1. Christmas and CHUCK are through!!
I was really hoping that this would be the one totally happy CHUCK Christmas episode we never had; but alas it wasn't to be. Let's run through the other Christmas Episodes of CHUCK so far...
- Crown Vic (Season 1): Chuck & Sarah were dealing with the aftermath of Bryce resurrection and THAT KISS plus the stupid Lon Kirk fight; which ruined any chance of Chuck getting a kiss from Sarah under the Mistletoe! But we did have the brilliant Buy More Dancing scene which I re-enact every chance I get (Lucky you can't see me while I type... because I am doing it right now).
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| There ain't no party like a Buy More Party! |
- Santa Claus (Season 2): My opinion on this episode has changed in the last year or so, initially I thought of it as a scary & chilling Christmas episode with Sarah executing Mauser and all (Silent Night will never be the same). But after watching this episode more and more I totally agree Sarah had to kill Mauser, I totally get that. In many ways this action was Sarah's Christmas gift to Chuck; whilst not as shiny as a charm bracelet it did keep Chuck safe & with his family and not in a bunker. An act of love by Sarah just as touching as Chuck giving Sarah his Mother's Charm Bracelet. It may sound morbid or twisted but Sarah was willing take a life and bear the consequences because of her love of Chuck perhaps more so than her duty to the intersect project. What upset me with the episode though was Chuck's sudden fear and questioning of Sarah's character and then there was Sarah lying to Chuck... again with the crap communication skills.
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| What to get the nerd who has everything... how about one less mortal enemy! |
- The Leftovers (Season 4): Chuck tries to fix things with his Mom but only proceeds to pooch things up even further; putting Ellie & Devon in danger and forcing his Mom back into the clutches of Volkoff. Not really the best way to spend Christmas, plus Chuck was in procrastinating phase of his marriage proposal plan and made us wait until after the CHUCK sabbatical in early 2011 to see his proposal.
So in Santa Suit we get some really great action (Shaw getting his ass kicked!) but we didn't get a Christmas where Chuck & Sarah just enjoy each other and the company of friends to reflect on what occurred earlier in the episode. Instead we get Beckman interrupting during the middle of the Christmas party to tell Sarah that Shaw wanted to speak to her... what the piece of trash couldn't wait till tomorrow or the day after to speak Sarah? How many life sentences is he serving again?
All in all I thought the episode was strong, good even but I just felt the writing pooched up the Sarah & Chuck relationship parts of the episode. Sorry but in addition to getting the bracelet back for Sarah, Chuck totally would have got her a gift (probably in July). The writing for Sarah in particular was off in the episode; but Yvonne's performance in isolation was still great.
I guess just as in real life nothing is 100% perfect; even Christmas on CHUCK... but Chuck Versus The Honeymooners is really really close to perfection!
The happenings in the episode does fit with my theory for this season's theme on CHUCK being that Chuck and Sarah will continue to find it extremely hard to build a "real-life" in the outside world as long as they continue as spies. I won't say a reckoning is coming, that is much too dark... but a shining epiphany perhaps?
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| Somebody needs to explain the taboo of re-gifting to Chuck |
2. Casey & Beckman show a softer side at Christmas
Casey (aka Sugar Bear) gets Alex Mr Pippers "the preppy polar bear" plush toy, excellent choice Colonel! Though the bear does remind me just a little of the very spooky Teddy Ruxpin toy from the 80's. However just when you think Casey is starting to mellow on us... he breaks out of lockdown in Castle to help Morgan save Sarah (the best damn partner he ever had) despite being shot... FREAKING SHOT people!! John Casey is still in the top echelon of bad-asses.
Not to be outdone General Dianne Beckman was remarkable again this week showing loyalty and friendship to Chuck & company. Once again using her status with the NSA to get Chuck the required information and the Macau device to save Sarah. To think this was the same General who ordered Casey to eliminate Chuck the moment the NSA/CIA had a new intersect up and running. I love the dynamic of Beckman and Chuck working together both are master strategists who are quick thinking and ready to execute a plan in an instant.
The emotional journey Casey, Beckman and especially Sarah has taken since meeting Chuck is quite remarkable. It seems the adorable schnook's ability to heartwarm is undeniable despite the life & death situations he finds himself in.
On the other hand as the saying goes, "the more things change the more they stay the same". Casey can still kick-ass with the same grunt and swagger, Beckman is still as commanding and driven as ever and Sarah... well Sarah still loves to keep secrets (I usually don't comment on promos for the upcoming ep in these reviews, but I had to drop that in).
3. Jeffster come up big for Chuck
Who can stop the Omen Virus? Perhaps the Piranha could have handled it; but he had bigger fish to fry. Enter the world's wackiest & weirdest cover-band; they also happen to have some pretty leet (1337) programming skills. What other band could belt out a sweet cover of "Mr Roboto" yet still understand C++ computer language to tackle the Omen? Not many... if any, that's who! The bonus is they will work for Subway sandwiches & coffee... a whole lot of coffee. Chuck did have most of his assets frozen by the US Government so he needs to save money where he can.
"Unplugged" or "Plugged in" no other duo has constantly saved the day like these two but still have absolutely no idea that they were doing it!
4. She is Eleanor Woodcomb, and just like us... she hates Shaw too!
Put your hands up if you expected Shaw to be dead by the end of the episode? I definitely did, I can't remember hating a fictional character so much EVER!
OK so that lousy piece of driftwood didn't take a dirt-nap; but at least it was pretty cool that Ellie got to tee-off on Shaw upside the head! The guy killed her Dad and was about to kill her Brother so she swung for the fences and would have been justified to do more. Not many can take down the SuperShaw aka "The Man of Timber" but Ellie Woodcomb is a real Wonder Woman!
I must admit I did appreciate the symmetry with Ring II; Chuck is a pretty luck guy when you consider the two most important women in his life are willing to dish out severe head injuries with steel weapons to Shaw (or anybody threatening our favourite nerd).
I think we need to mention Sarah Lancaster who is such a brilliant actress and any chance she gets to make Ellie shine, she does so with aplomb. It is always cool to see the brother and sister bonding moments on CHUCK.
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| Saving me is a great gift El, but seriously... did you get me Arkham City on X-box? |
5. Chuck saves the day, as only Chuck can
Chuck makes a plan, Chuck follows through and Chuck saves the day...that is just how that nerd rolls.
Chuck outsmarted Shaw that was a given; Shaw may be a great spy but in a battle of wits & smarts the contest is more one sided then the eternal battle between hammer and nail, Chuck is operating at a level above Shaw. However what was rewarding to see was Chuck kicking Shaw's wooden ass up and down the Buy More!! The push-ups and the heavy bag work paid off, so much so that for most of the fight Chuck was like a buzzsaw cutting though that lousy lump of lumber otherwise known as Shaw.
Eventually Shaw does get the drop on Chuck and resorts to pulling a gun on him; but one thing Chuck has that Shaw never will.... FAMILY that has his back! This time it was Ellie and many times before it has been Sarah, Casey and even Morgan.
Shaw never had what takes to beat Chuck; because you are never fighting just Chuck!! When you are with Team Bartowski... you never walk alone!
Despite the darkness of the episode, I appreciated the sentiment it delivered. Life can be hard and it can get difficult... complicated even; but if you are lucky enough the love of friends and family can see you through. After all it was Christmas and nothing beats family at Christmas!
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| Christmas with the family is great but it can be a little tiring |
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