S1Ep4 Vs The Wookiee -- The Chuck Series Companion

This Episode of the Chuck Series Companion covers Season One Episode Four of the Television Series Chuck, Chuck versus The Wookiee -- Watch the Episode, Listen to the Show! Subscribe on iTunes!

S1Ep4 Vs The Wookiee

Chuck vs The Wookiee

When Carina the Undercover DEA Agent describes Sarah Walker's Cover as Dull and "If a yawn could yawn." We all know that she couldn't be more wrong but she doesn't know what we know, that Chuck and Sarah and Casey are at the beginning of an awesome journey of thrills and adventure. Who knew this could take place even in Burbank of all places? It doesn't take long though for Carina to figure out that there is something up with Sarah, she can tell that there's something about this Chuck guy. Chuck and Sarah. So what does Carina do? She tries to seduce Chuck in a hilarious scene while also breaking his heart revealing to him that Sarah did indeed have a relationship with the late Bryce Larkin.

One of my favorite amusing bits of this episode is how Morgan is immediately smitten with Carina and she must play along being undercover with a need to protect Sarah's cover. Morgan constantly calling Chuck in the middle of the night to hear of any word about him from Carina is a funny scene. It makes me feel bad for the guy when he does indeed get a kiss but not before being told that it just can't work between them. Poor heartbroken Morgan is going to binge on many a Grape Soda afterwards.

This episode is mostly about Sarah though. Sarah's been a bad-ass spy up until now and from what I can tell an exceptional spy that mostly follows orders. Now that she handles Chuck in Operation Chuck in Burbank she's being challenged for the first time in her career. Here is a guy that is a genuinely charming and nice guy whom she fully intends to protect but he's also winning his way slowly into her heart. This is the beginning of a great journey for Sarah even though she won't make a choice anytime soon, she is starting to realize that she really is liking this gig whether Carina understands or not. That's her loss.

Mini Anden as Carina did a great job and it's a testament to how great she was that she appeared later in other seasons always as a barometer as to how much Sarah had changed over time on Team Chuck. Her history of humiliating Casey in the past was also a nice touch. Another thing of note is that this is the first episode where Chuck meets General Beckman via Casey's monitor in his apartment. I love re-watching these first season episodes and catching all the firsts of the series.

Before I get to some links here is the download to the episode: S1Ep4 Vs The Wookiee

This episode's Sepinwall review is pretty lacking, I will try not to fault the guy for lumping his recap in with an episode of How I Met Your Mother but he glosses over Chuck vs the Wookiee so quickly that I thought about not even linking it. But, for consistency's sake, here is the Link. It makes me cringe the way he nitpicks at Yvonne Strahovski's fighting skills. Seriously I hope that he is embarrassed by this early assessment. As for Maureen Ryan's recaps, It looks like I can only find from Season 2 Episode 1 and on so I am at a loss until the time comes. So here instead is an Eric Goldman Recap, remember I don't necessarily agree with anything these people are saying I just think it's nice to read what someone else thinks after I finish an episode. Sometimes I smile and agree and sometimes I close my web browser in disgust cursing to the heavens, read at your own risk people. Heck, let's also check out AV Club's old reviews of Chuck, why not?

This episode had some great songs, Matt and Kim -- Yea Yeah, Matthew Dear -- Shy, Matt Pond PA -- Wild Girl and my favorite of the episode, Apartment -- Fall Into Place. A lot of Matthews involved in this episodes song choices. Eerie. There's also a strange techno song by the band Does it Offend You, Yeah? -- Weird Science that plays in the background of Senor' Wookiee Paymen's Beach House Party.

That's it guys, another fun episode of Chuck! It is silly to keep saying this with every post but I am having a blast doing this podcast and expressing just how much I love Chuck with each episode. As always I am hoping that you are enjoying these posts and this podcast and that you follow me each step of the way to episode 91 and beyond. Wait, 91 is enough. I don't need to go and put anymore pressure on myself this is already quite a commitment.

Until next time.

The Jastrom

S1Ep3 Vs The Tango -- The Chuck Series Companion

Covering Season One, Episode Three of the television series Chuck, Chuck vs The Tango - Watch the Episode, Listen to the Show!

S1Ep3 Vs The Tango

Chuck vs The Tango

Wow, I was so excited to continue The Chuck Series Companion that I made the latest episode 'Chuck versus The Tango' in only two days. I was really creatively inspired to keep it going. It's funny to think that before I started this show I was so conflicted with the idea to do the podcast in the first place. My love of the show Chuck is really strong but it's also really personal. I don't know why, I just love the show so much, it's entertaining, it's got spy gadgets, comedy and a great love story, not just between Chuck and Sarah but also Chuck and family, including Morgan and the Buy More.

'Tango' is really a fun episode because it's Chuck's first spy mission and it's also the birth of his alias, Charles Carmichael. We also get Chuck's new spy watch which is totally plausible with the new line of smart watches that are now available everywhere. We can all pretend to be Spies like Chuck!

I believe this is also the first appearance of Buy More employee Fernando, who's appearance instantly makes me laugh, just thinking about the time that Morgan refers to him as 'Cabbage Patch'. Fernando is played by actor Jesse Heiman who has appeared in dozens of films and television shows as a background player, watch this video - World's Greatest Extra - of many of his appearances. I think he speaks one line of dialogue in the entire series but no matter where I see this guy, he will always be Fernando, Buy More Employee.

Here is a link to S1Ep3 Vs The Tango

Now like on previous entries I will include a review by Alan Sepinwall (just click on his name) and Maureen Ryan. I don't seem to be able to find Ryan's early Chuck recaps, I will keep searching for them though. I will continue to include these when I can find them because I got a kick out of reading their recaps while I was doing my first re-watch. Eric Goldman's Review.

Like every episode of Chuck this episode has some great tunes, my favorite is by the band The National -- Slow Show. There's also a great song by Band of Horses -- The General Specific. We also get another Spoon -- Don't you Evah. Check out the rest of the songs from the episode here.

I'm having a blast doing this podcast and I hope that you are enjoying listening to them. Until then, Keep on watching Chuck.

I know I will.

The Jastrom

S1Ep2 Vs The Helicopter -- The Chuck Series Companion

This Episode of the Chuck Series Companion covers Season One Episode Two of Chuck, Chuck vs The Helicopter -- Watch the Episode, Listen to the Show!

S1Ep2 Vs The Helicopter

Chuck vs The Helicopter

Episode two of the Chuck Series Companion has now been completed and I am well on my way. I will get more comfortable with the format as I go on and hopefully will get some feedback along the way. I have heard from a few people which is awesome but of course, I want more. Chuck vs The Helicopter is an interesting episode in that Chuck narrates the beginning of the episode, something that I don't think ever happens again. This episode feels like the Network mandated that they must re-cap the pilot for potential viewers that missed the first episode. It makes sense but also makes you think of an alternate universe version of Chuck where Zachary Levi narrates every episode like Kristen Bell in an episode of Veronica Mars.

One thing that I will try to explain without being very confusing is that I am going to try to do a blog post of the episode that I also cover in the podcast. It will give me a chance to do some writing and possibly give a potential listener a place to see my show notes like old reviews of that particular episode of Chuck and links to my favorite songs from the episodes. Basically what I am saying is that this will be the home of the Chuck podcast and I hope that you keep coming back. I'm also having a friend design a show logo for me that will be for the iTunes feed that I hope to get going very soon. I want Chucksters and new Chuck fans to find the podcast and hopefully enjoy it.

So for right now my goal is to keep cranking out these episodes while avoiding burn out. Burn out is something that has happened before when I've been excited about personal projects, I put a lot of energy and hours into it and then I fizzle out. I want to avoid that so I will be sure and take the time to do other things while planning on future episodes. Again feedback is the way to keep me going so drop me an email or send me a voicemail, it is much appreciated. If you have never watched Chuck before I hope that the podcast encourages you to check it out, I think you will dig it.

Before I go any further here is a link to Episode 2:

S1Ep2 Vs The Helicopter

Again like the first episode I am including links to original reviews for the episode by Alan Sepinwall and Maureen Ryan. (When I can find them) I could not find a Ryan review for this episode so I am including a review found on IGN by Eric Goldman. That doesn't mean that I agree with them, I simply enjoy their enthusiasm for the series. Eventually, as you will read in these links they are critical of pacing etc. I want to say it right now and hopefully not repeat myself too often but because of my love of the tv show, Chuck, I am not overly critical. I think the show is fun and it fills my heart with a warm glow. I do not rank episodes of least to favorite either, they are all my favorite. I can re-watch any episode of Chuck at anytime and never grow sick and tired of it. This show is perfect to me, frequently over the years I would read critical reviews of a particular episode and I would get annoyed and close the browser in disgust. It's fine to be critical, I'm just saying Don't expect me to be very critical. I am basically geeking out about my favorite show while at times pointing out something that might be a tad ridiculous but always with a sparkle in my eye. I am here to have fun and I hope that you are too, Chuck brings me joy after all.

I mostly want for you to Enjoy the Show! Now here are my favorite tunes from the episode! The first song that I really dig is by the band, Spoon -- Don't be a Target and the second, The New Pornagrapher's -- Challengers. Check out the rest of the songs here.

That's it for now, see you next time!

The Jastrom

S1Ep1 Vs the Intersect -- The Chuck Series Companion

This is Episode One of The Chuck Series Companion covering the Pilot Episode of the TV Show Chuck - Watch the episode Chuck vs The Intersect and then listen to the podcast.

S1Ep1 Vs The Intersect