Comments on: CHUCK vs. the Mask

By: Mason

Mason — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:38:25 +0000

UGH. Love Chuck, didn’t love this episode AT ALL. The WORST framing ever with S/S, C/H holding each other. Just not at all the tone that Chuck usually strikes with C/S even when they are “apart”. They usually remain very aware of each other, especially Sarah with Chuck. I think it’s that connection and bond that we sense that keeps us cheering for them. This episode felt very disconnected from the tone that is usually present with C/S, it was not consistent with earlier eps this season in terms of Chuck declaring his love one minute and running to be with Hannah a few episodes later. He gave up pretty easy. One apology for leaving a girl at a train station in Prague does not forgiveness make. I know C/S are going to end up together, but there needs to be consistent storytelling on the way there and they need to be true to these characters.

By: Em

Em — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:30:10 +0000

I thought that Yvonne’s acting was spot on – if she’s supposed to pretending to enjoy Shaw’s company. It did seem a little forced and she didn’t seem to be liking the neck kissing at the party. She looked positively disgusted, then Chuck walks up 5 seconds later and she’s beaming. I was super surprised when she told Shaw that it was nice later. Chuck and Hannah make sense, but Shaw and Sarah are too much, too fast. Plus, it bugs me that she would hook up with a spy 2/3 weeks after the episode where everyone said don’t fall in love a spy 10 times! We’ll see what happens…

By: JasTay

JasTay — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:56:02 +0000

Love the show no matter what, but I felt the entire shift feels forced. Shaw and Sarah connect in the course of one episode? Just doesn’t feel genuine. I think the Ring leader looked a bit like Roan Montgomery.

By: Karen (Kath's sis)

Karen (Kath's sis) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:53:35 +0000

First off Kath….I was genuinely sad this morning. You know I love the ENTIRE show but I also LOVE Chara and last nights epi. left me with a heavy heart
Secondly…Lucky “dying” was NOT funny so edit your “HA”! and lastly Thank the soap Gods that John and Nat are reconnecting on One Life this week ….it takes the sting out of the 3 weeks !

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:40:56 +0000

Just saw the ratings….not good. Starting to slip quite a bit. Hopefully some advertising during the Winter Games leads to a running start. Also hopefully the babble in the ‘net will calm down as well.

By: Patty

Patty — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:48:37 +0000

Oh, and I really liked the title of this episode with “the mask” being the masks we all wear all the time and not just that ugly ass gold thing.. Bravo to whoever came up with the title.

By: Patty

Patty — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:47:10 +0000

I didn’t love it or hate it. I just enjoyed it. For the most part.

I will TOTALLY HATE it if Hannah turns out to be anything other than a hot computer nerd. I would love it if SHE is the one that ends up being collateral damage because of Shaw. I think Chuck needs to loose someone he really cares about (and not a family remember) and Hannah needs to be it – and not because I don’t like her but because I actually do. I think Hannah and Chuck are really cute. But I agree with Beth. Shaw and Hannah are rebounds. Doesn’t mean there are not feeling there. I just hope these two really help move the story along.

I am not sure I like what is happening with Morgan and Chuck. It was heartbreaking for Morgan to see Chuck and Hannah mugging down but worse I think is Morgan feeling that he is losing Chuck as a friend. I hope they don’t drop the ball on this storyline and make it something dumb. I think Chuck/Morgan have a real friendship and there are always situations like this that everyone has to deal with. I hope the resolution is something more than a big brush off.

PS I think Casey needs some love too. I can’t decide if he needs some super butch soldier woman or some really sweet little thing. Maybe a sweet little thing that likes guns and kicks giant ass?

By: Give Me My Remote

Give Me My Remote — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:13:23 +0000

I interpreted that last scene in the same way. I think that the director didn’t get it quite right in the execution. It was set up like Shaw was a baddie, but really it’s more about bringing the danger to Sarah. Danger that Chuck will surely save her from.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:41:49 +0000

Oh, and I wanted to mention my interpretation of the last shot of Shaw – it was so completely menacing, of course we were supposed to think he’s Ring or something equally bad. But, then we had the last scene where Fireguy (yeah, I’m co-opting Ryan Howard’s nickname) was spilling all to the Ring’s board of directors or whatever that was. I think that the danger lies in The Ring hunting down Shaw and the fact that Sarah could end up as collateral damage should they find him. Just being in his vicinity is unsafe now. Again, maybe I’m wrong and he’s a major baddie – guess we’ll have to wait to find out.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:37:28 +0000

I thought that it was a little heavy-handed with the juxtaposed scenes of Chuck/Hannah and Sarah/Shaw, but other than that I don’t have a problem with either pairing. I do agree that Sarah is probably after more of a rebound and taking the new flirtation less seriously than Chuck is, but damn she and Shaw had some good chemistry at that party. When he was whipering into her neck I could totally see why she’d want to pursue the flirtation, especially if it’s going to provide a distraction from her broken heart. Plus I agree that these characters are merely bumps in the road, and as such it’s fun to watch how it all plays out. Oh, and the hero conversation b/w Chuck and Sarah was really well done – I teared up a little too.

I’m even more amped for the “Chuck with no training wheels” tease – how will this manifest itself? Can’t wait for the Olympics to be over…

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:41:38 +0000

I’m also one of those who don’t mind these relationships because all they are and will end up being are catalysts to Chuck and Sarah getting together. They are called rebounds. Chuck decided to not be with Sarah and even though she now knows that it was for good reasons, I’m sure that sting is still there. And I truly think that the Sarah/Shaw thing is supposed to look forced- maybe she has orders from General Beckman (GB) to get close to Shaw since we know GB is scared of him, his plans…and Shaw could be doing the same thing if he is a bad guy!

And Chuck, well Chuck doesn’t see how he can have a relationship with a spy so until he realizes that the risk is worth it (ie being with sarah is worth it all) he won’t pursue that. Hannah is a piece of normal in his life and we all know that Chuck desires to have that sense of normalcy, even if its really not possible anymore. He’s just holding on. He’ll let go soon.

By: Elena

Elena — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:30:27 +0000

loved it! and i kind of like the new couples. even though i love chuck and sarah … i really like him with hannah too and sarah and shaw look great together. soo i’m definitely not complaining on that part. solid episode and great review!

By: Billiam

Billiam — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:27:05 +0000

After the events of the premiere (in which Chuck really hurt her) and last episode (in which she realized Chuck wasn’t the same guy she originally fell for) it made sense to me tha Sarah would try to move on.

By: compromisedcover

compromisedcover — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:16:26 +0000

Chuck is in default mode in this episode, brunettes being one of his weakness. Chuck/Hannah, I completely buy. Sarah/Shaw, not so much. I sure hope Sarah has a plan with this Shaw business.

By: Give Me My Remote

Give Me My Remote — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:33:03 +0000

Karen –
You sounded genuinely sad this morning. It was almost as if Lucky died all over again. HA!

By: Sara V

Sara V — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:14:41 +0000

Did anyone else think that the “Ring” leader’s voice in the final scene sounded like Casey? It sounded like it to me and I got really nervous.

By: karen

karen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:11:17 +0000

Least fav. eip. this season

By: Chuck808Fan

Chuck808Fan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:42:06 +0000

Thanks for the great review!

I thought the Sarah/Shaw moments were purposely forced. Sarah knows that Chuck is interested in Hannah and Shaw is interested in her so Shaw is a distraction for the moment. She doesn’t seem that interested in him. The way Sarah looks at Chuck is a lot different than the way she looks at Chuck.

The Chuck/Sarah relationship is my favorite part of the show but not the only part that I like.

By: Seat42f

Seat42f — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:42:25 +0000

I’m all in favor of team Channah

Would think that if Shaw or Hannah are ring Chuck would have flashed. Whoever Chuck and Sarah end up with I will be 10000000% disappointed if either Shaw or Hannah are rogue undercover agents. Would be such lazy writing. it’s the Buy More and not CTU Do think that Shaw’s fiance will somehow figure back into all of this.

I’ve always thought Casey was gay. Would be curious if he hooked up who it would be with.

By: Give Me My Remote

Give Me My Remote — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:02:39 +0000

Old Darth, I am with you on the forced scenes with Sarah and Shaw. Maybe that’s why they didn’t ring true to me, they didn’t have enough of a build up. Excellent point.

Again, I don’t mean to discredit ANYONE that is invested in Chuck and Sarah’s relationship. If anything, I think I might be overly blase about the whole thing because I know that Hannah and Shaw are just bumps in the road.

By: OldDarth

OldDarth — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:54:20 +0000

I too enjoy the show for many other things above the relationship. One that I hold to the highest standard is honest story telling.

A good episode except for the last 10 minutes starting with the framing shot of Shaw and Sarah together and Chuck and Hannah.

If the show wants to mix things up I have no problem with that. There is a story telling requirement that needs to be filled here. If a show is going to dramatize an ongoing relationship that puts 2 seasons of emotional baggage on the two romantic leads then switching them up requires a buildup to doing so. A few minutes of screen time together between Sarah and Shaw are simply not enough.

The proof is in the last Castle scene where not just Chuck and Sarah but Casey all acting out of character. That is what happens when a change in story direction is not handled properly.

The issue here has nothing to do with the relationship. It is about telling a story honestly. The show did not so they had to have the characters act out of character to push the new direction through.

Sad because the rest of the episode was pretty entertaining.

This is a low point for the series right beside the sweeping of the Mauser shooting under the rug.