Oh this episode. This glorious, Gruyère cheese, retcon maximus, episode. This episode that supposedly tells us a lot about Sarah's past but actually doesn't make the important issues clear (not for me, anyway.)

And still, even if the episode's structure looks a little weird and it feels a little disjointed and uneven, I love this episode. The Sarah-centric episode of this last season of Chuck. What can I say? I'm the "Happy Fan," I like all the episodes.


( It begins with... A Flashback! )

In this fifth season, that began calmly enough and has been increasing the intensity, this last episode was one of those thrilling/dramatic/game changer episodes that Chuck is in the habit of showing.

The stakes were higher than in any of the previous episodes of this season, and that's because an old enemy appears. An enemy that should have been a surprise, but you know how the promo people works.

All in all, this episode follows the custom initiated by Chuck Vs. the Santa and doesn't disappoint.

( The episode begins with Christmas Fear. )

This episode is, scene wise, less abound in Chara-ness, but the importance of such scenes for the relationship is the same.


( Let's dig into Chuck Vs. the Curse )

Since I don't have time but I want to comment the episodes, if only a little, I've decided to go back to the old times and review only the relationship of Chuck and Sarah. That's what you always do, you will say. But this time, the focus would be exclusively talking about the relationship (not the couple in the episode). With a little of luck it would be shorter than usual and I'll have time to review two episodes. Cross your fingers.


( So let's begin the analysis of Chuck and Sarah in Chuck Vs. the Hack Off )

It is traditional in the Chuck fandom, that after a couple of episodes of fans being divided and discussing about if they like the new story arc or not or whatever, there comes an episode that everybody loves and makes the Chucksters unite again in a peaceful communion of love.

This is that episode.

Funny, quite Chara-centric and with a powerful ending, it has every ingredient to be liked by the fans (especially we shippers.) Also, it's just a blast for playing to the drinking game. Yes! This gets better and better.
( If you remember, the previous episode ended with Beckman telling Chuck that there was a kill order against Morgan... )

I don't know you, but I'm enjoying season 5 so far. Things are happening, the plot is fun and the characters' interactions are full of comedy golden moments.

And in this episode, Sarah goes back to be the straight "man." Not that she doesn't have funny moments (especially with Casey), but she seems the last sane woman in the kingdom in this particular episode. An episode, by the way, that I liked. For several reasons, but above all because we can have our original drinking game with more than one drink.

Yay!

( The episode begins with Casey, Verbanski... and Sarah playing Cyrano. )

I don't have any idea of how this post is going to come out. I'm doing three things at the same time and I have literally no time.

About this episode... I LOVED it. It was bugging me a little, until I realized what was happening with Morgan and then I loved it for the same reasons I was hating it. Kudos to LeFranc and Jenkins. They have a knack to switching the episode's mood fluidly. It happened in episode 3X10, remember? When the scene of Chuck confessing he saw Casey stealing the laudanol began in a comic way and ended in full tension. In this episode is the same. I think they took advantage that Morgan tends to be boisterous and a little annoying at times and the fact it wouldn't be the first time that the writers of Chuck bent their characters' personalities so they fit the plot of the episode. But, this time Morgan's increasing OOC-ness has a reason.

Also, and this is very interesting, this episode is indirectly about Chuck and Sarah. It isn't overt, but it's there. I think that this season the writers had decided to go in a different direction with our favorite couple. Remember last season? When around episodes 3 and 4 fans began to criticize the fact that the writers were focusing too much in the couple's troubles? This season it seems that they deal with Chuck and Sarah's issues in a much more subtle way, like a C plot or something. I like it.

Note: we will just have the original drinking game this time. because I didn't have time to think of another one.

( And now, yes, let's go into Chuck Vs. the Bearded Bandit )

Yes, it's this time of the years again. The time Chuck begins a new season (the LAST season... let's not go there) and I write a shipper centric superfluous recap like a week after and when the new episode is about to air, because I always leave everything to the last possible moment.

Ah, and the drinking game begins once more. We can go with the original one: drink every time our favorite couple kisses. Or with the alternative one: drink every time our couple acknowledges they're married (I hope your alcohol tolerance is high for this one.)

What can I say about the season premiere? Well, I really enjoyed it. A lot. It was so much fun and I had a good laugh. Also, this premiere teaches us a lot of things: that Sarah's favorite affectionate petname for Chuck is "sweetheart", that Toes In The Sand creates a good acronym, that Sarah can dance with anybody because she's the one that has to do all the moves anyway, and that Chuck cracks like an egg when Sarah uses the "Roan Montgomery" (but we knew this already.)

A fair warning: this season I will be even more a "happy fan" than the last one, so don't expect really deep deconstructions of the episode or critical reviews, because you know that I don't do that. Also, I won't even talk about the opinions of others fans because I didn't hear any (I'm all "I live in a happy bubble and don't care what others say.") This will mostly be rainbows and unicorns.

( And now, yes, to the episode )

At last, after some delay (three months, it's not so much :)) and as a way to inaugurate September (bye-bye holidays), I've decided to write the recap for Chuck Vs. the Cliffhanger.

Honestly, it took me so much time because this episode makes me rather emotional and, you know, it's hard to be witty when you're holding back tears and sighs.

Drinking game? Well, if you want. For myself, I take a bottle and drink as the episode goes on, because it's too awesome to bother taking notes of the kisses and such.

The story so far had been that --as Chuck and Sarah get ready for their wedding day-- Mama B tried to steal the mysterious super weapon that is the Norseman, with no success. Team Bartowski rescues her and later they get the weapon, pissing off Vivian Volkoff a little more in the process, which turns out to be a bad thing, since Vivian uses a replica of the weapon against Sarah...

( Read more... )

How cute is this scene? It's our favorite couple talking. About their imminent wedding. Have you any idea of how rare it is for the couple of a show that began in the UST Land to be getting ready for their wedding? It's like... the Holy Grail or something. It's just... Oh, I'm emotional again.

Anyway, I find it funny that Sarah is even more shy than Chuck about being intimate with somebody in public. In fact, I think that his aversion to PDA was just an excuse when they weren't a real couple and that he isn't that embarassed in reality, but that Sarah actually is. OK, no, but it's funnier that way :) What happens is that she's much more reserved expressing her feelings. And I mean expressing in the sense of telling them. With words.

Anyway, the Sarah Walker's Life Is A Misery Axiom kicked in five days later in the rehearsal dinner.
OK, this... There is no sensible way of saying this... Fedak, you fail science forever!

All right, all right, I've seen worse thing (*cough*The Core*cough*) but what happens with this scene is that it doesn't make much sense. It's like "almost, but it doesn't work that way." For starters, the gun doesn't make sense. How does the liquid inside the gun reach the target? And even if we believe that Volkoff created a quantum gun that can target someone by his/her DNA and travel through waves to be inside the DNA, or inside the target's cells (I know this is quite ridiculous)... Poisoning doesn't work that way. Or more precisely, it should be worse at this stage.

Sarah suffers severe headaches and fever that leave her unconscious. That is the most acute radiation syndrome. Problem? She should also suffer vomiting and diarrhea. And she should die in 48 hours. Not maybe. For sure. And even if she miraculously survived... The long-term effects would be huge.

But let's say that the plotdevicium that made it possible for Sarah to survive a weapon that killed every other person will make it possible for her to walk out of this without even a scar. Also, let's say that even if Ellie herself admitted that Thorium isn't a poison but a radiactive metal, you can find an antidote for it, not a way to get rid of the metal in her blood, but an antidote. An antidote for radiation poisoning *rolleyes*
No, I'm not crying, I don't know what you're talking about. These aren't tears, it's just raining inside my room.

Can I say something, by the way? Thank you, writers. Everybody that has read my recaps knows that I've been asking for this: Sarah being in the brink of death and Zac having to act the part of a worried Chuck. The writers gave it to me. THANK YOU. And kudos to Zac. Can I ask for Bridget Regan or Tabrett Bethel to join the show as some kind of Sarah's nemesis and have a bigh fight? Just asking. In case that it works, you know? ;)

So, Chuck decides to act (and look all hawt at the same time) and tries to find Volkoff for the antidote. As we know, Volkof is in a Maximum Security prison. Easy task, everybody knows that you can break in those kind of prisons wearing police uniforms and getting one card that of course will open all the doors. So that's what Chuck and Casey do.

Unfortunately, Volkoff is not there. More unfortunately, they meet the voice and image of a man called Decker that Casey describes as "a remorseless son of a bitch that would destroy our whole team without breaking a sweat." So... Casey in season 1? Apparently opening the Agent X files brought this assassin to stop them. Let's see, for opening Bryce's e-mail and downloading the Intersect the Intelligence service sent Casey to kill Chuck and now, for knowing about Agent X they send this assassin that is even worse than Casey. What happens with the US government in the Chuckverse? What's up with so many hired killers trying to kill their citizens on US soil?

Decker tells Chuck to stop and be ready to... their CIA resources to be revoked. It's not a euphemism. That's the easy way. The hard way is being killed. Nice. Chuck, of course, gives him the answer he deserved:


Does that TV have a glass over the screen?

Anyway, Chuck is the Intersect and he isn't ready to give up. But before going on he calls his sister.



Yeah, something that kills you in 12 hours I'm sure it's not going to leave you any long-term effects even if you recover. Of course not. And yeah, maybe she's dying, but her skin is perfect (pale but without any blemish) and her hair didn't fall out. Try to see the silver lining, guys.

By the way, can doctors treat family member (or future family members)? I know the surgeons can't operate on them, but can doctors simply treat them? I'm genuinely asking.

With the 12 hours time limit, Chuck seems worried. Fortunately somebody arrives to help him:


It's Horation Caine!

No, sorry, it's General Beckman.

Diane (let's call her Diane because she's not there in an official capacity) tells Chuck that Volkoff is being transported to a black site outside Phoenix. And I hope she means Phoenix, Afghanistan, because there is no way that the US government has a black site in their own country. She also tells him that if he goes against Decker he goes against the CIA and that he and Sarah would have to dissapear. And then she gives him her card to enter Castle because she gives a f*ck about this Decker guy. Because she's from the NSA?

Chuck wants to go to Castle because he needs something fast to get to Volkoff.



Casey finds it as funny as me.

I pity Sarah and Chuck's children, I really do. If Mama B is like this, imagine Sarah Walker in full "Mom Mode." The poor kids will need permission even to eat ice cream.

Anyway, Chuck reaches the truck and gets Volkoff. Except it's not Volkoff anymore. Nope. Decker the Asshole de-Intersected him and now he is Hartley Winterbottom of the Imposible Name, Stephen Bartowski's friend and colleague. Who doesn't remember he was Volkoff anymore, nor what he did all this time. Great. Fortunately, he created the Norseman before turning into Volkoff, when there was the Cold War and Reagan was in charge. Unfortunately (for Casey), Reagan isn't the president anymore. Also, unfortunately for Hartley, he discovers he has a daughter. I hope your sex life wasn't that good when you were Volkoff, Hartley.

The Man Previously Known As Volkoff creates the antidote and Ellie injects it into Sarah. And then, because the writers are cruel and manipulative and want us to suffer with shipper scenes in the middle of the drama, we see a flashback.
I believe things must be seen with perspective. This speech, Sarah's vows, would be impossible without season 3. And no, not because they became a couple in season 3 but because Sarah learned to express her feelings in that season. Don't be mistaken. It wasn't in season 2. No. Sarah learned to express herself, such a irony, through Shaw. Not because of him, he was simply there, but because Sarah realized she needed to reach to people, in general. Notice how much she says (in words, not in acts) from episode 3X07 to episode 3X12 before she confessed to Chuck. Just how much she talks compared to what she had done until then.

Of course, the episode that made her realize she had to disclose every feeling was episode 4X09, Vs. Phase Three. But I meant that it's been gradual and something that she thought was good for herself, not only because Chuck. There is still a long way before her, that's for sure, but her vows are a very important leap ahead in it.

There are two points I like from her vows. One, that she admits that being with Chuck makes her a better person. She tries to fulfill that idealized version that he had in the first days of their relationships. She tries to be nice, caring, level headed and a good person in general. The same way that Chuck could become a spy because Sarah believed in him, she could become a good woman because he believed in her (I'm not saying she wasn't, just that she's much better now.)

The second detail I liked is when she says "I want to spend and learn and love the rest of my life with you."  This is so important... For me, Sarah's road has been finding herself, as much as Chuck. But instead of learning that she can be a hero, she has learned that she can be. That she can have a personality, that she can have desires and dreams and a constant life without the fear of losing it or being hurt. Because before meeting Chuck Sarah didn't have a personality. Not really. She was an empty shell that she could fill with whatever personality she was playing. Having a personality means having needs and dreams and Sarah had been hurt too much to let it happen again.

Also, how insecure she seems after she said her vows. She looks at Chuck seeking approval. Chuck and Sarah are quite insecure persons. She will always need the approval of somebody she admires or respects (or loves) and she will always need for Chuck to tell her she's not weird and that she's good enough for him and that she doesn't need to change. The same way that he will always need for her to tell him she'll never leave him.

Insecure people. So as soon as she has finished her vows, Chuck feels the insecurity.


I bet he thought there would be no problem with his vows because compared to her he had always been better with words and expressing his feelings. Obviously he didn't remember Vs. Phase Three. And he is better expressing himself, he's also given to beat about the bush and babbling, so I was sure that after he got rid of things like interludes talking about her childhood and such, his vows would be all right.

Sarah seems sure too of it too. Her WTF face when Chuck tells her about the wardrobe change is fabulous. She is always the one struggling for words after all.

In short, I love this entire scene. I love how domestic it is and how simple and how sweet and how the writers could put her vows in the episode without putting everything in the wedding scene and create a nice break from the overall drama of the episode.

Of course, since it's minute 15 or something, the antidote couldn't work.


Pray? Blame the Russians?

No! The plan is to find the Iridium 6, which could be the antidote to this new Norseman. Yeah, because Volkoff was working in a top secret new compound that he called "Lead Apron." You know, like what protects you from radiation. So, shouldn't you take it before the Norseman attack and not after? Am I being too logical with these things?

Casey will help Chuck, because he still have friends (he has friends!) among the Global Strike Command (& Conquer) and they will give them a free jump to Russia (and I'm sure the Russians don't have radars and satellites or any of that so they won't notice and start a diplomatic incident.)

They have less than a day. While they're away, Morgan will entertain Sarah.


I have a confession to make: this scene always make me teary eyed and I don't even know why. It's just... I don't know, the characters have grown so much and Morgan is so sweet here, trying to cheer up a comatose Sarah because they're friends now. Everything is so perfect! It's too much for me.

I'm a softie, OK?

A softie is something Decker isn't, as he stops Chuck at the outside of the hospital, even if he knew Chuck was the only who could save Sarah (well, Decker could too, but he doesn't want to.)


Has Fedak learn the Chris Claremont Way to Develop Characters Making Them Break Down First? He likes to show Chuck in the lowest of the lowest bottom before letting him win.

Oh, but of course, Fedak could crush Chuck a little more, if this wasn't enough.


Oh, great, he de-Intersects Chuck. What's up with this guy? Why is he such a dick? Is it personal. I bet he has something personal against Sarah. I don't think she was too loved in the CIA. He doesn't love Casey either. In fact, he doesn't love anybody. Decker just want to kill them all and be a hero. Nice.

It is a good thing that Casey isn't a good guy and knows Castle. A very good thing. He gets rid of Decker, rescues Chuck, psycho!Tuttle and Mama B and warns Morgan so he can do something about the agent Decker left in the hospital. Morgan AKA Cobra AKA the Connector AKA the Magnet is ready for the mission. He will need some help from Devon, though. The same way Casey will need Mama B's help to play the Magnet too, while Chuck and Hartley go to Moscow. Yes, they must because they must save Sarah's life.
This scene has been sponsored by Casey And Sarah Can Hug Because They're Like Siblings Campaign. By the way, we are still waiting for that hug.

Casey gives new identities for him and Sarah because if he success in his mission they will need to run away. So Prague. I hope those new identities weren't of a wife and husband, because seeing what it's going to happen later, it would be... awkward.

Chuck and Hartley (who he has just discovered he was pretty much a monster as Volkoff) reach Volkoff's Industries in the surprisingly NOT snowy Moscow. Unfortunately, Hartley can't think angry thoughts and play his part as Volkoff because he's not Volkoff, just a scientist (not that that stopped Mengele, but I guess Hartley is a different kind of person) and he can't face his daughter. So a defeated Chuck just gives up (Chris Claremont would be so proud of you, Fedak.)


Vivian Volkoff meets Chuck and she acts as she usually does, as somebody who wants to look cold and cool but in the middle her resolve wavers and she just gets to look petulant.


Can I say something? I like the parallel with episode 13, Vs. the Push Mix. I like that while in that episode Chuck had a great plan that defeated the great evil that was Volkoff, this time he doesn't have any against somebody who tries to be him but isn't.

There has been some criticism to Lauren's job as Vivian but I like how she plays her, with a bit of vulnerability and doubt. She's not evil, just confused and I think she does a good job making her look more hurt than psycho, because that's what her character needs. I think that her arch needed an episode more, that's true. With an episode more that told us her complete face turn I could buy the arc more. On the other hand, episode 20 wouldn't have any shock value, but I can live with that.

Also, I like that Chuck and Sarah only beg to save each other, never themselves (well, Chuck since he has the new Intersect.)

Vivian, of course, doesn't believe a word Chuck is saying. And then comes Hartley again... and she doesn't believe him either. At first. Then he talks about her grandmother and... well, she wasn't evil to begin with so... Besides, according to Chuck it's not too late, because she didn't kill Sarah. Excuse me? The previous episode she killed a room full of men. I know they were arm dealers, but they were human beings too, don't they count? Apparently no. Vivian argues that she's a Volkoff, that she can't go back. Oh, but Chuck has a Chekhov gun the false identities Casey gave him, so he offers them to her. What is he going to do after he saves Sarah when the CIA goes after him is something he can think about later. One mission at a time, OK?

And speaking of the CIA and the plans of getting rid of them... the two Magnets (Morgan and Casey) are outside the hospital, waiting for reinforments.


Egypt? I thought US had nothing to do with that!

Wait, Carina is from the DEA, what was she doing...? Forget it. Casey is a little grumpy for seeing them, but Carina assures him that they're there for Sarah. Yeah, Zondra is all worried for her ex lover best friend. And they meet Sarah's future mother-in-law at the same time, cool. While they are waiting in the car, somebody approaches Decker from the sky:
Decker tell him he's being a fool, because even if Chuck has the Bridemaids, the Magnets and his mom at his side, Decker has more men at his. But this was just a move, a magnet for Chuck. Because thanks to Volkoff industries, Chuck has...


Oh, so Chuck had a plan!
Do me, Zac! I love Chuck's character's growth in the series. His badassery here is very welcome. But allow me to tell you, Chuck, dear, that the last person to make US top secret files public is now in a prison in not very good conditions, so I don't know if your plan would really work. Just saying.

So, yeah, Chuck is unemployed now, but in exchange, he earns an emotional slow mo scene.

(Click for the right mood)


This montage is perfect. It's perfect and wonderful and nothing hurts. Nothing. Not even the next bit, which is cruel and manipulative and very, very mean, writers:



mumblemumblebunchofbastadsmumblemumble

I have a confession to do: since Sarah suffered radiation poisoning and in the promos we saw Morgan officiating the wedding without any explanation (which happens in the actual scene) I thought it was a dream. So I couldn't really enjoy it until much much later. It was a little surreal.

And it's a pity, because the wedding is wonderful.


Drink, drink as if there was no tomorrow.

Why is this the best wedding scene in History? Because the song playing is Sinking Friendships by Jónsi. Jónsi is one of my favorite artists. This is better than anything I could imagine.

Sarah's dress is different to what she was wearing in epsidoe 17. Hah! I knew it. There was no way they could have showed us the real dress before the wedding. Sarah is wearing a dress but she isn't holding a katana. Disappointing :-) On the other hand, I guess she's full of drugs because there is no way she could be all dandy two days later after what her organism went through. And yeah, it has to be two days later because I don't think they were able to change the date (do you have any idea of how difficult that is?) Otherwise, what is she? A mutant? Which would explain so many things...

Question: who walked Sarah to the altar? Casey? By the way, Casey crying! Oh, the Casey and Sarah Can Hug Because They're Like Siblings Campaign is ecstatic right now. Still, the hug is missing.

And Chuck and Sarah wear the cords that they used in their rehearsal. Except in that take where Chuck isn't and the editors left it like that and prayed we didn't notice (we did.)

And oh my God how short is Carina's (and Zondra's) bridesmaid dress! Did she took a pair of scissors and cut it herself?
Not happy enough with this, the editors thought that a montage with flashbacks about our favorite couple was a must. They were right. I know that I'm harsh with you sometimes, but that's because I care. You do a great job.



Again, I'm not crying, I'm cleaning my face with tears.

It's just... They're married. They're married! Oh frak you all the ones who don't like season 4. What? I don't have to be fair when I'm emotional.

And how do you top all this?




Yep, with The Princess Bride. I love this show!

And so begins the Bartowskis' married life. Oh, but wait, there is a last surprise.



With this, Hartley says good bye. Timothy Dalton, I'm going to miss you. You were the best villain that this shows has ever had. And one of the best actors. Psycho!Tuttle will always have a spot in my heart.

With the suspense of knowing what Hartley left for Chuck (although I had my suspicions, that later were proven to be right) we jump to... the Honeymoon? You wish! To Chuck returning to the Buy More after his Honeymoon. Cruel, cruel writers.



Yeah, pour salt into the wound.

Chuck still wears the governor. Why? He doesn't have the intersect anymore.

Little detail: the music in this part is the same the composer used in 3X02, Vs. the Three Words, when Sarah is watching the footage with Chuck's confession. It's usually used in sad scenes so I thought it was a bit weird, but I didn't mind that much because it's a track I love.

Anyway, Jeff and Lester are grumpy because the Buy More has a new mysterious owner. [sarcasm]The suspense is killing me[/sarcasm]

Oh, but there is something intriguing when Chuck goes to Castle.



Wait, are you telling me that the writers had all of this planned? That all the convoluted plot arcs, the inexplicable coincidences, the Big Retcon of Volkoff, how Sarah was recruited and why she was sent to kill Shaw's wife... Everything has an explanation? Because... I'm not believing it! Not even a bit.

But for now, they have a plot point for next season.


Also, let's see how it turns out this little last detail of the episode that gives it its name (Vs. the Cliffhanger) and stirred some controversy.



What do I think of this? I didn't mind this ending so much.

The show is called Chuck, not The Intersect. The Intersect is only a tool, an excuse. The Intersect is a textbook McGuffin. The show began when Chuck received it, but the show is about the character's growth. And frankly, see season 4 again, how many times do you think the Intersect has been essential through the season or for Chuck? In fact, it was kind of an obstacle. The Intersect made everything too easy, making Chuck look like Superman sometimes (and everybody knows how difficult is to write good plots for Superman.) In fact, I'd dare to say that the best episodes of the season had been when Chuck didn't have or didn't use the Intersect, but his own intellect. There has been this problem through season 4 of writers not knowing what to do with Chuck.  Now Chuck can be what I always thought he should: a chief of operations.

As everything, we'll have to wait to next season to see how this idea is developed. Only then we'll be able to judge.

And with this, season 4 ends. I enjoyed this season very much. It gave me disfunctional couple issues, responsible Morgan, Alex, psycho!Tuttle and a wedding. Not perfect, but enough for me. I'm egar for the next season. What I want this next season? Nothing. Since it's the last I will just enjoy the ride.

As it's tradition (tradition... I've only done this twice) here is the video summary of season 4. Enjoy!



Last but not least, thank you to all of you who had followed this recaps. Thank you very much to everybody that left any comment and to all of those who didn't but I know read these. I left a "Give 10" button for those of you that can (and want) to use it, just in case. The Goggle + is there just in case you use it.

You'll excuse me if I write the recap of episode 23 before episode 22's, but frankly, after this epic episode I feel forced to write about it and episode 22 don't have so much to write about anyway. I mean, there is only one big C/S moment and a couple of curious things. Nothing like this episode.

This. EPIC. Episode.

I don't care what's your opinion I loved it :b All the Chara-ness (this word should exist), all the funny lines, Star Wars reference galore (the first part of the episode is basically Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) and... the ending. Oh, the ending. I still shiver every time I remember it. This is what Chuck is about: incredible funny stories with the spy world as simple excuse, family relationships and the characters, always the love for the characters.

We can play our drinking game, by the way. The traditional one. A point more for this episode.

( Without further ado, we begin our journey... )

PS: I'll answer the comments for the last recap tomorrow, OK? It's too late now and I have to go to bed. Sorry.