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[Arjen]

Amazing Episode, best of this season so far.
-Morgan and Chuck on the boat was hilarious.
-Really liked the short moments with Casey and Alex.
-Ellie 3>
-Push it from Jefster had me in stitches, so good

 

[Tashi]

That was an amazing episode! Holy shit, so great.

So what's the deal now? Is there gonna be an episode next week?

 

[user_nat]

It was good.. but I probably didn't enjoy it as much as you guys. I think I might need to give it a rewatch later on.

 

[Nander]

I went to a costume party at my school last night dressed as Chuck (in Nerd Herd outfit). The theme was "TV or movie characters" and surprisingly many knew who I was.

And look what my totally awesome girlfriend made for me:

(It's sadly a bit beat up after last night...)

 

[GoutPatrol]

Found in Gaming section...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUpDHq2vmeo

 

[Plinko]

I absolutely love the idea of more Chuck, but that episode really should have been the ending of the entire series. It was perfect.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

New Ausiello returning guess star spoilers. Two of them have been known about for a while, although there are two other very minor returning characters.

Spoiler

Question: Any familiar faces returning to Chuck in these next 11 episodes? —Will
Ausiello: You already know that John Larroquette’s hasbeen spy Roan Montgomery is back next Monday. Beyond that, Mini Anden reappears as Sarah’s former spy chum Carina Miller in the Feb. 14 episode that reunites Sarah with her former A-Team. “They are a wild bunch to say the least,” previews exec producer Chris Fedak of the “Cat Squad,” which is comprised of Anden, Three Rivers‘ Mercedes Masöhn, and Episodes‘ Mircea Monroe. “It’s our homage to Charlie’s Angels.” And later this season, Isaiah Mustafa and Stacy Keibler will reprise their Greta personas in an episode Fedak says “will explain what the whole Greta thing is about.”

 

[Shouta]

Absolutely amazing episode. Morgan going through the lasers, Chuck's impossible plan, Jeffster with the performance etc. That could've been the ending of the series for sure, was just perfect, especially Awesome's "Awesome" and that last shot, I loved that last shot.

Also, is it me or was the hospital Sacred Heart or at least the same building/set for it? Would've been an amusing nod for Ellie.

 

[shintoki]

Great episode. But damn, fuck Linda Hamilton. It's a walking box of emotions(The box is empty)

 

[Cornballer]

I finally got a chance to catch up on the episode last night - good stuff. It was a very sweet episode where they nicely shifted the focus back to family (Bartowski, Woodcomb, Casey, etc..) and away from just Chuck and Sarah. I think you all already hit the highlights, but I liked seeing Chuck rely on his intelligence again, Jeffster finally go after another appropriate song, and all the references to Papa Bartowski. Dalton delivered again, and I'm going to miss having him on the show. I hope the back end of S4 can build on the momentum from this episode and deliver a bunch more memorable episodes.

The ratings are bad news - I'm not sure how they can renew Chuck unless it gets back up closer to a 2.0 over the back end of the season...

 

[CzarTim]

Great episode. But damn, fuck Linda Hamilton. It's a walking box of emotions(The box is empty)

God yes.

 

[judhudson]

I don't know if this helps Chuck any, but I just read that they canned The Cape. Looks like NBC can't keep any new shows going, so I'm hoping with the ratings we have, that they keep Chuck knowing the show has a following.

 

[DJ_Lae]

Great episode - finally got a chance to watch it courtesy of iTunes (and no thanks to my cable provider, who lost the signal to that channel on Monday night). Loved how it wrapped everything up, and while I'm glad there's still more Chuck coming I wouldn't have been disappointed with that as a final episode.

My only real comment is Ellie giving birth - having been through one birth so far and around a lot of others, babies do not come out that easy. My girlfriend commented that it looked like she was having diarrhea, not pushing out a baby. Even if she was under an epidural or something she'd have to try harder than that.

(minor issue, I know, but it kind of stood out)

 

[Cornballer]

The Event is returning March 7th w/ a two hour episode in front of Parenthood. Presumably that means that Chuck isn't on that night.

I don't know if this helps Chuck any, but I just read that they canned The Cape. Looks like NBC can't keep any new shows going, so I'm hoping with the ratings we have, that they keep Chuck knowing the show has a following.

Chuck's ratings need to come up a bit. Even with The Cape and a few other shows tanking, Chuck will need to show some signs of life to get a fifth season.

 

[Wads]

Honestly, I think we all need to stop being so reactionary to these numbers on a weekly basis... We've had the season high and season low in ratings in the past 4 episodes, but for the most part Chuck has been pretty steady and pretty reliable. They need to come up a bit and obviously if the numbers go in the toilet it will get canceled, but one week is not going to make or break it.

 

[lunarworks]

Finally got to watch this week's episode tonight. It was great.

The "payoff" episode.

If that had been the series finale, I have to admit would have been satisfied.

 

[Medalion]

I don't know if this helps Chuck any, but I just read that they canned The Cape. Looks like NBC can't keep any new shows going, so I'm hoping with the ratings we have, that they keep Chuck knowing the show has a following.

The Summer Glau curse strikes again

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Also, is it me or was the hospital Sacred Heart or at least the same building/set for it? Would've been an amusing nod for Ellie.

You are correct. It actually was the same building that was Sacred Heart in Scrubs, so that was why it was so familiar looking.

 

[TheOMan]

Just finished watching Chuck - one of my favourite episodes just because of how neatly everything go tied up. If that was the series finale, I would have been very happy. Wow - really well done. BUT, we get MORE Chuck and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

The Summer Glau curse strikes again

Don't know if this was the Summer Glau curse as The Cape is a terrible terrible show. Don't know why I kept watching it, but it was a complete waste of time and the acting was ATROCIOUS. Ugh.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Ray Wise will guest star in an upcoming episode. As a warning that link has other casting spoilers, although nothing that hasn't been posted in other links over the last week or so.

Spoiler

Wise will make his appearance in the season's 16th episode, "Chuck vs. the Masquerade," which will also feature the debuts of fellow guests Lauren Cohan ("Supernatural") and Robin Givens. Fedak describes Cohan's character as a young woman who is "dragged into the spy world" -- sort of how Chuck (Zachary Levi) himself was at the beginning of the series. Givens ("House of Payne," "Nikita") is playing a National Security Council official whose work coincides with that of Team Chuck and who takes an interest in Casey (Adam Baldwin).

 

[Jay Shadow]

The Summer Glau curse strikes again

 

[Cafeman]

Finally got to watch this week's episode tonight. It was great.

The "payoff" episode.

If that had been the series finale, I have to admit would have been satisfied.

I just watched it tonight too and these words are my sentiments exactly. I was frankly *blown away* by the end of the episode - glad I hadn't read any spoilers. Highlights:

- Morgan running in swim flippers
- Morgan and the lasers
- Chuck coming into his own with a brilliant plan to defeat Volkov and Hydra
- the suspense of the mystery messages from Orion
- I was very afraid for Ellie and Casey when the Volkov assassin entered the hospital. Casey's ploy was awesome.
- Casey giving parental advice to Awesome. "Get in there!"
- Ellie's beautiful eyes and smiles when awesome and her mom came into the room.
- nice final scene with Chuck & Sarah and the ring.
- the birth, and Awesome's comment: "Awesome!"

wow. I did not expect such quality tonight.

 

[Cornballer]

Ray Wise will guest star in an upcoming episode. As a warning that link has other casting spoilers, although nothing that hasn't been posted in other links over the last week or so.

Awesome! Ray Wise is always entertaining.

 

[Cornballer]

Whoa, they're bringing back

Spoiler

a couple GRETAs

?

Spoiler

Stacey Keibler: Back on the set of @nbcchuck!!! Excited to work with @zacharylevi and @Y_Strahovski and kick some ass with @isaiahmustafa!

*minor guest star returning spoiler*

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Whoa, they're bringing back

Spoiler

a couple GRETAs

?*minor guest star returning spoiler*

Yeah, per the Ausiello thing I posted above, we will find out the "mystery" of the role.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Whoa, they're bringing back

Spoiler

a couple GRETAs

?*minor guest star returning spoiler*

Very cool. At least they are bringing back

Spoiler

the two good GRETAs and not Summer Glau and Olivia Munn

 

[Cornballer]

Yeah, per the Ausiello thing I posted above, we will find out the "mystery" of the role.

Cool. I'm glad they're going to explain that. I don't tend to read the Ausiello stuff, but NBC's Chuck Twitter account retweeted that a few minutes ago. Sounds like they have a good group of guest stars lined up for the back end of the season.

 

[Jay Shadow]

Very cool. At least they are bringing back

Spoiler

the two good GRETAs and not Summer Glau and Olivia Munn

They probably thought

Spoiler

Summer would still be busy with The Cape.

Whoops.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

They probably thought

Spoiler

Summer would still be busy with The Cape.

Whoops.

Or they realized that

Spoiler

Olivia Munn cannot act her way out of a box and Summer Glau is not as hot as Stacey Kiebler. And Isaiah Mustafa is just awesome, so he had to come back.

But I do think you are correct. It is a scheduling thing. That or

Spoiler

they dont want to bring more of the Glau Curse energy to the set of Chuck.

 

[TheOddOne]

Finally got a chance to watch the latest episode. Freaking awesome, why do the writers keep trying to fake kill Casey? This shit aint funny anymore.

 

[shawnlreed]

Linda Hamilton was fanservice casting of the absolute worst kind. Sure, its Sarah Connor, but did no one realize before casting her that she cannot act and botox has left her face unable to emote? I think a lot of the season would have rang truer if Mary had been more competently cast.

Very well said.
AT no point this season have I been happy with Linda Hamilton's performance.
On paper it sounds like a good idea, in practice she made the show a whole lot worse everytime she was on screen.

 

[lunarworks]

Linda Hamilton was fanservice casting of the absolute worst kind. Sure, its Sarah Connor, but did no one realize before casting her that she cannot act and botox has left her face unable to emote?

Actually, I found her inability to emote fit her character perfectly.

She's a double-turncoat spy working for a psychotic international arms dealer, who abandoned and severed all ties to her family 20 years ago in order to keep them safe from harm. That would be very traumatic to a mother's psyche, and she had to internally deal with that action, in total secret, for 20 years. The only way to survive that is to let your emotions just die.

For that matter, Volkoff's obsession with her was just that. An obsession. It had nothing to do with her being a warm, caring person to him. She would coldly point a gun in his face, and he'd wave it off as child's play. That's because he's psychotic.

 

[Wads]

Actually, I found her inability to emote fit her character perfectly.

She's a double-turncoat spy working for a psychotic international arms dealer, who abandoned and severed all ties to her family 20 years ago in order to keep them safe from harm. That would be very traumatic to a mother's psyche, and she had to internally deal with that action, in total secret, for 20 years. The only way to survive that is to let your emotions just die.

For that matter, Volkoff's obsession with her was just that. An obsession. It had nothing to do with her being a warm, caring person to him. She would coldly point a gun in his face, and he'd wave it off as child's play. That's because he's psychotic.

True, I think this is what they were going for, but I think it falls somewhere in the middle. I don't think she has been that great at conveying that and making the audience realizing that.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

WOW Excellent episode.
I really love that is all well tied at the end.

And I hope, for the real series ending, they use as the Jeffster song, The Final Countdown. Its the only one that can do justice to ending of Chuck.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

WOW Excellent episode.
I really love that is all well tied at the end.

And I hope, for the real series ending, they use as the Jeffster song, The Final Countdown. Its the only one that can do justice to ending of Chuck.

I have been wanting The Final Countdown ever since the first Jeffster performance. It is screaming for it.

 

[Plinko]

How many more episodes would they need to syndicate? Aren't they close? Wouldn't that help the possibility of one more year?

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

How many more episodes would they need to syndicate? Aren't they close? Wouldn't that help the possibility of one more year?

Traditionally the number was 100 episodes, although in recent years that has dropped to 80 or 88 (or some number around there). In reality there is no hard number. It just depends on if stations would be willing to pay for a show.

Edit: For Chuck to get to 100 episodes, they will need a 22 episode season 5.

 

[Cornballer]

How many more episodes would they need to syndicate? Aren't they close? Wouldn't that help the possibility of one more year?

Unless my math is off, S4 will finish with 4.24 which gets Chuck to 78 total episodes. The rule used to be that you needed to get to 100 for syndication, but sometimes they fudge that rule these days and use a lower number. That being said, NBC has less incentive to shoot for syndication since it's produced by WB and apparently syndication payouts aren't nearly as significant as they used to be back in the day.

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Chuck always delivers in big episodes.

THIS

Just saw Chuck Versus the Push Mix and it was really awesome and I think it would have been the PERFECT series finale. And it's one of the most emotionally satisfying episodes ever. I mean technically, vs the Ring part 1 is still the top Chuck episode but Push Mix is just awesome as well.

-Chuck's Orion plan was obvious but it was done really well. And the scene between him and Vokov at Orion's cabin was brilliant

-The Chuck Sarah final scene was really good and not forced (which has been the case most of the season)

-Casey FINALLY sharing the majority of his scenes with his daughter

-Awesome's first words to his daughter (I like his father stuff talk with Casey as Well)

-Mama B being around for his daughter giving birth

-Jeffster branching out! Old school Hip Hop! OMG, what a really funny scene

Overall I think it's one of my top three Chuck episodes with the other 2 being Vs the Ring Part 1 and vs the Subway

 

[Solo]

Actually, I found her inability to emote fit her character perfectly.

She's a double-turncoat spy working for a psychotic international arms dealer, who abandoned and severed all ties to her family 20 years ago in order to keep them safe from harm. That would be very traumatic to a mother's psyche, and she had to internally deal with that action, in total secret, for 20 years. The only way to survive that is to let your emotions just die.

For that matter, Volkoff's obsession with her was just that. An obsession. It had nothing to do with her being a warm, caring person to him. She would coldly point a gun in his face, and he'd wave it off as child's play. That's because he's psychotic.

Thats some nice rationalizing, but nah, it was just flat out poor acting.

 

[lunarworks]

Thats some nice rationalizing, but nah, it was just flat out poor acting.

Poor acting or not, I found it worked.

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Forgot to ask this earlier, was Chuck and Morgan's problem solving board a reference or jab at Mark Benford's board in Flash Forward? They looked pretty similar.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Forgot to ask this earlier, was Chuck and Morgan's problem solving board a reference or jab at Mark Benford's board in Flash Forward? They looked pretty similar.

And similar to any serial killer movie or conspiracy movie.

 

[Cornballer]

Heh, there's a brief Chuck mention on the fake Kabletown page that NBC put up for 30 Rock.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Haha, I love the whole Kabletown storyline on 30 Rock, and the Chuck reference is hilarious, even for how minor it is.

In other news, episode 4.19 will be known as "Chuck Versus The Muuurder".

 

[Cornballer]

In other news, episode 4.19 will be known as "Chuck Versus The Muuurder".

Are the three u's intentional?

 

[Mission]

Despite all of the amazing stuff in this episode, the highlight for me was the music that started playing while Chuck finally proposed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdO85Qf4Poc

I was flipping out.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Are the three u's intentional?

I believe so. It was spelled that way twice on SpoilerTV.

 

[Cornballer]

I believe so. It was spelled that way twice on SpoilerTV.

Cool, thanks.

I added that and the synopsis for 4.16 to the OP.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

I believe so. It was spelled that way twice on SpoilerTV.

For some reason it makes me think of Hitchcock.