.

    to Me, it was a fan episode, and I don't realy understood, if something is actualy really good, then people, why they try to find things that they do not like about the episode , just because they think they are good Critics? :S. I mean yeah if an episode is bad, then is bad no question but not even really bad, it just not as good :) . But if an episode is good then good. simple is.

    But
    I can't wait to your podcast Magnus :) .

    ReplyDelete
  65. I loved this episode for many reasons but first the wedding dress scene was perfect execution by a brilliant actress. Yvonne and Sarah are the reason I love this show as much as I do and why I became involved with the fan community. We saw a new emotion from her and it was simply nailed by Yvonne. She really is something very very special. That scene is one I will cherish from this show for a long time.

    One more thing but could they have picked a more perfect actor for the lawyer than Ray Wise? Great casting and we need more of him.

    I also really liked Lauren much better here than last week. In Masquerade she seemed a little flat and unsure of herself but here her inner Volkoff was done to perfection. I do think she will eventually have an epiphany of good vs evil when it comes to her father and Chuck will "save" her as well but that may just be the optimist in me. I don't see them following a absolute parallel with the Sham here. Her move to the dark side will not be permanent but in the end she will realize that Chuck was being honest with her if just naive. She wants to learn about her father but I'm not convinced she will follow in his footsteps completely.

    ReplyDelete
  66. People who don't understand Sarah, as I have said over and over throughout these seasons, call a Sarah moment out of character because they have rigid expectations of the character.

    Her reaction was perfectly within character. She has been resisting the wedding stuff because she feels out of her element. She isn't comfortable thinking about it because, until that moment in the mirror, she believed herself to be detached from it. And then, while trying on the dresses, in an effort to become more a part of the process (because she loves Chuck and wants to make him happy), that little girl who has been fighting to get out (as I have talked about since season 2) finally appeared.

    This is who Sarah is. If you thought she was someone else, then you suck at analyzing characters.

    ReplyDelete
  67. "...that little girl who has been fighting to get out (as I have talked about since season 2) finally appeared."

    So Magnus,

    You have mentioned a couple of times that you identify the most with Sarah as a character, and that her emotional journey sort of matches your own. Does that mean your inner little girl has also won her fight to get out? :)

    Loved the episode, by the way. I don't normally laugh out loud at TV shows, but Sarah/Yvonne miming throwing up at that second dress just got to me.

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  68. Jim, nope. Especially since she is a girl and I am a boy.

    ReplyDelete
  69. You're a boy!!?!?!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Magnus, I couldn't agree more. That scene is one of the big reasons I love this character. That little girl was never allowed to have those dreams before that moment. She finally realized that "It is real" and she could let that little girl feel the joy and wonder of that moment.

    What I also loved is that she "We're getting married" not "I'm getting married". Her joy was as much about them as it was her. The possibility of a life that she could only have ever found with Chuck and had been dashed so many times before, they fought through and it was all before her. That scene enables the Bank scene to happen. They really have become a confident, team of equals able to jump from wedding talk to blowing the heads off anyone that moved with such ease.

    As you said perfectly in character and perfectly executed by a uniquely talented actress.

    ReplyDelete
  71. rich says
    first of all, I really liked the episode. I've only watched it once so it wasn't amazing yet, but episodes really are much better the second time.

    One thing I don't like that they do is make things painfully obvious, like when Sarah says "I feel like I am letting them down" or whatever. Yvonne made that plenty obvious beforehand, but the writers feel they need to spell everything out. It is fun to figure out what yvonne is telling you, and she's such a good actor its not usually very hard.

    I liked vivians character a lot this episode. I think it will be amazing when Timmy D and lauren cohen get on screen together. 'twould be awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Goodbye Season 5 of Chuck. Least Gary Cole coming back

    ReplyDelete
  73. After a brief conversation with my NBC ninja... enjoy the rest of this season. Enjoy it like you have never enjoyed anything before.

    ReplyDelete
  74. so it official then or that what you source is saying. This will be the last season of Chuck

    ReplyDelete
  75. rich says
    will do magnus, will do. doesn't sound like a very awesome conversation.

    ReplyDelete
  76. So only a brief miracle when it returns but we are a gonna! Nevermind

    ReplyDelete
  77. That's disheartening news, although the writing has been on the wall since the start of the 1.7 ratings no matter how other sites try to spin it.

    Thanks for preparing us.

    ReplyDelete
  78. No. When it is official, I will be very specific. This is just based on internal talk. Same thing happened last year around this time... and then NBC's other shows tanked so badly that CHUCK looked good in comparison. But this time things aren't as positive. CHUCK is now trailing a bit too much.

    So, things could definitely change. But I would spend less time bitching and more time enjoying.

    ReplyDelete
  79. What does it mean Magnus?? you mean no season 5 and we should enjoy the chuck at least we have now??

    ReplyDelete
  80. Sue, the other sites will lie to you all the way until the end. I won't waste your time. So, if anyone is saying that things are still good, they are either ignorant, blind, or liars.

    But I am not saying it is totally over. It just isn't looking good. Wait to see how the show is doing at the end of March. If it is somehow still pulling a 1.7 and other shows are doing better, then we are in trouble. If 1.7 and other shows are bombing worse, then bubble. If lower than 1.7... done, unless they go for broke and move it to Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Well with no promotion and lack of confidence that NBC or comcast now give the show. I think we should enjoy this season and move on.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Yes, I would not expect a 5th season.

    Could it still happen? Anything can happen. But based on this latest conversation, it isn't being viewed as a bubble show right now.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Thanks for shooting us straight Magnus. Least you live in the world of reality unlike those other sites. I wonder why people stop watching. I mean i guess the moonlight curse is true.

    ReplyDelete
  84. You mean MOONLIGHTING.

    And if it is true, then it is true because people made themselves believe it was true. As a friend of mine (who quit the show this season) said, "They ruined the show. You can't put the romantic leads together. That ruins the show."

    When I asked him to explain HOW it ruined the show, he couldn't come up with ONE way to explain how. His only response was "Everyone knows it does."

    I didn't even bother arguing more about it because it just wasn't worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  85. he likes being teased?

    ReplyDelete
  86. No, I think he is a typical braindead zombie who does what he is told, or what he thinks society expects from him.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Sorry i knew this day was coming. I just crying on the inside right now. I mean i should not be. I trying to prepare myself but alas I still sad. Least I dont have to watch NBC anymore and hope that next year the tank bad. I a DC fan but I hope Wonder Women flops. I sure it will.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Some of my favorite shows are on NBC, so I will keep watching. Though, I am sure that Wonder Woman show will flop. When will they learn? Superhero shows don't do well anymore. Put them on the CW.

    ReplyDelete
  89. I don't want to make a comment anymore I am so sorry!
    Chuck deserves better ratings!!

    ReplyDelete
  90. Worst part is it isn't popular enough to go out on it's own terms. There will be a few storylines that will be left out. Oh well it has been an amazing 4 years and them going out on a Chuck and Sarah wedding isn't a bad way! Even though the honeymoon could have been great

    Jt

    ReplyDelete
  91. I think there are some viewers for every show with romantic leads that just watch for the chase, viewers who say they want characters together and happy but when they get that become bored because they were only in it for the angst. They cling to the story in there heads of how it will happen and when it doesn't they claim the show sucks.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Deserves? All I know is that it doesn't get better ratings and it sucks because I do feel like they have at least one more season left in them.

    By the way, anyone notice that the ratings started tanking around the same time as the last two seasons? No, I don't mean when daylight savings happened. I don't mean when the flow of episodes was interrupted by the president speaking.

    I mean right after the media started saying the show was a safe bet for another season.

    ReplyDelete
  93. "Magnus said...
    Paddy, what crappy ending?
    March 1, 2011 11:10 AM"

    Abrupt. Not a real cliffhanger.

    ReplyDelete
  94. * prays for a work stoppage forth NFL *

    Fridays would really be the only place for Chuck next year . I could see Chuck sharing the 8:00 PM slot with who do you think you are? If it comes back .

    NBC has saved Chuck many times from cancelation . Is it too much to ask for one last time ? :)

    ReplyDelete
  95. Paddy, you now remind me of my friend and his ridiculous argument for why he quit the show.

    Anonymous, if that even is your name, isn't the NFL issue in arbitration? Doesn't sound like that will mean work stoppage. And even if it ended up with a work stoppage, it would likely happen too late for CHUCK to get a pickup purely because they needed to fill four hours on Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Interjection of TV History:
    What happened on Moonlighting was that Cybill Shepherd got pregnant with twins in real life right after the couple got together and they had to write a convoluted story to cover her absence from many of the episodes. The show actually lasted two seasons after they "got together".

    A spy spoof similar to Chuck, "Scarecrow and Mrs. King", had similar bad luck when they married the couple off in its 4th season. Kate Jackson got breast cancer and wasn't able to do many episodes after the couple were married on the show. (Scarecrow, of course, was played by Bruce Boxleitner, who is Awesome's dad)

    I hold no ill will toward NBC. They've kept this show on when a certain ratings commentator has been telling them to cancel it for years.

    ReplyDelete
  97. Heh. No.

    When the last thing you see is an ending that looked like it still had a few more minutes left to run, followed by no promo, it tends to taint your view.

    I'm not really being fair since I haven't watched it again yet.

    But I enjoyed the episode - I thought it was good.

    Seeing people claiming it's one of their favourites of the season or series, though, was a little startling.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Magnus, out of the depressing talk (I will keep enjoying every single episode for itself, not thinking how it will affect the ratings, I don't care!) I think that in the bridal dress scene Sam was finally avenged. Sarah's inner ordinary girl, that was mentioned in Fake name, now came out and it was so horrible and out of context in fake name as it was funny and sweet this time!
    Or maybe I should donate before I can talk of season 3: just let me know... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  99. J says ...

    Magnus ,

    The NFL and the NFLPA are meeting with an arbitrator , but last time I checked ESPN both sides were still FAR apart . Their deal expires at midnight on Thursday ( Technically Friday ) . I read reports that said that the Players association was going to decertify . Then try going to court to block the lock-out by not having union representation . Some sort of legal mumbo jumbo that is way over my head . So to me anyways , it doesn't look good at the moment . Though I'm sure they'll get a deal done eventually .

    Do you think NBC would at least entertain the idea of trying Chuck on Friday next year ?

    ReplyDelete
  100. I don't think Chuck would do any better on Friday than their current programming of a newsmagazine and a reality show. Except the current programming is cheaper.

    ReplyDelete
  101. I am not an expert but I think that the event will raise our ratings. As you can see in the second half of each episode since Chuck vs the balcony, we loose at least 0.5 and 500,000-600,000 viewers. That's not a coincidence. The event has better ratings from Cape so people who expect to watch it they will stick on NBC 15 minutes or even half an hour before it starts.

    NenaGr

    ReplyDelete
  102. No, Paddy, it taints YOUR view because you are super weird. Though, if you have donated, then you are super cool... but wrong.

    NenaGr, I don't see how that applies here. Why would CHUCK viewers abandon the show halfway through just because of THE EVENT not being there? Before I watched CHUCK, I didn't tune into HEROES until after CHUCK ended. I didn't tune in half hour early.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Well, if this is the last season, I hope the show runners get enough of a heads up to wrap things up in a satisfying way. In any event, we will have gotten four years of a (mostly) great show and two more years than we really had any right to expect. I'll take Magnus' advice and just enjoy what's left.

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  104. Jim, if I was on the Titanic, I would have gone down like the musicians, not screaming in terror like the wussies in the lower class. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  105. You know in a way....I am kind of not too sad that chuck may end this season because zachary and yvonne have kind of broken into the main stream, they are on the cusp of being A-listers. Zachary is already at the oscars, has a new agent, his tangled pulled in over half a billion dollars, etc and yvonne has the killer elite and other projects I assume. It is time for them to move on, they are at the right age to hit the big time. I will always be greatful to the whole cast for putting in the time and effort they did put in and look forward to what they do next, it has been a very enjoyable ride, so good luck to them, I wish them the best and thank you! This is a bittersweet moment but that is how it should be when you love something so much!

    ReplyDelete
  106. Jake, I am much of the same mind. Let these cats go become superstars. Especially Yvonne. Female actors have a much shorter time-frame in which to make a name for themselves before Hollywood starts ignoring them for some 20-year old.

    ReplyDelete
  107. "I mean right after the media started saying the show was a safe bet for another season." Magnus

    I was wondering the same thing. When it was picked up for an additional 11 episodes, I saw talk that season 5 has to happen. There was an interview with Zac where an interviewer made a comment about the show not being on the bubble anymore. (Zac replies, I haven't heard we're off the bubble). With talk like that, no wonder viewers don't tune in faithfully. We had somewhat better numbers when we only thought we had 13 episodes. Sucks though, this season has been really great.

    ReplyDelete
  108. One of my favorite things about Zac, he doesn't play the BS Hollywood game of lying to his fans.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Overnight Finals time:

    A18-49: 1.71 (last week 1.68)
    M18-49: 1.72 (last week 1.82)
    W18-49: 1.70 (last week 1.54)

    Interesting. Decline in men; increase in women.

    Men 18-34 went from 1.5 last week to 1.33 this week. The increase in chicks kept the ratings the same.

    Kind of cool the women ratings were up given Bachelor and House were also up this week.

    ReplyDelete
  110. I bet when CHUCK returns in 2-weeks, it will go up to a 1.9... and then tumble to a 1.6 the following week.

    ReplyDelete
  111. All this talk of possible cancellation reminds me of my first heartbreak.....Streethawk! I a kid when they made that show but caught it on repeats and only ever saw the 13 episodes they made, I loved that show! At that moment I realised that network tv can be a souless place, but to be fair to NBC they gave chuck a lot more then terriers, firefly, my beloved streethawk and many other shows that were creatively awesome but just did not get the viewers. I hate phillistines who only look at the bottom line.

    ReplyDelete
  112. Ted, right on. I have no love for NBC as an organization or management group, but they gave the show I love 78 episodes when other networks would likely have canceled it after 13 (and surely canceled it after 35).

    ReplyDelete
  113. Maybe they can run with this female demo thing and start to cross-promote on Oxygen under the heading "Sarah Says Yes to the Dress".

    (Yeah, I know that's a TLC show)

    ReplyDelete
  114. They should put Yvonne in a fat suit and pretend Sarah needs to lose weight before the wedding. Cross promote it with... whatever show does that.

    ReplyDelete
  115. Well Magnus at least you are keeping it straight. I was hoping of all hope thst they would get 13 more and go out on their own terms. Looks like that is not going to happen.

    It has been a long bumpy road and we had some issues along the way but we always loved Chuck. It's been a great ride and I will surely miss this show.

    Richard

    ReplyDelete
  116. Richard, I didn't say "It is canceled." A conversation this morning was less than positive. Things could still change. They did last year.

    ReplyDelete
  117. you guys need to realize if there's an nfl and an nba lockout that could change everything nbc had planned. who knows what will happen.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Oh one final comment. Remember the Sarah/Casey scene? The wedding dress had bullet-holes. I believe that's what is called "foreshadowing". The writers on this show tend to do it very heavily at times. Sort of how Shaw kept pushing guns at Chuck in season 3 and Chuck ended up using one for the first time on Shaw. Just saying...

    Zman

    ReplyDelete
  119. Weren't we just talking about the NFL thing?

    ReplyDelete
  120. That and doesn't the world end in 2012? Or is that May 2011? I forget. All these 'end of the world' dates keep changing and all.

    Anyway, outside of that.. sucks that Chuck didn't get a slight boost in ratings, but it's what I expected out of NBC and their excellent promotion games. /sarcasm

    As for your convo with the source you know.. well that sucks to hear, and even though you say it could change, the negative side of me doubts it will. They'll probably just clean Monday and start from scratch, and that just sucks. I'll be sure to enjoy Chuck the best way I can!

    ReplyDelete
  121. oh my bad didnt see past comments

    ReplyDelete
  122. 2 facts about 4x17...

    1. Lauren Cohan (Vivian Volkoff) is awesome actress!!!!
    2. Chuck's smile than notice to bank robery is very crazy!!! xD

    ReplyDelete
  123. I'm not sure about anything related to renewal. I think objective party would know the writing is on the wall as far as the current ratings. There is no way that the ratings are going to remain stable when DST/DWTS hits. That said, as to the NFL issue, a federal mediator has stepped in, but the parties have not agreed to arbitration. Thus no one can force a deal and almost all the analysts who study the NFL closely remain pessimistic that a deal will get done before a labor stoppage. But like anything else, that could change overnight. In that context though, NBC has to be making contingency plans to fill that 3 hours every Sunday in the fall. For that purpose, Chuck may be a perfect fit, get the 13 eps and burn them off in the summer if they turn out not to be necessary

    ReplyDelete
  124. Well, sorry to hear about the conversation but I had a feeling that this feeling would be the last. It just seems as though they are ready to move on. Chuck is an awesome show and has had a great run. I would love a season 5, but if they can wrap up a season 4 nicely, then bravo. I enjoyed the episode last night, it was better than the last two, at least in my opinion. Magnus, you rock. Thanks for being honest. Catch ya later!

    ReplyDelete
  125. Sunday is technically 4 hours of programming. They start at 7pm ET.

    ReplyDelete
  126. Have you heard anything about how NBC's pilots look, and how they might affect any chances for renewal?

    ReplyDelete
  127. Nope. I haven't had a chance to talk about pilots.

    ReplyDelete
  128. FYI, CYT60 is recorded but I need to do some editing and I can't get to it right now. So, expect it tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  129. I have no clue as to how chuck can be cancelled or renewed based on ratings. I mean it took chuck 45 episodes to drop below the 2.0 level in the key demo but shows like community and harry's law and even the event have dropped below that in 1 or 1.5 seasons max.....I mean does it not matter that chuck seems to be like the cheapest show on air right now. I mean with subway and all the product placement that is going on and the complete and lack of promotion by nbc how can chuck not be more financially viable then say harry's law or the event where nbc is promoting the crap out of them and still hitting similar numbers in the key demo to chuck. I am missing something here, I do not know what but it seems crazy that nbc not invest in at least a little bit more promotion to get it to at least a 2.0! I love nbc for keeping it on air but come on!

    ReplyDelete
  130. Jake, what you are saying just isn't true. CHUCK isn't the cheapest show on air. It doesn't have tons of product placements. It isn't as financially viable as it once was. Plus, CHUCK once had prestige in that lots of people in the media were fighting for it. Now that show is COMMUNITY.

    ReplyDelete
  131. Whats up?? Lastnights episode was good. I like the way Sarah just really got into the whole wedding. I love how the story is turning out. I am excited about what is still to come. Chuck and Sarah robbing a bank was cool. I loved it when Chuck said he was going to break some face. Lol. I did miss seeing Casey, I would like to see more of him. All in all I liked it. Can't wait for the next one.

    ReplyDelete

No flaming, baiting, trolling, expletives, or racism allowed. And NO DISCUSSIONS of the actor's personal lives ever.