Chuck "Chuck Versus the Predator" OAD:3/23/2009 *spoilers* [Text View]

terpfan1980

03-23-2009, 08:37 PM

Shaunnick

03-23-2009, 11:00 PM

If NBC cancels this series I want Orion to send a Predator drone to NBCUni's Hqtrs and.... Well, you get the idea.

What an awesome episode. Too many fun things to even stop and think about it all.

...

Emmit: "It's so clean... It smells like..."
Jeff: "Douc..."

I liked the the episode overall, but I have to say the Buy More scenes with Big Mike and crew were hilarious tonight. Jeff's office was great. :up:

justen_m

03-24-2009, 12:00 AM

Great ep. This one seemed more funny than normal. I was LOL all during the "burglary" sequence when Casey, Sarah, and Jeffster were all trying to divert the asst mgr. I like that it ended leaving the possibility open for Chuck to remove the intercept.

That was a pretty tricked-out office - I loved how it was hidden behind an out-of-order sign.

terpfan1980

03-24-2009, 12:18 AM

I liked the the episode overall, but I have to say the Buy More scenes with Big Mike and crew were hilarious tonight. Jeff's office was great. :up:

Agreed, though the scene with Big Mike and his crew about to tear up things in the Beverly Hills store was too funny... or at least watching Emmit trying to use the baseball bat and completely whiffing were... You had to see the knocked over dominos effect coming pretty clearly though, but again very funny that it all eminated from Emmit who you'd never really expect that sort of thing from.

betts4

03-24-2009, 12:33 AM

I was LOL all during the "burglary" sequence when Casey, Sarah, and Jeffster were all trying to divert the asst mgr.

I loved that whole scene. They hit it with sizing and Jeff and Les mistook Casey and Sarah. That was great.

It's too bad Orion got blown up (or did he?).

Fleegle

03-24-2009, 02:00 AM

Another fantastic episode. Chuck is really firing on all cylinders lately. Not that it was ever bad, but it's just knocking it out of the park every week lately.

One thing that really struck me is that everyone has been underestimating Chuck, even with evidence to his skills being thrown in their face. Chuck was every bit the spy in how he was searching for Orion. Sarah KNEW Chuck would find some way to leave them a clue when he was kidnapped. Beckman even sees him as their best hope of defeating Fulcrum. So when are they going to get chuck on the CIA or NSA payroll and get him some official spy training?

MickeS

03-24-2009, 02:14 AM

Another fantastic episode. Chuck is really firing on all cylinders lately. Not that it was ever bad, but it's just knocking it out of the park every week lately.

Yeah, this season has been excellent. I like the direction they've taken it in, making the episodes have a nice blend between stand-alone action pieces, ongoing storyline, and the Buy More crew's goofiness.

Rob Helmerichs

03-24-2009, 06:56 AM

It's too bad Orion got blown up (or did he?).
Of COURSE he didn't. As we learned in this episode, even if you see the dead body it doesn't mean the guy's dead. And we didn't even see the dead body!

moot

03-24-2009, 07:50 AM

So when are they going to get chuck on the CIA or NSA payroll and get him some official spy training?

Seemed like the General wants to get that ball rolling. She told Chuck something like, "It's time for you to become a spy." Not sure if she meant it in the 'play along and do what we tell you' kind of way, or the 'official training' way, though.

TriBruin

03-24-2009, 08:16 AM

. So when are they going to get chuck on the CIA or NSA payroll and get him some official spy training?

I think the only person that does not see Chuck as a spy is Chuck (and maybe Casey, but he is coming around.) Chuck doesn't want to be a spy, he wants the Intercept out of his head so that he can go back to his normal life.

betts4

03-24-2009, 08:36 AM

I think the only person that does not see Chuck as a spy is Chuck (and maybe Casey, but he is coming around.) Chuck doesn't want to be a spy, he wants the Intercept out of his head so that he can go back to his normal life.

As he said several times this episode.

I agree, I think Chuck is learning to think spyishly. He gave his name as Carmichael to the bad guy and it was without the fumbling, 'um, well, ah...' type of fumbling we have seen in the past.

Why don't they realize his programming skills - again, we see him over and over, fingers flying over a keyboard and the computer programs almost sing to him to do his wishes. They can't get past the white shirt and buy more image to see the real Chuck.

whitson77

03-24-2009, 09:29 AM

It's my favorite show right now. Which is probably the kiss of death. :D

MickeS

03-24-2009, 09:45 AM

I agree, I think Chuck is learning to think spyishly. He gave his name as Carmichael to the bad guy and it was without the fumbling, 'um, well, ah...' type of fumbling we have seen in the past.

He's definitely developed more spyish qualities as a character. Even the bumbling this time was intentional, when he stumbled into the table with the computer monitor so it could be turned around to show their destination to the security camera.

busyba

03-24-2009, 09:52 AM

ElJay

03-24-2009, 09:56 AM

Chuck had a Perl book in his bedroom. That kinda goes beyond the typical talent level of a "Nerd Herd" employee.

justen_m

03-24-2009, 10:16 AM

Chuck had a Perl book in his bedroom. That kinda goes beyond the typical talent level of a "Nerd Herd" employee.

Chuck was a CS major at Stanford, no? Just a semester away from graduation before he got kicked out. I'd say that puts him quite a bit above the standard nerd herder.

Magister

03-24-2009, 10:16 AM

It's too bad Orion got blown up (or did he?).
Going to guess NO, not even close. We didn't see him get put in the helicopter, so it is a NO.

I really like the Ascii video. Where can I get a converter to create that?

betts4

03-24-2009, 10:20 AM

Chuck was a CS major at Stanford, no? Just a semester away from graduation before he got kicked out. I'd say that puts him quite a bit above the standard nerd herder.

And the CIA knows that he was that close.

Any wondering why Chuck never just transferred credits and finished at another school? Did that ever get mentioned? I can't remember.

betts4

03-24-2009, 10:21 AM

Probably not long after the Burbank BuyMore gets closed and it's entire staff laid-off, as was foreshadowed by Big Mike's conversation with Morgan.

But what will happen to Morgan?

Oh, and the scene with Big Mike, Morgan's mom and Morgan at his house was hysterical! Morgan should have moved in with Anna!

DancnDude

03-24-2009, 10:32 AM

And the CIA knows that he was that close.

Any wondering why Chuck never just transferred credits and finished at another school? Did that ever get mentioned? I can't remember.

I vaguely recall one episode that ended up that Sarah talked with Stanford and they got him his diploma due to his work for the CIA. Did I make that up?

Rob Helmerichs

03-24-2009, 10:34 AM

I doubt they'll do away with Buy More. It just...wouldn't be right.

betts4

03-24-2009, 10:36 AM

I vaguely recall one episode that ended up that Sarah talked with Stanford and they got him his diploma due to his work for the CIA. Did I make that up?

That does sound familiar. Could/did he share that with Ellie or anyone else though?

justen_m

03-24-2009, 10:36 AM

I vaguely recall one episode that ended up that Sarah talked with Stanford and they got him his diploma due to his work for the CIA. Did I make that up?
Nope, you recall correctly. I think the ep was Chuck Vs the Alma Mater? He has his diploma now.

Sirius Black

03-24-2009, 12:07 PM

RE the ASCII video, I'm fairly certain that is "simple" filter that can be done to any video in a video editor of a certain quality (re: Apple or Adobe). Probably not a standard filter but I'm sure it's a filter.

DevdogAZ

03-24-2009, 12:17 PM

Great episode. Guarantee we haven't seen the last of Orion. It will be interesting to see how they explain what happened though.

The Buy More crew was great this time out. Their side story was semi related to the A plot, so it made it much more relevant, and the scene with all of the different groups in the Buy More going after the computer behind Emmet Milbarge's back was classic.

"Man, General Beckman is tiny!"

JYoung

03-24-2009, 01:46 PM

But what will happen to Morgan?

Oh, and the scene with Big Mike, Morgan's mom and Morgan at his house was hysterical! Morgan should have moved in with Anna!

I thought he agreed to.
Maybe they haven't actually moved in yet?

I also wonder if Chuck will wind up being Orion's successor.

I couldn't help but notice Morgan's Superman bed sheets and Chuck reading Ex Machina while studying the Intersect.
(That's Intersect, folks. Not Intercept.)

DevdogAZ

03-24-2009, 01:52 PM

I couldn't help but notice Morgan's Superman bed sheets and Chuck reading Ex Machina while studying the Intersect.
(That's Intersect, folks. Not Intercept.)
I noticed the Ex Machina thing too. Is that a real comic? I wondered if the writers just threw that in as a wink to the viewers because by introducing Orion and possibly shutting down the Buy More, they're about to fundamentally change the entire show.

DancnDude

03-24-2009, 01:57 PM

I was more thinking that the hints of shutting down the Buy More would turn out to be the beginning of a "battle" between them and the newly-introduced Beverly Hills Buy More. And one of the branches would be closing. Probably after several episodes having our guys win and the Bev Hills guys lose.

jwjody

03-24-2009, 02:16 PM

That does sound familiar. Could/did he share that with Ellie or anyone else though?

Ellie knows. The diploma came in the mail to his house and Sarah covered by talking about how Chuck had been doing distance learning, that's why he had been so busy and not himself.

J

Peter000

03-24-2009, 03:08 PM

I agree, I think Chuck is learning to think spyishly. He gave his name as Carmichael to the bad guy and it was without the fumbling, 'um, well, ah...' type of fumbling we have seen in the past.

That was probably my favorite moment of the episode, because of the Fulcrum guy's reaction, being impressed with the Carmichael name.

JYoung

03-24-2009, 03:19 PM

I noticed the Ex Machina thing too. Is that a real comic? I wondered if the writers just threw that in as a wink to the viewers because by introducing Orion and possibly shutting down the Buy More, they're about to fundamentally change the entire show.

It's a real comic published by DC under the Wildstorm line.
Written by Brian K. Vaughn of Lost, it's about a man who can talk to and control machines (to some extent), become a superhero (the only one in his universe), saved one of the Twin Towers on 9/11, and entered politics by being elected Mayor of New York.

Aniketos

03-24-2009, 03:30 PM

Loved the sign in the background of the Beverly Hills Buy More "Proud to help you spend your parents' money."

Rob Helmerichs

03-24-2009, 04:41 PM

It's a real comic published by DC under the Wildstorm line.
Written by Brian K. Vaughn ...
...who also wrote Y, The Last Man, a comic for which Chuck has a poster on his wall.

LoadStar

03-24-2009, 04:58 PM

LoadStar

03-24-2009, 05:07 PM

Any wondering why Chuck never just transferred credits and finished at another school? Did that ever get mentioned? I can't remember.

He was dismissed from Stanford due to academic misconduct, thanks to Bryce Larkin. The thought is probably that no one else would touch him because of that, at least not anywhere reputable.

busyba

03-24-2009, 05:20 PM

But what will happen to Morgan?

Oh, and the scene with Big Mike, Morgan's mom and Morgan at his house was hysterical! Morgan should have moved in with Anna!

I thought he was going to. What happened?

cheesesteak

03-25-2009, 07:43 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I like this show much more when Chuck isn't a bumbling idiot. He has skillz.

So Jeff doesn't use toilet paper but his "office" is in the mens room?

Funny how Orion's big fingers could quickly and accurately hit those little keys on his wrist communicator thingy.

cruton

03-25-2009, 11:48 AM

So Jeff doesn't use toilet paper but his "office" is in the mens room?

I'm pretty sure he said that he doesn't buy toilet paper. He didn't say that he doesn't use toilet paper. He may not have to buy it if he does all of his business in his office. :)

Robin

03-25-2009, 01:06 PM

So when are they going to get chuck on the CIA or NSA payroll and get him some official spy training?

I thought that's what the mini-commander was talking about when she said something about him becoming a real spy.

I loved that Carmichael is a known name w/ Fulcrum!

getreal

03-25-2009, 01:40 PM

I loved that Carmichael is a known name w/ Fulcrum!

LOL! Yeah -- Carmichael's reputation precedes him. :up:

Thanks to others for pointing out some of the background gags some of us missed. :up:

busyba

03-25-2009, 02:41 PM

LOL! Yeah -- Carmichael's reputation precedes him. :up:

I'm waiting for the scene where a bad guy confronting Chuck hears the Carmichael name and then runs away in fear. :D

Fleegle

03-25-2009, 04:30 PM

I loved that Fulcrum thinks that the Burbank Buy More is a CIA, (Or was it NSA) front because they've lost agents there :D

pcguru83

03-25-2009, 11:03 PM

Where are the fears of Chuck being canceled coming from? Is that actually a real possibility?

newsposter

03-26-2009, 10:36 AM

Hmm...cant they implant a chip in chuck? having a watch that he may 'forget' to put on or having some other enemy take that off seems a bit too much of a risk.

obviously he doesnt know there are cameras in his room but when he finds out..how oogie!

Bettamojo5

03-26-2009, 11:22 AM

I love the Beverly Hills Buy More because you can! Sign. Great episode. NBC has got to renew this series again.

whitson77

03-26-2009, 11:27 AM

Where are the fears of Chuck being canceled coming from? Is that actually a real possibility?

It certainly is a real possiblity. Even the show's producers have said it is. The ratings aren't that great. Bubble for sure.

Sirius Black

03-26-2009, 02:34 PM

If this show is canceled it will rank it up there with the top 10 boneheaded cancellations of all time. Up there with Firefly and Journey Man.

Rob Helmerichs

03-26-2009, 04:03 PM

If this show is canceled it will rank it up there with the top 10 boneheaded cancellations of all time. Up there with Firefly and Journey Man.
Well, no, unless you mean boneheaded on the part of the public. NBC has certainly given this show every chance. If the ratings aren't their, it's our fault, not NBC's.

busyba

03-26-2009, 05:46 PM

obviously he doesnt know there are cameras in his room but when he finds out..how oogie!

He knows. You can even see him looking directly into it with an "innocent" look on his face as he's reading the comic book with the Intersect diagrams hidden inside.

astrohip

03-26-2009, 09:55 PM

Where are the fears of Chuck being canceled coming from? Is that actually a real possibility?

This is why... the numbers are borderline. NBC could go either way. And don't forget, they gotta lose 5 hours of programming by next fall. :(

Fleegle

03-26-2009, 09:57 PM

Yea, giving Leno 5 hours or porgramming a night is just ridiculous.

And Why the F are so damn many people watching that Dancing with the Stars crap? Gah!

DevdogAZ

03-26-2009, 10:12 PM

This is why... the numbers are borderline. NBC could go either way. And don't forget, they gotta lose 5 hours of programming by next fall. :(
Are those numbers from this week? If so, that's pathetic, given that House was a repeat.

I think the numbers don't justify renewal, but it will really depend on how strong NBC's development season is and whether the suits want to take a risk on something new vs. continuing with a known (albeit mediocre) commodity.

justen_m

03-26-2009, 10:21 PM

Yea, giving Leno 5 hours or porgramming a night is just ridiculous.

And Why the F are so damn many people watching that Dancing with the Stars crap? Gah!

People who find it entertaining? :p I've never seen it, so I really can't comment on it. Based on the numbers posted on the last page, it looks like the audience skews old. It does much better overall than in the 18-49 age group. It does even worse in the 18-34 age group.

I assume you mean 5 hours a week for Leno? On my local affiliate, Leno gets 2 hours a night (I think the 2am showing is a repeat of the 1030pm showing).

Fleegle

03-26-2009, 10:27 PM

People who find it entertaining? :p I've never seen it, so I really can't comment on it. Based on the numbers posted on the last page, it looks like the audience skews old. It does much better overall than in the 18-49 age group. It does even worse in the 18-34 age group.

I assume you mean 5 hours a week for Leno? On my local affiliate, Leno gets 2 hours a night (I think the 2am showing is a repeat of the 1030pm showing).

Leno is leaving the Tonight Show. NBC gave him his own show that will are Mon-Fri for an hour each night. It's eating up 1/3 of the weekday Primetime slots. Absolutely disgusting.

justen_m

03-26-2009, 10:31 PM

Leno is leaving the Tonight Show. NBC gave him his own show that will are Mon-Fri for an hour each night. It's eating up 1/3 of the weekday Primetime slots. Absolutely disgusting.

Yikes! I hadn't heard about that. I knew he was leaving the Tonight Show, but hadn't heard about his new show. Five hours of prime time a week for Leno? I understand and share your disgust. :) NBC must really have been struggling with programming if they resorted to this. Worse than reality shows!

DevdogAZ

03-26-2009, 10:39 PM

Yikes! I hadn't heard about that. I knew he was leaving the Tonight Show, but hadn't heard about his new show. Five hours of prime time a week for Leno? I understand and share your disgust. :) NBC must really have been struggling with programming if they resorted to this. Worse than reality shows!
He's moving from 11:35/10:35 to 10/9 each night. Nobody has said yet what his show will be like, but you can bet it will consist largely of monologue, jokes, and interviews, just like his current show.

justen_m

03-26-2009, 10:45 PM

He's moving from 11:35/10:35 to 10/9 each night. Nobody has said yet what his show will be like, but you can bet it will consist largely of monologue, jokes, and interviews, just like his current show.

So it looks like NBC is really just falling back to two hours of prime time programming a night, just like FOX? I wonder if ABC/CBS are going to follow. Perhaps they are just waiting to see how NBC does with the 2-hour prime time format. I guess this isn't exactly Chuck-related anymore...

Aniketos

03-27-2009, 09:36 AM

He knows. You can even see him looking directly into it with an "innocent" look on his face as he's reading the comic book with the Intersect diagrams hidden inside.

He also covered it up when he had sex with Jill, and they've referenced him being bugged, and Chuck being aware of it as well.

Aniketos

03-27-2009, 09:38 AM

Are those numbers from this week? If so, that's pathetic, given that House was a repeat.

Funny, I see that and find the Dancing With the Stars number the pathetic one.

DevdogAZ

03-27-2009, 01:01 PM

Funny, I see that and find the Dancing With the Stars number the pathetic one.
Well obviously it's pathetic how many people watch that crap. But it's also pathetic that on a night when Chuck is new and House is a repeat, that Chuck still comes in 4th place for the hour.

As for NBC and Leno, I think they realize that they're not climbing out of 4th place overnight, and Leno is currently their strongest asset, since he consistently wins his timeslot. So instead of getting rid of him in favor of Conan, they're making him even more prominent in the network lineup. From a cost/return standpoint, it probably makes sense for NBC to do this for a season or two until the economy turns around and they can develop some can't-miss shows. Then, maybe Jay gets scaled back to 3 nights a week as they find some dramas to plug into that slot a couple of nights a week.

stellie93

03-27-2009, 05:14 PM

I watch both Dancing with the Stars and Chuck, although Chuck is by far my favorite. But I watch Dancing live so I can vote if I want and because people at work will be talking about it the next day. Unfortunately no one talks about Chuck. :( This could be part of the trouble with the ratings.

Fleegle

03-27-2009, 05:31 PM

Wait, people TALK about people they don't know who they saw dancing on TV...

newsposter

03-29-2009, 02:00 PM

And Why the F are so damn many people watching that Dancing with the Stars crap? Gah!

is that the show with that Mary woman with the permanent smile and such a horrible laugh i'd prefer to hear the guy in my office cut his nails?

stellie93

03-29-2009, 02:17 PM

Mary is on a different dance show, and yes, people I know discuss who's the worst dancer and who deserves to go home. And there are hot guys and girls in skimpy dresses on there. ;)

Steveknj

03-30-2009, 11:10 AM

I love Chuck, but I think if they moved it to a different timeslot it would do better. For me, Monday is by far my busiest night. And I DON'T watch DWTS or for that matter AI or any of those glorified Star Search shows. But at 8 I have a conflict with HIMYM and Big Bang, and 9 I have Heroes/24. I never got into House because of this (3rd in my faceoffs with those shows). But anyway, Chuck is in a killer timeslot and the fact that it is not a "trendy" show, makes it difficult to break through.

I thought this was a great episode, and I love how the story line between Sarah (Sarah!! mmmm) and Chuck is developing. As for the Buy More stuff, I think it's getting a little too silly. Lester and his buddy (I forget his name) are just way too unbelievable, and I don't like how they developed their characters. I liked it better when they were just jealous of Chuck. But I do admit enjoying their antics this week, especially their confusion on all the black clad people in the Buy More.

Anyway, Chuck is one of the few shows I really look forward to every week, and I hope that it stays, but I'm not sure it will ever be more than a cult following.

jradford

03-30-2009, 11:43 AM

Are those numbers from this week? If so, that's pathetic, given that House was a repeat.

I think the numbers don't justify renewal, but it will really depend on how strong NBC's development season is and whether the suits want to take a risk on something new vs. continuing with a known (albeit mediocre) commodity.
I feel like moving to a new day always seems to be a killer, but maybe it's needed. If they stick on Monday, they might be better off moving it back an hour. It would lose to 24, but DWTS viewers seems more like a "Chuck" crowd than a "24" crowd. Obviously, I'm no executive, but I like to think they'll find a way to keep Chuck around. It might not be getting the ratings, but it should be fairly clear that it's one of their better shows in terms of quality. Sometimes quality doesn't cut it, but you'd hope they would exhaust their options before chucking it. Wow. That was a terrible pun.:o

Steveknj

03-30-2009, 02:14 PM

I feel like moving to a new day always seems to be a killer, but maybe it's needed. If they stick on Monday, they might be better off moving it back an hour. It would lose to 24, but DWTS viewers seems more like a "Chuck" crowd than a "24" crowd. Obviously, I'm no executive, but I like to think they'll find a way to keep Chuck around. It might not be getting the ratings, but it should be fairly clear that it's one of their better shows in terms of quality. Sometimes quality doesn't cut it, but you'd hope they would exhaust their options before chucking it. Wow. That was a terrible pun.:o

Overall ratings may be bad, but I wonder what the ratings are for the demos. I would think a show like this would appeal to the key demo of males 24-49 (spy/Techie story, tough guy Casey, sophmoric hijinks at Buy More, and HOT Sarah) In theory, it SHOULD do better in those demos than DWTS or even House.

BTW, an interesting tidbit. HPs newest laptop line has a chrome finish that they call Intersect finish :)