NBC: Chuck
Wednesday, January 2, 2008

I watched the entire series over a couple of days. I don't have any patience to sit and follow an entire season over a number of weeks. Especially with all the reruns and endless commercials that break up the continuity of a serial program.

The show, Chuck, comes across as a composite of The Office, 40 Year Old Virgin, 24 and any James Bond flick.

Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) is a nice, mild-mannered, tall, lean, curly brown-haired dweeb or Nerd. He works at a company named Buy More, think Best Buy, for five years since dropping out of Standford University. He lives with his sister, Elle (Sarah Lancaster), and her finance "Captain Awesome". His best friend Morgan (Gomez) is an intrusive, hirsute, height challenged co-worker at Buy More.

The pilot starts with an old school chum of Chuck, "super agent" Bryce, sending him an advance intelligence computer program called the Intercept. Chuck ends up having the last and only copy in his head: think Johnny Mnemonic (with Keanu Reeves) except that he keeps his memory.

Chased by the NSA and the CIA, Chuck soon joins forces with these agencies. His handlers are: Casey, NSA (Adam Baldwin - the guy is built like a MAC truck) and Sarah, CIA (Yvonne Strahovski - she's very, very, tall).

The following episodes revolves around Chuck having intelligence flashes - the Intercept in his brain - that allows him to help with national security issues. He goes through an emotional tug of war over his feelings for Bryce and Standford University: both of which ruined his life.

There's also the attraction between Chuck and Sarah that will probably ruin the show. It's done that for many programs where a male and female lead have to juggle and negotiate their sexual tension. It's sexual tension that keeps a show interesting, not the consummation.

Through it all Chuck shows a laidback, almost comatose interest in these events, until he has a gun pointed in his face or his friends and family are in danger.

Does it work? It's mildly entertaining, but with the networks today, you can never get engrossed in a show. They'll break your heart, and leave one dangling over unresolved plots.

The show tries, I couldn't tell it how to improve, but I feel as though it's missing something.

Perhaps better writers are needed?

Labels: 24, 40 Year Old Virgin, Adam Baldwin, Chuck, James Bond, Keanu Reeves, NBC, The Office, Yvonne Strahovski, Zachary Levi

posted by GoldenAh
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