Before I start, I hope you'll forgive the abundance of parentheses. I think about many things at once when I watch Chuck, and it's hard to write that way so I try my best!
On the spectrum of lying (work with me here), Chuck proved himself one of the best, right up there with Sarah. He is becoming a terrific spy (more on the romantic implications of this transformation in a bit) by his own geeky merit. His Rafe Gruber impersonation was fantastic, much better than anyone on Team Bartowski imagined. (Chuck's Rafe affectation reminded me of Adrian Monk's similar mobster undercover op. Both unexpectedly did great alias work. Monk was so good at it because... he has OCD? Well okay).
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Captain Awesome, who can't even tell his wife he likes Chuck's chicken (Ellie's insistent repetition of "Chuck's chicken" was hilarious). The burden is becoming too much for him, so it will be interesting to see if he accidentally divulges anything to Ellie or Morgan in the future. Chuck, on the other hand, is disappointed when Devon tells him he can't take any more lies. Thus begins the realization of the life a spy leads...
Which brings us (rather sloppily) to the relationship aspect of this episode. As Chuck becomes more and more a spy, Sarah realizes her penchant for sweet, nerdy Chuck, who may all but disappear if he continues down the path he's taking. Brandon Routh as Shaw is too noble, too much an all-American hero, and his affection for her makes Sarah see even more clearly the feelings she has for Chuck. Unfortunately, there's Hannah, who is certainly not a spy (however, this is Chuck...) and has genuine feelings for him, too. In a funny Buy More moment, Big Mike, Lester, and Jeff comment on Chuck's past girlfriends and how his eyes "shine brightly" only when he is with Sarah (...err, it's the onions!).
I loathe the dissension going on amongst fans (girls, likely) about this new love quadrangle. As a device, it's been used (see: Lou, Jill, Cole). However, this particular geometric shape isn't a shape for the sake of being a shape, it's being used intelligently to change Chuck and Sarah, for better or worse. And when the Hannah and Shaw relationships inevitably end, Chuck and Sarah will be in a different place - and that is why the quadrangle exists. Their relationship was never stagnant, but admittedly there was a point last season where it was evident that facet of their relationship had been studied before. With both changed by their new spy-ship, and/or new relationship, Chuck and Sarah can look at their relationship with new eyes. That will keep them interesting. UST can be frustrating to viewers, but for the sake of story and Chuck/Sarah-actualization, please! Let the writers do work. They know what they're doing.
I'm glad I got that rant down. So, some more stuff:
- Casey is so badass. So much love for the character, and I love Adam Baldwin.
- As I watched the scene where Chuck breaks up with Hannah, I realized the show wouldn't work nearly as well or be nearly as successful if Zachary Levi weren't such a tremendous comedic AND dramatic actor. He's wonderful.
- Great song choice as usual, Living A Lie by Daniel Zott.
- I love love love lying as this season's theme. Love.
- And of course, at the end of the episode, to parallel Hannah's toast, Chuck and Sarah are once again not "lining up." The timing is wrong, again.
- Oh, and Shaw telling Sarah he likes the last name basis? Mulder and Scully reference anyone?
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