Image Credit: Jordin Althaus/NBCI was angry — nay, livid — a few weeks ago after Chuck’s beautiful balcony proposal to Sarah was interrupted by the CIA, who busted in to arrest his eventual bride-to-be. Last night, in what was once written to be the show’s midseason (if not, series) finale had Chuck not received an order for additional episodes*, they more than made up for it.
Only there was no frill this time. There was no castle, no gigantic moon, and no plan. The big moment (take 2) came just at the end of an action-packed hour that included an Awesome birth (welcome adorable baby Clara), an awesome villain meeting his end (well, arrested), and the most awesome Jeffster performance ever (which executive producer Chris Fedak teased to us a few months back).
Chuck and Sarah were sitting in the hallway of the hospital where Ellie had just delivered, and were holding hands when suddenly Chuck looked toward Sarah. Taking a moment, he lovingly swept a piece of hair from her face, and his expression changed. As “Young Blood” by The Naked and Famous played in the background, he rose from his chair silently and removed the ring box (and subsequently, the huge rock) from his pocket.
We didn’t hear the rest. We only saw Chuck get down on one knee in the foreground of a shot that focused on a janitor polishing the hospital floor and Sarah lean into a kiss as the shot faded to black. God, I’m going to start sobbing again.
For a couple that has experienced their entire relationship under the eye of their superiors and under scrutiny from others, it was, I think, the perfect moment. Alone together is sort of the perfect description of two spies in love, so it seems fitting that it’s how they start the rest of their lives together. Agree?
What did you think of the episode, PopWatchers?
*Luckily, Chuck is all-new next week. (WOO!)
On Twitter: @EWSandraG
This was the probably one of the best if not the best Chuck episode ever. So much stuffed into one hour, yet it didn’t feel rushed. The proposal ended up being perfect. Loved every minute of this episode, then had to watch it again.
It really was a great episode. Even Linda Hamilton seemed to have an extra excitment in her role, like she new she was part of something special. Everyone was perfect.
I agree, it was full of everything that makes Chuck great, even some Casey/Morgan bonding. It felt like a full movie, and everything resolved satisfyingly.
Honestly, I watched “SALT” and “RED” this weekend, and 1 hour of “Chuck” beat them both for comedy, intrigue and action, hands down.
This episode was a undercooked. Too much going on crammed into one hour. The “big moments” didn’t pay off.
what?!? Were you watching the same episode as the rest of us? This was possibly the series’ best episode to date!
I expect more from the Chuck audience. Just because you were told that this was a “big” episode, doesn’t mean it was “amazing” and “perfection” and all of the other stupid cliches. Think for yourselves, lemmings.
@LOL: First of all, I didn’t see any promos, so I knew nothing of the network hyping up the episode. I just gave you my own opinion and you ASSUMED somehow I was influenced?
I dont get it
@LOL I agree. There were some good moments and Chuck showing his spy prowess while also paying homage to his dad was really cool, but I thought it was just an average Chuck episode. I’ve long tired of the Volkoff storyline (and I do not buy for one single second that Linda Hamilton has any emotion for her family. Her face NEVER shows any emotion.) And I felt shortchanged by the proposal. After all the suffering, I’d have liked to hear it. Clara’s birth was nice though, and Awesome crying was touching.
@Rachel, I realized as I was watching this episode that Linda Hamilton (who I love) probably doesn’t show a lot of emotion because her face is too botoxed to be expressive!
This was my favorite episode of the entire show!!!
Wow. Terrific episode!!! Season 5 pick up???
Can i just comment on naming the baby Clara? This name is totally coming back into vogue. I named my now 4 year old daughter Clara (it was my grandmothers name) and now there are tons of Clara’s popping up! It’s crazy how that happens.
Clara is my cat’s name! I love the name but I don’t think I could name a person Clara anymore…
“what is baby clara thinking?”
Definitely the best episode of this season, which has otherwise just been kinda “meh” so far.
Agree with ya, there!
I loved that we didn’t hear the proposal; I hadn’t thought of the privacy aspect until I read this post, and in retrospect, that’s why I loved the “private” proposal.
I loved the proposal too, but I thought it borrowed pretty liberally from Jim/Pam’s Office proposal (w/ the distance and inability to hear the actual proposal).
Same here! It was perfect.
This was by far the best episode of the season. As a Chuck fan from the beginning I dearly hope that the series gets picked up next year.
This season hasn’t been as good as the others but this episode was freaking amazing.
Amen. The last three episodes taken together felt like the season might finally be on track. Hope the trend continues.
How did Chuck afford such a big diamond? Maybe he’s a good saver.
he got a big paycheck at the end of season two, plus he is full spy now so he might get more money by being a spy!
Loved the episode, loving the season, chuck is one of the few shows keeping it fresh every year, would of loved the plot to of perhaps been rooted since season one so it was a bigger pay-off!
Faboo!
I loved this episode too, I love when the show remembers its own history, like Chuck was being targeted by the CIA for recruitment before the intersect ever got involved and that he is a fully educated computer engineer himself and his father was a computer genius too and would have been recruited but for Bryce stepping in the way for Chuck’s sake. And that was the perfect proposal for them, just hope we don’t get too gimmicky with the wedding (kind of hoping it is as private as the engagement).
Excellent episode! It’s a shame that Chuck, and Fringe, are so under-rated. They both put out consistently entertaining and well-written shows week after week but struggle to survive. I’ll add Human Target here too, though it’s not on the same level as the other two.
ITA! Chuck and Fringe are my two favourite shows and I wish they got more love. I hate that every time I watch an AMAZING episode I get that worry feeling, like, ‘is this is?’ ‘Will it be cancelled soon?’
Sorry. typo. meant to say ‘is this it?’
I love all three of those episodes a agree 100% this was the best chuck ever!!
Sorry, shows, not episodes..lol
Chuck really is one helluva TV show. The fade-to-black proposal was quite possibly the nicest nuance the show has provided to date!
And I really thought for a second that Casey was dead!
Great episode… great show. Keep ‘em coming!
I actually shouted “NO!”, but then I realized that it’s Casey, of course he wouldn’t die!!
I was happy with the semi-private moment. Sometimes you don’t need to be hit over the head with everything.
And yes, the little one playing Clara was a cutie pie!
May have been my favorite episode ever!! Only thing that could’ve made it better? If Chuck’s dad really was alive. I miss Scott Bakula on this show!!
I totally agree. If Scott came back everything would have been even more Awesome.
My preferred second half of the season would go like this: Shaw and Volkoff escape together from the CIA detention center. Shaw dies in an act of redemption but not before telling Chuck that his father is alive. That would be the best cliffhanger they could end on. (Assuming they are renewed next year.)