tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post4772760875931337526..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Chuck, "Chuck vs. Santa Claus": Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho.Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69011937946932397952014-07-04T17:34:40.764-04:002014-07-04T17:34:40.764-04:00That's not late, this is late...
At least hal...That's not late, this is late...<br /><br />At least half of VelJohnson's lines were in fact lines from Die Hard, including "you alright there partner? Thought I'd lost you there for a moment". Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-49104597993872406752009-05-30T22:04:56.705-04:002009-05-30T22:04:56.705-04:00I'm really posting this late, but I'm going throug...I'm really posting this late, but I'm going through a season 2 marathon and I caught something. when Mauser first calls he asks to speak to Ned, not Nathan. He shouldn't know that info yet. If that was an intentional error on behalf of the writers to subtly clue us in it's brilliant.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08965717916375558077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80804735122373821822008-12-29T13:18:00.000-05:002008-12-29T13:18:00.000-05:00Someone mentioned the scene where sarah, and chuck...Someone mentioned the scene where sarah, and chuck are stalking / being stalked in the Christmas tree lot - I took it as a minor reference to Lethal Weapon 1 ( also set at Christmas)- when Riggs is doing a similar thing.Lysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03918115488312607755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31016014232838560392008-12-22T07:40:00.000-05:002008-12-22T07:40:00.000-05:00I love this episode, and especially the final turn...I love this episode, and especially the final turn of events with Chuck looking on as Sarah kills Mauser. I was half expecting Chuck to jump in, all geeky knight in shining armor, on Mauser as he was brutally kicking Sarah while she was on the ground. So I was pleasantly surprised at the dark turn that the show chose in the episode. My heart sank a little upon realizing the difficult situation that Sarah found herself in, standing there while Mauser taunted her, and what the consequences of her actions would mean for both her relationship with Chuck further down the road. Easily one of my favorite episodes of any show of the year. "Chuck" has really been amazing this season!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-63275609128154670012008-12-21T20:26:00.000-05:002008-12-21T20:26:00.000-05:00> Immediately after Sarah shoots Mauser we see ...> Immediately after Sarah shoots Mauser we see an inserted ‘afterthought’ close-up 3-second clip of (someone’s) LEFT trigger-finger hand, whereas just before and after that clip we see Sarah's usual right trigger-finger hand on the gun. Not only that, but Chuck had clearly placed the bracelet on Sarah’s RIGHT wrist and we can still see it on her right as we see Sarah lower her gun after firing. But the bracelet is on someone’s LEFT wrist during this afterthought close-up. [ ... ] So the Director goofed in the detail department. <BR/><BR/>Correct: it was a continuity screw up. In the insert, she's using a left-handed Walker stance; in the rest of the scene, right single- handed. But...<BR/><BR/>> But forget the goof. Our real attention should be to the reason why the Director believed it was so important to create this 3 second scene. Did you catch it?<BR/><BR/>I did. But I'm pretty sure you didn't.<BR/><BR/>> The Director added it in order to place focus on the important family heirloom bracelet Chuck had just given Sarah. It is an heirloom that was understandably special to Chuck - given by his father to his mother in celebrating (and symbolizing) the newborn life of Ellie and the joys and hopes that come with new birth. And yet in this close-up scene, Chuck sees the special woman whom he chose as worthy of wearing this symbol of life, yet holding a gun (just a few inches from the bracelet) and taking a life.<BR/><BR/>Yup. I was right. You missed it.<BR/><BR/>What Sarah was doing -- and anyone who reads this sort of novel will tell you that it was the proper solution to the problem: letting Mauser (great name, BTW) continue to live was not an acceptable solution, after Chuck admitted to being the Intersect. I knew he was a dead man walking.<BR/><BR/>But what *actually* happened is that Sarah preserved as much of a life as Chuck already has, instead of letting Mauser live, which would have had exactly the results he predicted.<BR/><BR/>What *I* think will be interesting is Chuck's reaction to realizing Sarah lied to him, and whether they go anywhere interesting with that.<BR/><BR/>I originally fell for this show mostly for the characters, the light badinage, and, of course, the fact that Yvonne is hot and Im heterosexual, but the writers persist in turning it into a *really* good TV series.<BR/><BR/>By my standards for such things, at least. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87997134150205675282008-12-20T21:41:00.000-05:002008-12-20T21:41:00.000-05:00Chuck vs. Santa Claus: I don't think Sarah killed ...Chuck vs. Santa Claus: I don't think Sarah killed the guy, that last shot of him on the ground - no blood or indication he was shot. I think Casey came up behind him and knocked him out or if the guy is dead, Casey made the shot out of Chuck’s line of vision (and remember it was depicted that Casey “killed” Bryce-and Chuck got over that). Or maybe the bad guy had a hidden weapon of some kind as just before Sarah’s shot he put his hands over his head for 'no reason', and if she did shoot him ... self defense. But I don’t think that's how it will play out, I still say Sarah didn’t really kill the guy. Time will tell, we'll hopefully see next season.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46066101744663368832008-12-18T15:02:00.000-05:002008-12-18T15:02:00.000-05:00As far as Die Hard goes and who is shooting, check...As far as Die Hard goes and who is shooting, check out the scene on youtube. Mclain throws the body and clearly another person is doing the shooting, totally different weapon then the one Mclain had. <BR/><BR/>As far as Chuck goes, great episode, loved it when Al and big Mike called each other pal too. Hilarious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24336553405500561832008-12-18T11:00:00.000-05:002008-12-18T11:00:00.000-05:00but as for her lying she could've at least admitte...<I>but as for her lying she could've at least admitted to killing him just under self defense circumstances.</I><BR/><BR/>But that would be another lie; Chuck obviously saw the man was defenseless. Sarah's lie was with good intentions, and Chuck hasn't given her enough evidence to think he's ready the know the naked truth about being a spy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91957763739165088802008-12-18T05:34:00.000-05:002008-12-18T05:34:00.000-05:00I think Lester's maniacal laugh after stealing a k...I think Lester's maniacal laugh after stealing a kiss with Anna deserves a bullet point and the writers deserve points for not pursuing some freak love triangle like i feared they would for a second. As far as Chuck's reaction to Sarah's actions I think he should man up, but as for her lying she could've at least admitted to killing him just under self defense circumstances. It was definitely a good way to remind Chuck of Sarah's other side though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47112765731991292842008-12-17T14:32:00.000-05:002008-12-17T14:32:00.000-05:00Oh, I also thought the 'my mom has leukoplakia' th...Oh, I also thought the 'my mom has leukoplakia' thing was a shout-out to the under appreciated 80s high-school-film gem Lucas; Lucas was the complete nerd who became a hero (of sorts), and was called leukoplakia to make fun of him.Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01936485733513228468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-52523729742661017952008-12-17T12:19:00.000-05:002008-12-17T12:19:00.000-05:00I just bought one, Stylist Mick. That's awesome - ...I just bought one, Stylist Mick. That's awesome - thanks.Josh M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04054764121030646400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-49516928611030110492008-12-17T11:50:00.000-05:002008-12-17T11:50:00.000-05:00Oh, I understood why they had the close-up -- to e...Oh, I understood why they had the close-up -- to emphasize the bracelet v. what Chuck just saw. And don't get me wrong, it didn't ruin the episode for me at all. It's just one of those things that I couldn't help but notice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-32042494884348693692008-12-17T04:23:00.000-05:002008-12-17T04:23:00.000-05:00Subject: Not Sarah’s hands.Previous commentators ...Subject: Not Sarah’s hands.<BR/><BR/>Previous commentators "Rachel" and "A" are correct! Immediately after Sarah shoots Mauser we see an inserted ‘afterthought’ close-up 3-second clip of (someone’s) LEFT trigger-finger hand, whereas just before and after that clip we see Sarah's usual right trigger-finger hand on the gun. Not only that, but Chuck had clearly placed the bracelet on Sarah’s RIGHT wrist and we can still see it on her right as we see Sarah lower her gun after firing. But the bracelet is on someone’s LEFT wrist during this afterthought close-up. The close-up hands of this afterthought clip are NOT Sarah's hands. Just freeze-frame and compare those slightly rough hands and wrist (with slightly dirty fingernails) to Sarah's smooth & pretty feminine hands you see in a close-up freeze-frame earlier in the episode; (When Chuck and Sarah are in the Buy More and Chuck calls Sarah - she answers her cell phone - showing a good close-up of her hand.) So the Director goofed in the detail department. It was still a great episode. And Yvonne’s hands were not available for this 3 second clip since shooting of the episode had already wrapped up. So a stand-in was hastily used.<BR/><BR/>But forget the goof. Our real attention should be to the reason why the Director believed it was so important to create this 3 second scene. Did you catch it?<BR/><BR/>The Director added it in order to place focus on the important family heirloom bracelet Chuck had just given Sarah. It is an heirloom that was understandably special to Chuck - given by his father to his mother in celebrating (and symbolizing) the newborn life of Ellie and the joys and hopes that come with new birth. And yet in this close-up scene, Chuck sees the special woman whom he chose as worthy of wearing this symbol of life, yet holding a gun (just a few inches from the bracelet) and taking a life. Talk about contrast! And just as Morgan suggested later, this scene was burned into Chuck’s memory. We see Chuck think about this contrast again as he watches Ellie notice Sarah wearing the heirloom and saying “It looks good on you!”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-5577542844031718632008-12-17T01:06:00.000-05:002008-12-17T01:06:00.000-05:00I thought the way they got Awesome & Ellie int...I thought the way they got Awesome & Ellie into the store was silly, but everything else was great. I'm with others that the "idiot plot" candidates are in keeping with the characters and the choices they've made all along.<BR/><BR/>I love the way the show swings into deeper emotional territory sometimes. I like that it doesn't live there, but the stakes get a little higher every time it plays in that particular playground. It does it so well and it really helps to stay invested in the characters.<BR/><BR/>I don't ever want Chuck to turn into a serial ala Lost/Heroes, etc., but I'm ready for it to have a "big bad" ala Buffy, and for what happened tonight to affect things for the rest of the season. I'm sure they can have Chuck & Sara be sweet and fun together again soon, but I want this to matter.<BR/><BR/>So, Chuck, you're flirting with becoming the best show on TV (rather than the most fun show on TV). Take us to the promised land. Raise the stakes. And have a ton of fun while you do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68828357733334263872008-12-17T00:15:00.000-05:002008-12-17T00:15:00.000-05:00I'm in Boston and my DVR is in FL, so the only thi...I'm in Boston and my DVR is in FL, so the only thing I've been able to see so far is Chuck, cause my friend records it (yay! and I won't repeat the bar story, again. - wait: my friend said I should, so hopefully, her niece won't mind.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.jqlounge.com/2007/09/jbp-part-2-let-jenny-in.html" REL="nofollow">if you look very closely at the first video</A> you can see Zach and Josh, and we think they are in the second one too, but it was a bit dark. They are also mentioned in the blog post itself. Really cute. (alas, Julie watches HIMYM, TBBT - but not Chuck. her aunt and family watch Chuck cause of this event, though, and they just bought me season 1 :-) (thanks, Kay!))Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46125106990762604912008-12-16T20:59:00.000-05:002008-12-16T20:59:00.000-05:00Rachel,Not only was Sarah's gun held in one hand i...Rachel,<BR/><BR/>Not only was Sarah's gun held in one hand in the two-shot and a two-handed Weaver grip in the close-up, but in the two-shot she's holding the gun in her <I>right</I> hand, and in her <I>left</I> in the close-up. Think it might not even be YH's hand?<BR/><BR/>The whole "shoot the bad guy" ending didn't work that well for me. It reeked of a thousand other "oh no, now there's a secret between us" twists used on other, much worse shows. I agree that an honest admission by Sarah that "I did it because it's my job to protect you" would be much truer to the show and go down avenues other shows haven't been down innumerable times.<BR/><BR/>Still, the show is so much fun!ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705796697198412139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-42981683902737229542008-12-16T20:03:00.000-05:002008-12-16T20:03:00.000-05:00"What I have a hard time with is Chuck believing t...<I>"What I have a hard time with is Chuck believing that Sarah wouldn't kill the person HE TOLD HIS BIGGEST SECRET TO. He really has no one to blame but himself - if he hadn't told the Fulcrum agent he was the Intersect, she wouldn't have had to kill him (most likely).<BR/><BR/>Chuck has known all along Sarah will do anything to protect him, first because it's her job and then because she cares for him, and so why is he surprised/shocked/disgusted by Sarah shooting the agent?<BR/><BR/>Yes, she lies to him, but his life, and the lives of everyone he loves, were at risk and CHUCK put them there."</I><BR/><BR/>Especially when Boo told him DURING THE EPISODE that she'd let no one hurt him. Just how many people does he think Bryce has killed, to keep the Intersect safe? John Casey? I'm assuming he's so bad-ass that he insists on using his real name, to give evildoers the fear. <BR/><BR/>Sarah was kicking ass and shooting automatics right along with both men -- and wasn't one of the more significant plot lines this season her growing doubts regarding being ruthless, because of her feelings for Chuck? If she were male, I'd say she regained her potency as an operative, after the blows of confronting her past with her father, but for now I'd say she's got her groove back.<BR/><BR/>Violence is how Sarah knows who and what she is, when she can rely on nothing else. The CIA gave and gives her a home, in contrast to the clandestine life giving Sydney Bristow the illusion of a happy and safe childhood. Unlike Sydney, she won't get her man killed because she was stupid; unlike Sarah, Chuck will continue to pretend the business of preserving his life has no cost, and he'll endanger himself and his family again and again, because he's supposed to be innocent. In short, Chuck Bartowski is America, 2008, and he's a very true and entertaining mirror. No one needs to throw shoes at him, however; he wouldn't know what hit him.<BR/><BR/>By-the-by, how the frak can a man stay that innocent, that doe-like, while even watching the news, when he has terabytes of America's and the world's dirtiest secrets accessible by his looking at a triggering image? That is the biggest plot hole CHUCK has -- why a man who could bring down every crooked politician and honest criminal is out in the open, unassassinated by his own goverment, to keep him quiet? If we ignore that hole, then we're in it for the long haul, and needs must ignore everything else attached to that.<BR/><BR/>It took THE SOPRANOS to deglamorize what THE GODFATHER built, regarding the American Mafia; perhaps the next decade will see more spy series that take on that unique career in betrayal, without being produced by the BBC... but they might not be as entertaining as CHUCK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46864165911087155352008-12-16T19:39:00.000-05:002008-12-16T19:39:00.000-05:00So...we get a Nakatomi reference the episode befor...So...we get a Nakatomi reference the episode before the Die Hard parody; now a Groundhog Day reference the episode before the episode that airs on Groundhog Day.<BR/><BR/>Can we work backwards and try to find a pattern? Do I care too much?JakesAlterEgohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05099695249686972253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-62370169517864897382008-12-16T17:10:00.000-05:002008-12-16T17:10:00.000-05:00My question is this: why did Sarah lie to Chuck in...My question is this: why did Sarah lie to Chuck in the first place? Why not tell him that she killed Mauser and why? "He knew about you and even in custody we can't trust that Fulcrum won't discover your secret. I did it so you, Awesome and Ellie can keep your lives for a little while longer." Hello, that's her job, isn't it? If Chuck thought about it for a while, he'd realize what a tool his being and thank his lucky stars that Sarah, and Casey, go to the lengths they do to protect him and the people he loves.<BR/><BR/>I don't know, I really hate conflict from lack of communication, so the whole ending scene kinda pisses me off. It would be much better for Chuck to have reservations about Sarah knowing the facts than on half information. For Chuck to view Sarah differently because she has the ability to kill - even it if is justified - would be real conflict. For him to view her differently on half-information not only gives the writers an easy out from the "conflict" but it reeks of laziness in storytelling.<BR/><BR/>As for plot holes, why is John Casey using his real name?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54027400602913386012008-12-16T16:56:00.000-05:002008-12-16T16:56:00.000-05:00Maybe it's too obvious, but I predict we'll see th...Maybe it's too obvious, but I predict we'll see the shadow of Fulcrum's "Mr. Big" when the show comes back from its break.<BR/><BR/>And if it's not that obvious, the show comes back on Groundhog's Day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-62675275858652929402008-12-16T14:25:00.000-05:002008-12-16T14:25:00.000-05:00Alan, I'm trying to solicit answers from SN users ...Alan, I'm trying to solicit answers from SN users about the whole Chuck-random athlete connection. I'm guessing you could get a bug in Schwartz's ear before me, but you must share if you figure it out!<BR/><BR/>http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/firstcuts/entry/view/15720/solving_the_chuck-sports_connectionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71012052941124811922008-12-16T13:45:00.000-05:002008-12-16T13:45:00.000-05:00Oh, that is splendid, Stylist Mick. If I could aff...Oh, that is splendid, Stylist Mick. If I could afford Chrismukkah presents this year, I would absolutely get one for myself or my life partner.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47620789046018184642008-12-16T13:42:00.000-05:002008-12-16T13:42:00.000-05:00Needed more Ellis:http://www.cafepress.com/dont_be...Needed more Ellis:<BR/><BR/>http://www.cafepress.com/dont_be_ellis.137485317Sous Chef Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14623726290929920662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-22410902763014228342008-12-16T13:28:00.000-05:002008-12-16T13:28:00.000-05:00Ned? Ned Rhyerson?I thought I caught a bit of The ...Ned? Ned Rhyerson?<BR/><BR/>I thought I caught a bit of The Shining in the chase through the Christmas Trees as well (much like the throwaway reference to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, last week). I find myself watching and loving the show for the story, but the references give it a special kick.Kathleen Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096607261757810034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67042534973332219942008-12-16T13:13:00.000-05:002008-12-16T13:13:00.000-05:00However, Morgan and Anna is clearly Idiot Plot.Giv...<I>However, Morgan and Anna is clearly Idiot Plot.</I><BR/><BR/>Given that Anna clearly won't be dating Lester anytime soon, I suspect this is one where the truth will come out much quicker than it will with Chuck and Sarah.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.com