May 3, 2009
Filed under Television, featured
Chuck - Season 2
Written by Patrick | Contact this author
Last season, the new show Chuck started out as a “cool geek” show without a lot of promise. Not many people (read, critics) had more than mediocre expectations of it.
Once the show was given a green light and a full season was ordered, it hit a stride. Although in early episodes the chemistry between Chuck (Zachary Levi), his CIA handler Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and the rest of the cast did not mesh well, nor create high interest in the characters, later episodes created likability and interest in the various quirky and sometimes troubled characters.
Although the writer’s strike caused a short season, Chuck was able to emerge as a string contender on one of TV’s most jam packed nights, Monday. Chuck became a fun, enjoyable show among a handful of disappointing genre shows (Heroes, BSG, among others).
Unfortunately, season two just did not deliver the goods. The episodes seemed to become a bit too self aware, and only maintained, at best, the relationships of the various characters. Don’t get this geek wrong, there were some great moments, like when Chuck must play all the way through the classic arcade game Asteroids using Rush’s Tom Sawyer as a rhythmic blueprint to finish the game. Chuck’s best friend Morgan, when asked if he has the classic Rush song, admits “Yeah, I’ve got it on my Zune.” Chuck looks quizzically, “You have a Zune?”
Toward the last part of the season, it seemed the writers included a few too many conveniences and uninteresting plot points. Maybe these were to try to breathe new life into the show; drive it forward in hopes of receiving a third season, but it may not be enough. Appearances by Quantum Leaps’ Scott Bakula (Enterprise) and Chevy Chase (Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na…….picture him putting, then go rent Caddyshack) just didn’t provide as much kick I think the show runners wanted.
Chuck had a good 2/3rds of a first season, and a passable second. If you dig lighthearted geek humor, and want something semi-entertaining to watch, give it a shot. Rent or buy the season one DVD, and Hulu season two, but don’t spend too much.
I’ve been meaning to check this out, but with such a short first season (13 episodes) the price tag is still a little high; Amazon has it for around $25. I watched, and enjoyed the pilot, but that’s as far as I got for some reason.
I actually think a bit higher of this show. As it would go i would describe this as a great “popcorn flick” (if it were a movie) but the idea is the same. I don’t watch this for its amazing directorial vision, or someone trying to make a point. I love this show because it entertains me and does a good job at that. I like that the episodes while fallowing a season plot line are still fairly self contained. Yeah it’s over the top but i think thats what is fun about it. I’m going to pull a thought from Brian post on Hanna Montana…”What teen girl doesn’t wish she could be rockstar by night and a normal kid by day?” apply that idea to the demographic for Chuck and you get…What guy wouldn’t want to be a normal dude by day and a super spy by night?… I know I would. Thats just my 2 cents on it though.