Originally, T2 was the hot topic of European fans of Yvonne Strahovski.  She was scheduled to appear and a few people from our forums banded together to buy some Strahotski.com gear and make an appearance.

Sani1    sarah-fan    kroblues

Unfortunately, Yvonne’s off filming The Killer Elite and had to cancel.  No ill will towards her, of course.  I think we all can’t wait for her to become the movie star that she should be!

The lack of Yvonne Strahovski did not deter her fans, however.  They still showed up in their Strahovski best and made a splash at the show.  Many of the actors commented on their shirts, and I’m told that Adam Baldwin even mentioned Strahotski.com in a Q&A.

Julia Ling was asked to step in for Yvonne Strahovski at the last minute and I’m told that she didn’t disappoint.  Our own Strahotski Crew was lucky enough to win some raffle tickets for a meet’n'greet with Ms. Ling.  Though it comes as no surprise, Julia is apparently awesome and won the hearts of all manner of convention goer.

Since kroblues from our forums was wearing one of our “Got Strahovski?” shirts, Ms. Ling signed an autograph for him, etched with “Got Ling?”.  Inspired by her suggestion, I added a shirt to the store just for her and I’m told she thinks it was a great change to the shirt design.

Adam Baldwin is also said to have been great fun, and everyone seemed pleasantly surprised at how funny Bonita Friedericy and her husband, Phlox… I mean John Billingsley… was.  Apparently, some convention goers even got to watch a soccer game at the same pub as Mark Sheppard.

All in all, it sounds like it was an amazing time.  Though we all wish Yvonne Strahovski could have been there, her fans were not deterred and showed up in force to show both their love for Chuck and their love for Ms. Strahovski herself.

I am also told there was much squeeing to be had.  If you want more stories and pictures directly from the convention goers, check out the forum topic on the subject.

Yvonne was really beautiful in this episode.  We get to see her in distress, in love, and as a brunette.  It just doesn’t seem fair someone could be so beautiful with any hair color, does it?

Sadly, these are the last Chuck screen captures until Season 4 (yay, Season 4!), but I’m sure we’ll dig up some news for you throughout the summer.  Keep an eye out for posts about her upcoming movie roles in particular!

Versus the the Ring Part II: Review | Gallery | Music | Forum Discussion

Drop by the forums and weigh in on what your favorite screen cap of the bunch is!  And don’t forget to download some music.  Each purchase helps defray the costs of running the site and keeping it in tip-top shape.

Enjoy!

In lieu of putting 3 more thumbnails up here that you guys can just see in the gallery, I’m going to throw up a little bar of quick links so that you can see all there is to see about the episode.

Chuck Versus the Subway: Review | Gallery | Music | Forum Discussion

Drop by the forums and weigh in on what your favorite screen cap of the bunch is!  And don’t forget to download some music.  Each purchase helps defray the costs of running the site and keeping it in tip-top shape.

Enjoy!

We just got done watching one episode and now it’s already time to review another!  It’s rough work keeping up with all of this, but I press on for fans of Yvonne Strahovski everywhere.

I can’t wait to see what sort of changes we will see as we review Episode 3.19 — Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II.

“Two Bartowskis.  Double the fun.”

I know I usually line my reviews with quotes, but I’m going to forego that this time.  Taking quotes makes it to where I can’t pay as much attention as I’d like and this episode is too awesome to miss.  I apologize to all the quote lovers out there.

I don’t even know where to begin!  Though I would have preferred the arc brought to conclusion with these two episodes stretched out over the entire back 6, it was still a pretty momentous episode.

It’s sad to leave Stephen Bartowski go but wow — what a way to go.  So Chuck has now inherited a spy legacy.  Can Ellie stop him from pursuing it?  Who is this even more evil organization out to get the Bartowski family?

I love how this episode ended with opening up a ton of lore.  It allows the show to continue with an entirely different angle next year while still keeping the spy/action/comedy bit together.  It’ll be interesting to see how some of the fringe characters like Lester, Jeff, Mike and Beckman play into all this.

I really love the addition of Casey’s daughter.  It was a bit out of the blue (like the entire arc), but it opens up a great thing for Adam Baldwin.  His begrudging respect for Morgan is sure to be put to the test with the budding relationship with Alex on the horizon.

Now that everyone knows everyone else’s real name, you’d think they’d start calling each other by their real names, wouldn’t you?  Oh well, I guess calling Casey Alex and Sarah Sam would just a bit much to take.  I don’t know if I could adjust.

I’m not entirely surprised they blew up the Buy More.  It was a great epic thing to do and it allows them to finally break free of the shackles it has provided.  It has been such an identity for the show, though, I’ll give the writers a lot of credit if they can really leave it behind forever.

I was pretty satisfied with the way Shaw died the first time and I think I would have preferred that it be left at that.  I think a new villain could have stepped in for this arc and been acceptable.  Although Chuck did finally get to beat the ever loving heck out of Shaw, it was a bit forced with the weird memory of Chuck getting an Intersect Alpha in his head from his childhood.

I’m not entirely clear how that Intersect affected Chuck.  It clearly did not give him flashes in the way the current Intersect does, but could it possibly explain his above average intelligence?  Perhaps his whole life was inadvertently engineered by that fateful exposure to his father’s work.

I’m interested to see where the governor goes as a plot device.  It can be used as Chuck’s kryptonite now, but it could just as easily fade into the background as though it never existed.  I say they should get Awesome to implant the governor in his body.  Sure would make it a lot harder to steal.

I’m excited about where the show is going next year, but they left it open enough to give them complete creative freedom on what to do.  Chuck could start a new lie to Ellie and they can effectively “reset” the show.  I expect to see only Sarah and Casey in on Chuck’s legacy.  It was a pretty clever way to pull all of that off and I think it only suffered because they didn’t get started on it until too late in the season.

As for our girl, Yvonne Strahovski; these episodes really weren’t about her character.  She brought the best to her role as she always does but I really hope the writers can find a better place for her next season.  Since Chuck is now awesome and dating Sarah, they need to find a niche for her and not forget that she is also totally awesome in her own right.

So what do you guys think?  Are you stoked about what Season 4 may bring?  Screen caps should trickle up over the next few days (I don’t know if I can do both hours in one sitting).  Until then, let’s talk it out.

Through the hard work of fans last season and the generous sponsorship of Subway, Chuck was able to get a 4th season on its own merits.

Perhaps it is fitting that this next to last episode pays homage to the sponsor that kept Chuck alive when it was all but surely dead.  Let’s get to the review of Episode 3.18 — Chuck Versus the Subway.

“Way to talk me down, Dad.”

This review is going to be quick.  I have another episode to watch!

To start, I still love Papa Bartowski but it’s sad to see him so quick to run away.  That didn’t even work for him so I don’t know why thought it’d work for Chuck.  At least he came around at the end, though.

Chuck’s Intersect glitching out is an interesting macguffin to explain why Shaw might want to go after him.  He needs the governor, afterall.  What’s better than some Intersect on Intersect action?

“Ellie is exactly like Chuck but with lady parts.”

So now Ellie knows too!  It’s gone from Mr. and Mrs. Smith to a new sort of setup — The Waltons as spies?  It’s like a spy family now.  Casey’s even there to be the kooky next door neighbor.  Every family comedy needs a kooky neighbor.

Awesome does a great job in this episode, as he always does when he has to act flustered.  I love that his answer to Ellie potentially cheating on him is to double up his workouts in the gym.

I also love his reaction when he realizes that he’s told Ellie Chuck’s secret; and Morgan’s calm collected manner upon finding out that Ellie knows.

“And his father. Muhaha.”

I don’t love Shaw, but I loved his delivery of this line.  And I have to say that Shaw makes a better villain than he did a hero.  His purpose is more clearly defined and his cocky demeanor fits him better.

It was also delightfully villainous to watch him shoot Chuck’s dad.  I hate to see such a great character go, but at least the writers were willing to man up and do something big.  That’s always worth admiration.

I just have one nagging question… What the hell happened to that awesome wrist computer from last season?

“I got an A in my self-defense class!”

Like father, like daughter eh?  I really liked the opening scene where we find out that Casey’s been eating pie at his daughter’s work for a while.  It’s not exactly an original idea, but it’s executed sweetly by Adam Baldwin here.

I don’t know if telling her that he was her father was the best idea, but it’s an understandable choice and it will be interesting to see how all of that plays out.  I’d really love to Casey’s backstory get some attention in season 4.

“Check out the fresh fish.”

Alex meeting Morgan in that way was a perfect set up for future hilarity.  I can think of nothing funnier than Morgan dating Casey’s daughter.  That’s even better than Big Mike dating Morgan’s mom.

“There is always blueberries.”

I had to rewind it for this quote because it jumped out at me for being improper english.  So no, I did not misquote.  She did say is instead of are.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe “are” is harder to say with an American accent.

“We can do this. We’re the Bartowski’s.”

I’m not sure how I feel about Shaw being alive and the Ring having so deeply infiltrated the CIA.  I don’t necessarily mind the development, but it feels very obviously dreamt up after the events of Episode 13.  In that way it doesn’t quite fit and feels too disjoint for me.

That being said, the last part of the episode really set things up well and made me forget the gripes I was having with the episode at the beginning.  Now I just want to see Chuck kill Shaw… again.  Oh, and I want to see Morgan run the CIA van off the road.  That would be pretty sweet.

There are a lot of cute expressions in this episode.  I especially love some of the exasperated ones, but she has some loving ones too.  I’m also proud of getting a decent capture with the axe in mid-air.

Before you go to look at all the new screen captures, be sure to download a soundtrack for your perusing from the Episode 17 Music page. There’s sure to be something that will inspire you; and any proceeds go directly to paying the hosting costs of Strahotski.com.

Enjoy!

This week sees the reintroduction of Stephen Bartowski which I’m excited about.  His arc in Season 2 is still the best of the series in my opinion.  I hope the wrist computer makes a return.  Whatever happened to that thing?

The clock is counting down and its time get to the review of Episode 3.17 – Chuck Versus the Living Dead.

“The heart is a very complicated muscle.”

Right off the bat this episode is better than last week’s.  The addition of Scott Bakula really picked up the episode and brought back the good old days.

I can’t believe Ellie whacked the heck out of John Casey’s jaw.  Poor guy.  Too bad the trailers totally spoiled all that business with the gun.  I didn’t believe for a second that she was going to shoot anyone.

Also, I wish the writers wouldn’t feel the need to put doubt into the Chuck/Sarah relationship every single episode.  It gets old, and robs us from truly enjoying the relationship that has formed.  They should be past distrust at this point; if not forever at least for a week.

“Is that a bulletproof tie?”

Morgan in Castle was pretty hilarious.  It’s interesting that despite the fact that he’s an official member of Team Bartowski, he still doesn’t have unfettered access.

It’s too bad that Sarah’s interrogation wasn’t expounded upon.  It would have been fun to see her pull out guns and all manner of weaponry to intimidate him.  I feel cheated!

Morgan is really going to have to man up if he wants Chuck to trust him with information.  How many times is Chuck going to fall for that?

“Shaw’s dead.  Care to join him?”

Those are neat glasses that Chuck & Sarah had in the penthouse.  I wish I could get a pair of those.  It’s especially great when you want to convince yourself that you’re seeing a ghost!

It’s too bad the writers can’t see that Shaw is not a particularly compelling villain.  I’m not sure putting the intersect in Shaw’s head is going to make him anymore exciting.  The good news is that we’ll probably get to see Chuck shoot him again.  Yay for that!

Also, does anyone else think that Ellie’s handler looks like Matthew Perry?  Especially from the side.  He’s like a serious version of Matthew Perry.

“Just an analyst, huh?”

Man, I love Scott Bakula as Papa B.  I’m a huge Star Trek fan but I always felt that Archer was a little stiff.  It was a dark time in the Star Trek universe, and a part of me blamed that on Bakula.

But seeing him in Chuck makes it clear to me that it couldn’t have been his fault.  He’s just an excellent actor.  He plays Stephen Bartowski consistently and brilliantly.  The rest of the cast could learn a lot from him.

I found myself anxiously waiting for the next scene with him in it.  I also like that he brought the Intersect mythos with him.  Though it’s never disappeared, I feel that it’s taken a backseat this season.

Now let’s hope that he can finish that governor before Chuck goes into a crazy frenzy.  Although, I’d love to see Chuck go crazy enough to warrant a slap from Sarah.  That would be good times.

“Anyway, that’s my day give or take.”

Oh, Captain Awesome.  How I missed you.  I loved seeing Devon’s description of his typical day.  It’s exactly why the character is so hilarious.  Though we still get little clues here and there like his constant exercising, it’s funny when they lay it on thick.

I realize that Ellie was unwitting to the whole Ring manipulation thing, but did she seem a bit overly gullible to anyone else?  I like how they played on her mistrust of John Casey, but other than it seemed weird.

It seems that the common theme in our back 6 is trust.  No one seems to believe anything that anyone else says, or be willing to tell each other the things they should.  I hope everyone learns their lesson from all this.

“But you have the hips of a six year old girl.  Use it!”

I question the effectiveness of the Buy More plot this week.  It didn’t really add anything to the story or even parallel the main arc.

That being said, I love me some Big Mike and I got a few chuckles out of Jeffster’s unfortunate (but temporary) break-up.  The great thing about bands breaking up is the awesome reunion tours!

“You know me; I wouldn’t lie.”

I appreciated the main action sequence this week.  I’m sure it will get old eventually, but Chuck flashing on some cool kung fu at an opportune time is always satisfying.  Using the chair arms as batons was pretty brilliant and feels very Fedak to me.

For a second there, I thought maybe Papa B might have the Intersect 2.0 in his head too.  That would have been pretty epic.

Sarah’s entrance was pretty epic, though.  Her knife skills are a signature move, so extending that to a well-thrown hatchet makes plenty of sense.

“That’s all her.”

And lastly we have to talk about Yvonne Strahovski.  She’s our muse.  The reason we’re here at Strahotski.com in the first place.

She didn’t have a lot of character growth this episode, but that can be forgiven for her awesome action and her extremely supportive gf vibes.  She does a really nice job being supportive without being submissive.  A perfect woman.

It was also pretty touching to see Sarah give Chuck her spy will.  And a fun ending to hear Chuck write his.  It almost felt like it should have been a season finale to me.

But this is a good start to an interesting mini-arc.  Surely Chuck will end up with the governor, and Shaw will end up dead.  But will it be as fun to watch it for a second time?

Screen captures should be up tomorrow.  Until then, what do you think about Shaw’s imminent return?  Did you enjoy seeing Papa B as much as me?

Yvonne in love gives us some very caring looks that are fun to see.  I especially like the myriad of faces she displayed when visiting Chuck in the asylum.  Her look when Merlin showed up behind her was pretty epic too.

Before you go to look at all the new screen captures, be sure to download a soundtrack for your perusing from the Episode 16 Music page. There’s sure to be something that will inspire you.

Enjoy!

I apologize for the late post, but I’ve been visiting in-laws in rural Arizona. And when I say rural, I mean literally the middle of nowhere.  With sand and mountains in every direction.  Needless to say, Sprint’s 3G network does not extend that far.

But I’m back, and I’ve caught up by watching Versus the Tooth.  A cute episode, but I’m a little bit worried that Sarah (and in turn Yvonne Strahovski) is becoming more of an accessory than a character.

The arc with their relationship is pretty cliche so far with the “I Love You” debacle that always occurs on such shows.  And how could they not get Christopher Lloyd to say “Great Scott!” or “1.21 Jigawatts?!”

I do really like the new arc with Ellie, though.  Adam Baldwin plays well off of her, so I look forward to much hilarity in the future.

The screen captures will be up tomorrow afternoon after I’ve decompressed from the trip.  The above is about as much reviewing as I’ll do for Versus the Tooth.  Back on schedule this week, though!

Also on a site-related note, we’ve been having some issues with the server over the past week.  New forum members might have had trouble registering.  All should be fixed now, and the backlog of applicants should all be approved.

Thanks for the patience!

Tonight we find that the Intersect may be causing some issues with Chuck’s noggin.  It’s sure to be a good time as always.

Unfortunately, I’m traveling this week and was unable to watch the episode!  I know, sad right?  Nonetheless, I’ve scheduled this post so that you guys can talk it out.

Belated screen captures and review will come eventually, but probably not until next week.  But I know you guys want to talk about it anyway, so go!

Update by Rob: While you’ll have to wait a bit longer than usual for the review and screen captures, I’ve gone ahead and put up the music from the episode. Enjoy!