"Fresh Hell" For Some In PENNY DREADFUL Premiere

Article originally written for Seat42F.

Showtime’s PENNY DREADFUL returns for a second season this weekend with “Fresh Hell.” Picking up shortly after season one ended, many of our characters try to continue the paths they are on, whether that means raising a bride from the dead, or leaving England for good. A new villain arises, though, that may change their plans.

WARNING: The following contains light spoilers, but is mostly just a preview of the sophomore premiere.

It’s extremely interesting that the Big Bad of season two is a human, a fact well-publicized, so I don’t feel bad about revealing it here. Madame Kali (Helen McCrory), introduced in the first year, now has witches at her command and bathes in blood. She is the same woman viewers have met, yet different, with a lot more power at her command. We don’t get her origin, at least not right away, so I’m curious to see how she became this new person. But in a show full of the supernatural, seeing someone who is a human being as the threat is pretty cool.

Kali’s first attack is sent against Vanessa (Eva Green), an obvious target since she’s the one Kali has seen in action, and may just simultaneously be the most powerful and the most vulnerable of the group. The two women are similar in some ways, although Vanessa is on the side of good, for the most part, anyway. As Kali prays to a demon, Vanessa puts her faith in Jesus Christ. It seems a no-brainer that God will defeat Satan, but the battle is only beginning, and already seems quite exciting! There could definitely be casualties along the way.

Vanessa is less vulnerable than she was, though, because she has a bit of a family around her. From Ethan (Josh Hartnett), who changes his plans when Vanessa’s life is threatened, to Malcolm (Timothy Dalton), who views her as a daughter, to Sembene (Danny Sapani), the protector, to Dr. Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), perhaps the least enthusiastic member of the band, but willing to serve when called upon. They have formed a sort of club against the dark forces, and PENNY DREADFUL is fast making them a real team.

The characters in PENNY DREADFUL do not make the most obvious family. They are, for the most part, antisocial and fairly concerned with their own affairs, which happens when people are going through what they are going through. Yet, somehow it makes a certain amount of sense for this particular set to stick together, and it makes the show more satisfying  and easier to invest in when they do.

The person most involved in outside work in “Fresh Hell” is Dr. Frankenstein, as he helps The Creature (Rory Kinnear) raise the lady he loves, Brona Croft (Billie Piper), from the dead. The Creature is supremely lonely, and he hopes that Brona going through what he did will give them a sort of connection that will draw her closer to him. It seems dubious to me that it will work, but “Fresh Hell” gets that story arc going pretty quickly.

Thankfully, PENNY DREADFUL doesn’t tie all The Creature’s hopes at social interaction up in this particular plot, giving a possible alternate life for him should Brona not be happy to be his bride. He finds a job in the season premiere that allows for his appearance. It’s hard to tell if the people The Creature gets involved with are trustworthy or not; attitudes seem mostly positive and good-natured, but like any person who would hire him, they want something from him. Since The Creature is not part of the central unit of the show, he has no one to rely on should things go south, always a strong possibility.

And that’s how PENNY DREADFUL begins, with “Fresh Hell” for a number of players, especially Malcolm, who I didn’t really discuss, but possible paths forward for a few. It’s a dark enough show that I don’t see any happy endings working out for anyone in the near future, but any bit of time that can be enjoyed is welcome, relieving a bit of the misery. Though, their misery does make for compelling narrative, too.

PENNY DREADFUL airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

A PENNY For Your Thoughts

Article originally written for Seat42F.

Showtime’s latest effort is PENNY DREADFUL. Set in a fictional version of 1890s London, we meet a cast of odd characters drawn together by the supernatural. Threats loom below the surface of the thriving city, and only these people are aware of what’s going on and have the ability to do something about it.

PENNY DREADFUL is stylistically an idealized version of Victorian England just before the turn of the nineteenth century into the twentieth. The setting is what people like to romantically think back about the city being like, probably not how it actually was. This series is more concerned with building a Sherlock Holmes-era tone than faithfully following history.

This is clear very quickly in the characters introduced. Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett, Black Hawk Down) is a formerly wealthy American now performing in a traveling Wild West show. He’s recruited by the severe Miss Vanessa Ives (Eva Green, Casino Royale), a medium, to assist her and Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton, Licence to Kill, Chuck), a rich explorer of Africa, to hunt down a missing girl that means a lot to both of them. These are all interesting, outsize personalities that feel quite familiar to the type of story in this time and place, rather than being like someone that actually existed.

To make PENNY DREADFUL even more fantastic, the trio soon go to Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway, The Lone Renger) – yes, that Dr. Victor Frankenstein – for help. Frankenstein is researching electricity and the human body as he builds his creature (Rory Kinnear, Skyfall), and Malcolm and company need him to examine a corpse of something vaguely vampiric and definitely not human.

What this makes for is sort of a Once Upon a Time-like series, twisting and combining tales we already know into something new, though the tone is completely different. PENNY DREADFUL is so faithful to the fictional Victorian England that it feels very much like it is based on a book written within that genre. It’s a very slow moving piece, conveying horror more through the moods of the characters and their reaction to discoveries than by action-packed sequences, but is extremely effective in doing so.

Now, this is 2014, and viewers demand that pacing not drag on too much. To satisfy those urges, there are a couple of sequences in the first episode where fighting is had and blood is spilled. I would not call PENNY DREADFUL boring; instead, it’s a slight update on a popular period that never existed, but feels like it did. Still, there’s definitely commitment to the style, such as the way Vanessa slowly spreads out a stack of cards, that show just how deliberate the production is with its choices and committed to the path its on.

The plot is chock full of mystery. We don’t know the backgrounds of any of the characters right away, and none are exactly forthcoming about themselves. In fact, when Ethan first asks Vanessa if she has a name, she simply replies “Yes” as she walks away. The teases are tantalizing, but this is one show that will be holding its cards very, very close to its vest, doling out little bits at a time.

To illustrate just how little PENNY DREADFUL gives us at once one only needs to look at how it brings the main characters in very slowly, one at a time. Three of the publicized main cast, Irish immigrant Brona Croft (Billie Piper, Doctor Who), manservant Sembene (Danny Sapani, Trance), and the infamous ever-youthful Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney, The Tempest), don’t even appear in the pilot screened for critics. I’m also looking forward to Helen McCrory’s (Harry Potter) Madame Kali, whom isn’t glimpsed. This show is going to build tension and story arcs, not just give them to you.

All of which is why I very much enjoyed PENNY DREADFUL. Full on intense, compelling performances from the likes of Dalton, Green, and Hartnett, masters all, there’s something that just draws you into the telling and will not let you go. You are transported to this world that actually feels real because of the level of detail and development, even though you know no place like it ever existed. It’s dangerous and sexy and full of fascinating secrets. Who wouldn’t want to go on an adventure there? It’s built for exactly that.

PENNY DREADFUL premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

TOY STORY OF TERROR Scary For Its Weakness

 Article first published as TOY STORY OF TERROR Scary For Its Weakness on TheTVKing.

Toy Story is a classic, beloved film, which spawned two sequels, one decent, and one amazing. It's this high standard that any future spin-off or extension must love up to. (Yes, I'm ignoring early expansions, such as the Buzz-centric project, which I haven't seen, and seems already forgotten from the public consciousness.) Unfortunately, this week's ABC special, Toy Story of TERROR, falls very short.

Disney has a history of weak sequels and specials, but for some reason, I thought Toy Story would be immune. For one, it has the Pixar connection, and Pixar stuff generally rocks. For another, even though they have made a series of TS films, the third one was absolutely every bit as good as the first, providing serious emotional heft and development for the characters. Thus, I hoped the reputation would not be tarnished.

Right away, Toy Story of TERROR fails because it only follows a small group of characters from the movies, which seem put together randomly. Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), and Rex (Wallace Shawn) are present, but absent are classic characters like Slinky Dog, Hamm, and Bullseye. And tossed in are two recent additions, Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and Trixie (Kristen Schaal).

Now, from a story standpoint, I can see why little Bonnie (Emily Hahn) would take a couple of her old favorite playthings with her, as well as some newbies, but it just seems so random in the episode, as if the producers locked down their main players, and then just kind of picked a few supporting ones based on actor availability or whose star is currently rising. And granted, in twenty minutes, there is not time to include everyone, with many of those who are present getting little to do. I just wish there had been more of a sense that this was planned out and each particular personality is included for a reason, as several seem to serve no purpose.


The main plot involves the group going to a motel. Mr. Potato Head is not content to sit in the luggage, and explores the room, looking for free amenities. The other toys venture forth to rescue him, are quickly separated, and fall into the hands of an evil desk clerk (Stephen Tobolowsky, Californication), who sells them on eBay. Jesse must overcome her fear of being in boxes to rescue them all before Bonnie leaves them behind.

The desk clerk arc definitely feels like a retread of Toy Story 2's toy man, and not in a good way, that being the worst of the three films. It's nice that this villain gets his comeuppance when one expects he won't. However the story would work with just an animal stealing toys, not needing this unnecessary man. Given the short running time, I wish he would have been cut.

The story involving Jesse's fear is OK, but a much lighter version of the drama present in the movies. And rather than being inspired by her friends to overcome her fears, she meets Combat Carl (Carl Weathers, Arrested Development), which feels unnecessary, especially when Carl and the other new toys introduced don't end up with Bonnie, doomed to be a forgotten footnote, even if the series continues past this. Given the very small role most of the main characters have in this installment, one of them should have stood in for Carl's part. Buzz seems a good choice.

Another main element of Toy Story of TERROR is that Mr. Pricklepants seems an expert on horror films, and in this spooky, Halloween-themed plot, he tells them what to look out for, sort of like a certain character in Scream. I guess this is in place for the kids watching, who wouldn't know many of the elements of a scary movie yet. But it does kind of drag down the proceedings.

There are some nice elements. I really liked the desk clerk's pet iguana, which hilariously acts like a dog. The shower curtain rip and Mr. Potato Head's arm hopping around on its own are a good play on the horror genre. It's not truly frightening, which is good for the little kids who will invariably watch. The original voice cast returns; I didn't pick up on any recastings, which always detract from the overall enjoyment.

Toy Story of TERROR is a misstep, though, and hopefully, if the Toy Story saga is going to continue, more thought and effort are put into the next installment. These toys deserve better.

Chuck in "Chuck Versus the Ciffhanger" for the final time

     NBC's Chuck is the little show that could, chugging along long after its been assumed dead, multiple times. With next season just announced as Chuck's fifth and final, last night's season finale, "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger," should be yet another game changer for a series known for such. It does not disappoint. Fired from the CIA, and with the Intersect computer removed from his brain while trying to save Sarah's (Yvonne Strahovski) life, Chuck (Zachary Levi) also takes the time to repair the relationship between Hartley / Volkoff (Timothy Dalton) and his daughter, Vivian (Lauren Cohan). As a wedding present, the dangerous duo leave Chuck and Sarah an empire worth nearly $1,000,000,000! Who needs a career when you have money? Hiring Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Morgan (Joshua Gomez), Chuck and Sarah buy the Buy More and open their own freelance spy agency. And then Morgan gets the Intersect in his head.

     The end is near as soon as Agent Clyde Decker (Richard Burgi, Desperate Housewives) is introduced. Chuck may be able to get around Decker to save Sarah, dying after being attacked by Vivian, but nothing will ever be the same afterwards. Chuck has to cross too many lines to rescue his love, but it's worth it, because Sarah is the person Chuck is meant to be with. This is a plot that has been toyed with before, but "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" takes the love story to a new level, costing the pair everything to be together, and making it totally worth it. Those who doubted the actions of the characters on Chuck have consequences, this is the ultimate answer to that question.

     As such, next season, the series's last, will be drastically different. General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy) will remain in the cast, but in what capacity is unclear. Will she quit to work for Chuck? Offer them freelance government jobs? Will she finally do more episodes in person than on a computer screen? What is known is that she will no longer be the boss. Instead, Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and Morgan will have nearly unlimited resources and their choice of all missions. It's actually a new freedom, opening the characters up to live in a way they never imagined they could. The effect the money and power will have on them remains to be seen, but it's a guarantee there will be far reaching effects, and this new living situation will have a major impact on the final thirteen episodes.

     For four seasons, Chuck has slowly grown from uber-nerd, fish out of water into a super spy. Even without the Intersect computer, Chuck is a force to be reckoned with because of all his training and experience. Moving the Intersect into Morgan is genius because it resets the clock. Chuck gets to see just how difficult he used to be for Sarah and Casey to deal with. The powers will seem fresh and original in new hands. And Morgan will be even more involved than ever before, just as he has promised to pull back from the dangerous stuff for the sake of Alex (Mekenna Melvin).

     Chuck understands what Morgan is going through, he himself having had to lie and face tough decisions to keep his family safe. Not so long ago, Chuck promises his sister, Ellie (Sarah Lancaster), that he will give up the dangerous spy life in order to stay at home and be safe. Now that shoe is on Morgan's foot. What's more, with Alex's dad being Morgan's co-worker, it is not likely Morgan will be allowed to lie to Alex and keep his involvement secret the way Chuck has. Morgan will likely face a tough decision before long: Alex or the Intersect. Knowing Morgan, as much as he will enjoy his new abilities, he will make the right decision in the end, and that's Alex.

     It seems the threat Vivan and Alexei Volkoff pose is now at an end. With Alexei restored to his peaceful self, and father and daughter pursuing the quiet life, they are not likely to be a threat, though one hopes they will be pop back up before series end.

     Instead, Clyde Decker, as well as what he represents, will be Chuck's biggest worry. Decker tells Chuck in "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" that everything that has happened to Chuck is part of a master plan. Chuck has faced down a number of villains, and fought with his family and himself to be who he ultimately has become. Now Decker says that's exactly what he wants. Will Chuck find out who is behind everything and why? How will that impact Chuck's life going forward? What is the end goal of such a plot?

     Whatever Chuck faces, it is nice to know that the Buy More is secure. When Chuck turned more serious in the spy game, the goofy electronics store with its bizarre employees, including Jeff (Scott Krinsky), Lester (Vik Sahay), and Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence), continued to be a grounding presence. No doubt, now that Chuck owns the franchise, he will be drawn closer than ever to the demented trio. They are not just comic relief, though, but also provide a tether to the real world, even when not appearing to live in it themselves. The Buy More is a quirky element that sets Chuck apart from any other series on the air, and it's a relief to know that will not be changing.

     What will be changing is Chuck's relationship with his family. Ellie now not only knows what Chuck is up to, she also knows her family has always been involved in espionage. Despite her new baby with her husband, Awesome (Ryan McPartlin), Ellie probably will not want to close the door to that part of her history, especially with mother Mary (Linda Hamilton) back in her life. Look for Ellie to come into Castle from time to time to help out Chuck's new team. Especially with the plot of the master plan going back years, Chuck will need Ellie's help to decode what is happening.

     The last thing to expect from a final season of Chuck is a lot of closure. Many things happen in "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger," but none take Chuck in majorly new directions that haven't been broached before. While the rules keep changing, the game stays the same. As Chuck goes on his final missions, look for a lot of tie-in to past seasons and events. Rather than a new unfurling of further net, the final season of Chuck should begin drawing the loops closer, making connections where there were none before. Given four years of brilliant writing, the odds are in Chuck's favor that the writers will be cooking up a genius ending. Do not miss it.


     Chuck will move to Fridays at 8pm next season, as it presents its final season on NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To buy Chuck DVDs and streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Chuck - "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" on Blogcritics.

Chuck Surpasses Awesomeness

     I realize that the title of this article is a bold statement. It is also one I am willing to stand by. So far in the fourth season, Chuck (Zachary Levi) has found and rescued his mother, Mary a.k.a. Frost (Linda Hamilton), wooed and proposed (multiple times) to Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), who last night appeared to say yes, and brought down one of the most notorious criminals of all time, Volkoff (Timothy Dalton) and his organization. As General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy) told Chuck when he asked to borrow a van, and I'm paraphrasing here, 'After what you've done, I'll send you by chopper!'

     This season of Chuck has felt like a helicopter ride in a storm, swinging around wildly, but thrilling at the same time. The show, frequently on the verge of cancellation, has packed much plot into a handful of episodes before, most notably at the end of season two, and it felt rushed. This time, however, it feels anything but. It's perfectly plotted out, brilliantly executed, and a hell of a good time. Last night's episode, "Chuck Versus the Push Mix", seemed like a season finale, but the best part is, it wasn't! There's still more Chuck to come!

     In true Chuck fashion, last night's big episode did not end in a spectacular fight, though there was plenty of action. Instead, the final moments were Devon a.k.a. Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) declaring his newborn baby girl 'awesome', and Sarah accepting Chuck's proposal. The proposal was particularly neat, as the viewer could hear only the floor waxing machine, not the words. We've heard them before, recently, so we didn't need to again. We've seen Chuck and Sarah grow together. And it felt absolutely perfect for him to ask now, and for her to say yes. It also felt like a private moment, as everyone but the two of them, including viewers, were excluded to some degree. Super sweet.

     Some shows worry about jumping the shark when they put their two romantic leads together. Series put it off for years, tossing one obstacle after another in their way. Chuck did that, too, but after three and a half years, the perfect amount of time, in my opinion, they tossed caution to the wind and went for it. Chuck and Sarah's relationship informed every episode of the season, to its credit. It has really worked, adding a fresh element. More importantly, Chuck never felt like her equal until now. After taking down Volkoff, he more than proved he deserves her.

     Timothy Dalton has been delicious in every episode, and I hate to see him go so soon. I hope the writers will find a way to bring him back. The final showdown was pitch perfect, with Chuck playing on Volkoff's weakness (jealousy), and the stand off being much more talk than fight. Chuck manipulated Volkoff into saying the words he needed to use Chuck's father's computer virus to steal Volkoff's computer system. Not only that, Chuck played it uber cool. When Volkoff told Chuck he'd need an army to escape the cabin, I just knew Beckman and the army were on the other side of that door. When they were, I had to clap out loud in excitement!

     Chuck began the show as a geek, thrust into the spy life purely by circumstance. After four years, two computers in his brain, both of which have been removed and blocked for periods of time, two secret lairs, uncovering family espionage secrets, gaining and losing a parent, finding the other, friends and family being brought into and taken out of the loop, a variety of happy accidents, intense CIA training, and countless international missions, Chuck is a full fledged spy. Where will he go from here? With Volkoff, the season's Big Bad taken down, that question applies doubly.

     Of course, the show has never really been just about Chuck. There is a slew of supporting characters, and almost every one got their due in this episode, too, save Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence), who must have been taking the night off. The best supporting character moment goes to Jeffster's (a band consisting of Vik Sahay's Lester and Scott Krinsky's Jeff) cover of "Push" as Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) gave birth. They got into the hospital, broke into the sound system, and delivered their best performance to date. It was so wrong, it was hilarious. So glad they made it as long as they did before security arrived to escort them out.

     For some reason, Jeffster, as much of a joke as it is, always kicks an episode up a notch. Many times in a show, you just need a good musical number to raise the scene to an entirely higher level. Chuck has figured out that allowing two incredibly geeky losers access to the musical equipment to give a live performance, along with an unhealthy dose of delusions of grandeur, is better than just running a track. I agree one thousand percent, when said duo is Jeff and Lester. I assumed the pair would disappear when the show got serious about the spy stuff, but keeping the Buy More scenes has allowed the series, and the character of Chuck, to stay grounded. Kudos.

     Not surprisingly, Morgan (Joshua Gomez) also got his due. With Chuck now soaring in skills and abilities, the show needed someone to be the new, I mean old, Chuck, capturing that earnest enthusiasm, but without the talent to back it up. I'm sorry; I may have angered fans by implying Morgan has no talent. He sure does, as evidenced by his laser dodging dance last night, another highlight of the episode. But it never feels like Morgan's accomplishments are entirely intentional. He sure tries hard, though! Which is why he such a beloved character. It's interesting to see him grow, as Chuck did, as their paths will surely be quite different.

     I guess what was surprising was that Casey (Adam Baldwin), always part of the central spy trio with Chuck and Sarah (now often a quartet with Morgan), spent most of last night in a hospital bed. It shouldn't have been that surprising, after his near-fatal plummet in last week's episode, but it felt odd to not have Casey involved on the mission. Instead, the writers focused on a strength Casey has been steadily developing: connecting to people.

     When we first met Casey, he was a rough and tough, seemingly emotionless soldier. Casey has lightened up considerably, and not just to his teammates, Chuck and Sarah. He has become a devoted father to Alex (Mekenna Melvin), and a mentor (and hopefully, before long, father-in-law) to Morgan. Casey had fine, emotional moments with Alex, Morgan, Sarah, and even Devon last night, sort of becoming a heart in the series. It's not Casey's traditional story, but it is very welcome.

     What will the rest of season four hold? Obviously, new bad guys. But also Chuck and Sarah planning a wedding, Ellie and Devon learning to be parents, and Jeff and Lester getting into trouble. I don't want to count my season five chickens before they hatch, but I feel better about the show's chance this year than any before. It is a fantastic series, and definitely deserves to be on the air. Much praise to NBC for sticking by it when it dangled near cancellation, multiple times. A few more shows like Chuck, and the network might not be #4 any more.

     Chuck airs on NBC Monday nights at 9 p.m.


Article first published as TV Review: Chuck Surpasses Awesomeness on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Chuck: the season so far

     In a season of great Chuck (but who are we kidding, every season since the first has been great), this week's episode, "Chuck Versus the First Fight", stands out as the best of the year, thus far.  Chuck (Zachary Levi) has been reunited with his mother, Mary (Linda Hamilton, The Terminator).  In a throwback to spy hit Alias, one of the first things she did was shoot him.  Hamilton plays the character with wonderful ambiguity.  Surely, there is still some care left in her for her children, but she also isn't strictly a good guy by any means.  She is known as Frost, and works for a pretty bad dude.

     In this week's episode, Chuck had to decide whether he could trust his mother, and what's more, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) had to decide the same thing.  But Sarah's faith in Chuck was the real question.  The two butted heads, as Sarah captured Mary at the end of last week.  Chuck secretly spoke with his mother, who assured him that her handler could verify that she was a deep undercover agent.  The handle was played by James Bond himself, Timothy Dalton, who turned out to be meek and nerdy.  The character also referenced the similarities between Chuck and Alias, further cementing the comparison between the two best spy shows of the last decade.  The big twist, though, was that he wasn't at all, and was actually Mary's boss, head of some serious criminal happenings.

     Chuck's family has always been complicated.  When the series began, it seemed like both of his parents had abandoned him and his sister Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) long ago.  As the plot unfolded, we found out that the Bartowskis had alwasy been involved in espionage, and had left for reasons beyond their control.  Chuck was somehow destined to take on the family mantle, and though Ellie found out about some of what he has done, he has to keep his ongoing involvement a secret from her.  It's sad, because if the family had just been more honest with each other, so many misunderstandings could have been avoided.  Surely, Ellie and Chuck are heading for a big falling out when she re-discovers his secret life.

     Unlike most spies, Chuck started his career very green, through complicated happenstance, and slowly, many of his friends and family have been brought in on the cover.  Chuck's best friend Morgan (Joshua Gomez) has been an absolute delight whenever he gets on the missions, which is thankfully a lot more now that Casey (Adam Baldwin) has taken a shine to him.  Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin), Chuck's surgeon brother-in-law, ended up being surprisingly squeamish about the danger, which was unexpected and hilariously rewarding.  It can't be long before the rest of Chuck's co-workers at the Buy More find out, now that the electronics store is a full-fledged CIA base, only re-employing it's former dimwits to keep a believable cover.

     Chuck is as unpredictable as it is enjoyable.  The curves thrown at the audience already this season have been varied and frequent.  Although sometimes there is a 'typical' mission, the series plays a lot with the ongoing plot, a welcome serial aspect.  There is plenty of emotional baggage, too; the conversation between Mary and Ellie this week was genuine and sweet.  Mary's willingness to leave Chuck and Sarah an escape route as she destroyed her dead husband's base proves she isn't the ultimate evil.

     The guest stars have also been piling up this year like crazy.  For a little-rated show which has gotten great critical reviews, it seems everyone is willing to lend some gravitas by showing up.  Besides Timothy Dalton (who will hopefully return) and Linda Hamilton (who is already doing an arc), we've already seen Ana Gasteyer, Robert England, Morgan Fairchild, Eric Roberts, Stacy Keibler, Nicole Ritchie, Steve Austin (both reprising roles), Isaiah Mustafa (Mr. Old Spice himself), Olivia Munn, Bronson Pinchet, Lou Ferrigno, and Dolph Lundgren, with many more on the docket.  Chuck chooses it's guest stars carefully, selecting people who appeal to their fans.  And it works well, actually seeming like something more than stunt casting.

     Chuck's thirteen episode fourth season has already been extened to twenty-four episodes.  Be sure to tune in Monday nights at 8pm on NBC.


For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Chuck is one not to miss, so stop missing it

     NBC's Chuck is one of the smartest, most action-packed, most enjoyable shows on television.  Yet, since day one it has struggled to stay on the air.  Season four began two weeks ago, and 'Save Chuck' campaigns are already in the works.  After the third season, when viewers had to wait until winter for the premiere, and only thirteen episodes were ordered, I was thrilled when Chuck got six additional episodes made last spring, and an early pick up for this year.  Finally, the fight was over!  But clearly, it's not.

     If you've never seen Chuck, then here are some things you need to know.  The central character is name Chuck Bartowski (played by Zachary Levi).  At the start of the series, a computer known as the Intersect was downloaded into Chuck's brain, making him super smart.  The NSA and CIA quickly sent agents to protect him, and use him for their own purposes.  Those agents were John Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski), the latter soon providing romantic chemistry for Chuck.  This connection was resisted, because Sarah couldn't date someone who was not a spy, and though Chuck longer for that life, his training was slow and awkward.

     At the end of season two, the Intersect was removed by Chuck's father, Steve (Scott Bakula), who had disappeared on his children years ago, but Chuck discovered was also a spy.  Sadly, later that same episode, a new version of the Intersect was downloaded, and Chuck now possess abilities as well as knowledge.  Chuck became a full-fledged spy.  Steve was killed.  Chuck and Sarah finally got into a serious relationship.  And Chuck discovered that his mother, Mary (Linda Hamilton), who had also disappeared long ago, was still alive, and was also a spy.

     Over the years, slowly members of Chuck's regular life have found their way into the spy game, as well.  Chuck's best friend, Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez), who is more bumbling and nerdy than Chuck ever was, found out and joined the team in season three.  In season two, Chuck's soon-to-be brother-in-law, Devon Woodcomb, better known as Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) found out, but managed to keep the secret from Chuck's sister, Ellie (Sarah Lancaster).  Devon, however, surprisingly could not handle any spy work at all, and so asked to stay in the dark about Chuck's activities.  Ellie eventually found out, but Chuck promised her that he would quit the business, which he did, briefly, though she doesn't know that he has now resumed his dangerous work.

     The show stays light by surrounding Chuck at his cover job with a bevy of very odd characters.  Chuck (and Morgan and Casey) works at the Buy More, an electronics superstore.  The weirdest of the weirdo co-workers are Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay).  The place is run by Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence), who has yet to show up in season four, but remains in the theme song with the principal cast.

     At the end of season three, the Buy More was blown up, but it was rebuilt by the time season four began.  There was one big change, however: The CIA and NSA had taken over the store, staffing it with an elite team of undercover agents.  General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy, finally upgraded to full-time cast member), Chuck, Sarah, and Casey's supervisor, wanted Chuck to rejoin the team, and so sabotaged every new job interview he had until he agreed to come back.  She also allowed Morgan to return to the Buy More.

     Morgan quickly realized that the store was running far too well, and it's efficiency was attracting attention.  When Captain Awesome came in, he immediately knew that something was up.  Morgan convinced General Beckman to allow Jeff, Lester, and the other weirdos to come back, replacing the agents.  Beckman made Morgan the new manager for his great catch, which leaves how Big Mike will return to the series up in the air.

     If the above seems like a lot to you to pack into such a short-running show, it is.  And most of what I have written occurred in just the last few episodes.  The show started more like a procedural drama, with a different mission for Chuck to go on each week.  But by season two, with renewal far from certain, show runner and co-creator Josh Schwartz (best known for, funnily enough, creating The OC and Gossip Girl, which are totally different than Chuck) decided to lay all of his cards on the table.  He packed all of the twists and turns he had envisioned for the rest of the series into less than a season.  It's made season three and four unpredictable and fast-paced, deftly keeping up with the excellence of the end of season two.  It's also let Chuck do the unexpected, which not something a lot of shows get to do.  How many series can you think of that let their leading couple settle into a long-term, serious relationship by season four?

     Season four is pulling out all of the stops, with Dolph Lundgren, Lou Ferrigno, Harry Dean Stanton, Olivia Munn, Steve Austin, Summer Glau, Nicole Ritchie, Timothy Dalton and Eric Roberts are all among the signed guest stars already.

     The bottom line is, Chuck is a wonderful show, beloved by critics, but little-watched among television viewers.  It shouldn't be that way.  The show combines drama, romance, humor, and action in a way that is rarely seen, and has allowed Chuck to stand out among it's peers.  Please, please tune into Chuck before it's too late.  Only thirteen episodes have been ordered this year, but there is a nine episode pick up option, which Chuck needs ratings to earn, so please give it to them.  The series certainly doesn't deserve to be canceled now, or anytime in the near future.

     Chuck airs Monday nights at 8pm on NBC.




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Article first published as TV Review: Chuck is one not to miss, so stop missing it on Blogcritics.