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"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger"

"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" is the fourth season finale of the American action-comedy television series Chuck. Aired on May 16, 2011, it is the season's 24th episode, and the 78th overall episode of the series. The episode was directed by Robert Duncan McNeill and written by series co-creator Chris Fedak and Nicholas Wootton.

To save the life of his bride, Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski), and stop Vivian Volkoff (Lauren Cohan) from destroying his and Sarah's wedding, Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) turns to Vivian's father Alexei (Timothy Dalton) for help. To keep secret Volkoff's true identity as Agent X, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sends its toughest agent, Clyde Decker (Richard Burgi), to stop Chuck.

"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. According to the Nielsen ratings system, it drew 4.53 million viewers, with a 1.5/4 rating among those aged 18–49.

Plot

Targeted with the Norseman by Vivian Volkoff (Lauren Cohan), Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) is rushed into the emergency room. With help from John Casey (Adam Baldwin) and his mother Mary (Linda Hamilton), Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) breaks into the prison holding Alexei Volkoff (Timothy Dalton) to find an antidote, only to discover that the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) toughest agent, Clyde Decker (Richard Burgi), had anticipated his move. To protect Volkoff's true identity as Agent X, Decker revokes all of Chuck's CIA resources.

With General Beckman's (Bonita Friedericy) aid, Chuck intercepts the transport carrying Volkoff, only to find that Decker has deprogrammed Volkoff and restored his previous identity and memories of Hartley Winterbottom. Hartley administers an antidote to the Norseman's effects, but it only slows Sarah's condition. Mary then remembers that Volkoff had developed a stronger antidote, but it is stored at the Volkoff Industries Headquarter in Moscow, Russia. As they leave the hospital, Chuck, Casey, Mary and Hartley are captured by Decker and brought to Castle, where Decker suppresses the Intersect in Chuck's mind. Casey helps Chuck and Hartley escape, giving Chuck discs containing clean fabricated identities for him and Sarah.

Chuck and Hartley go to Volkoff Industries, but Hartley loses confidence in his ability to impersonate his former persona and runs off. With no other choice, Chuck surrenders and ineffectively begs Vivian for the cure. Before Vivian shoots Chuck, her father returns and reveals the truth that he went undercover voluntarily. Chuck gives up the discs from Casey so Vivian and her father can start a new life. Chuck returns with the antidote to Burbank, California, where Decker is waiting for him. A standoff occurs, but as Chuck is backed up by a superior force made up of his friends, family, the C.A.T. Squad (Mini Andén and Mercedes Masöhn), and Volkoff's Spetsnaz paratroopers, Decker is forced to stand down. Using the information about Agent X as leverage against Decker, Chuck delivers the antidote.

The scene then cuts to Chuck and Sarah's wedding. As they drive off in their limousine, they receive a wedding present from Hartley. Two weeks later, Chuck returns from his honeymoon and it is revealed that the government's front company has sold the Buy More. In a deserted Castle, Chuck learns from Decker that he has been a pawn in a larger game from the start. It was no coincidence that Chuck received the Intersect and had to face Fulcrum, the Ring, Daniel Shaw, and Agent X. It is then revealed that Chuck and Sarah have all of Volkoff Industries' assets, giving them almost a billion dollars with which they have bought the Buy More. With the newfound wealth, Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez) set up their own freelance spy operation in Castle to investigate this conspiracy. Morgan then spots a pair of glasses in a box of Chuck's belongings sent from Beckman. He puts them on and accidentally uploads an Intersect.

Production

Series co-creator Chris Fedak co-wrote this episode.

"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" was one of many episodes to be directed by producer Robert Duncan McNeill,[2][3] and was written by series co-creator Chris Fedak, along with Nicholas Wootton.[3][4] It originally aired in the United States on May 16, 2011, on NBC as the 24th episode of Chuck's fourth season and the 78th episode overall.[5]

The episode was filmed in April 2011 at North Hollywood Medical Center.[6] Michael Ausiello had revealed in March that the fourth season finale would be titled "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger".[7] Chris Fedak later confirmed that the episode, as the title suggests, would have a cliffhanger ending leading into the fifth[8] and final season, which was ordered on May 13, 2011.[9] Guest stars Linda Hamilton, Timothy Dalton, Lauren Cohan, Mekenna Melvin, Mini Andén, and Mercedes Masöhn reprised their recurring roles of Mary Elizabeth Bartowski, Alexei Volkoff, Vivian Volkoff, Alex McHugh, Carina Miller, and Zondra, respectively.[10] The episode also introduced Richard Burgi as Clyde Decker, the CIA's "toughest" agent.[3][11][12]

"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" is one of the few episodes since season one's "Chuck Versus the Helicopter"[13] not to feature the series' full credits sequence with the instrumental version of Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket", instead displaying the main cast credits over action in the episode's second act. HitFix Senior Editor Alan Sepinwall has called the episode a "tying together of everything the character [Chuck] and the show have been about", including the use of a recurring spy strategy, "The Magnet", to fool Decker. As Chuck and Sarah walk to their limousine, several clips of their budding romance are shown through archive footage from several earlier episodes, including the pilot episode, "Chuck Versus the Intersect".[3] Fedak stated in a later interview that the inspiration for Volkoff's true identity being a gun-shy British scientist was Dalton's portrayal of Gregory Tuttle, Volkoff's guise as Mary Bartowski's MI6 handler, in his first appearance on the series.[14]

Music

The episode's soundtrack includes the songs "Here With Me" by Battleme when Chuck and Sarah have wedding jitters, "Conscience Killer" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club while Chuck rides the Nighthawk, "Firewood" by Typhoon while Chuck and Sarah practice their vows, "I'm A Pilot" by Fanfarlo while Chuck rushes to administer the antidote, and "Sinking Friendships" by Jónsi during the wedding.[3]

Cultural references

Former United States President Ronald Reagan (pictured) is referenced multiple times in this episode.[12]

Multiple references are made to former United States President Ronald Reagan. Upon seeing Casey's framed photograph of Reagan, Hartley asks, "Is he still in charge?", to which Casey replies, "If only!"[12] Casey later comments, "That's smart. Real smart. Reagan smart."[15] The CIA's Nighthawk motorcycle alludes to Street Hawk. During Chuck and Sarah's wedding, Morgan, acting as the minister, claims to be ordained by the United Federation of Planets, a reference to Star Trek. When Chuck asks him to close the partition in the limo after the wedding, Morgan responds, "As you wish!", referencing The Princess Bride.[3] In archive footage from "Chuck Versus the Balcony", Sarah tells Chuck that she did not fall in love with James Bond.[15] After Morgan downloads the Intersect, he says "Guys, I know kung fu", a reference to The Matrix. The series has featured variations on this line before, when Chuck downloaded various versions of the Intersect in "Chuck Versus the Ring" and "Chuck Versus the Leftovers".[14]

Reception

According to the Nielsen ratings system, "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" drew 4.53 million viewers, with a 1.5/4 rating among those aged 18–49.[16] The episode had the most viewers since "Chuck Versus the A-Team", making it the fifth least-watched episode in Chuck's history.[17]

The episode received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. Alan Sepinwall wrote that "as Chuck began laying out his plan to be freelance spies, and as Morgan took out the Intersect sunglasses General Beckman had so thoughtfully hidden in Chuck's going-away box, all I could feel was gratitude: I'm so glad NBC ordered one more season, because that is a show I want to see!"[3] Ryan McGee of The A.V. Club rated the episode a B+ on an A+ to F scale, although writing, "Plot has always been subservient to character in Chuck. Usually, this can work to the show's advantage: It's easy to forgive its often sloppy mechanics when they are fronted by such beloved figures. But an episode like tonight, while grounded in believable character motivation, still had to plod through a lot of the show's weaker story mechanics to get from beginning to end. (The Norseman is better seen and not explained, people.) Let's put it this way. Watching Chuck strip away all aspects of his life for the sole purpose of saving Sarah's life? Fantastic. Watching Chuck and a reformed Hartley Winterbottom talk for 10 minutes in the main hallway of Volkoff Industries without anyone noticing who they were? Semi-excruciating."[15] Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a rating 9.5 out of 10, a series high alongside season two's "Chuck Versus Santa Claus" and "Chuck Versus the Colonel" and season three's "Chuck Versus the Beard" and "Chuck Versus the Subway". Goldman wrote, "Chuck's had more ups and downs than usual this season, but it ended on a very strong note. With Sarah's life in danger, Chuck and all his friends and family proved they would risk everything to save her, and it made for a very compelling, involving hour."[12]

References

  1. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (2011-06-24). "Matt's Inside Line: Scoop on 'Chuck's' First Last Mission". TVLine. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
  2. ^ Anders, Charlie (2010-04-22). "From Star Trek Actor To Chuck Producer: The Evolution Of Robert Duncan McNeil". io9. Retrieved 2011-05-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |middle= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Sepinwall, Alan (2011-05-16). "Season finale review: 'Chuck' - 'Chuck vs. the Cliffhanger': Saving Sarah". HitFix. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  4. ^ Jester, Alice (2011-03-21). "C2E2 Report: Interview With Chuck Executive Producer Chris Fedak". TV For the Rest of Us. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  5. ^ "Chuck Episode: "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger"". TV Guide. Retrieved 2011-05-31. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ White, Cindy (2011-05-14). "Chuck: What to Expect in the Season 4 Finale". IGN. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
  7. ^ Ausiello, Michael (2011-03-15). "Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Glee, Bones, Castle, Fringe, Chuck, Fringe and More!". Ask Ausiello. TVLine. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  8. ^ Moro, Eric (2011-03-25). "C2E2: Chuck S4 Secrets Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ^ Hibberd, James (2011-05-13). "Official: NBC renews 'Chuck' for final season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  10. ^ "Chuck : Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger". Zap2it. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  11. ^ Roco (2011-04-30). "PRESS RELEASE: CHUCK SEASON 4 FINALE". Seriable. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  12. ^ a b c d Goldman, Eric (2011-05-16). "Chuck: "Chuck Versus The Cliffhanger" Review - A New Beginning". IGN. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  13. ^ Goldman, Eric (2007-10-09). "Chuck: "Chuck Versus the Tango" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  14. ^ a b Sepinwall, Alan (2011-05-16). "Interview: 'Chuck' co-creator Chris Fedak post-mortems season 4". HitFix. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  15. ^ a b c McGee, Ryan (2011-05-16). "Chuck Versus The Cliffhanger". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-05-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Seidman, Robert (2011-05-18). "Monday Final Ratings: 'Dancing,' 'Hawaii Five-0,' 'How I Met Your Mother,' 'Mad Love,' 'Mike & Molly' Adjusted Up; 'The Chicago Code' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  17. ^ Gorman, Bill (2011-03-15). "Monday Final Ratings: 'Harry's Law' Adjusted Up; No Adjustment For 'Chuck,' 'The Event' Or Any Other New Show". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 2011-07-03.

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