Five Chunks of Chuck

Versus The Baby


1.Evolution of the Walker


The flashback at the start of the episode only confirmed what we have known for a while, Sarah has changed...a lot!! Even if you just consider Sarah's fighting style from the flashback in Hungary at the start of the episode to her fight with Ryker in her Mom's house. Before she met Chuck and probably right up until she realised she wanted to live a live together with Chuck her fighting style was calm, fluid and maybe even a little robotic with little or no emotion. Just look at how calmly and easily she mowed down those guys in Hungary.

But now her fights are more emotional, where as before she was a robot spy trained to be emotionless and weigh up her options; no matter the situation and who was in danger. But now Sarah is like a Tigress defending her cubs when it comes to those she loves. Spies are taught to take all emotion out of these situations as we have ofter heard "feelings get you killed"; but I ask you this... without her emotions could Sarah have saved Chuck in Thailand? Could she have saved Molly and her Mom from Ryker and his goons?

We have now passed the point of Sarah Walker being just a spy, you could argue that Sarah Bartowski's roles as a wife, sister and best friend take precedence over her life a spy. So she now throws herself into the fray and fights with the emotion of somebody who has a lot to lose; some may consider it a weakness in a spy but to use her own words I think "it is what makes her great".

I think the best example of the effect Chuck has had on the evolution of Sarah as a spy and a person. Is her attitude to killing since Chuck Versus The Santa Claus, she knows that Chuck doesn't like killing but understands that it is sometimes required for the greater good. It was it that point she realised she could no longer lie to Chuck about the killing because it hurt Chuck so much (the lying more than killing) but it is also she has changed as a person. Sarah is no longer person who can kill on the CIA's say-so it has to be a final resort to save lives, in particular the lives of those she loves.

I can't tell you all just how great it was that Sarah had the epiphany to tell Chuck more about things in her spy past because really this nerd will never leave or give up on Sarah... EVER. Even if it took Ryker to help realise it, I am just really glad Sarah can now open up that little bit more.



Sarah never expected Tiger-Mom training to be so intense...




2. White Collared out of existence

Many questions were answered by this episode but if possible it seemed to leave us with just as many new questions as we got answers. 

The main question being how did Sarah go from ending the Hungary mission to beginning her mission on the Intersect Project with Chuck and Casey in Burbank?

I understand that Sarah no longer needed a handler but what does this mean for her missions with Bryce and her missions with the Cat Squad? Are we to assume she had a handler for those missions; it wouldn't make sense would it? Have I stuffed up the timeline in my head or did it all just become more convoluted?

What irony it would be if Matt Bomer's character (Bryce) was made irrelevant by an episode starring his fellow WHITE COLLAR star Tim DeKay (Ryker).

I have heard whispers that we may not have seen the last of Director Langston Graham in CHUCK; maybe this will answer more questions because at the moment I am just a little confused...did the writers just make Bryce and the Cat Squad irrelevant or worse write them out of existence? Be a shame if they did because as much as I dislike Bryce for his epic rooster-blocks on Chuck and Sarah; he did create the angst that made the romance between our favourite spy couple even more memorable!

I really hope I am just over-thinking this... :(



3. Redemption of the Beard

It has been a long and winding road to redemption for Chuck's bearded little buddy.  After the debacle of the Morgan-sect he has tried hard mend the bridges he burnt along the way. Making it up to Chuck and Sarah was easy as saying sorry (and getting rid of those pretentious frosted tips). Casey's forgiveness was a little harder because he put himself out there emotionally for Morgan and he not only betrayed the Colonel but broke his daughter's heart as well.

To fix this with Casey it required more than words; it required action by Morgan to show that he was there for the team and for Alex. This required a lot of Semper Fi-dizzle by Morgan but eventually Casey forgave him and Casey even went in to bat on the Bearded Man-boy's behalf with Alex.

Alex was right to be careful about whether to forgive Morgan or not. Let's not forget the guy who said he loved her and then broke up with her by text message; bonehead and scumbag are two words that come to mind.

By the end of the episode Alex had not only come to forgive Morgan but even let Morgan back into her life as her boyfriend and all it took was Morgan just being the best Morgan he could be the loyal, brave and caring guy who Chuck has always told him he could be if he didn't try too hard to be funny or cool.

I will leave the Morgan/Alex 'shipping to "Gun" (who may I add is a very good friend of the Blog...Thanks Gun!!) but I am glad that Morgan has Alex, the pairing may not warm my heart as much as Chuck and Sarah (but than again who does???). Morgan deserves some happiness for being there for Chuck (and Sarah and Casey) when the serious stuff goes down. I can't quite believe it myself but I have even forgiven him for his part in the Barstow incident.


4. Sarah's Family Matters

I love episodes that have a Sarah focus, they are in my all-time favourites. Even though the show is called CHUCK and not SARAH (or CASEY or MORGAN) but just like the show's title character CHUCK is at its best when it is selfless... especially when it comes to Sarah.

The fans of the show have been dying to find out about Sarah's Mom almost from the very moment we met her Dad, Jack Burton in DeLorean. Thank you to Fedak and the show's writer's for getting it done, it may have been easier to leave it all a mystery but I think this is one of a few special treats the Powers That Be have planned for CHUCK fans in this farewell season.

Just seeing Sarah with her Mom was was so special for me, we have never seen Sarah truly let her guard down with anybody except Chuck and Jack. We can now add Emma to the list; I am not going to lie to you guys and girls there was tears... plenty of tears from Sarah saying that she wants all the normal things for Molly and then the scene with Sarah and Molly talking and finally the embrace between mother and daughter. Not a dry eye in the fandom!!




I think we found a patten here....


We got all the hallmarks of a Sarah mythology CHUCK episode... a great Yvonne Strahovski performance hitting all the emotional buttons that make us love the special character that is Sarah Walker (Bartowski) and equally brilliant support performance from Zac Levi who proves once again he can shine as the second banana; full credit to the guy. I mean not many can handle being one of the E-Street band when they have built a reputation as Bruce Springsteen. Some of Chuck Bartowski's best moments have been in these Sarah-centric episodes from bringing Sarah burgers in Cougars to giving Sarah his Buy More jacket in DeLorean. Chuck always walks that fine line of wanting to know everything about his mystery girl Sarah, because she means everything to him. But also realising that Sarah has compartmentalised her life because of hurt she has suffered and perhaps because of the hurt Sarah has caused others, which she just doesn't want Chuck to know.

Finally as the blog title suggests I do love my moments of symmetry, how about the conversation between Chuck and Emma? It is quite reminiscent of Chuck and Jack at the end of DeLorean; it is quite moving to see both Sarah's parents realising just how much Chuck loves Sarah (and how much Sarah loves Chuck) and that is so awesome.

I know both Sarah's parents are eternally grateful to Chuck for being able to provide the life and love Sarah deserves... a life neither Jack or Emma could provide because of situation or circumstance.

"Thank you for giving her... this" Those six simple words say say so much! Truth be told, this is the point of the episode where I am guaranteed to lose it...EVERY TIME!!




Sarah Walker episodes always end in tears and hugs... awesome!!



5. Chuck and Sarah (and Home) is where the heart is...

This episode returned us to what I love so much about the inescapable heart and soul; in particular the great Chuck and Sarah scenes! In a show that has built itself on the strength of family and love it is the Sarah and Chuck relationship that "burns brighter than the sun" and this was the best episode of Season 5 with regards to the progression of their relationship.

How adorable was the end of the episode with Sarah and Chuck carving the names into the wall of the house that will be theirs one day. Once again Sarah is an artist with a knife- scary, awesome and heart-warming all in equal measure. Plus don't think I forgot how Emma's house looks... white picket fence...big red door...have we heard this somewhere before? I love the way the show pays attention to these little details!

It seems Chuck and Sarah will turn down the offer to re-join the CIA so that they can start to build the life together away from the world of espionage which has been the main theme of Season 5 but has also been seriously hinted at since Season 3 when Chuck and Sarah got past all the BS and entanglements. As Sarah so awesomely put it to Chuck in Role Models "Well I would like to have something to fall back on when our spy life is over".

I really hope...No...I know that there will be more great Chuck and Sarah moments to come! So as a wise nerd once said... prepare to be heart-warmed!



Vandalism is one way to lower the price of the house...



P.S. I have mentioned the episode Chuck Versus the Role Models in this post, if you haven't seen it for a while I think you should especially after watching Chuck Versus The Baby both episodes actually go well together. Role Models is after all where Chuck and Sarah make the decision to move in as a real couple and Baby we see them commit to getting the house that will be the foundation of the life away from the CIA and spying. Plus Role Models has Tigers...you should know how much I love my Tigers!! Endangered and majestic just as Chuck said!!


P.P.S. I really wanted to get out my Blog's 2011 CHUCK awards but my absolute lack of time management and prepping for a job interview of sorts has meant time has escaped me. If people out there are keen I could probably get something done eventually; but I seriously doubt it could match anything the other great CHUCK blogs out there have done.

Anyway I hope everybody enjoys Chuck Versus The Kept Man; being Sarah Walker's kept man sounds like a dream job... just wished I thought of it first! ;-)

Chuck FC Part 1

Just to bring a different spin to the blog and perhaps separate it from other CHUCK blogs out there, I have decided to start a series of posts about different characters from CHUCK and comparing them to different Football (Futbol) teams. Not sure why I have decided to do this other then that I enjoy making comparisons and links between the things I feel passionate about. CHUCK and Football are two of my stronger passions so here goes...

Chuck Bartowki is Arsenal F.C. (EPL)

Seriously, was he going to be anything else? Those of you who aren’t Arsenal supporters may just be face-palming at this premise but please hang with me. 

Chuck is smart, nerdy and loves a good plan to dismantle whatever threat is in his way. Where as Arsenal are a cerebral football fan's dream, passing the ball around with a series of intricate one-touch lay-offs, through balls and slide-rule passes. A lot of the times Chuck/Arsenal are playing chess while the opposition are playing checkers. Seeing Chuck bring a plan together can be as awesome as a Robin van Persie volley…truly awe-inspiring.

Chuck is also a paragon of virtue who abides by his moral code even to his own detriment and by extension those he loves as well. Without getting too technical Arsenal has a similar resolve relating to the way they play and conduct themselves as business; from a capped wage structure and fiscally responsible transfer policy.  In a world of moral grey areas and financial doping Chuck & Arsenal try to keep the moral compass as close to true north as possible. 

Sarah Walker is Netherlands (National Team)

Where do I start with the Brilliant Oranje or should that be the Brilliant Oranje Oranje?

Dutch football has been described as Sexy football or Total football; now replace the word “Football” with the words “kick-ass spy” and you totally have Sarah Walker! The Dutch team are renowned for their flair, adaptability and use of space in football. I don’t know about you guys but I think Sarah always rocks the space she is working in!  Dutch football and Dutch footballers have been responsible for some of the most breathtaking things ever seen of a football field & Sarah Walker is responsible for a lot of the breathtaking stuff we’ve seen on Chuck.

There are certain players who have played for both Arsenal & the Netherlands who are in a very special bracket of players who I do/have followed with a similar dedication to Chuck and Sarah; namely Dennis Bergkamp & Robin van Persie. In fact if you listen to this commentary from Bergkamp’s match winning goal in the 1998 World Cup Quarter Final vs. Argentina. The first commentator does bring his intensity close to what I am sure most Chuck fans felt in the end of “Chuck vs. The Other Guy”; Both occurred in France…coincidence?...I think not!!

John Casey is Germany (National Team)

The Colonel as Die Mannschaft, not much of a stretch is it? Former England player Gary Lineker said it best when he said “Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.” Casey is just like Germany in that regard he is not the smartest or most skillful spy but he may just have the strongest will and the most stamina!

He just does what it takes to win in an efficient fashion usually by following orders and keeping it simple…tranc & explode mostly! Like the Die Mannschaft, he is often written off as a one trick pony but the truth is he has multiple skills he could use, but why use them if all you need to do is win the day?

The other reason I like the Casey/Germany comparison has to do with Casey and Sarah’s relationship being similar to that of German and Dutch Football. Perhaps to not as heated; but Casey never misses a chance to bust Sarah’s chops for whatever reason. Much the same as Germany continues to remind the Dutch of the multiple world cups they have won and the lack Dutch world cups despite the “Sexy Football”.

Bryce Larkin is FC Barcelona (Spanish Liga)

Barcelona are the best football team in the world…I said it!!

Bryce Larkin is the best spy in the Chuck-verse…I said it!!

Just because both statements are the truth, doesn’t mean I have to like it; as they say the truth hurts…a lot.

Both Barca & Bryce have a swaggering confidence and air of superiority and why wouldn't they? They do what they do better then anyone else. If FC Barcelona was a person that person would be Bryce Larkin with his designer stubble, flawless features, animal magnetism, smooth-talking, good with the ladies…it’s enough to make you sick! Add to that the fact the guy can handle himself in a fight and is great with a gun!

Seriously how can one man be that good? He just is…and so is Barca sadly.  I wouldn’t mind it so much but for the only character blemish which is humility (lack there of).  But then again it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way!!

This is still a very raw topic with former Arsenal FC captain Cesc Fabregas leaving this month to play for FC Barcelona (which is his hometown club). The way Barca has treated Arsenal in the past reminds me of how Bryce treats Chuck in the show. By that I mean Bryce insists he is Chuck’s friend but is continually condescending towards the Chuckster. Don’t get me started on his constant attempts to win over Sarah right under Chuck’s nose even though he knows Sarah and Chuck have feelings for each other.  Nobody like a grass-cutter Bryce; you’d do well to remember that too Barca!!

Having said that nobody can doubt Barca play the game on the pitch better then any other, same as nobody can doubt that Bryce Larkin is the best spy you can find to defend a country…which is more then I can say for either this next guy or team…

Daniel Shaw is Real Madrid (Spanish Liga)

I really really…really hate Daniel Shaw and there is no love lost on my part for Los Merengues but both Shaw and Madrid as a club are smooth operators who you have to credit for a history of winning and getting the job done on the European stage.  Madrid is the most successful teams in European Football and Shaw’s back-story involved him having a meritorious spy career in Europe.

But I dislike the arrogance both Shaw and Madrid display. Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho and star player Christiano Ronaldo make a habit of antagonising Arsenal (and various other opponents) much the same as Daniel Shaw does with Chuck.

The history of Real Madrid is very interesting and here is perhaps not the best forum to discuss it further but let me just say the following video makes me very happy…

Well that is just a few of these to whet your appetite, if you are a Barca or Madrid fan I hope you don't take too much offence; just having a bit of fun.  I hope to be back with more of these CHUCK FC comparisons soon. I have at least another 13 characters or so planned to discuss.

Did I get the first five characters right; or do you think they match up with another football team better?

Feel free to add predictions for what teams you think I will compare other characters to...if you guess right I will give you a shout-out on the blog!

Also please keep commenting on what you thought I got right, wrong or even what I need to do better...

Stay Aces

-Moggy