Chuck- Season 3- Blu Ray Edition
DVD Reviews | Sep 7th, 2010
Starring: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster, Ryan McPartlin, Brandon Routh
Studio: NBC/Warner Bros
Buy on Amazon.com
Back from the presumed dead, Chuck’s Season 3 was a victory before it even started. After going through one of the most unique and dedicated fan supported campaigns to save Chuck after Season 2, with a tie in with sponsor, Subway, Chuck had a stay of execution from NBC. Fans had to wait until January though! Nevertheless, Chuck came back with a solid group of 19 episodes that everyone has come to love over the past few years. Chuck just gets better and better each season, and Season 3 did not disappoint.
When Season Two wrapped up, fans were left with their jaws dropped on the floor as the fate of the series left hanging in the hands of Executives at NBC and the show ending on a cliffhanger with Chuck. The season wraps up with Chuck obtaining a new 2.0 Intersect that enables him to be a master of many things, including Kung Fu, Marksmanship, and even speak foreign languages. With Season 3 starting, the series starts back up months later after Season 2, and Chuck is now in Agent school trying to cut it as a real life agent. The problem though, Chuck has the opportunity to be with the woman of his dreams in Sarah Walker (Strahovski) and being a real spy, something Chuck desires to have both of. Most of the season is that back and forth between the two things he wants most. Back for Season 3 are the usual supporting cast members, like Colonel Casey (Baldwin), Morgan Grimes (Gomez) and Ellie and Awesome (Lancaster & McPartlin) which are outstanding and make Chuck the great series it is.
Like previous seasons, Chuck always gets great guest stars on the shows as bad guys, former spies, etc. Season 3 is no different. Guest starring this season was Tony Hale, Scott Bakula, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kristen Kreuk, Tony Sirico, Diedrich Bader, and Fred Willard to name a few and they blended in nicely. The series is great at integrating the cast with newcomers that have familiar faces in TV and film and making the episodes work where it’s not distracting. The pop culture references are throughout each episode and always make me laugh out loud as well. The chemistry between Chuck, Sarah and Casey was questioned a little by critics and fans this season as Writers and Producers threw a kink in the mix with the addition of Brandon Routh’s character, Daniel Shaw. Shaw is now running the show in their headquarters, Castle, and has a mysterious past but a guy who tries to play by the book. He also frustrates every viewer out there by getting closer to Sarah, Chuck’s love interest. In the end, he served a good purpose in advancing the storyline in Season 3, and ultimately I think fans were pleased with the direction the series led.
The show looks great in High Definition just like the broadcasts in HD. The Blu Ray nicely features slight film grain which I prefer on a newer shows and not that over shiny/glossy look. The colors are very vibrant, and balanced nicely with the blacks on screen. I can’t revert to watching Chuck on Standard Definition, so it’s Blu Ray all the way! Extras on the set include some funny featurettes including the always entertaining Gag Reel and deleted scenes, as well as a look into Jeffster, the dopey twosome that all the fans love on the show featuring actors Vik Sahay as Lester and Scott Krinsky as Jeff.
Season 3 was always about Chuck and his new abilities and harnessing his emotions. Many obstacles got in the way professionally and personally but in the end Chuck became the spy he always wanted to be. Season 3 ends on another cliff hanger and adds more question marks leading to Season 4. Yes, Season 4, which was granted much more quickly than Season 3, is back this fall! (Ahem Sept 20th on NBC at 8pm) I can’t say more about this show, than the fact it’s my favorite show on TV right now. A perfect blend of comedy and action, it’s still lighthearted and it makes Monday’s feel much better after beginning the work week.
Features:
Chuck-Fu…and Dim Sum: Becoming a Spy Guy
The Jeffster Revolution: The Definitive Mockumentary
Declassified Scenes
Gag Reel
Video:
Widescreen 1.78:1 Color
Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
English, Spanish, French
Bottom Line: Chuck is outstanding! You are missing out if you don’t watch this great action comedy series!
Running Time: 817 mins
Rating: NR
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating:
