Strahovski and Cliffhangers

I loved every minute of it, and I think giving Morgan the Intersect was a stroke of genius. I can’t wait for Season 5!

I loved the whole season and this was a great and fitting end to the season. I can’t wait to see how Morgan will cope w/ the intersect and seeing how Chuck had to live for 4 years.

Also here’s an interview that gives us a little information on what’s to come in Season 5: http://www.tvline.com/2011/05/chuck-season-finale-post-mortem-executive-producer-fedak/

Now the season is over can we get 3 shows of screen captures in work. There has got to be some good ones out there.

I absolutely loved it! What a freaking fantastic season and what an amazing finale to finish it off! That was simply superb!

UJ: I’ll definitely get the screen caps out there. I’ve been really busy with work. At least this way there’s new stuff to look forward to. Screen caps are a lot of work, and I’m just one man.

Don’t expect much from this episode, though. It was tragically short on Yvonne Strahovski.

Best episode of the season, and one one of the best overall, right up there with Vs The Intersect, Vs The Colonel and Vs The Honeymooners!

Sarah in danger of death, Chuck loosing the intersect, Casey choosing his team over national security (he wouldn’t have done it back in S1), the Volkoff redemption, Awesome hitting a guy, Carina and Zondra coming to help, Chuck backed up by Volkoff Industries, and of course the wedding! to quote Awesome “It was… outstanding!”

As you say, it was all about everybody comming through to help Sarah and Chuck, from the team and the family to Beckman and even the former badguyss.
It could have been a perfect series finale, but the setting for next season is awesome! The team running its own private spy operation with their own ressources! And its a great way to put the buymore bak in the fold… I’m just wondering where Beckman is gonna fit… She probably gonna use the team for missions the CIA can’t be involved with…
Season 5 is gonna be epic!

But the boldest move… Morgan know Kung Fu… OH BOY!

Wow.. What a season! It started off with the search for mom and then an engagement and finished with a wedding and them being released from the CIA. Love the fact that they are now their own organization. But what to call them now is the question. And who will they recuite…
Anyways. Agree with the majority of the review, Chuck was Chuck tonight and that was what he needed to be for Sarah. It truely is amazing to see how far the whole team has grown since the first season. This is a great cast.. It is exciting to have season 5..
Im not sure yet how I feel about Morgan getting the intersect. But Ill be excited to see how the writers develop season 5.
All in all a good season, it had its ups and a few downs but overall was very good.

I really loved the storyline and can’t wait to see Morgan as the new intersect but was anyone else sad that the wedding wasn’t covered at all? I thought Sarah made an absolutely beautiful bride but why was Morgan marrying them? Did I miss a set up for that? Though I do have to admit that I loved the homage to “The Princess Bride” with Morgan’s “As you wiiiiiiish” in the limo
As sad as I am that season 5 has already been labeled as the last season, at least the writers know so they can write a truly amazing wrap up for our beloved characters. Now I guess I just have to wait until the season 4 DVD release and hope that this time around they give us episode commentaries!

what are you talking about? The wedding has been covered for the past 11 episodes of the show, if not the entire season! What with that and all of the flashbacks during the episode, we got what we wanted to see. Or at least I got what I wanted to see. We heard Chuck and Sarah’s vows, we heard them say “I do” and we got the kiss. I am happy.

Now I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t get anything of the honeymoon, but I guess that leaves fertile ground for fan fiction to cover.

As for Morgan, no, there was no set up for that, but it was funny and it perfectly fit this show.

Oh, and yes, please have episode commentaries this time! I would really, really like that!

This episode Rocked!!! Probably my #1 episode, it was awesome to see Chuck standing up for his bride! that was the best part for me, Loved the motorcycle Chuck rode (and Mama B) commenting son aren’t u going a little to fast? Carina and Zondra coming in was perfect loved it, would like to see both of them again in Season 5 and the fact that Morgan is the new intersect is AWESOME, can’t stress enough how awesome this show is and can’t wait until Season 5 #Emmy4Yvonne!!!

What a perfect wrap for the season and the potential for season 5. Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz have done it again with their season ending twists! This is what classic TV is all about not that crap reality TV that has killed so much of the written shows all for ratings.
I can see where Chuck could borrow from the “A” Team, Hart to Hart, Mission Impossible etc. OH to have a full season! Chuck could recruit the Cat Squad for covert action. Beckman could work covertly against the CIA as she is with the NSA don’t forget. And Mama B well….And what about the Volkovs now that they have new identities… SO many ways, so many twists!!!
It is so hard to let go of a good thing isn’t it. But if Chuck ends, it is not the end for the cast. The exposure that Yvonne has gotten from Chuck will keep her in good stead at the box office. The Killer Elite release will probably coincide with the end of Chuck and then look out! Have a great summer all as we wait for Chuck to arrive on FRIDAY nights!

Although I would’ve preferred Chuck as the intersect again, the only other person I’d trust it with is his best man.
The incurable romantic in me, however, is disappointed that the wedding scene (and Yvonne) received so little attention. I would’ve loved to see Sarah’s dad and the whole family/romance side more, but I realize that not everyone may share my unquenchable Charah thirst.
On a side note, I found it amusing that Sarah Lancaster’s real-life pregnancy was more than obvious in the wedding scene. But all the girl were so gorgeous, I’m sure no one noticed, right?
Season 5 is our last season, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let go of this show. We’ve watched the cast grow, not only as characters (as the Charah flashbacks nostalgically reminded me) but as actors. Long live Chuck!

Two best lines: “As you wish. As you wiiiiish.” And “Perfect.”

It would have been a Perfect way to end the series, and it looks also to be a Perfect way to keep it going.

I’ve loved this show from day 1. Those flashbacks to “trust me” at the beach and “the kiss” remind me how I got hooked (though more than anything, it was watching Sarah’s face in “the Truth” when Chuck asked to fake break-up of the fake relationship). Perfect acting. I enjoy every character and actor in in Chuck, but decided after “the Truth” that the show should be called “Sarah” and that Yvonne Strahovski should be a star.

Anyway, this past season was up and down. It’s a hard formula to keep going. Some really good episodes, and some that were weak enough that I thought, “Okay, let’s wrap it up with a great wedding” before the shark starts to circle.

With this new setup, I’m more than ready for season five. Thanks to Subway and Toyota (and Lotus, though as a Porsche guy, that explosion was a little tough to take!).

Now the writers finally get to tell us what happened to Sarah’s mom, right? And, hey, if you read this, how about a scene in which Casey blows everyone away in a hail of fire, and Chuck or Morgan says, “Nice grouping.” Go ahead. Make my day!

I’m actually feeling a little sorry for ZL, as he has to reach down and pull out the same set of emotions scene after scene, week after week. I know that’s the nature of TV work for an actor, but he hit so many high notes in the first season, that it must be hard to keep it going.

The scene in Volkoff’s offices, where he confronts Vivian, was tremendous. Chuck, the character, finally was able to let go of all the pretenses that propelled his CIA status and his early role in Sarah’s life. Well written and well played.

And Timothy Dalton’s work was kind of lost this week…a very credible transformation between his two lives.

One of the great vehicles in “Hart To Hart” was the Harts’ ability to do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, because they were rich. Looks like the Bartowski’s will be on the same track in S5! DID NOT see that one coming!

Fully agree with everyone’s take on how good this episode was. A perfect way to end the season.

Some additional thoughts to add on to what has already been said:

1) Chuckster – thanks for mentioning that Sarah Lancaster is really pregnant…I saw the baby bump in the wedding scene and was trying to remember if Ellie had said anything about having another child (btw – where was Baby Clara???)

2) Best quote for me was Zondra’s line when she and Carina got into the car. If you remember in the last episode Sarah said she was sorry her bridesmaids couldn’t help out more, but staging that coup was taking longer than they expected. So, upon entering the car, Zondra’s line is: “Egypt took longer than we thought.” It was so subtle and perfect!

3) Loved the fact that Chuck was first and foremost, Chuck! That’s who we saw fighting for Sarah – not the Intersect, not Charles Carmichael. And, to prove the point, when he tells the receptionist he’s there to see Vivian, he specifically identifies himself as Chuck Bartowski. As we were reminded in one of the after-wedding flashbacks, that’s who Sarah (and all of us) fell in love with, and that’s who we so enjoyed seeing come through for those he loves once again.

4) Not sure where the show goes from here, but I’m not convinced Chuck won’t get back the Intersect. And, also wouldn’t be surprised if Morgan gives it up. Remember the whole thing with Alex being worried about him.

5) Before the episode aired tonight, I wasn’t so sure Sarah was going to make it. Don’t forget, Bryce died at the end of Season 2 and Papa B at the end of Season 3 (although Decker’s laughter at the end when Chuck mentioned his father dying made me wonder about that). Part of me was thinking we were going to see another final episode death. Very glad to be wrong.

6) Regarding the wedding scene, was I the only one having trouble telling whether it was real or a dream sequence, especially with Morgan officiating? That was the only weak point in the whole episode, and, the Princess Bride reference more than made up for it )

Finally, I want to say thank you to Lyakon – you’ve given us a a perfect resource to supplement our Chuck fixes and it’s attracted a great group of fans. Now to start the countdown to Season 5…..

Great episode. I really do believe the wedding was a sort of dream not only cause of Morgan officiating it. Didn’t anyone noticed that their wedding rings were the same twist ties that they used in their practice? You can see the twist ties clearly on their fingers in the limo.

I loved this episode, with one exception, which I’ll get to later. I thought it was amazing the lengths the entire family went to in order to save Sarah. Chuck was great! There was a bit of humor from Casey, when the Russians landed….that was humorous. Would’ve liked to see a bit more of Sarah, but all in all, it was fantastic.
What I don’t like is the “Morgan as the Intersect” angle. I like the way they’ve evolved this character from the annoying little buddy to much more, but I don’t like him as the intersect. Yes, Chuck has some abilities without it, but to me, that’s what make the show what it is. I’m hoping they figure out a way in the first episode of Season 5 to get it out of Morgan and back into Chuck. Oh….since it’s the last season, a great way to end the series is for Sarah to get pregnant.

I know this show is about Chuck but i LOVE Sarah walker. Great episode, too bad Yvonne wasn’t in it that much.

I’m going to have to watch it again. I wasn’t as impressed as most here. I like the show but it’s starting to get a bit long in the tooth in my opinion.

Every season finale of Chuck and even a mid season episode sometimes has been set up to be a possible series finale. It’s a shame but that’s show biz. Chuck gets what, 3 million eyeballs per episode? That’s OK but then you have these various singing or dancing reality TV shows that cost less but get 20 million.

Chuck saving Vivian and her Dad and them being able to be free was totally predictable. I am glad that was their fate versus prison or worse.

The wedding and the associated flashbacks to past episodes being brief was welcome for me. To me the wedding is the “shark jump” moment for the show. (The term comes from the old TV show Happy Days.) I don’t know of a TV show that has married two of the main characters, especially ones with relationship tension early on, and survived for more than a season.

I saw a very brief interview with Zack at an NBC party for next season’s shows. He said something like “We get a chance to wrap things up. Most shows don’t get that, so that’s great.” Yvonne was standing next to him (as a brunette) and did not have her usual smile on her face. Adam was there, too, and probably other cast members. It was a very brief moment of TV I caught while channel surfing and I can’t find it anywhere. If you go to NBC.com you’ll see that Chuck will return on Friday night. Yeah, this is it, folks. All good things must come to an end.

I have suspected all along that Chuck’s Dad is still alive. The final moments of this episode reinforced that theory. A reunion of Steven and Mary Bartowski would be nice I suppose, but only as a series finale.

I found an interview with Zachary, Yvonne, Joshua, and Ryan at that NBC party per my last comment. I don’t think that it’s the same one that I saw yesterday. But it shows Yvonne with a couple of laughs and smiles so that’s nice.

http://www.accesshollywood.com/chuck-returning-for-fifth-and-final-season_video_1327840

Thanks Gomer for the link to the interview… Two Thumbs up… for the show and at least one more season of fun & laughter.

After reading some of your comments, you may be right. Perhaps the “wedding” was some sort of fantasy sequence. To have Morgan marry them, to have Morgan get the Intersect, to have the “bread ties” as rings……maybe that’s how they flip it back around. That would be fine with me….seemed like a big buildup to the wedding and then it was only a few minutes at the wedding itself. Maybe it was Sarah hallucinating as she recovers. We shall have to wait til Friday nights at 8 in the fall to find out, I guess.

Overall I really liked the show but the idea of Morgan the intersect is ludicrist. I thought people (Chuck) with special brains could control the intersect.

Hoping Chuck becomes the intersect again

Casey smiling and tearing up!There’s always the first!TRUST, that’s what Sarah asked for Chuck to do back in season 1, that’s the one I’ve been giving the writers all this time; they never run out of surprises. I thought at first the wedding was a dream sequence too.=) The vows earned the heart of this episode!Although not much Sarah Walker screen time here,whenever she’s in a scene, she owns it! Beckman is a CHARAH shipper! So with Carina and Zondra probably joining the team next season… It’s double the fun! Now I have to find me some white quick tie and another ring finger to tie it to =)

This episode was hard to watch. It was brutally cliche and overall terrible. The characters are nothing more than caricatures, there are numerous continuity issues, and it’s become impossible to connect/identify with the characters, which is what made Chuck so great in the first place. As jazzbob7 noted, the idea that Morgan now has the intersect is completely retarded/ridiculous. The show made a whole big deal about how Chuck was special because his brain was unique. Since then, they’ve given the intersect to at least 7 people, one of whom is Morgan.

Do people actually think the show has gotten better since seasons 1 & 2?

I just wanted to thank Lykaon for the website. I first stopped for the show as it had Adam Baldwin (the man they call Jaaaaaaaayne) and a smokin hot blonde, who had smarts and a personality as well.

I actually think this has been the best season since number 2. More stand alone Chuck episodes with a bit of an arc behind them but not overwhelmingly so.

Intrigued by some of the suggestions I’ve seen above though! Hope the final 13 rock!

The episode had a bit rushed feel to it because so many things had to be astablished in a short timeframe, but I still liked it from beginning to end and the twist left a smile on my face.

Yes it has been established that Chuck is special and that his brain can store great amounts of subliminal Intersect data, but it doesn’t mean he is in any way unique or one of a kind. It would make no sense to create this technology if only one person in the world could actually use it. Wasn’t it always CIA’s plan to create an army of super-agents?

In the end the Intersect is nothing more than a glorified plot-device that makes it possible to tell stories that would otherwise make no sense. After all the show is called “Chuck” and not “The Intersect”.

As for Morgan having the Intersect I have no problems with it and really don’t see any reason for this sudden hate. I’m really excited to see how they play out this Team B goes A-team thing and how does morgan fit in with all this.

This was episode was about as awesome as Captain Awesome (if not more awesome). It wasn’t as awesome as “Chuck vs. the Ring Part II”, but it proved to be a tense, thrilling, and surprising script. Kudos to those involved in the writing and directing.

I have a feeling that the plot of Season 5 will be like a cross between The Avengers and The Prisoner. If that proves to be true, I think I’m REALLY going to love it!

I just wanted to make a comment on the writing for this episode as was true in many of the other episodes. I think Sara’s vows in the practice were fantastic. Kudos to the writers. Just like in the American Hero when Chuck tells Sarah how he truly feels and in the Balcony when he again tells her how he feels. True again Sarah tells Chuck how she feels in the suitcase episode and many other examples in the 3 phases of Sarah explaining how she feels about Chuck. This show has truly been a love story. FANTASTic

OMG, he knows Kung-Fu!
And honestly people, this was what we were all hoping and waiting for… since the very first episode, from the moment Sarah walks in the Buy More conviced it´d be a piece of cake getting that nerd named Chuck out for a date and then extract the Intersect, slowly she was the one falling in love. They had to be together.

It toke 78 episodes through out four seasons, with all the fear that they´d never be able to make it, but there we go. They are married.

And boy, what a setup they got for Season 5. Just WOW.

Clever if slightly confusing ending to Chuck with the wedding sequence. Presumably the idea was to keep the viewers guessing as to whether it was a dream or real ? Seeing Morgan officiating as the vicar/ priest /whatever was the clue – it was a dream ! Whoops ! No it wasn’t ! That was the only jarring moment in the last episode although I would have liked to have seen more time spent at the wedding. Who walked Sarah down the isle ? Who was the best man ? It would have been wonderful to see Sarah’s father turn up at the last minute !

Same ending setup as season 3 Chuck with his own base & going it alone which didn’t even last for one episode of season 4.

Would the CIA really sell them the Buy-More & Castle after getting rid of Team B ?

One other thing that could make the wedding scene only a dream is that Sarah is wearing a different dress to the one she found in Ep17.

I totally agree with GROMIT35. I would like to further add that I wasn’t crazy about Morgan getting the intersect. To me he doesn’t seem like he could handle it. He barely looks comfortable holding a firearm, even if its unloaded. It’s also kinda like a 12 year old boy dating a hot 21 year old model. He doesn’t have a clue what he’s got!

I liked when Chuck was the only intersect. Not the Old Spice guy or his blonde partner, and especially not Shaw. We need to hope that the wedding was a dream sequence which I definitely believe is possible because of the Morgan thing and the simple fact that the wedding was one of the most if not the most important aspect of the whole series which says the nerd got the girl. Also I noticed that Sarah went from the hospital bed to the altar in no time flat. I’m also hoping that this wasn’t just bad writing. The finale had a little too much to squeeze into just one episode.

But I love the show regardless of any of its short comings and I can’t wait for the next 13. If they keep it to 13, we are in for a great ride. Nothing will be rushed through and maybe we’ll get the complete wrap on Sarah before she met Chuck and before the CIA.

One last thing, if I was married to Sarah and Volkov gave me almost a billion dollars, NO WAY would I risk it on buying a Buymore and playing the spy game with no CIA/NSA support. It would be just me and Sarah on some desserted island.

Does anyone know when the first episode of season five will be shown?

I had to watch the Cliffhanger again and I gotta say that it was great. Better the second time. I can’t wait for S5 to start. From what I read it’s pretty much only 13 episodes and that’s it. Kinda sad knowing it’s coming to a definitive end. I miss the cast already.

Any chance of seeing screen captures of the wedding soon ? I use screen captures as wallpaper. Is it just me but I find regular wallpapers of Yvonne as well as the NBC promotion pictures and even the fashion shots she has done DON’T DO HER JUSTICE. Yvonne looks so much nicer in your screen captures. Whatever she is doing, whatever she is wearing…or not wearing, she looks………hang on, wife coming, bett…….

Awesome that Chuck/Sarah made it thru Season4, 78 eps.
If only NBC would make it 22 for Season5 and we would get an even 100 eps in total.
Maybe cable or a Chuck/Sarah movie will be an option.

IMO, the writers were very good in the story arcs ending at the end of
Season1 (which only had 13 eps), Season2, Season3 ep13, Season4 ep13.
The add-ons for Season 3 and Season4 have been good in that Chuck is a very well
done show. It must have been hard for the writers, not knowing if cancellation was imminent.
The flashbacks this ep had to tie to earlier seasons was great.

Btw, why is NBC switching Chuck to Fridays?

Intriguing angle others brought up about a dream sequence regarding the wedding.
Maybe. Morgan as the one officiating the wedding likely was WarnerBros borrowing from
“Friends” and Joey. It would make sense and be a good start for Season5.

The wedding was a bit understated, but it must have been hard for the writers to outdo what
happened at Ellie’s/Awesome’s wedding. Disappointed that Kim Basinger or similar was not made
Sarah’s mom, who would show at the wedding.
However, it fits, since Sarah has never had a real family. The ep earlier this season did not
make u think Jack Burton was going to show for the wedding, either.
That was his “visit” for the wedding and he left a present. The Season1 sister reference by Sarah must have been only a cover.

There was a bit of humor, LOL when Ellie told Awesome to take out the CIA agent at the hospital.
Then Morgan brought up the old Chuck / Cole manuever “sweep the leg”, however Awesome ended up
“manning up” and taking the CIA agent out.

Agree with the fans who say Morgan having the Intersect is a bit of a stretch. Although he has grown into helping out as a spy,
Chuck has always been the supersmart “he went to Stanford” one, as Ellie has said.
Perhaps the dream sequence angle will tie-in here.

Good point about “Casey choosing his team over national security, he wouldn’t have done it back in S1″.

Awesome motorcycle the CIA had. Maybe Chuck/Team B will use it more in Season5.

Decker was very convincing as a nemesis for Chuck, even though he works for the feds.
Also in the conspiracy theory possibility raised by Casey. Decker’s speech was a flashback itself with all of
the references to the Intersect, Agent X, Steve Bartowski, Shaw, Fulcrum, the Ring.

Jill is still out there, the CAT squad can reappear, Stephen Hartley and Vivian can return in Season5/even though they went off on new identities.
U would think the CIA/NSA would chase Hartley since he knows a lot about the Intersect, CIA technology, etc.

Also btw, totally agree with
“justafan” saying
“…if I was married to Sarah and Volkov gave me almost a billion dollars, …it would be just me and Sarah on some deserted island…”

Lykaon,
thanks for all the work u do on this site.
The captures for this ep of Sarah/Yvonne still will be beautiful, as she is always stunning, such as in the practice scene for the wedding.

i loved every second of it, i just couldnt believe that they gave morgan the intersect, i just cant see this show being the same withour chuck as the intersect … i mean sure it gave chuck a safety blanket, but its also what made him and awesome spy. i just hope that some of the skills that he flashed on kinda sunk into his head so that he can use them in the future, because i would hate for them to have to train chuck once again :S

I think one thing (of many) that makes “Chuck” different from nearly every other show, is that it actually evolves. There are a lot of shows out there that have the concept of a dog chasing a car forever. I’m glad the producers aren’t afraid to change the storyline. Viewers have to be ready for anything to happen, I certainly didn’t expect many things that have happened this season.
That being said, I was incrediblly enthusiastic about the team going out on it’s own, and incrediblly upset about Morgan getting the intersect. If I had a youtube video of myself going through that psychological uprising and breakdown, I’d probably have my own fans.

Does this mean the name of the show will be changed from “Chuck” to “Morgan”? And moving from Monday to Friday. Does this mean that “Morgan” will run for 4 or 5 more years? We can hope just so long as Sarah is still around in the show.

@Bill: I sure wouldn’t want Beckman to assign Sarah as Morgan’s handler! The height difference alone! hahaha!

@justafan: Casey would be the obvious choice for Morgan’s handler. Too bad his daughter isn’t a spy or she could be Morgan’s handler much to the chagrin of Casey.

I saw somewhere where Sarah Walker was called Mrs. Chuck Barkowski (not on the show but in some post). At the very least she would be Ms. Chuck Barkowski. Without the intersect I think we would more likely have Chuck as Mr. Sarah Walker.

Is Team Barkowski now Team Morgan? Morgan bossing Casey around, not that’s a funny thought!

@Bill: I still love the show. I hope it can stay serious at times and interject humor at the right time. I don’t want it to get corny, and Morgan with the intersect doesn’t look like the right path to follow. The possibility that Casey would be bossed around by Morgan does sound funny. I can picture everytime Morgan would attemot it Casey would give him that glare and growl he’s so famous for.

I mentioned previously about Beckman assigning Sarah to handle Morgan, but she is no longer part of the CIA/NSA either, right? I wonder what part she’ll play in this new Team Bartowski? Chuck and Sarah do have alot of money and Beckman needs a job.

@justafan I am just having fun here. I think Morgan with the intersect is a bad idea. But then I thought the proliferation of intersect was not a good idea. Still I am willing to give the writers a chance. They have pulled off other ideas I didn’t think were so hot in the past (and failed at some). I have the feeling that Morgan with the intersect will be more of a comedy show than I like but we shall see. On the other hand it does show what a smart cookie Sarah is in always saying the Chuck is more than the intersect. Having Morgan as the intersect is a risk but risks can pay off – either way. Maybe the writers will even take the intersect away quickly. Perhaps they have some clever ideas up their sleeves. We can hope.