thoughts on 3.08 chuck vs the fake name
First things, I didn't hate it. Not even that scene, and while I don't enjoy that last scene either, I think on a grand scheme of things, this was a much better episode than Chuck vs. The Mask for me, since I wasn't left with a feeling of extreme dread when the end rolled by.
- I said on Twitter that I'm actually not upset about the name reveal and how it was done (I love the name Sam in general, and I have something of an inside joke with alreadyletgo about it ;)), and the situation that led up to the reveal to Shaw. I know we were all gunning for Sarah to tell it to Chuck, but it wasn't the character assassination we'd been told to brace for per Chuck Me Monday's blog entry. Here's my take:
Sarah was vulnerable, and Shaw was there. I can see the name reveal (to Shaw) being a last-ditch effort to try and ground herself, because everything she's known is slipping away - Chuck lying effortlessly to everyone, Chuck not being the person she fell in love with in seasons prior. Shaw just being there is him taking advantage of her vulnerability (also, how creepy is he?) - if she and say, Casey were having the same talk, I can see her doing the same thing. Afterall, she did once, in vs. The Crown Vic: "Do you ever just want to have a normal life? Have a family, children?"
I can see what the writers are going with here; I'm just not sure Shaw should be the person Sarah's rebounding with. Sarah's always been someone who controls her emotions on a very tight leash (and fails like, 70% of the time), and remember, at this point, Sarah (possibly) knows Chuck slept with Hannah (via video surveillance, occupation hazard!), Sarah, with some help, set up the nice dinner for him to impress Hannah (ALSO I LOVE THE KNIFE THROW), and for all intents and purposes, Sarah and Chuck had a clean break-up in vs. The Mask. Like I said, Shaw is just there and just being incredibly opportunistic and being at the right place at the right time. Even that last scene, when she brought takeout back to Castle for Shaw (sidebar, I really enjoy seeing Sarah trying to be a conventional tv girlfriend) - she had no idea that Chuck had broke it off with Hannah. And for what reason? Simple - Sarah's near death shook him out of his little, carefully crafted world safe of anything real and thus potentially heartbreaking. It comes with the spy territory, doesn't it?
- I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that in what seemed like her last moments, Sarah was staring at Chuck. And not to mention all the little face changes in other scenes that Yvonne Strahovski do so, so fantastically well. Chuck not being able to flash when Sarah's in life-threatening danger was ominous, too. I don't know, I may have to think more about that one when I rewatch it.
- The excessive Chuck/Hannah PDA, I can do without so much! However, that towel and Ellie scene was pretty awesome. Ellie is such a Chuck/Sarah loyalist, and I appreciate that. Also, Casey is #2 shipper, don't even deny it.
- Speaking of awesome, that Ellie/Chuck talk is pretty awesome. Chuck knows he's hit rock-bottom, and he needs someone to rein him in from what he could become. Chuck has been plenty cocky with his abilities this season (I even agree with the Shaw slap) and this is the deepest he can go. I'm certain that the following episodes leading to 13 would build his character and find a balance between old, and new Chuck, and I am very very excited for that. :)
I think what we have to remember is that this is episode 8 out of an epic 13 episode arc. To get to that epic-ness from 9 onwards (for both the spy mythology and for the Chuck/Sarah relationship), we need to have something on the line. The heavier the stakes, the better the payoff. I think it's safe to say that it's firmly established that Chuck and Sarah will find their ways back to each other (to take the words from a critic, I forgot which - Alan Sepinwall, maybe?), they've walked past each other in the room and completely missed each other. Now, with all the build-up for that done, it's time for them to retrace their steps and get on the right course.
- I said on Twitter that I'm actually not upset about the name reveal and how it was done (I love the name Sam in general, and I have something of an inside joke with alreadyletgo about it ;)), and the situation that led up to the reveal to Shaw. I know we were all gunning for Sarah to tell it to Chuck, but it wasn't the character assassination we'd been told to brace for per Chuck Me Monday's blog entry. Here's my take:
Sarah was vulnerable, and Shaw was there. I can see the name reveal (to Shaw) being a last-ditch effort to try and ground herself, because everything she's known is slipping away - Chuck lying effortlessly to everyone, Chuck not being the person she fell in love with in seasons prior. Shaw just being there is him taking advantage of her vulnerability (also, how creepy is he?) - if she and say, Casey were having the same talk, I can see her doing the same thing. Afterall, she did once, in vs. The Crown Vic: "Do you ever just want to have a normal life? Have a family, children?"
I can see what the writers are going with here; I'm just not sure Shaw should be the person Sarah's rebounding with. Sarah's always been someone who controls her emotions on a very tight leash (and fails like, 70% of the time), and remember, at this point, Sarah (possibly) knows Chuck slept with Hannah (via video surveillance, occupation hazard!), Sarah, with some help, set up the nice dinner for him to impress Hannah (ALSO I LOVE THE KNIFE THROW), and for all intents and purposes, Sarah and Chuck had a clean break-up in vs. The Mask. Like I said, Shaw is just there and just being incredibly opportunistic and being at the right place at the right time. Even that last scene, when she brought takeout back to Castle for Shaw (sidebar, I really enjoy seeing Sarah trying to be a conventional tv girlfriend) - she had no idea that Chuck had broke it off with Hannah. And for what reason? Simple - Sarah's near death shook him out of his little, carefully crafted world safe of anything real and thus potentially heartbreaking. It comes with the spy territory, doesn't it?
- I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that in what seemed like her last moments, Sarah was staring at Chuck. And not to mention all the little face changes in other scenes that Yvonne Strahovski do so, so fantastically well. Chuck not being able to flash when Sarah's in life-threatening danger was ominous, too. I don't know, I may have to think more about that one when I rewatch it.
- The excessive Chuck/Hannah PDA, I can do without so much! However, that towel and Ellie scene was pretty awesome. Ellie is such a Chuck/Sarah loyalist, and I appreciate that. Also, Casey is #2 shipper, don't even deny it.
- Speaking of awesome, that Ellie/Chuck talk is pretty awesome. Chuck knows he's hit rock-bottom, and he needs someone to rein him in from what he could become. Chuck has been plenty cocky with his abilities this season (I even agree with the Shaw slap) and this is the deepest he can go. I'm certain that the following episodes leading to 13 would build his character and find a balance between old, and new Chuck, and I am very very excited for that. :)
I think what we have to remember is that this is episode 8 out of an epic 13 episode arc. To get to that epic-ness from 9 onwards (for both the spy mythology and for the Chuck/Sarah relationship), we need to have something on the line. The heavier the stakes, the better the payoff. I think it's safe to say that it's firmly established that Chuck and Sarah will find their ways back to each other (to take the words from a critic, I forgot which - Alan Sepinwall, maybe?), they've walked past each other in the room and completely missed each other. Now, with all the build-up for that done, it's time for them to retrace their steps and get on the right course.