I was a bit underwhelmed by the first couple episodes of season two. The show definitely felt like it was getting back on track tonight with “Chuck Versus the Break-Up.” Sure it may not have been perfect, but it was filled with pure Chuck goodness.
It was good to see Bryce again. I have to wonder if the writers are trying to establish a running joke where every time Chuck and Sarah are finally about to get together, Bryce returns (as you may recall, the first time Bryce appeared was while Chuck was leaving a message on Sarah’s phone, asking her out on a date). It was interesting to see how things have changed between Bryce and Sarah since we last saw them. Before Bryce didn’t really seem to think there was anything going on with Chuck and Sarah. This time around, he picked up their feelings almost instantly.
Speaking of Bryce, has Ellie met Bryce before? I assume she must have at some point, as he was Chuck’s best friend for years (not to mention they made a point of making sure she never got a good look at his face). If Ellie does know Bryce that it seems really risky for Bryce to be hanging around places where Ellie might see him. Bryce Larkin is supposed to be dead so it might be kind of hard for him to explain what he was doing looking in on Sarah at the hospital.
Von Hayes initial escape didn’t make a lot of sense. Apparently the Fulcrum agent just abandoned the Von Hayes, who had the chip she had been sent to retrieve, so she could go back and check out some sound she heard from the room she just left. There was no logical reason for her to allow Von Hayes to escape. The escape happened purely so Sarah would have to choose between saving Chuck and going after the chip.
As for the chip, its existence doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense either. The chip was designed to update the new Intersect, but why would the new Intersect need an update while it was still under construction? Clearly the only Intersect that could make use of such an update is the existing one, i.e. Chuck.
It is good that Chuck received the update however. The more time that went back since Chuck first received the Intersect the harder it was getting to accept the fact that Chuck would have accurate data with his flashes. Things change (new agencies come into existence, people move, etc) so the Intersect needs to be regularly updated if it’s going to provide reliable intelligence.
I also quite enjoyed Chuck’s acquiring of the chip. Chuck is slowly becoming more competent at playing a spy and when he really throws himself into the role, entertainment is sure to follow. I really got a kick out of the enthusiasm that Chuck and Von Hayes shared over all the spy action (with exchanging packages and what not).
On the relationship front, the stuff with Chuck fretting about Bryce and Sarah was good; the stuff with Sarah having trouble separating her feelings for Chuck from her job as an agent was good; Chuck’s concern for Sarah’s life was good as well. At the same time, it was hard to really care about Chuck telling Sarah they could never be together. They both know how they really feel about each other, and that Chuck was just saying what he said as a way of trying to protect Sarah. The only thing that really changed is Chuck won’t be showing up at the door with a rose again anytime soon.
You know, I certainly have been complaining a lot of little things in regards to tonight’s episode. I actually really liked it though. Even the Morgan and Lester pimp Madden ’09 subplot was entertaining. When Morgan made his first attempt to leave the store with Anna I was thinking he’d probably be a lot safer with Anna there to protect him. It was most amusing to see Anna prove that theory correct by wailing on the leader of the Mighty Jocks in the sub-plot’s conclusion.
While the titular “break-up” of Chuck and Sarah won’t really change anything, and there were more than a few plot-holes, “Chuck Versus the Break-Up” was still a great episode.
Trevor MacKay is the sci-fi/horror/fantasy/cheesy/random geeky stuff guy. If something is geeky and/or unbelievably cheesy, he’s there.
