Chuck vs the Zoom Review: The ONE Sore Spot is…

Chuck season 5 had a phenomenal premiere worth hugging. So what’s my tiny issue with it?

CHUCK -- "Chuck vs. The Zoom" Episode 501 -- Pictured: Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski -- Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC

I’m a particularly demanding and selective TV critic. Readers of Small Screen Scoop know that even with shows I watch and enjoy I’ll still mock and point out faults when need be (ahem, The Secret Circle.) But I just don’t have anything bad to say about the Chuck season 5 premiere – “Chuck vs. the Zoom.” I think what they’re doing in terms of plot is a perfect chapter for this show. Okay, maybe there’s a tiny issue…

If there’s one thing that I have to say I don’t like about this episode it’s that there’s not going to be enough of a season to show us everything we want to see. The problem is that there’s just too much that this show can still do for us, and we’re not going to get enough. just Frankly put: NBC should not have canceled the show, though I do respect the network for giving them a half season to wrap up the story. But I won’t let my bitterness cancel out the excitement of the final season – and neither should you.

Our talented writer Melissa Miller has already given you her Chuck vs the Zoom Recap which I suggest you read to catch you up on what you missed, and see what insights of hers you may have missed. I’m here to provide a more generalized review. Which, honestly, could just be “squee, squee, squee.” Because we all know that when fans are rendered speechless, that’s the one word (or sound)  that can manage to come out.

Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez) as the new intersect is amazing. It not only pushes his character into new territories (and his is a hilarious actor and hilarious character, so more of him on screen can only be good) but it also pushes our original main three leads into new territories, as well.

Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) has to realize that he can still be who he wants to be without the super power training wheels.There’s a really strong message here and it’s going to be dissected through all of Chuck season 5. It’ll be like free therapy, guys!

Sarah Bartowski (Yvonne Strahovski) is there to not just support her husband, excel in her own right, but also provide support and be a partner to Morgan. She’s not necessarily his handler, but she’s needed to work with him a lot. And it’s not just Chuck and Sarah that are there to support Morgan.

Casey (Adam Baldwin) is right there, too. Casey has always silently championed Morgan, while never being able to forget how annoying the short man can be. Plus, Morgan is dating Alex (MeKenna Melvin) who is Casey’s daughter…so that just makes those dynamics all the more juicy. (Check out my recent MeKenna Melvin interview!)

I’m excited to see more of Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) and Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) although I’m not as curious about what plot points they’ll have this season. But make no mistake, I wouldn’t accept a season 5 without them. But Ellie and Awesome provide support for Chuck, Morgan and Sarah. They also have their own little family unit with Clara, and they’ve always been a really fun, cute couple to watch. (Ellie is spoiled, man. Remember how Awesome makes her those lavender baths and everything?) Showing Ellie in the Chuck season 5 premiere was nice, to show that Chuck is keeping her very much in the loop.

The show isn’t the show without the Buy More, or its “dutiful” (they’re loyal, although not productive) employees. We still have Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay) there to cause the most ridiculous trouble. Their “Save Jeff Barnes” idea wasn’t their most original, but I’m certain we’ll get  plenty more hijinks which I am super eager to see.

Sarah and Morgan dancing and their little hand shake was amazing. Zachary and Joshua are real heavy hitters when it comes to comedy, and the script was so damn perfect. We got all the action and comedy we wanted from this episode, plus just enough drama, suspense and romance. The script writers for “Chuck vs. the Zoom” were Chris Fedak and Nicholas Wootton. Well done, gentlemen.

My favorite part, or sequence, was Chuck solving the problem at the end of the episode where he jumps out a window and lands on the car. He’s a smart dude, you know? And his plea for help on the video was adorkable. The music hyped up this sequence even more.

What lacked impact for me? Well. I’m not personally a Star Wars fan (gasp) so guest star Mark Hamill wasn’t as big a deal for me as I’m sure it was for other people. But I like that I know he was there, nerds supporting nerds and all. I feel like for Chuck season 5 all of these big name “nerd” icons are coming out to support the show, not just to get a pay day, but because they want to be a part of this show, specifically.

Bonita Friedericy as General Beckman in the opening credits is gone, and that kind of bums me out, even though I understand the choice to do so.

All in all, I’m not ready to say goodbye. Luckily we have plenty of episodes to settle in with before we have to get officially weepy. What did you guys think of “Chuck vs the Zoom”? If you had never seen an episode of Chuck before, do you think you could have watched this one episode and been compelled to see more? I think I would have. When the funny is there, the people will always follow.  And a little slow motion Yvonne Strahovski never hurts.