Toast with JAM, I love your passionate opinions! I am a Sarah lover, and I just think she’s subtle, which seems in character for someone trained to hide their emotions but not very good at it. But I have never seen a single episode of Alias, so I don’t have that comparison to make. I’d be curious what other Alias lovers thought about the comparison (hint, if anyone wants to chime in!). But I am right there with you on the Casey love, as we ALL know.

I agree with you that Cole “getting it” was pretty contrived and that she didn’t really show her feelings for Chuck so much as be standoffish with Cole, and I do think it may have been a cheap way for the show to cop out. I maybe would’ve preferred to see Sarah want to go with him but not be able to, and pine/mope a little before either letting it go or having something else happen. Or for her to show more of her love for Chuck. I had a pretty easy time forgiving that one, though, mostly because it’s in keeping with the general tone of the show.

You bring up a really interesting point about how Cole gets to walk away with the knowledge that Chuck is the intersect, while Chuck will supposedly be eliminated. See, on the one hand, I feel like if Cole made it through two torture sessions, he probably earned it. On the other hand, once the intersect is out of Chuck’s head, what’s the point in eliminating him? He really only knows the secrets he flashes on and since those get resolved every episode, he doesn’t have any … shall we say, ACTIVE knowledge. So once the dormant knowledge is removed, he wouldn’t really have any secrets. I have a feeling this is something we’ll probably revisit more later, but it was a really great point to bring up.

I might have to disagree though about rotating Buy More and Awesomes. The Buy More plots are usually my favorite part, and I like the Awesomes in smaller doses (as a rule–sometimes I like the heavy involvement of Awesome). But until they can find a way to make Ellie more interesting, having more screen time only seems to emphasize her nagging qualities, which I don’t think is what you want. I hadn’t thought about them having trouble writing for women, but you may be onto something. Although I maintain that the gender roles being confused are one of the highlights of this show, so you probably COULD make the argument that they’re writing their main character as a woman/damsel in distress.

Glad others agree with my previous complaints that 1. Chuck needs to learn self defense and how to fire a gun, and 2. Ellie/Awesome WTF?

I am an avid watcher of Life and I think that was a good thing to rip off. Go Chuck! He can even say that he got the idea from the show and give a shout out!

So if they take the intersect out of Chuck’s head they have to terminate him? That doesn’t make any sense unless they terminate everyone that knew about it. Once it’s out of his head then he wouldn’t know the information that’s in there. Casey and Sarah are government agents so they get to live I guess, but Cole knows about the intersect so they should terminate him if that is their “rule”. Or just make Chuck an employee (Isn’t me already? he’s got to be getting compensated for all his trouble). Like they do with hackers. Bring them into the loop.

The bright parts of this show are Casey and Chuck. Period.

This episode was pretty good, but the end with the Tron poster was actually the best part. Like Chuck isn’t just waiting around for things to happen. Sarah and Cole having chemistry was fine, but for Cole to all of a sudden “get it” that Sarah cared for Chuck was really unbelievable. I don’t think Sarah did anything to show that she cared for Chuck, just that she turned kind of cold towards Cole. She didn’t give anything away that she had feelings for Chuck (like in previous episodes). And why does Cole just get to go away freely after finding out that Chuck is the intersect? Isn’t it a liability to just let him go?

The on-again, off-again with fake Chuck and Sarah is so ridiculous it could be a drinking game. Drink every time they change their status!

I am so over the Ellie-doesn’t-have-a-life character. Can the writers only write for one female character? Anna gets ignored and so does Ellie. Awesome is kind of a girl (metro-guy), so I include him in that category. They should rotate each episode’s B-plot to be either Buy More or Ellie/Awesome.

She seems interested in him now. XD Go Morgan!!!

I have no other comments…

I was glad to see the back of the Tron poster. They’re all thinking he’s just a goofy nerd but he’s keeping up with everything. I LOVED that. I was blown away. I looked at my husband and was like “DId you see that?” and he looked at me like – it’s a tv show Beck, let it go.

I don’t remember last year – if I cared or not – but right now I find myself getting worried that they’re not going to renew Chuck. Ugh.

And they best renew Chuck–if we have an awesome cliffhanger season finale that never gets resolved I will LOSE MY MIND.

I keep forgetting but after a second viewing last night (yeah, am obsessed) I watched for everyone’s reactions when Chuck talks about getting the Intersect out of his head…when that happens, he is terminated correct? I know Casey knows, but does Sarah?

Back to Chuck: I too wasn’t sure who I wanted Sarah to pick, thanks to some good writing and obvious chemistry between Sarah and Cole. I guess I wouldn’t have minded seeing them together for a bit because we all know she isn’t getting with Chuck any time soon, so what could it hurt for a little while?

Billiam is dead on, the boy is around weapons and dangerous situations enough, teach him how to fire a gun. It might stop so many bullets from flying in his direction all the time if he was actually armed. I loved Cole’s “For God’s sake man, carry a gun. Or two!”

Also, I think I might be in the minority on this one, but I really didn’t feel like Cole was Bryce 2.0. I mean, yes, all the things that have been mentioned about the triangle and him being “better than” (supposedly) Chuck ARE true, but … well, I know this isn’t really quantifiable and is TOTALLY just my opinion, but …

Bryce is a bitch. There. I said it.

Cole was hot and bad ass and saved the day and took a beating and had hot, hot chemistry with Sarah. The main difference, for me, is that I couldn’t really decide for awhile there who I thought she SHOULD pick (because we all knew she eventually WOULD pick Chuck). And I thought she might actually pick Cole for awhile, and I would’ve been okay with that. I mean, Chuck picked Rachel Bilson, right?

And there wasn’t this whole convoluted history attached to Cole like there was to Bryce. He wasn’t Chuck’s rival because he was an ass to him in college and subsequently ruined his life … he was a rival for Chuck because he was going after his girl and might actually get her. He was exciting for Sarah because she didn’t necessarily know how it would end, like she probably would have with Bryce. Plus, he was awesome enough to earn the respect of Casey. Bryce felt like a slice of plot device, and Cole felt like a big hot slice of man pie. What? Who said that? Not me.

But seriously, he was just a better character. I know that you kind of have to compare them because of the nature of things, but Bryce didn’t even hold a candle to Cole for me, and I forgive them because it was the first season, and the second season has gotten so much better, but seriously … if Cole had come first, I doubt they could’ve even put the Bryce story arc in there afterward because it would’ve been so lame in comparison.

There’s my two cents, don’t spend it all in one place.

Back on the topic of Chuck. The previews for the upcoming episodes made me so excited, but why a two week break? That stinks.

Also, while I love The Awesomes dearly, I’m starting to think that Ellie is a weeeee bit protective, and smothering of Chuck. Not that it isn’t cute, mind you, but I feel sorry for the guy sometimes.

The fountain speech by Chuck was one of the most romantically, beautiful ones in TV or cinema history. The look on Sarah’s face when she realized what Chuck had just told her. Awesome.

Chuck is now the man. His lines to Ellie at the end – ‘Change of plans. Not moving out. Talk about it later.’ showed a new, take charge Chuck. The music playing was great too.

Looks like the rest of the season is going to be killer. Bring it on!

Angie, I had totally blanked on “cool tank top”, but thank you so much for bringing that back to mind, I giggled again at the thought.

I kept thinking that Cole might be bad too, but I really think it’s a red herring because that’s what you’d expect to happen. I hope so, at least, and yes, I TOTALLY agree that Casey has a mancrush on him, which I find as hot as I find EVERYTHING that Casey does. I am so predictable. Also, I would always, ALWAYS, pick Adam Baldwin over Brad Pitt. Just saying.

Orion. My guess is it is who some think it is – but that the person doesn’t know he is Orion. Geez – that was hard to type and probably confusing but didn’t want to speculate and sound like a spoiler

In reference to the courtyard, I’ve been hearing it referred to as “the fountain of doom”.

Ellie and awesome are convenient plot devices as Chuck has to live somewhere and it is sort of like the nerd who never left home. i have high hopes, though, for her involvement as the search for the father heats up…and who isn’t envisioning some Darth Vader-esque character saying “Chuck, I am your father…”

Certain parts were hard to watch, particularly Sarah’s face/reaction most of the episode.

Loved Chuck’s mini declaration at the end, that he will get his happily ever after one day. In the meantime, I completely agree Lisa that they need to show him as more capable once in a while. He’s starting to take more initiative (firing up the ladder without hesitation when Cole began to bleed and couldn’t do it himself), and I’m anxious to see where it goes the next couple episodes, looks to be gearing up for a fight.

I don’t really know what I want them to do with Ellie. I feel like she’s kind of an exposition fairy, and she’s necessary, but it’s like … where is there to go? Although, I had wondered the same with Morgan, and he worked out alright, so … I’m sure it can be done!

As for Chuck, I loved last nights episode, but like you said it was a bit of a downer. I’m beginning to refer to the courtyard at the apartment the, “Courtyard of Doom” because Chuck and Sarah always seem to have their “I love you/care for you” convos there and end up leaving sad.

Something needs to be done with Ellie. It’s like she just a pretty prop.

And you’re so right about Cole giving Chuck the most credit. I think it was sweet and made Cole an even more likeable character. Can you tell I’m going to miss him?

The promo for upcoming episodes was great though- I’m excited to see the rest of the season. And I forgot that Tricia Helfer from Battlestar is guest starring! That should be a good episode.

Just one last thought – I’ve read speculation that Orion is Chuck’s dad…thoughts?