Sorry gang, I forgot to hang this for you!
Here is our NBC provided description: “Chuck AND Sarah’s PAST COMES BACK TO “HUNT” THEM WHEN A PRISON TRANSFER DELIVERS OLD FOES TO THE BUY MORE–NICOLE RICHIE, STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN AND STACY KIEBLER GUEST STAR — Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah’s (Yvonne Strahovski) romantic mission is cancelled with the arrival of Hugo Panzer (guest star Stone Cold Steve Austin) and Heather Chandler (guest star Nicole Richie). But Chuck grows more interested when the manipulative Heather claims to know a secret about his mom. Meanwhile, as Morgan (Joshua Gomez) prepares the Buy More for a huge video game release, he gets a surprise from Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence). Adam Baldwin, Vik Sahay, Scott Krinsky and Bonita Friedericy also star.” Video clip is here: http://www.nbc.com/chuck/video/chuck-vs-the-cubic-z/1251673/
Speculate away!
Update: Here’s a promo with our first look at Stacy Kiebler and Steve Austin. – joe
amyabn
atcDave
Ernie Davis
Faith
joe
thinkling
Chuck This 
Don’t know where to put this Ausiello spoiler now.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/09/29/ask-ausiello-spoilers-glee-greys-30-rock/
But maybe this will cheer you up: An upcoming Chuck—or an upChuck, if you will—will be set in Thailand. Not the REAL Thailand, though. A sliver of the Warner Bros. backlot made to look like Thailand.
Nothing huge but then I remembered the interview with Rafe Judkins.”:
I have always said that my only desire in life is to see Sarah emerge naked from a muddy lake in Laos with a knife between her teeth. And then kick ridiculous amounts of ass. And as of now, it seems like that scene may actually become a reality!”
Its not Laos but Thailand is close enough.
While that is certainly an exciting mental image, I’m guessing the TV version will be tamed down a little! At least I hope so or I’ll never be allowed to watch again…
I pictured it as a cross between Tic Tac and Schwarzenegger in Predator just prettier.
You can always pull a Chuck…
“who do you think I am? If they can’t see anything, I can’t see anything” 😀
Think your wife will buy that? Sarah did and she’s scary!
It occurred to me just now that I spent the last week not speculating, but rather examining and reliving Anniversary. I think I’ll choose to do the same this week as well.
Although it will be very, very, very difficult. I have so many burning thoughts about that Ring and what’s eating Agent Walker!
I wound up with my wife’s hand over my eyes a couple times during Suitcase. I can only imagine if the above scene was shown in its full glory; any copies of said episode would be treated as contraband in our home!
Come on Dave just imagine a combination of this http://img237.imageshack.us/f/yept.jpg/.
Well JC, I clicked on your link with great fear and trembling; and I liked it. A bizarrely morphed version of those images would be a very exciting scene!
I wound up with my wife’s hand over my eyes a couple times during Suitcase.
Dave, this is why God invented Hulu! 😉
Oh she knows it won’t stop me from seeing what I want to see. But I know there’s a line not to cross, and Rafe’s perfect scene would definately cross it!
It needn’t be unacceptable for broadcast TV: if she’s emerging from a muddy lake, she might be completely covered in mud. Could be less risque than X-Men’s Mystique.
I can’t help but write the scene in my head. Chuck is being held prisoner by rebels working for Volkoff, their camp is by a lake. Sarah goes into super agent mode to rescue him. Cue her coming out of lake with a knife in her teeth and kicking everyone’s ass.
great scene JC; and maybe you’re right Waverly, the key could be strategically placed mud!
OK, Faith started it; some comments must be made about the ring, apparently Cubic Z. I don’t believe Chuck would be so cheesy as to go with a fake diamond. My bet is, Big Mike has got it for Bolonia, Morgan is hiding it, Chuck finds it, Sarah sees Chuck with it (on his knees?!), hilarity ensues.
To me, that sounds a little like Marlin. Maybe Sarah being freaked out by it instead of Morgan will provide enough difference.
Ok, but does Sarah’s freak out over the ring take place at the beginning of the episode after which she takes it out on Casey in sparring then resolves some teenage anxiety through Heather Chandler. Or do Chuck’s doltish musings in bed cause the take it out on Casey bit, after which adolescent anxiety is resolved at which point she sees the ring. Heartwarmed she is about to say yes when Chuck says the wrong thing yet again.
In case I wasn’t clear enough, I don’t think that there is an engagement in this episode. I think that if there were a real one that NBC, after showing Chuck for 3+ years would advertise a real engagement, this despite the current embargo on Chuck promotion on air.
I think there is an engagment…..just that it’s not Chuck and Sarah.
I think you both are exactly right. But I do think a Chuck/Sarah engagement will be coming soon. My guess is 4.03 will lead to discussion that leads to an engagement in 4.04(ish).
I’m thinking along those lines as well. Either the ring belongs to someone else and Chuck somehow ends up with it in his possession, or it’s mission related and Sarah has not been brought completely up to speed on the plan. They are supposed to be going on a romantic mission before Panzer and Heather get thrown into the mix.
Personally, I hope they don’t go the predictable route with Sarah being upset by the proposal that isn’t, Chuck bumbling the explanation, possibly questioning her about why a proposal from him would be such a horrible event, following with squabbles and Sarah taking things out on Casey.
It would be much more interesting if Sarah to her own surprise found herself pleased and excited by the prospect of Chuck proposing only to have those hopes dashed when Chuck reassures her that he knows she needs more time and that any engagement is relegated to the distant future.
Sarah would be confused and hurt which would cause her to revert to form and go passive aggressive on Chuck, Casey and anyone with the misfortune to not be a CIA director of General who came into contact with her. Throw in her high school nemesis and things will become downright hairy. Things will be resolved at the episode after Sarah has drawn sufficient blood and actually managed to talk with either Chuck, or perhaps Ellie about what she’s feeling.
Me like your speculations about a raging Sarah. It’s a pleasure to watch as long as she is not taking it out on Chuck. LOL.
IMO the ring wont come into the picture at the beginning. As per the synopsis they are planning some romantic getaway when it gets canceled due to the arrival of Heather and Panzer. Maye the ring belongs to Big Mike as some have speculated or maybe it is a personal affect of Heather’s taken from her while she is in lockup.
Question is how does Heather know about Chuck’s mom. For all intents and purposes Mama B goes by the name Frost and not Mary Bartowski. How indeed? From the promo,it does look like Heather will be free in the Castle and not held captive for long. Maybe she sides with TB in the beginning but later betrays them.
As for the faux proposal scene – it will be indeed awesome to find out that Sarah is secretly disappointed at it not being the real deal.
Well, in Cougars, they never really did say who Heather worked for. It was just assumed it was Fulcrum. Considering that she was trying to steal weapons tech and that her goons were Russian, it is very likely she was a Volkoff agent from the beginning. That would make it very plausable that she knows something about Chuck’s mom.
Actually Heather said she was self employed and was dealing with the Russians. If Volkoff is a connected Russian arms dealer he’d likely use the mob as a go between, explaining Chuck flashing on the muscle as part of the Russian Mafia. The fact that it was military secrets that Heather was selling fits perfectly with Heather knowing some figures in the Volkoff heirarchy outside the mob who would be able to tell if what she had was real and valuable.
I was somewhat disappointed they continue to play with Sarah’s hesitance. I know many have been saying here for a long time they’d love to see Sarah go into pursuit mode at some point. Obviously, it would be a short pursuit, unless Chuck is too slow to realize what she wants. And that’s exactly what I’d like to see; Sarag suddenly deciding she really likies the idea of Mrs. Bartowski, and Chuck not anticipating her rapid turn around.
But we all know they’ll never play it that way. Chuck will have to drag her every step of the way.
I think you’re right that the Big Mike bought a ring for Bolonia, Dave. That’s his “surprise” for Morgan. I sort of expect that any misunderstanding about it between Chuck & Sarah lasts about 3 seconds before he explains and she says something akin to “that’s alright.”
But here’s my spec. Both of them are shown to be thinking much further along those lines – about marriage and family. No engagement here, but it’s made clear they’re thinking in those terms and if you open your window, you will here squees at that point in the show.
I always seem much smarter when I don’t make those kinds of predictions 😉 but I’m going to make another. I can’t believe that Big Mike has bought a fake ring for Bolonia. I think there will be a real one, somewhere. We’ll have to watch carefully to see if there’s some other Cubic-Z involved, somehow involved in the spy story, or perhaps used as a metaphor for C&S’s past cover.
hmmm, so is a fake Cubic Z a real diamond? I don’t know about Big Mike, he does seem like the Cubic Z sort to me. But I do think we’ll at least get some marriage talk going between Chuck and Sarah; and maybe more quickly. I’m hoping Ernie’s spec about passing some large chunk’s of time this season bears out, and we see this play out by 4.13 at the latest.
Joe – I think we’ve crossed paths with the marriage theme for about 2 season already… [ All the references to Rings – or as cover as married couple]- if only to poke fun at us…
but I think that it might actually be going somewhere now [ well hoping].
From what we’ve learned about our loving couple – ultimately its what they both want… call it destiny. Question is – do they want things at the same time – and for the same reasons?
For now I think Sarah is REALLY happy with the status of their relationship – like her initial response to moving in –
“Why would we do that?”… then it was not unpacking – now its being married and the implications of what kind of cage Sarah will feel like she’s putting herself in. Is our girl ready to be more Normal yet?
[ Ok – sorry – my wife is still working through some of these issues….and its only been 21 years – there’s no rush.]
As long as they keep things light – and fun – with open and honest dialogue – it should be very very entertaining!
Ok – someone needs to find a NBC mole to sneak out some real spoilers!!!
Gringo, you make a good point. Up unitl now, any thoughts of marriage, kids, or any other trappings of “the normal life” were merely a fantasy for Sarah. Something to muse over, but ultimately, something that she would never have……until now. Fantasy is all fine and dandy when you know it will stay in your dream world. Quite a different story when it starts to not only become feasible, but is staring you right in the face. Didn’t someone once say “be careful what you wish for…” 🙂
Now, I’m of the thought that Sarah will eventually overcome her abandonment and commitment issues in the near future. The road will be rocky for a bit (first real fight coming up in about 5 eps), but like all real couples they will have to work through it.
From the promos, although Sarah and Heather duke it out, I think that they are also fighting on the same side at one point. I think that Panzer may be trying to kill Heather and that Chuck and Sarah end up protecting her.
Could that be because Chuck thinks Heather knows something about MEB? I think so. He needs to use her.
I have a hard time thinking that Heather could have a change of heart!
Or Chuck is just dumb enough to try to allow Heather to escape – so she can help him find his mother….
[ Let’s Make a Deal! – door numer 2]
We’ve seen our lovable bone-head make similar judgement calls… His tunnel vision is just narrow enough that he can justify almost anything to himself if he thinks its for the right reasons.
To be fair, Heather is a relatively small fish. At this point in time she doesn’t have any information that’s particularly valuable, but if she knows about Chuck’s mom, she could presumably have other contacts. If they let her escape, she might run to a bigger fish which furthers the government’s and Chuck’s agendas. Plus, Sarah gets to take out some of her frustration on Heather while bringing her back in. It’s a win, win, win situation.
I’ve watched the end of Suitcase several times now. Sarah’s expression is one of fear and for me not anger or annoyance at the thought of marriage and babies.
Then again, we’ve seen Sarah turn her fears, anxieties and insecurities into rage.
Well, another clue as to the mood of the situation is the music. What’s playing when Sarah is all wide-eyed is not some dark, heavy dramatic piece. It’s that piece of music they use a lot when there are comedy elements going on. So I think they are setting up some dramatic, but also light, situations regarding Sarah’s commitment issues.
Will Casey’s line about beautiful women having lots of baggage become prophetic, will Chuck spend the next few episodes acting as Sarah’s “personal baggage handler”. I think that Heather Chandler reveals another hidden piece of baggage belonging to our Jenny.
Yeah it sure sounded that way in the preview; even a suitcase can get pretty heavy!
Okay! This may be considered as a spoiler – but IMHO it will help us in expanding our speculations.
http://chucktv.net/2010/09/30/stacy-keibler-talks-greta-stone-cold-chuck/
An excerpt:
Stacy’s Greta will be the most physical of the incarnations so far as she faces off with Stone Cold Steve Austin, in heels. She mentioned that she has a fight scene with the the big man, who reprises his role as Hugo Panzer.
—————————————————-
Looks like a Greta will finally be worth something. This has given me some hope that they wont waste Summer Glau in that role.
Speculation: My guess is that Stacey Keibler will step in and help out Chuck during his fight with Panzer – beacuse we know for sure from the promo that Chuck is going to fight Panzer.
Hmm, another long legged Valkrie (hopefully with an aversion to clothing), how could Charles Irving Bartowski possibly screw this situation up. Maybe this is where we see jealous Sarah, maybe this is where Heather suggests that Sarah leave Chuck to someone more normal and well adjusted.
Like a GRETA?
Someone normal and well adjusted – a Greta is a far cry from that.
Maybe Panzer escapes from the Castle and ends up in the Buy More – where Stacy takes him on and takes him down. She does say in the interview that she saves him from hurting anyone else.
Jealous Sarah FTW! (I say that a lot but it fits!). 🙂
Damn it Herder! I said I wasn’t going to speculate 😉
Another bit of speculation, in Anniversary Sarah said “new rule, no lies, no secrets”, does Heather know a secret about Jenny that Sarah hasn’t told Chuck about yet. If so, does that cause a problem. I say this because I think that Sarah has a bunch of secrets that she hasn’t told Chuck about yet and she may come to regret her new rule.
My impression of the preview was that she was sharing something about why Sarah/Jenny would be less than an ideal catch. Can’t imagine what she would have done in high school that Chuck would find upsetting at this point; I mean Chuck knows she’s not proud of much of her past, so unless she used to be a man, I can’t see much that be relevant.
But TPTB love retcons, so they could come up with anything.
Ok I have a question. I understand why in economics, and viewership and all that, but in terms of just the story, I find it extremely hard to believe that Chuck Bartowski would not have a huge hole in his pocket where an engagement ring is trying desperately to escape.
This is the same Chuck who wanted the real relationship, and the same Sarah who said they were more than just dating exclusively. They were running off grid with each other.
The same Chuck who took 2.0 to be with Sarah, the sme Chuck who broke his no killing rule for Sarah.
Just saying it seems odd that no one has brought it up. Grimes …paging Morgan Grime…of the Burbank grimes
I think it’s because Chuck will always be insecure. The relationship’s good, and he doesn’t want to mess it up by moving too fast. Sarah’s pretty conservative in the sense that she thinks the way her life has been works for her, and shouldn’t be changed lightly.
They’re both pretty much right, and it’s good for them to take it slower rather than faster.
[Big] But! Both are looking for security and roots in the places they’re used to finding it. They’re going to have to find it in someplace new – in each other.
That’s coming. You’ll see!
If Awesome had to resort to great measure to conceal the engagement ring from Ellie, the jewelry bloodhound, just imagine what Chuck would have to do to keep a little piece of jewelry secret from Sarah. He can’t depend on Awesome, because Ellie would sniff it out and the resulting cry of boundless Elliejoy would alert the greater LA metro area. He couldn’t count on Morgan for obvious reasons. My guess is that Casey would have to conceal the Ring until his proposal. Chuck’s going to have to be really certain this is what he wants and that she’ll say yes before he gives an engagement ring to Casey. I’m just saying…
Well you know I’m a proponent of “just do it already.” I think they should have married in Paris last season.
But I realize my standards don’t fit the modern world so well; certainly not modern entertainment where they want to draw out as many different promotional moments as possible. Of course laughs on them, NBC’s not promoting them at all!
From a practical perspective, I like Weaselone’s take. Surprising Sarah could be difficult, and possibly not a good idea anyway. She may shoot or knife something when startled!
They have already made repeated vows to each other, so there really isn’t any hurry to make it official.
From their point of view, what would be gained? It wouldn’t change their status within the DNI.
Actually as federal employees it likely would change their status within the DNI (insurance and survivor benefits; and I’m pretty sure a single family health plan is cheaper than two singles).
We’re talking about what benefit package the Bartowski household should choose come open season in November???
Uh, what??? 😉
Hey, for some people the bottom line is the reason for getting married!
Sarah’s commitment issues are clearly the road that they’re going to go down (the gender reversal that Fedak was referring to), so I suspect we may get a few more Suitcase style episodes of really forced setups but emotionally satisfying development and conclusions.
Sarah moving in but not unpacking after 6 months? Far fetched, even for Chuck. Chuck’s reference to marriage at the end? Even Chuck would have kept his mouth shut after that wonderful Sarah monologue – and that’s before you get onto the subject of Faith’s “30 minute scene”!
Don’t get me wrong. I loved the real discussions that were going on, but I wasn’t buying the setup to those developments in any way. But I’m happy to live with that because the ultimate result was so satisfying.
Similarly with the marriage scenario. Chuck has fought for Sarah for 3 years. He’s going to want some time to smell the roses, before pushing on to marriage, especially as he knows Sarah has these “commitment issues”. His first inclination is surely going to be not to rock the boat, for a good while at least. That would seem the natural course to me, although others will disagree.
But that may not suit the pace the writers want to go in what could be the final season, so I think we may have to suffer a disconnect between what would happen “organically” and the story we are going to be told. I think an engagement at least by the end of this season is a done deal – and I will be cheering as hard as anyone else here!
I always struggle through this. I was dating my wife for 35 days before we got engaged, so I just keep going, enough already!
Wow bdaddy, that’s really fast! I dated my wife for 1 year and had a 9 month engagement. Of course we knew each other for 6 years before we started dating, but that’s another story.
I do agree with most of what you said Big Kev, especially about the conclusion being very acceptable even if the set-up has become cliche. I guess my thought on fighting for her is just that its not over until you put a ring on it. Maybe that’s part of why it matters more to me than it seems to to others (OK, that and really old fashioned conservative religious values); but I do get modern standards and story-telling, and understand the timing of certain things will simply be different than what I would do.
My wife & I dated for 6 years & engaged for 1, so I understand the going slow part.
Of course, we just celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary, so I guess the old saying “the best things in life are worth waiting for” does hold true.
I’m just going to jump into this end of the Sarah/commitment/marriage pool.
I agree with Dave (that shouldn’t shock anyone by now) that it’s not over until you put a ring on it. As for me, the sooner the better. But I get all the factors involved, so I will just be very happy when it happens.
The last scene of suitcase is probably at the top of my list of favorite [romantic] scenes. It could have stopped sometime after he threw her on the bed and before they started talking, but TPTB took that moment to set up some other themes (or what I presume are topics to be revisited later).
The Achilles heel. “It’s a stupid theory … We don’t have an Achilles heel. We have a real future ahead of us.” I believe Chuck. Partly b/c I want to, partly b/c I agree that it’s an utterly stupid theory, and partly b/c I think he’s channeling the trajectory of the story.
What a tender moment for Sarah! She has just revealed her vulnerability and the depth of her love in her confession that Chuck is her home. That in itself speaks of permanence and a future. I think her reaction, “and you thought ours was the suitcase?” shows a lot of sensitivity to Chuck as well as that she thinks it’s a stupid theory as well. But she looks very content and happy with the idea of a real future for them. Here we see Chuck confiding again in Sarah. Maybe he’ll learn that she is a far better person to talk to about all these things than Morgan. As he does, she will be able to help him move past his insecurities to live and love more confidently. (A ring will help that as well, I might add.) This real future won’t become a present reality for them until, in Dave’s words, they put a ring on it. It will always be a hope and a future until they embrace it and commit to it officially.
Marriage and a baby and the look on Sarah’s face. It was a forced device to introduce an engagement/marriage arc. It sort of ruined the mood, but it happened, so here’s my take on Sarah’s reaction.
Obviously, I interpret her reaction within the larger framework of how I see Sarah, which may differ from how others see her. But I don’t think she looked terrified. I don’t think the marriage issue is in any way an Achilles heel. I don’t think this is going to totally freak her out or push her away. This — marriage, family, children — is something she wants, and she wants it with Chuck.
She has hinted at and demonstrated all along, beginning with her reaction to the ballerina incident. Something inside her was drawn to Chuck and to the normalcy of family and children represented by the scene before her. Her candor with Casey in Crown Vic, “Do you ever just want to have a normal life … have a family, children” is a confession that she does sometimes want that normal life. Her wistful look through the window at Chuck’s normal life and Ellie’s engagement (Marlin). Her sadness at the thought that she and Chuck may not ever be able to have that life (The Break-up). Her enjoyment of the normal life with Chuck in the Suburbs and her reluctance to take off the ring and close the door on the life she wants but figures she may never have. Giving up the mission to stay and have a real life with Chuck (The Ring). Her transparency with Carina (3 Words) “Do you ever wonder about a different life?” Her Tooth confession, “… Now, all I can think about is a future wit you.” To think that she hasn’t entertained thoughts of marriage and kids with Chuck is naive, at best. To think that she is saving this kind of life for someone other than Chuck is … well, ridiculous.
So, why the face. I think it’s like a kid’s first fishing experience (I know – bear with me). Images of fishing have played in her head, and dreams of fishing have consumed her imagination for a long time. Finally she is on the dock, where she will go fishing for the first time. She throws in her hook, and thinks how great fishing really is … nothing to it … until there’s a swift tug on the end of the line. Suddenly all the warm feelings about fishing are momentarily replaced with a sense of panic. That’s the face I saw. Just as fishing takes on a new dynamic, when the fish tugs back, a relationship takes on a new dynamic when the “M” word is first mentioned out loud, especially if it is accompanied by the “B” word. It’s not an unusual response, even for “normal” people. For someone like Sarah, it’s to be expected. I’m not worried about it. It’s the next phase, something to look forward to. They’ll push and pull on this issue until she lands the big one. And when she does, she’ll be just as happy about it as we are.
Thanks as always Thinkling for some excellent comments. I’m a little more cynical on the in depth analysis; I think its purely a matter of drawing out the high points from an episodic story telling perspective. On a practical level, they’ve been married since Honeymooners; they made vows to each other, and decided being together is more important than career or location. Yet the storytellers continue to “make up” catch points, that I see as all lesser issues than what was settled in Honeymooners (living together, saying “I love you”, unpacking the suitcase). Even the wedding day itself will be less important than their earlier commitment to be together (which to me, was the start of the practical marriage). But yes, I do still want to see them make it official (traditional, old-fashioned again).
I don’t want the marriage talk to distract from how sweet and romantic I think the show has been. I’ve really enjoyed the last couple episodes on many levels, romance included. I loved the last scene of Suitcase; Sarah’s reaction made me laugh. I believe they are setting up the next sub-plot for Chuck and Sarah, which will be marriage and family talk. I hope they don’t draw it out too long (I hope for just a couple episodes), but I am completely comfortable with where they are heading with it.
And sadly, I really can’t take credit for the “put a ring on it” line. Its borrowed from “Chuck and Sarah vs. Themselves” by NinjaVanish (link on right hand edge of screen); when Chuck is questioning Sarah on their future together, Sarah responds “If you want to keep it, you have to put a ring on it.” I REALLY like his version of S3 better than Schwedak’s!
There is that, Dave, the “drawing out the high points from an episodic story telling perspective” and “creating catch-points.” But I guess that just goes along with story telling. At least now they’re telling a story I want to hear/see … one that I am really enjoying. I am looking forward to the marriage/family talks and hope we’re in for more sweet and romantic. Zach and Yvonne are absolutely pitch perfect in their couple-y-ness. I can’t wait for more.
Oh yeah, I agree entirely. I’m a little cynical about the pacing of the story, but I’m having a blast right now anyway. I know we are of like minds about wanting to see them married already; but I guess if I was going to require every story to conform to my wants or ideals I wouldn’t watch much TV at all!
“but I guess if I was going to require every story to conform to my wants or ideals I wouldn’t watch much TV at all!”
Yeah, Dave, my son keeps reminding me of that.
Me thinks that he’s not going to ask her to marry him “for real” until AFTER Sarah and Mama B have met. Somewhere along the line there’s going to be a Sarah/Mama B talk about “her little boy” and of course it will connect with Sarah whose own mother was a “no show.”
Sarah met the future father-in-law (although now dead), so she’s gotta meet the future mother-in-law, too!
Anyway, that’s just my sappy take on it. And let’s PRAY for at least a 2.0 demo this Monday so we can get that back 9 order over and done with.
I mean, the promos show Sarah and Mama B pointing their guns at each other – so EVENTUALLY there’s gotta be a talk in there SOMETIME!! 😉
That’s a good point — shouldn’t Chuck and Sarah be searching for her mom too? What do we know about her? I can’t remember anything about her.
That might come up later (especially if Jack Burton is brought back). However, as of now, we know nothing about her mom. For all we know, Sarah was a government genetic experiment to create the perfect woman and was stolen from the lab by “Jack Burton”….. 😉
That’s a good spec Paul!
I mainly think Schwedak view Sarah as a secondary character and don’t want to “waste” any more time on her story. C’mon guys, prove me wrong!
I sure hope they don’t view her as secondary, Dave (not that I can prove that, mind you…)
Perhaps they were taken by surprise by the fan’s instant and enduring love for the character? [Hey Schwedak! Here’s a clue brick! (bonk!) Catch.]
I’m guessing that they were much less confident than even the fans that the show would last more than 1 season (and maybe “realistic” is a better word to use). The show was “Chuck”, not “Chuck & Sarah” or “Sarah”, so that was the story to be told first. We can’t exactly expect season 8 to be “Casey”, but we might expect to see more about him later rather than sooner.
And of course, they’ll save Skip Johnson’s story for the grand finale.
Joe, it’s obviously all planned out for Skip. Once Chuck and Dianne run away together and Sarah has her disturbing fling with Lester, which oddly fans won’t find nearly as disturbing as Shaw, Skip will emerge as the true taller, lankier and nerdier hero to sweep Sarah off her feet. It’s OK, I’m a Sip (Sarah and Skip) shipper too. Why do you think I’m so on board with the relentless Duck themes TPTB keep pushing? 😉
Joe you know I’m exaggerating a little by saying secondary (just a little!); but yeah the show is “Chuck”. I’m sure TPTB are more than a little surprised at just how popular Sarah is; I mean, we all know its not rocket science (Joe!) that the pretty girl in the cast will get some attention. But Sarah is very popular by any standard, likely more so than Chuck himself.
So my previous comment was kind of meant as a dare, tell us more about Sarah.
But I predict, even if we get more focus on Sarah as time goes, Chuck will always remain the focal character; and we’ll always be hoping for more about Sarah.
Oh yeah. I have a feeling that we’ll never get enough Sarah too, Dave. Like potato chips, you always want more.
I like the idea of daring them to give us more, though!
I hope that the real Yvonne Strahovski is happy with the role and with the job, too. This is about the time that actors start to chafe at the strictures and limitations and think about the next contract.
I never see anything but good vibes coming out of the set, though (Linda Hamilton has apparently had such a good time that she’d love to be a regular – I’ll second that!), and they always seem to point to Zac Levi as the cause. He’s been able to make it a fun gig for them.
And long may it reign.
Skip and Sarah would be Ska (for the musically inclined) or Skah (for the role players out there).
I definitely look forward to the Mama B / Sarah interaction. I loved all of her shared screen time with Papa B. Somehow I think the dynamic will be different with Mama B. So many great relationship angles to explore.
I don’t think the engagement should necessarily hinge on the reunion of mother and cubs, though. After all Chuck and Sarah don’t know that MEB will show up in episode 6. Of course the story tellers may see it your way, Rick.
I’d like to see Chuck take hold of his life with Sarah and move forward with it, making their relationship the core of his life that undergirds his search for his mom and all the rest of his world.
I hope it’s not spoiling you, Fr. Rick, but Sarah *will* meet Mary Elizabeth. That’s not in question. The issue is which of them (if either) survives that encounter! 😉
I’m not going to downplay your fears about the ratings, mostly because of the the business machinations going on at the 10,000 ft. level. There’s just no knowing what the outcome will be for anything (and as far as ratings go, more is better, so hope for the best!).
But the audience, regardless of Nielsen ratings, is top shelf. As a group, Chuck fans are intelligent, loyal, discerning and spend $ wisely. Advertisers and TV execs can’t ask for better, and if they don’t know that, they are business fools.
I’m still believing that they haven’t gotten where they are because they are foolish.
Yeah, yeah. Me and my optimism! 😉
If you’re wondering how business savvy NBC is, consider that it took a take-over by Comcast to get rid of Zucker…
I put a link in the post above to the new promo.
hilarious!
Someone from the Buy More hitting on Greta in an unappreciated way? Call out the usual suspects; Jeff, Lester, Morgan, who ever it is it should be funny to see.
Well, she mentioned “Bollywood” so that could only be one person…. 😉
Any thoughts on this tweet from Josh.
This Mon on Chuck.. Nicole Richie & Stone Cold & Stacy Kiebler and a final scene that will make U…. #cliffhanger
I have a crazy idea but I want to hear others first.
… cringe: Daniel Shaw returns as part of the prisoner transfer gone awry.
I’d be cool with that if there’s a tank involved…
That would be my favorite heart warming scene Ernie; Shaw and a tank.
A cliffhanger? In an episode titled for a gemstone (sort of)? With a promo featuring a ring?
No I really can’t think of what the cliffhanger could possibly be…
Perhaps a reverse Montgomery, Sarah gets a white jacket, a rose, a bottle of Chateau Lafitte-Rothschild and walks into the apartment calling for Chuck.
I don’t think The Montgomery was gender-specific, but I get your point. Though the way this season is going with Sarah’s wardrobe she’d be wearing only the dinner jacket.
Of course then Sarah would be waiting in the room for Chuck and Morgan would walk in.
Seriously, I think the cliffhanger is a proposal, either the accidental one or a sincere followup to the accidental one we’ve seen. I think the twist will be that the second one, the sincere one (if it goes that way) will be Sarah, leading to 4.04’s communication breakdown.
Sarah’s pregnant! Fast forward that whole deer in the headlights of family, kids…
hehe.
Maybe that is the cliffhanger, Sarah sitting nervously looking at a pregnancy test….fade to black.
lol My theory is that Sarah is the one to progress the relationship forward.
Episode 1 – No more Secrets no more lies.
Episode 2 – Chuck you are my home you always have been
Episode 3 – Sarah may come around to marriage at the end of the episode.
Since this season is about Chuck and Sarah, notice they end every episode I am betting that the end will make us lose our minds and it will be a Chuck and Sarah scene.
Finally looked at the new video promo for CZ, looks like Hugo Panzer doesn’t have Chuck’s qualms about who he punches, funny.
OK, we’re all assuming that Chuck and Sarah getting engaged will happen sometime, probably(?) this season. Presumably getting married and having children comes well afterwards.
But what steps come before engagement? I must admit I did not anticipate that unpacking would be one of the steps after deciding to move in together. Devoting an episode to unpacking seems reasonable in the grand sequence of life events. What other events should be coming, and which ones should span at least an episode?
Perhaps they will take steps towards integrating finances — common accounts and making joint purchase decisions. Reminds me of Ellie and Awesome’s little squabbles over the years.
Purchasing a house is usually somewhere on this list, but might come after engagement and might not come at all if Chuck can just use his family’s house.
Maybe pets? Or do you think they’d only do pets just before children? I wonder what’s happened to Sarah’s poor goldfish.
Common hobbies? What would be suitable for this very special and unusual couple? Chuck has certainly had hobbies before, but I can’t remember Sarah doing anything that wasn’t work-related. I can’t remember who suggested that they go learn Klingon together, but that was a funny idea.
I can see it now…”Chuck Versus the Mortgage!” 😀
This day and age, facing a 30 year mortgage square on takes real courage and heroism!
Spec for 3.03:
– Big Mike surprises Morgan with the announcement that he is going to propose to Bolognia
– Big Mike is in tight financial circumstances and can only afford a Cubic Z engagement ring
– Big Mike asks Morgan to hold the ring
– through comical circumstances the ring ends up in the Castle – let’s go all out and say it enters via the slide
– Chuck is in the Castle when the ring arrives and has to hunt it down on hands and knees
– just as he finds it Sarah shows up
– she is more than normally flustered because they have a romantic getaway planned and the ring adds a new twist to it
– Heather and Panzer show up and the trip is cancelled
– Heather seems to know about MamaB so Chuck and Sarah team up with her to protect Heather from Panzer who is out to eliminate Heather because he sees her as a traitor/informant
– Morgan feeling sorry for Big Mike, and wanting him to be able to afford a real engagement ring, arranges for Big Mike to get his Managers job back at the BuyMore
– the day is saved and in light of all that has happened Chuck or Sarah decide to take the relationship to the next step and…………….
……………………..Cliffganger. 😀
Awwww – this makes too much sense, OD. No fun!
But I think there’s a hole here somewhere. It just can’t be left with a Chuck on one knee, facing Sarah with a ring in his hand and her going “Oh – whoa!” There’s going to be some ‘splainin to do, Lucy!
And in the earlier promo we see Sarah wailing away at Casey like we haven’t seen her wail since her father left her holding the ($10,000,000) bag in DeLorean. As Casey said, “What’s eating you, Walker?”
There’s some interesting stuff going on that is barely hinted at in the promos!
Likely Chuck has dropped the ring and is on hands and knees looking for it. Sarah, naturally, walks in just as he has found it and is about to get up.
That’s exactly how I read that clip too OD.
And yeah Joe, we don’t know when in the episode that scene happens. Sarah my start the episode cranky with the previous nights marriage talk in her head; or maybe Chuck says something inadvertantly rude when he come up with Big Mikes ring (“why would you think this was for you… ” ouch!); or maybe its after talking to Heather (making it a deliberate call back to Cougars); or something we haven’t even guessed at yet. So far, there just isn’t much data.
Joe, I think the Casey and Sarah sparring is a direct carry over from Sarah`s look at the very end of 3.02.
Or her reaction to having their romantic getaway cancelled and the reappearance of Heather.
Or her frustration at her head being messed with by Heather….again…
Chuck doesn’t necessarily ever have to drop the ring. He’s probably retrieving the ring for Morgan right as Sarah walks in. Chuck knowing Sarah’s need to go slow, probably tries to explain that it’s not for her and naturally sticks his foot in his mouth in the process.
Sarah’s emotions are conflicted. On one hand, she’s still Sarah. The very idea of marriage a lifelong commitment and all it entails causes icy claws of fear to tear at her heart. On the other hand, Sarah’s always been a sucker for those sort of gestures from Chuck. The prospect of a proposal from him probably warmed Sarah’s heart quite a bit and generated some unexpected excitement on her part.
That leaves an emotionally conflicted and extremely confused Sarah. A woman who is both fearful of further commitment and excited by the prospect of being engaged. A woman who is simultaneously relieved Chuck didn’t ask her to marry him and disappointed that he didn’t put a ring on her finger.
We all know what happens when Sarah is conflicted, confused and possibly a little hurt. She either makes out with Bryce Larkin or lashes out physically and verbally at those around her. Bryce is dead and we see her beating on Casey and later her arch nemesis, so I’m going with option B.
Wow, well put Weaselone, thanks.
My theory is the ring is connected to Heather and he flashed on it.
Aarrrggg! I was unclear.
Oh yeah, I realize that Sarah just misinterprets Chuck getting on one knee with a ring. But I’m saying that her saying “Oh – Woah!” and perhaps a brief, stumbling explanation from Chuck isn’t the end of it.
How about this? Does he start to think that maybe she’s not 100% adverse to the idea? Alright – we saw her eyes go wide in 4.02, but this is Chuck. Sarah’s been surprising us (well, me, anyway) with how quickly she’s been coming around to those kinds of things. Sarah always starts tentatively and changes her mind by the last scene.
Or maybe I’m wrong and this is a bigger thing than even moving in. It is, after all. Could this be the leading edge of a major wedge between them??? Oh Nooozzzz! Only MamaB can fix this one, and she’s three more episodes away!
Yeah, I think Sarah beating on Casey has more to do with Heather than anything else.
My guess is that we will see a sparring Sarah very early on in the episode, taking out her confusion on Casey – It could very well be the first or second scene. Maybe she opens up a little bit in front of Casey regarding marriage and roots and who knows, maybe Casey will surprise Sarah (and us) with some sage advice.
But I like the more positive speculation that she is just angry that they have to cancel their romantic interlude and baby sit Heather and Panzer.
If you recall the synopsis of 4×04 it says that Chuck and Sarah work towards becoming better communicators with each other. So whatever communications breakdown occurs, it may happen in 4×03.
How about this – Sarah sees Chuck with the ring- her mind flashes back to Chuck’s ramblings in bed – she gets a bit overwhelmed – Chuck offers a hasty explanation that the ring has nothing to do with them- the end of the episode sees Chuck reconciling to himself that Sarah may never be ready for marriage, while on the other hand we see that Sarah has indeed started thinking positively about a proposal/marriage (Yvonne will sell it perfectly). At the start of the next episode, C/S talk it out and decide that they will be more open in their communication henceforth.
damnit! Cliffhanger!
Though cliffganger does have its possibilities.
Sounds pretty plausible. Of course the burning question for now is, how will they bring Big Mike back into the show. It does seem right to make him manager of the Buy More again, does that mean Morgan reverts to AssMan?
The episode ends with Sarah, Chuck, Morgan and Casey literally hanging off a cliff. Morgan has somehow lost his pants, his Thundercats boxers proudly displayed for all to see.
Yes Morgan would become AssMan again. Where he belongs. 😉
I agree with that. There’s something off with the universe if Morgan is in charge of the Buy More. I mean, he’s been a great “second” for Chuck and a hero and a real surprise and all that.
But in charge??? Naw!
I agree, still not quite over the shock of it all! Of course the scary thing, after what we’ve seen the last couple seasons, I’d say Morgan is probably a better manager than Big Mike anyway. Which I guess is why Big Mike should sleep in the office while Morgan keeps the store limping along. I can’t wait to see how the spooks and Buy Morons relate.
I think there was an interview with MCL where he said Big Mike would be back as the manager….but would be totally clueless as to what’s going on in the store. That gives a good indication that Morgan really is the one running interference and keeping things under the radar.
Does Morgan have the authority to hire Big Mike as the manager. How can BM manage the Buymore when it is a CIA base. He is not the best manager. I can see him managing the old crew but no way will the new crew listen to him. He has no authority.
We’ll just have see how that plays out. I would guess if the spooks are meant to be “under cover” in any capacity, they would have to do as the BM manager says!
How would they leave on missions all over the world. Can a green shirt go on intenational mission? Would be difficult to explain to Big Mike about the revolving door of employees.
Seems like Big Mike is being shoe horned in so he can still be on the show. Now make him an assman of the Herd then all he has to do is manage the old crew.
Its always been hard to explain Chuck and Casey running off on missions anyway; why worry about another dozen disappearing employees? At least the old Buy Morons will be reliable (??!). Whether Morgan remains manager or downgrades to AssMan, he could theoretically cover for people (rearrange schedules and hours). Maybe that would even be his main job.
Its going to be flakey however they handle it.
Are they going to be going on missions or are they support team for the new Operation Bartowski (since the president made Chuck a priority)? I sort of assumed the latter.
Morgan as manager would make some sense to me. First of all b/c GB, the person really in charge of the Buymore, made him manager. Second b/c it seems to me like the manager ought to know what’s really going on. Big Mike could be the new Ass. Man. (sorry, he’s not new) and be in charge whenever Morgan goes on fishing trips, er missions.
I don’t really have a good idea how its going to work yet. I’m kind of thinking they’ll be there just for laughs. We don’t really even know what the point of “Greta” is yet.
On a loosely related tangent, we have seen them working in the background in Castle too.
I’d say maybe they’re all just analysts and administrative drones; but they are awfully fit and beautiful and for that!
ChuckTV.net gives us the full synopsis of 4.05. I placed it in the Season 4 spoiler page.
But one thing – the title has been corrected 4.05 is officially Chuck vs. the Couch Lock (not Couch Look, as had been perviously published).
FWIW the director of Cubic Z is Norman Buckley (Tom Sawyer, First Kill) and the writer is Nicholas Wootton about whom I know nothing.
Ah, thanks, Herder. I’ve added the info to the spoiler page for reference.
I’m sure everyone here knows, but I should point out that I’m not in any way related to Norm Buckley or to his equally famous sister, Betty. My dad changed the name from Byczkowski back in 1959, along with half his family.
I am related to Keith and Jordan of the band Every Time I Die, though.
Hello Joe,Ernie,Big Kev,Liz and all of the rest of fans of Chuck.This is Bernard and I know its been May 24,2010 since I last talk too you all. I broke my ankle on JAN.18,2010 had surgery the next day had a second surgery to remove the hardware. months of rehab and now I’m back on my feet and walking again.
I have not whatched the first 2 eposdes of S4 of Chuck yet, I have it recorded on DVR to look at it in another time.
Tonight’s episode of “THE CUBIC Z, looks like Hugo and Heather are out for revenge against Chuck and Sarah.This is not only professional,but this is personal too.