TV Review: Chuck 2.1 – Chuck vs. The First Date
Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 29, 2008
Chuck, NBC, Airs Mondays 8/7c
Episode: “Chuck vs. The First Date” (Season 2, Episode 1)
Synopsis: Chuck and Sarah finally have a real date–only to be disrupted by a menacing new operative, Mr. Colt (Michael Clarke Duncan).
Review: The second season of Chuck begins where the last one left off, with plenty of awkward tension in the relationship between Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski). I’m I the only one that wants to see this thing happen, for Chuck to hook up with Agent Hottie? I don’t think I am alone in saying that I once again feel bad for Chuck — the man needs to get some. But for the foreseeable future, it appears that it won’t be coming from Sarah.
But I digress, despite my feelings about Chuck’s need for companionship, something that is never going to be resolved, it is worth noting that the premiere of season 2 was a lot of fun. Infused with a lot of the same quirk that made the series such a fan favorite last season, episode one saw the evolution of “Charles Charmichael” the spy, a man who is becoming more confident in his own spyness. Of course, it is easy to become confident when you believe that you will be set free rather than assassinated on date night by Casey. Either way, Chuck’s spy antics could be a shadow of things to come — a season of Chuck’s growth into his own super-spyness.
Ultimately, the silly, fun series created by Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz has maintained that which makes it great — its unique quirkiness and never-ending pursuit of Zachary Levi one-liners. And if they can maintain that, and combine it with some fun cameos — like Michael Clarke Duncan in the premiere and John Larroquette in the episodes to come — I think that Chuck will have no problem being an easy Monday night choice for anyone who longs for the days when the light and funny sitcom was commonplace. Also, not to be overlooked — reference to “Thunderdome” and music by Huey Lewis and the News are always going to make Chuck a winner.
Up Next Week: Emmy Award winner John Larroquette (Boston Legal) guest-stars as the legendary debonair spy Roan Montgomery and Melinda Clarke (The O.C.) guest-stars as a sultry but dangerous female spy known as the Black Widow. Chuck (Zachary Levi) must go undercover to retrieve the Cipher from the Black Widow. But in order to get close to his target, Chuck must learn the art of seduction from the suave and sophisticated Roan. Unfortunately for Chuck, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and Casey (Adam Baldwin), Roan is no longer the world’s greatest spy. Meanwhile, Morgan (Joshua Gomez) offers Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) some advice for a romantic night with Ellie (Sarah Lancaster), and Lester (Vik Sahay) struggles to gain respect at Buy More as the new assistant manager. Jeff Krinsky, Julia Ling and Mark Christopher Lawrence also star.
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Did you watch Chuck this week? If so, feel free to discuss below.
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