“Chuck Versus The Marlin”
January 24th, 2008
I’ve decided to actually post this after the episode airs, as a courtesy considering that it is a bit of a suspenseful ride of sorts. After “Chuck Versus The Undercover Lover” was amongst the best episodes of the series yet, it’s hard not to see this as a bit of a step backwards in terms of its comic timing in particular. The first episode was certainly funnier, and perhaps more enjoyable, but I think that “Chuck Versus The Marlin” is nonetheless an important and entertaining episode of the series.
It’s particularly strong as a cap of sorts to the first 13-episodes of Chuck’s existing 22-episode order. Both of these episodes do an admirable job of marrying the show’s three elements (Chuck’s Spy Game, Chuck’s Family, the Buy More), and here it comes together in a plot that seems meaningful at this stage of the season. I worry that things will prove largely repetitive if this formula continues, and I hope that the magical hopefully seen this season back nine addresses this, but for now it’s a solid if unfortunately early season finale for the series.
A while back, I noted how the Writers Strike finally showed one of its benefits when CTV picked up Mad Men for Canadian broadcast: it was a move that probably wouldn’t have happened if not for a lack of new programming, and it was vindicated by the series’ Golden Globes victory. Now, however, an entirely different sort of benefit has popped up that has big ramifications for the little series that could.
Have you ever felt that your nose was just a faucet that wouldn’t shut off? It’s a bizarre and rather grotesque image, but “snot faucet” most aptly describes my weekend experience. It was unpleasant, sure, but by the end of the weekend it was mostly gone. There are some leaks, however, that are somewhat more volatile – these are the leaks that are, for better or for worse, not gone by the end of the weekend.
Cultural Learnings 