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post #91 of 607
10/21/08 at 6:55pm

Re: Chuck season 2

I didn't even recognize "Jenny" as Sarah in the opening scene! Totally different hair and posture; it wasn't until a closeup and I noticed her eyes that I figured it out. I liked the episode a lot, even if the Buy More stuff has gotten a bit out of control. The business with Sarah's past was just the right balance, I think: we got a window into the truth about a specific period in her life, but the larger mystery still remains, out there somewhere.
Casey's quietly become one of my favorite characters this season. The comparison to Adam Baldwin's performance as Jayne is illuminating: both toughs, but on opposite sides of the intellectual scale. That Baldwin can fill essentially the same role in both shows but be so smart here and so dumb there showcases his talents.
One of my favorites on TV!
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Chuck - The Complete First Season
Chuck: The Complete Second Season
Chuck - The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]
post #92 of 607
10/21/08 at 9:13pm

Re: Chuck season 2

So, is there not a new ep next week? The previews just said "in the coming weeks."
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post #93 of 607
10/21/08 at 9:52pm

Re: Chuck season 2

According to EPGuides.com, "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer" is scheduled to air next Monday, followed by a hiatus two Mondays from now for the election week, and then returning again with "Chuck Versus the Ex" on November 10.
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post #94 of 607
10/21/08 at 11:10pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am pretty sure that was the finest hour of television in the entire 80 years of the medium. Just superb, superior viewing. I was either smiling or chuckling all the way through. Mark Ratner. Chuck getting all mad dog by crumpling a styrofoam cup. Lester addressing Big Mike by talking to Norman. Every note was just right.

Was the jetpack dude new to the intro? I don't remember seeing him.

Edit: posted before I read other reactions. Looks like I'm alone in my untempered praise, though it seems everyone liked it to a degree.
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post #95 of 607
10/22/08 at 4:21pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_S_H
Edit: posted before I read other reactions. Looks like I'm alone in my untempered praise, though it seems everyone liked it to a degree.
I enjoyed the episode, to be sure. And the performances by the main actors were as sharp as ever. But the story itself seemed weaker than the norm for Chuck.

But I don't want to harsh on your charm

And I echo Adam's praise for Adam (Baldwin). That unvoiced growl he expressed to Chuck when he learned that Chuck got credit for Casey's bathroom takedown of the goons was priceless. And DJ Master Baldwin was one the typical perfect touches of humor.
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post #96 of 607
10/22/08 at 9:25pm

Re: Chuck season 2

After Charlie's tragic death on Lost, fans wondered if Dominic Monaghan would return to TV. Well, he is and he's coming to Chuck in episode 2.13! Here's the scoop from Ausiello at EW:

Quote:
In what reps his first major TV gig since Lost, Dominic Monaghan has signed on to guest star on NBC's Chuck as -- stop me if this sounds familiar -- a free-spirited British rock star targeted for death by a shadowy group of evil-doers. And the similarities to his Lost alter ego Charlie don't end there. Well, actually, yes, they do. "This is a very, very different kind of character," insists executive producer Josh Schwartz of Monaghan's metalhead, who makes an in-store appearance at Buy More and ends up getting entangled in one of Chuck's spy games. "He's a lunatic in the best sense of the word. And there's no heroin [addiction]." Monaghan's participation is only half the Feb. 2 episode's sell: It also will air partly in 3-D, piggybacking on NBC's 3-D Super Bowl stunt. (The network will broadcast the big game the night before.) Aside from the cool factor of seeing himself in 3-D, what drew Monaghan to the role? Did he have any hesitation about channeling someone who, at least on paper, so closely resembles Charlie? And might his tube return be the precursor to another Lost comeback? Hmmm… Sounds like the set-up to an exclusive Q&A with Dominic Monaghan. Scratch that. It is the set-up to an exclusive Q&A with Dominic Monaghan.

Welcome back to TV. Why now and why Chuck?
Monaghan: I wanted to work with Josh Schwartz. I've been wanting to be in business with him for a long time. My agent got me more and more interested in his work and his background and his sensibilities and we've been looking for a way to [connect] for a while now. He's my age, he's smart and cool and, obviously, extremely invested in the industry. He's a comic book fan, he's a movie fan, he's a big fan of TV and gives it a lot of respect. It's the same reason I wanted to work on Lost. I walked into a meeting with Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams and really considered those two people to be the real future of television.

Your Chuck character, Tyler Martin, sounds strangely familiar…
Monaghan: He is an English rock star, so obviously there are similarities [to Charlie]. But this is a comedic role. Charlie was not incredibly comedic on purpose. I think Charlie had funny moments, but Charlie was quite tortured and into meth. The guy that I play on Chuck is just an out-and-out lunatic. If you were to look up "definitive rock star" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of him. But there was definitely a little trepidation. I never want to play the same thing twice.

What convinced you to do it?
Monaghan: After meeting Josh Schwartz and reading the script, I realized that Charlie could never be this person. Charlie would not be a fan of Tyler. Charlie got into rock and roll for the music and to try and help himself in a therapeutic way. And I think Tyler got into rock and roll because he realizes that that's the easiest way to get free flights around the world. He's like Charlie in a hallucinogenic dream. He's like what Charlie would be in his most brilliant moment, but Tyler is like that all the time. So I thought it might be something that would tickle people to see.

When are you returning to Lost?
Monaghan: That's more of a question for Damon Lindelof. I don't really have a huge amount of control over that. I had a great time on the show, and I think Charlie is a character that is definitely missed. I know a lot of people on the show -- myself included -- get asked a lot of questions about when he's coming back. The general public seems to think he's on his way back at some point. But that's something for Damon to answer. All I can really say is if it was the right thing of course I'd go back.

Do you still watch the show?
Monaghan: I watch it here and there. It's not as simple for me to watch it as it used to be, because, obviously, being on the show I felt it was needed for me to watch it just to stay in that zone. Obviously, it's not as essential for me to watch it. But of course I know what's going on.
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post #97 of 607
10/23/08 at 7:40am

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_S_H
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am pretty sure that was the finest hour of television in the entire 80 years of the medium. Just superb, superior viewing. I was either smiling or chuckling all the way through. Mark Ratner. Chuck getting all mad dog by crumpling a styrofoam cup. Lester addressing Big Mike by talking to Norman. Every note was just right.

Was the jetpack dude new to the intro? I don't remember seeing him.

Edit: posted before I read other reactions. Looks like I'm alone in my untempered praise, though it seems everyone liked it to a degree.
Well, you did ask people to correct you if they thought you were wrong. I enjoyed this Monday's episode and thought it was one of the best episodes of the series, to date. I can't agree that it was that it was "...the finest hour of television in the entire 80 years of the medium." statement, though. To each our own opinions.
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post #98 of 607
10/23/08 at 8:45am

Re: Chuck season 2

My only problem with the episode was the reset button on Sarah's past at the end. Why would the show makers want to get trapped in such stupidity, the "mysterious past of Sarah" has absolutely nothing to do with what makes this show great.
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post #99 of 607
10/23/08 at 10:07am

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zack Gibbs
My only problem with the episode was the reset button on Sarah's past at the end. Why would the show makers want to get trapped in such stupidity, the "mysterious past of Sarah" has absolutely nothing to do with what makes this show great.
It wasn't a complete reset button; everything that we learned about her past actually happened. It's just more complicated than things seemed at first glance. Her daddy really is in prison, but I don't think he's a simple thief.
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post #100 of 607
10/23/08 at 12:44pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
My only problem with the episode was the reset button on Sarah's past at the end.

???? A reset button, by definition, returns the situation to the status quo ante. The ending did nothing of the sort. Obviously she and her father changed names and towns regularly, so the "real" name we learned about wasn't her real "real" name, but I don't see that as a problem. And since they were deliberately ambiguous about her father and what he did or didn't do throughout the episode, I don't see how anything we learned about him "undid" anything we saw in the episode. The ending was just an added twist on what we'd seen - hardly a "reset button" and hardly stupid.

As for "the mystery of Sarah's past" not being what made this show (now only a couple of episodes into its 2nd season) great...

Of course it isn't. How could it be "part of what made the show great" when it is a story element that was just introduced this week? Or isn't the show allowed to change or expand at all?

Regards,

Joe
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post #101 of 607
10/23/08 at 1:17pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Sarah's mysterious past has been there from the beginning, ever since Chuck pleaded with her just to tell him her real name. That's why he was so excited at the chance to learn about her in the first place.

And it was very much a rest button because we're made to believe that Chuck has actually learned who "Sarah" really is, but all he's seen is another Alias, and once again he doesn't really know anything about her. Although now he *thinks* he knows, I didn't get the impression they were going to do anything with that but it'll be interesting if they do.
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post #102 of 607
10/23/08 at 1:28pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty M
I can't agree that it was that it was "...the finest hour of television in the entire 80 years of the medium." statement, though. To each our own opinions.

That was just over the top hilarity!
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post #103 of 607
10/23/08 at 1:36pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
Sarah's mysterious past has been there from the beginning, ever since Chuck pleaded with her just to tell him her real name. That's why he was so excited at the chance to learn about her in the first place.

Not telling him her real name was just normal operational security for an undercover agent. She didn't have a specific, personal, "mysterious past" beyond her bending-the-rules relationship with Bryce - which we and Chuck also knew about pretty early on. There weren't open questions about her family history, her father, what happened to her mother, why she had a string of aliases before she was a spy or how she ended up in the CIA in the first place. (Typically CIA types aren't recruited while still in high school, for instance.)

What we saw this week was a new plot element, not even hinted at in the earlier episodes with their standard "need to know" and "I'm undercover" tropes.

Regards,

Joe
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post #104 of 607
10/23/08 at 2:01pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Its not a reset. Reset means putting the storyline back to the same state it was at the beginning. If it was Chuck would not remember the Jenny Burton name at all. Plus he learned that Sarah's father is in jail.

The fact that he did not press Sarah about her father and anything else from her past was a nice touch when he began to realize how painful it was for her.
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post #105 of 607
10/23/08 at 2:31pm

Re: Chuck season 2

That was a great little moment. One more reason for her to stay in love with him. Also, we learned that it isn't so farfetched for her to love a nerd since she was one herself.
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post #106 of 607
10/27/08 at 5:29pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Conflicted - nice to see the Atari presented as a going concern, but it was an American company.

(yeah, I know it technically still exists, but really, only technically)
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post #107 of 607
10/27/08 at 7:49pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Interesting to see a window into Jeff's past. Loved his "I'm supposed to give you this" card when he came to in Chuck's living room.
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post #108 of 607
10/27/08 at 8:21pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Yeah, I liked the card, but I think my favorite thing was the Zune joke, as dumb as it was.
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post #109 of 607
10/27/08 at 9:31pm

Re: Chuck season 2

This show is written expressly for me. Every second works as far as I'm concerned. I was dying when Chuck flashed and Jeff said, "You are so wasted!" And, Sarah's story about Chuck's little feet under the water.

And HOLY SHIT, my weak ticker almost couldn't handle Sarah in the Nerd Herd uniform. She is without a doubt the hottest woman on TV. She just does it for me. I know I'm unique in saying that. . . .

Atari headquarters = Pinehearst. I was almost expecting to see a Petrelli around one of the corners.

You've got the touch
You've got the power
YEAH!
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post #110 of 607
10/28/08 at 3:25am

Re: Chuck season 2

Yvonne does it for me too! Schwiiiing!

Great episode - lots of laughs and good action mixed in. Loved Casey's grunt of disappointment when he did not have to launch the missile! The opening scene with Chuck lying on bed in disguise and with all the fake IDs under his bed was priceless.

Great to see some Sarah and Ellie scenes together! Hope this is the start of a trend.

No new Chuck for two weeks and then we meet Jill! Can't wait to see Sarah squirm with jealousy!

NBC promo for it:
YouTube - Chuck season 2 episode 6 promo

Its going to be a Casey quip-fest!

Remember WWCD! What would Chuck do?
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post #111 of 607
10/28/08 at 5:19am

Re: Chuck season 2

Chuck vs. Tom Sawyer.

Undanceable suburban anthem and great '80s video gaming. What's not to love?

I found this really made Jeff, both more sympathetic and more believable as a character. Really liked his story.

And the introduction of a new, perhaps greater foe: the new asst manager at Buy More!!!
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post #112 of 607
10/28/08 at 6:46am

Re: Chuck season 2

This episode had many shades of awesome.
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post #113 of 607
10/28/08 at 8:48am

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_S_H
And HOLY SHIT, my weak ticker almost couldn't handle Sarah in the Nerd Herd uniform. She is without a doubt the hottest woman on TV. She just does it for me. I know I'm unique in saying that. . . .

Well go to 9:21 and give your heart another workout...

Link deleted by moderator; do not repost.
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post #114 of 607
11/2/08 at 2:37pm

Re: Chuck season 2

From E! here is the latest casting news:

Reliable sources tell me exclusively that NBC’s awesome, fan-favorite dramedy

Chuck has closed a deal for Andy Richter and Jenny McCarthy to appear in an episode called “Chuck Versus the Suburbs,” which will air during February.
Are they going to be evil spies? Old friends? New lovers? I’ve got the dish…
According to my sources, when intelligence reports suggest that an evil Fulcrum agent might be living in the suburbs, Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) are forced to go undercover as a…wait for it…married couple and play house.
(And the Sarah-Chuck fans go crazay.)
Andy and Jenny will play different neighbors who live in the ‘hood.
“Chuck Versus the Suburbs” is episode 14 of the current second season, and it will most likely air in late February or perhaps during March sweeps.
Are you digging this casting as much as I am? Not to mention thoroughly enjoying the current season? Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to tune into Chuck on Monday nights…
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post #115 of 607
11/2/08 at 2:38pm

Re: Chuck season 2

deleted double post
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post #116 of 607
11/3/08 at 1:40am

Re: Chuck season 2

Chuck I thought has been very good for the most part this year, however I would have to agree with some of what Entertainment Weekly said in an article a few weeks ago about the downhill slide of Chuck, Hereos and Terminator SCC. I do think Chuck needs to get back to basics and a little more nerd herd crew with his best friend. Not every episode mind you, just keep it connected that he is still very much nerd, NOT spy. Also, I'm not so sure about the intro of the new Buy More character types which seem to drag focus away from advancing story lines with charters at the Buy More we already know.

Overall though, I REALLY enjoy Chuck and hope the ratings pick up.
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post #117 of 607
11/3/08 at 3:00am

Re: Chuck season 2

The only real issue with Chuck this season is that the BuyMore scenes have been stand alone for the most part this season. They work best when integrated with the main Spy storyline and include Chuck. 2.05 is an example of that.

Love the show though. Its one of the few that makes you feel good after you finish viewing the latest installment.
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post #118 of 607
11/3/08 at 8:23am

Re: Chuck season 2

Quote:
The only real issue with Chuck this season is that the BuyMore scenes have been stand alone for the most part this season.

I totally agree. Its been like watching two shows at once. One of the reason's last week's episode "Chuck vs Tom Sawyer" was near perfect was because it brought the main plot back to the Buy More.
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post #119 of 607
11/6/08 at 12:18pm

Re: Chuck season 2

Early review of the upcoming Jill trilogy trumpets next Monday's episode as the series best yet!

Some spoilers are contained in it but, to me, nothing that should diminish one's enjoyment.

Bottom line the next 3 episodes are expertly written, acted, and get us to rethink one of the basic conceits of the show introduced in the first episode. Special praise goes out to Yvonne Strahovski and Jordana Brewster too!
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post #120 of 607
11/8/08 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Chuck season 2

Just saw 'Chuck' gets 3-D, Super Bowl Boost - ComicMix news
which has
Quote:
“It was NBC,” Schwartz, said, crediting the network. “They were doing this big promotion inside of the Super Bowl and handing out 150 million 3-D glasses, so we are the beneficiaries of that. Initially their plan was to have a bunch of shows do it, but it was logistically complicated, so Chuck seemed like the best fit for that type of thing.

“We are shooting the 3-D episode with Dominic Monahan and he’s loving it and loving his leather pants. Zach is the biggest Lost fan, so they talk Lord of the Rings and Lost and it’s huge for him.”

Among the promised three-dimensional images Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
will be Nerd Herder “Jeff eating a urinal cake
in 3-D.”
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Chuck - The Complete First Season
Chuck: The Complete Second Season
Chuck - The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]
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