So here we are, the fourth season of Chuck. A show that, much like the titular character, has been in constant jeopardy. I was not a Chuck-head. I didn’t frequent Subway at the end of Season Two to convince NBC to save Chuck. But, after two years of listening to my TV pals rave about Chuck, and a lack of otherwise interesting programs in competition last year, I came back. And, here we are, Chuck and me. Season Four.
At the end of Season Three, Chuck quit the spy game so he could keep the girl. Chuck and Sarah are in a full-on relationship now, but we knew his civilian life wouldn’t last. Nor would we want it to. As Casey tells Sarah, “Your boyfriend needs some big boy pants. He’s a spy and he’s good at it.”
I can’t play along as to whether this was the best Chuck episode ever, but it was one damn near perfect hour of television. The writing, timing and acting were just superb. There were multiple laugh out loud moments and layers of plot — Chuck interviewing for civilian jobs, Harry Dean Stanton cameoing as one creepy ass repo man, Morgan aiding Chuck & Sarah with a little sexting to keep their relationship alive (and save the day), Dolph Lundgren as a big bad gunning for Sarah & Casey, Chuck & Morgan on the hunt for Chuck’s mom — and in the end it all comes together. Mrs. B. is somehow connected to Dolph’s baddie organization, Volkoff Industries, and Chuck’s a spy once again. Dun dun dun dunnnnn! With the exception of Chuck keeping his secret when Ellie reveals she’s pregnant, everything about the episode is light and fun. Chuck blew the unbroken formula out of the water and returned in Season Four with one of its strongest episodes and a fresh future ahead.
Bits n bobs:
Clacked by Carissa Pavlica 
on Sep 20, 2010 @ 21:05 EST5EDT
You forgot to mention the reference to Seinfeld with the “Vandalay Industries”
Greetings from Costa Rica
You’re not alone. I didn’t even think about the rest of the Nerd Herd tonight, and I’ve loved this show from the beginning!
Yeah I’m fine with the Nerd Herd being gone for a while. Olivia Munn and the Old Spice Guy don’t need to be replaced by them for a while.
I hope it doesn’t take long for him to tell Ellie the truth. I really want to see her get in on some of the action too.
Agree with you and in fact was just talking to my buddy about the Nerd Herder’s yesterday. I really do not miss them at all. They were comedic filler that took away from the show. Do I love Jeffster, hell yeah, do I care if they are ever back, well a scene here and there would be fine. But I’d rather not have the 15 minutes an episode taken up by them. I think taking them out mostly is fine with me.
*POST AUTHOR*
The bummer is they are listed on the same number of episodes as the others from here on out. Hopefully I just miscounted! When Chuck and Morgan were truly dorks of the first degree, it made sense to have them around for context. But they’ve moved past that…and I don’t think the herd would be able to compete even in the retail arena with a bunch of other operatives on the floor.
…and I don’t think the herd would be able to compete even in the retail arena with a bunch of other operatives on the floor.
heh and can you imagine them working for Beckman??? Ouch, they wouldn’t last minutes compared to Big Mike.
*POST AUTHOR*
Actually, I didn’t think about Beckman. The one saving grace if they are still on the herd is the possibility of them interacting with her. She could tear their little psyches apart!