Race To The Middle -- "Chuck" at Season Four's Midpoint

Now that I’m back from the floating fortress of fun, here are some thoughts at the midway point of Season Four…

I wish that NBC would have given “Chuck” a definite 24 episodes when they renewed the show last spring. That way the producers could have planned their story arcs for the entire season rather than only 13 episodes. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, yet I think that the season so far has felt rushed. That being said, I really did enjoy the three episodes after “Chuck” came back from winter hiatus.

The Volkoff storyline wrapped up with Chuck (Zac Levi) defeating Volkoff (the amazing Timothy Dalton), Dark Sarah rising (Yvonne Strahovski channeling her inner Emma Peel), and reuniting Chuck’s mom with Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) as the latter gives birth to Jeffster's redition of Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s “Push It”.

Saving the budget for episode 13 (Chuck vs. The Push Mix) did lead to some awkward effects moments for the two episodes that proceeded it (like the green screen mimicing France in Chuck vs. The Balcony), but the acting by Levi, Strahovski and Adam Baldwin (Casey!) always overcomes any reservations I have.

And as I’ve mentioned before, I do like that the action is less dependent on special effects. The last three episodes have given us some great action scenes: the Casey/Sarah fake real fight (Chuck vs. The Gobbler), Chuck fighting French terrorists while not spilling a drop of wine in his glass, and Casey cobblering Volkoff’s assassin with a bonsai plant. Even Morgan (Joshua Gomez) got into the act when he navigated deadly laser beams using nothing but yoga!

With every plot end tied up neatly (as the producers didn’t know at the time about the additional episodes), “Chuck” is reverting back to reusing characters from previous seasons as the next two episodes deal with the return of the legendary debonair spy Roan Montgomery and Sarah’s best friend/enemy Carina. While I do enjoy certain stand-alone episodes (Season 2’s Chuck vs. Tom Sawyer being my favorite), “Chuck” works better when it is moving through a story arc. The producers have promised a big storyline with Ellie, so I’m looking forward to that. And since “Chuck” is reusing characters, could they please bring back Mary Bartowski (Linda Hamilton) and Volkoff?

As for my feelings regarding a fifth season, they still haven’t changed. “Chuck” always manages to have great episodes despite the odds against it, and I’m willing to bet this time that NBC will continue to renew it!

My Favorite Episode (so far): Chuck vs. The Couch Lock. Yes, it is a stand-alone episode, but paralyzed Casey was so cool!

My Favorite Line (so far): “After all, I am my father’s son, aren’t I?” I liked the biblical tone Chuck used when he said it.

Best Greta: I don’t know what happened to the Gretas. I hope the producers bring them back.

My Coolest Moment (so far): Chuck taking down Volkoff with his computer knowledge and the overwhelming non-violent support of the US Military. Honorable Mention: Jeffster! performing “Push It” in the maternity ward – almost as good as their performance in Ellie and Awesome’s first wedding.

Charah Scene (so far): Chuck proposing to Sarah in the hallway of a hospital. The way the focus in this scene centered on the floor cleaner and not Chuck and Sarah was wonderfully done, and the perfect Aw… moment!