Chuck Bartowski
Encyclopedia
Charles Irving "Chuck" Bartowski is the main and titular character of the American
fiction television show Chuck
on NBC
. He is portrayed by Zachary Levi
.
and works at a dead end job at the Burbank
Buy More
in its Nerd Herd division (a fictionalized Geek Squad
). Chuck's life stalled after his college roommate, Bryce Larkin
, planted test answers under Chuck's bed and then reported him to the officials, which led to Chuck's expulsion from Stanford University
(where he was a scholarship student) in 2003 — only twelve credits shy of completing his bachelor's degree. For a long time, Chuck hated Bryce for his betrayal, but he later learns that Bryce got him expelled to protect him from being recruited into the CIA because he knew Chuck wouldn't survive in the field. He also lost his college girlfriend, Jill Roberts
(Jordana Brewster
). Following his expulsion, Chuck moved in with his sister and began working at the Burbank, California
branch of Buy More. At some point over the next five years Chuck becomes the Nerd Herd supervisor.
That's his job at the time of the pilot
, when the viewers are introduced to the key people in Chuck's current life: his older sister, Eleanor Fay "Ellie" Bartowski, M.D.
(Sarah Lancaster
), her live-in boyfriend, Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb
(Ryan McPartlin
) and Chuck's best friend since childhood, Morgan Grimes
. Very little else is known about his family. His mother left when Chuck was in the fifth grade and his father was "never really around" even before he also left (roughly eleven years ago), so Chuck and Ellie increasingly had to fend for themselves.
On his birthday in 2007, Chuck opens an email from Bryce Larkin that causes Chuck to download into his brain the full contents of a CIA
/NSA
supercomputer known as the Intersect
, which has served as a database for their combined collected intelligence. Unbeknownst to Chuck, the Intersect computer has been destroyed, making his brain the only location of this top-secret information. The government learns that Chuck Bartowski was the last known person that Bryce Larkin contacted, so both the CIA and NSA (independent of each other) send agents to find him. The CIA dispatches field officer Sarah Walker
(Yvonne Strahovski
) to retrieve a copy of the Intersect, while the NSA sends then-Major
John Casey
(Adam Baldwin
) to capture Chuck. The two agents eventually cross paths, and Sarah fends off Casey. They then discover that Chuck is a human version of the Intersect who sees a rapid-fire series of images (or "flashes") of intelligence from the Intersect database whenever his brain recognizes a bit of related information with his own eyes or ears. The two agencies conclude that Chuck must be protected and assign Sarah and Casey jointly to the task.
". Chuck is forcibly uploaded with the Fulcrum
Intersect in "Chuck Versus the Suburbs
". Afterwards, flashes consisting of Fulcrum data are differentiated by a slight reddish tint. By the end of season two, Chuck chooses to download Intersect 2.0. Season three reveals that Chuck's ability to flash is dependent on his emotional state.
In many episodes Chuck, Sarah, and Casey work with other federal agents, or occasionally agents of allied foreign governments. Unless compelled to reveal the truth, Casey and Sarah almost always identify Chuck as an "analyst", not trained for field operations (to cover his lack of spy training); since virtually all of the intelligence community's secrets are contained in the Intersect, the knowledge that Chuck Bartowski is the Intersect is on a need-to-know basis. Only ten people knew that Chuck was the original Intersect, four of whom were killed, and two incarcerated. When initially trying to determine if the Intersect information could be removed from Chuck's mind in "Chuck Versus the Helicopter
", they contacted Dr. Jonas Zarnow, who had worked on the Intersect project, and set up an elaborate system that allowed him to test Chuck's Intersect abilities without learning Chuck's real identity or even seeing his face; this proved a wise precaution because the doctor went so far as to fake his own death and kidnap Sarah Walker in an effort to force her to reveal the Intersect's identity. Chuck is painfully aware that possessing the Intersect information not only potentially puts him in great danger, but also threatens the lives of his family, friends and those around him.
The CIA and NSA were working on replacing the destroyed Intersect, at which point the government would no longer need him. Chuck believed that when that day came he and Sarah would be free to pursue a "real" relationship and he would have his "normal" life back. However, Casey was secretly assigned by Graham and Beckman to terminate Chuck once "Operation Bartowski" was completed, as it would be difficult to guarantee the security of the data. When the new electronic Intersect was about to be activated in "Chuck Versus the First Date
", Casey's orders reverted to the elimination of Chuck to protect the information in Chuck's brain. Although Casey appealed the mission and noted Chuck's honorable service, he reluctantly prepared to assassinate Chuck and was visibly relieved when the mission was canceled at the last moment following the destruction of the rebuilt Intersect. As revealed in "Chuck Versus the Suburbs", Fulcrum believes the CIA has officially abandoned the Intersect project.
General Beckman made it clear to Chuck in "Chuck Versus the Predator
" that she doesn't want the Intersect removed from his brain, and that she expects him to become a spy. Chuck promptly begins this new phase of his life by hiding intel on the design of the Intersect sent to him from Orion (later revealed to be Stephen Bartowski, his father). Orion also indicated that the cube-shaped Intersect 2.0 he created, if reconfigured, could be used to remove the Intersect from Chuck's brain. Stephen and Chuck infiltrate a Fulcrum compound where the device is stored (at which time Stephen teaches Chuck to force himself to flash), but discover that Fulcrum had not finished the Cube and so it can't yet be used to help Chuck; Fulcrum arrives, kidnaps Stephen Bartowski and forces him to complete the project for them.
In "Chuck Versus the Colonel
", Chuck locates the base where Fulcrum has taken his father to work on the Intersect Cube. His father has completed the Cube, but against Fulcrum's wishes has done what he originally intended and configured the Cube to remove the Intersect from Chuck's brain.
However in "Chuck Versus the Ring
", Stephen reveals that he has reconfigured the Cube yet again in a deal with the government, and Chuck subsequently downloads an enhanced Intersect which includes physical skills as well, such as advanced martial arts, before he destroys the Cube to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Actor Zachary Levi has confirmed that the new abilities provided by the Intersect will have a glitch and won't last. Part of the third season will therefore focus on Chuck learning to use and control the new abilities of Intersect 2.0. These abilities include: Martial arts (Both bare hand and with melee weapons [nunchuks, tonfas, swords and staves]), musical aptitude, gymnastics, dancing, medical knowledge, multiple languages, marksmanship training (though he rarely has need for this skill).
Part of the third season focused on Chuck learning to use and control the new abilities of Intersect 2.0. Creator Josh Schwartz explains that the Intersect 2.0 "was designed for Bryce Larkin. Somebody who was cold and calculating and in total control of his emotions. If Chuck can’t control his emotions, he can’t control his new Intersect". This was seen often early in season 3, when Chuck found it difficult to flash.
With the aid of narcotics (an emotion-suppressor called Laudanol), Chuck demonstrates a flawlessly functional Intersect flash in "Chuck Versus the Tic Tac
", where Chuck's reflexes and strength border on superhuman. Without emotions, Chuck's Intersect flash allows him to dodge bullets and lift a Ring agent off the ground by his throat. However, the lack of emotion nearly causes Chuck to kill in cold-blood, and only Sarah's look of fear lifts him from his stupor.
In "Chuck Versus the Tooth
", it is revealed that Intersect 2.0 has begun having the same effect on him as the Fulcrum Intersect on the hapless agents upon whom Fulcrum tested their device on. The computer began influencing Chuck's dreams, and the CIA psychiatrist Chuck was ordered to consult expressed a concern that the system may eventually destroy Chuck's mind. The diagnosis was initially well-founded; in "Chuck Versus the Subway
" the flashes begin to cause an intense pain that delay Chuck's ability to utilize the flash, and eventually render Chuck completely defenseless when Chuck attempts to regain the Governor from Shaw after Shaw's exposure in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
."
In Chuck vs the Living Dead, Chuck's father offers to build him a device called the "Governor" which will control the electrical energy of the Intersect and protect Chuck's brain. He finally obtained this device for good in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
" after Daniel Shaw
attempted to steal it from him for use to control his own Intersect, which The Ring
had successfully built and uploaded into his brain.
It was revealed in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
" that Chuck had inadvertently uploaded an early version of the Intersect as a child. This memory also triggered a reaction that Chuck referred to as a "reboot," where Chuck's mind apparently shuts down, possibly countering the "overheating" effects the Intersect has on the brain, causing the Intersect to, once again, function flawlessly; this reaction is not an isolated incident: In "Chuck Versus the Suburbs
," Chuck experienced a similar reaction when forced to download the flawed Fulcrum Intersect, causing Chuck to briefly retreat into a catatonic state (which Fulcrum mistook as brain-death) before he regains consciousness.
While Chuck is not the only person in possession of an Intersect (Stephen Bartowski was in possession of an Intersect prototype; Daniel Shaw is in possession of the Ring Intersect; Morgan Grimes is housing the current Intersect), Chuck is the only one to have multiple Intersects uploaded: The first Intersect (uploaded in the pilot), which was later erased by his father in "Chuck Versus the Colonel
" to give Chuck the chance to have a normal life, the Fulcrum Intersect (uploaded in "Chuck Versus the Suburbs
"), whose forced upload had killed all other test subjects except for him, the Intersect 2.0 he uploads in "Chuck Versus the Ring
" and an early prototype of the Intersect [revealed to be in his possession since childhood in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
". Furthermore, he unwillingly uploaded an update to the original Intersect when putting on the sun glasses left by Bryce in "Chuck Versus the Break-Up
," and a trial Fulcrum Intersect a day prior to the full Fulcrum Intersect upload. He is also the only person to have housed more than one version of the Intersect at the same time: The Original Intersect; The Fulcrum Intersect; The Intersect Prototype.
It is unclear however, what happened to the Fulcrum Intersect. As it is not stated otherwise, it seems as if it still is contained in Chuck's brain, even though there could be the possibility, that it was erased with the original Intersect, given that the one Stephen Bartowski used was originally made by Fulcrum. The Intersect prototype Chuck uploaded when he was a child seems to be still contained in his brain, but he never accessed it directly. It is probable however, either that his father erased it a long time ago or the data was not designed to be accessed in the same manner that Chuck retrieves information from the current Intersect (the latter is the more plausible as the creators of the series stated that the prototype simply uploaded data, not pertinant espionage information; how or if this information is even accessible is undetermined.)
In "Chuck Versus the First Fight
", Mary Bartowski neutralizes the Intersect with a device Stephen Bartowski created, to keep Chuck from being a spy and prevent him from danger. Chuck subsequently is unable to flash, even when in mortal danger. She however gives Ellie details about a car they used to drive as well, which contains a letter from their father and a computer, that, after having been fixed by the Buy Morons, contains the description of a "memory problem" which Ellie is able to solve. At the end of "Chuck Versus the Leftovers
" Awesome gives the laptop to Chuck, telling him that he probably could use it and that it contained the memory problem fixed by Ellie. Chuck consecutively uploads an Intersect update, which makes him able to flash again. Whether this just reverted the changes made by the device Mary Bartowski used on him or is a real update to the Intersect 2.0 remains unknown.
During the course of the series, Chuck's identity as the Human Intersect has been one of the most important and crucial secrets for the CIA and NSA to protect. However, Chuck's secret has managed to be disclosed to, or discovered by a number of people. To date, the following people have found out that Chuck is the human Intersect:
Sarah is depicted as slower to recognize her own feelings toward Chuck than the other way around, and for various reasons has been reluctant to voice what she does feel. Despite Sarah characteristically hiding her real feelings, several other characters have detected a genuine attraction and pointed it out, as early as "Chuck Versus the Wookiee" when Carina (who is familiar with Sarah) tells Chuck that Sarah wants him, though she probably doesn't even know it yet.
Sarah and Chuck have shared kisses under unusual circumstances in "Chuck Versus the Imported Hard Salami
" and "Chuck Versus the Seduction
". In the former case, Sarah kisses Chuck seconds before the countdown on what they believe to be a bomb reaches zero. In the latter case, Seduction trainer Roan Montgomery (John Larroquette
) quickly discerned that there was more than a working relationship between Chuck and Sarah.
Sarah maintains that it would be unprofessional of her to actually engage in a real relationship with Chuck while she is serving as his CIA handler, and indeed her feelings for him have proven to be a liability at times, placing the mission and both of their lives at risk.
Complicating the developing relationship between Chuck and Sarah are a series of love triangles.
The longest-running triangle involved Chuck's nemesis Bryce Larkin, who was previously partnered with Sarah and developed a romantic relationship with her which he still wishes to pursue. During Bryce's return in "Chuck Versus the Nemesis
", Sarah is clearly torn between Larkin and Chuck. However, when he later reappears in "Chuck Versus the Break-Up", the situation has changed. Sarah chooses Chuck's safety over their assigned mission objectives, and when later confronted by Captain Awesome (who correctly and unknowingly recognized that Sarah's feelings for Chuck are genuine and not part of her cover), Bryce realizes that Sarah has chosen Chuck. At the end of the mission Bryce warns Chuck that her feelings nearly got both her and Chuck killed, and have interfered with her performance. Bryce claims that in this, as always, he is looking out for Chuck, and challenges Chuck to "do the right thing" as usual. Chuck acquiesces and tells Sarah that regardless of how they feel towards each other, they can never be together.
Sarah also has a minor love triangle with Cole Barker, an MI6 agent who, like Bryce, contrasts with Chuck—he is a skilled spy who excels in combat, has a high tolerance for pain and a suave personality. Chuck is of course jealous of him.
The other two love triangles involved Chuck seeking a real relationship, with Lou the sandwich girl (Rachel Bilson
) and later with his ex-girlfriend Jill Roberts. In both cases, Sarah becomes jealous and protective, though she makes more of an effort to give Chuck space with Jill.
Sarah's feelings for Chuck and their ramifications for their mission are the focus of "Chuck Versus the Broken Heart
", when Beckman decides Sarah and Chuck are too close emotionally, leading her to temporarily replace her with Agent Alexandra Forrest (the 49B). After the mission takes a turn for the worse, it becomes clear that the strong emotional bond between Chuck and Sarah is more of an asset than a liability, leading Beckman to reinstate Sarah's position.
At the end of "Chuck Versus the First Kill
", Beckman orders Sarah to lure Chuck to Castle so he could be taken into custody and returned to Washington. Feeling guilt in the act of betraying him, Sarah instead warns Chuck of the plan and reveals that they thus have to flee. They nearly have sex in "Chuck Versus the Colonel", but a series of circumstances, including the arrival of John Casey, interrupts them.
Despite their apparently genuine connection at the close of "Chuck Versus the Colonel", with Chuck being free of the Intersect, Sarah wavers in "Chuck Versus the Ring
" between leaving Chuck on her new assignment (the new Intersect project with Bryce Larkin) and staying with him. She ultimately chooses to stay with Chuck, which finally resolves that love triangle, but Chuck doesn't learn of her choice until Bryce tells him in the Intersect room. Despite this knowledge, and reflecting on her confidence in him as a hero, Chuck uploads the new Intersect. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak have suggested that Chuck re-uploading the Intersect will have implications for his developing relationship with Sarah. Josh Schwartz says that "in a way, she becomes his Kryptonite
" as Chuck's emotional state will impact his ability to control his new Intersect.
By the beginning of "Chuck Versus the Pink Slip
", Chuck's relationship with Sarah has been shattered. Flashbacks over the course of the episode reveal that Sarah asked him to go AWOL and run away with her to be together. Chuck was initially happy to do so, but by the time he met with her at their agreed rendezvous point had changed his mind and declined. Sarah was heartbroken and cut off contact with him. Their relationship was partially mended by the end of "Chuck Versus the Three Words
" when Carina shows Sarah security footage of a failed attempt by Chuck to explain the situation: He had to turn her down because of the sense of duty and confidence Sarah instilled in him, and that he knew he needed to be a real spy to protect those he loves—Sarah included.
Chuck finally admitted directly to Sarah he wanted to be with her in "Chuck Versus the Final Exam
" and asked her to run away with him in "Chuck Versus the American Hero
". In "Chuck Versus the Other Guy
", Sarah saw the lengths to which Chuck was willing to go when he misappropriated a government strike team in an attempt to rescue her when he believed Shaw intended to kill her. Chuck's misgivings over Shaw's stability after learning Sarah was the one who killed his wife proved well-founded when Shaw revealed he had been turned to the Ring, and he was forced to shoot Shaw when Sarah's life was in danger. Chuck and Sarah subsequently began a real relationship and had sex in a hotel room in Paris
.
He and Sarah did attempt to run away from the spy life together in "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
", however a run-in with a surrendering Basque terrorist led them both to realize (with the advice of the terrorist) that they wanted to "have it all", being together without giving up their jobs. Although Beckman was not pleased when she learned of their relationship, even she noted "it's about damn time". In "Chuck Versus the Role Models
", Chuck hints that he and Sarah could be together in 30 years.
In "Chuck Versus the Cubic Z
", Chuck accidentally proposes to Sarah when he found Big Mike's engagement ring and held it out to her. In "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat
" it is revealed that both walked away awkwardly but at the end of the episode, Sarah, taking the advice from a self-help book, reveals to Chuck while he is asleep in bed that nothing could ever change her love for him and that if Chuck really were to propose, she would say "yes". Chuck, seemingly sleeping, slowly grins.
In "Chuck Versus Phase Three
", it is revealed that Chuck had been planning a proposal to Sarah. Before she goes on a rogue mission to find Chuck (after he was kidnapped in the previous episode
), Sarah tells Casey "I'm different without Chuck, and I don't like it"; she proves this by kidnapping a Thai aide, and threatening his life by injecting him with ammonia. When she finds Chuck, he is unconscious and has nearly completed Phase Three-a lobotomy
removing all portions of his brain not pertaining to the Intersect. She tells him that she would marry him if he were to propose.
Chuck attempted to propose in "Chuck Versus the Balcony
" but is repeatedly disrupted. Sarah overhears him discuss the plan with Morgan and recruits Grimes to make sure the next attempt succeeds. However just as Chuck is about to pop the question Sarah is arrested as a setup for an undercover operation.
In "Chuck Versus the Push Mix
" Chuck finally proposes to Sarah. By "Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible
", it is revealed that Sarah has said yes. Sarah asks Chuck to elope, but Chuck disagrees, wanting to have a big "family wedding." The two go so far as to attempt to seduce each other into agreeing, but Sarah finally relents and agrees to Chuck's version of the wedding.
Chuck and Sarah finally marry in "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger
".
In many episodes Chuck has adopted a fantasy alias, "Charles Carmichael", who is endowed with all of the characteristics he believes a super-spy should have, except he doesn't really have the physical abilities to go with the skills. Carmichael has been referred to as where Chuck thought he would be by this time in his life had he not been expelled from Stanford: a millionaire semiretired software magnate. Ironically, his fantasy alias has gained actual respect in the spy community: in "Chuck Versus the Predator", Fulcrum agent Vincent told Chuck he's heard of him, and the mercenary Mr. Colt was highly impressed with Chuck. His adventures as "Carmichael" are also beginning to make him a legend in the CIA community. His operational aliases are numerous; various false passports and identity documents are stored in a shoebox under his bed, as seen in the beginning of "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer
".
While police and operational backup personnel have supported Casey and Sarah in various episodes, Chuck is revealed near the climax of "Chuck Versus the Ex
" to have gained the contact information required to summon such teams on his own initiative. Moments later, it is further revealed that Chuck carries a badge and credentials which give him some degree of authority over local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the police and FBI. This is demonstrated in the episode when, upon arriving at an emergency situation where an assassin released a biological weapon on a scientific conference, Chuck promptly assumed command of the operation without dispute from the senior officer on-site. In "Chuck Versus the Beard", Chuck reveals to Ring agents Del and Neil that he has "Level 6" security clearance, though how high this places him in the CIA security hierarchy has not been expanded on, though it is high enough for Carina to become interested in Chuck.
Chuck has been charting every piece of information he can find on Fulcrum unknown to his handlers, the Intersect and various figures connected to the CIA and NSA on a board hidden behind the Tron
poster in his bedroom, and continues to express a desire to have the intel removed from his brain. Using the data, Chuck built a bot to search the web for Orion, which he can be seen using in the opening scenes of "Chuck Versus the Predator". He succeeds in doing what the CIA and NSA could not; he gets the attention of Orion who recognizes Chuck as the Intersect and thus wants to meet him. Orion reveals it is possible to remove the Intersect from Chuck's brain before his apparent suicide upon his capture by Fulcrum. It was later revealed in "Chuck Versus the Dream Job" that not only did Orion survive, but is actually Chuck's father.
In "Chuck Versus the Ring", after Bryce is killed, Chuck downloads the modified Intersect 2.0 before destroying the computer system. When confronted by agents belonging to the Ring
who had been intent on taking control of the system, he uses the knowledge received from the Intersect to quickly disable them in hand-to-hand combat. Earlier in the episode, Ted Roark reveals that Fulcrum has specifically ordered that Chuck be killed regardless of whether they recover the Intersect.
Chuck was fired by Beckman after failing his spy training in "Chuck Versus the Pink Slip", but by the end of the episode proved his value and was reinstated on the team. He was sent on his first solo mission by Daniel Shaw
in "Chuck Versus First Class
". Throughout the third season Chuck continued to train with Sarah, Casey, and Shaw. In "Chuck Versus the Final Exam
", Chuck completed his last tests (with Casey's help) and was activated as a full-fledged spy by Beckman and ordered to report to Washington, D.C. for induction. He quits being a spy but after finding his father's secret room it is uncertain whether he'll remain a civilian. In the premiere of season 4 it is revealed that after the success of Operation Bartowski, the President made Chuck a priority and is forced to become a spy again at the orders of Beckman.
It is revealed that Chuck comes from a long line of spies as his father told him through the electronic message.
In "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock
" Beckman expresses a great deal of pride in Chuck's development as an operative, after Chuck outlines a complex plan to lure Casey's old team out of hiding by using Casey himself as the bait. However the realization that he is putting his friend in danger for his own purposes unsettles him greatly, and he is prepared to call off his clandestine search for his mother entirely to protect them.
Due to his "exceptional field service", Chuck received his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Stanford, a degree he was only 12 credits short of earning when he was expelled. Sarah and Casey both played a significant role in this development. In "Chuck Versus the Dream Job", we learn that Stephen (his father) is really Orion, the Intersect's creator. Although Stephen J. Bartowski
would appear in "Chuck Versus the Dream Job", no real information about their mother has been given, except that she left them at a young age and her name is Mary Elizabeth. Chuck and Ellie celebrate "Mother's Day" each year with dinner to celebrate the day they both learned to take care of each other.
In the Season Two finale, Chuck finally quits the Buy More as a wedding present to Ellie, who has been encouraging him to live up to his potential. By the beginning of the third season, Chuck is still living with Ellie and Devon. At the end of the premier they move out leaving Chuck with the apartment to himself until Morgan agrees to move in (to Ellie's disappointment). Chuck returns to his old position at the Buy More for his cover.
Chuck was ultimately unable to protect his sister from his spy life. By the end of Season Three, the Ring took advantage of Ellie to lure their father out of hiding in an attempt to capture the Governor for Shaw. She was further manipulated by Justin Sullivan, and was in his "protective custody" when Chuck, Sarah and Casey unwittingly trailed Shaw to a CIA facility as part of Shaw's plan to discredit Operation Bartowski. Chuck accidentally revealed his spy connections when he punched out Justin in front of Ellie. The events also lead to the death of Stephen, who Shaw murdered for the sole purpose of compromising Chuck's emotions, rendering the Intersect unusable. After being captured by Shaw and then rescued by Ellie, Devon and Morgan, Chuck agreed to quit the CIA for Ellie's sake once the Ring was defeated.
However Chuck was forced to begin lying to Ellie again at the beginning of Season 4 after being coerced back into the Agency by General Beckman when his rogue search for his mother coincided with Casey and Sarah's own missions to bring down Volkoff Industries. Chuck did eventually admit to Ellie that he was searching for Mary, but kept his return to government work a secret. In "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" Chuck spoke to his mother for the first time—presumably since she left the family some twenty years earlier—when she contacted him at the conclusion of his operation to extract information on her whereabouts from Casey's old special forces team. Chuck was stunned and disheartened when what he had learned suggested Mary may have been working for Volkoff all along.
Ellie announced to Chuck that she was pregnant in the beginning of season 4, which was a contributing factor to him not tellng her of the search for their mother. Ellie's pregnancy progresses as the season goes on, and in the Season 4 mid-season finale, Chuck's niece, Clara, is born.
would appear as Chuck and Ellie's father in a three-episode story alongside Chevy Chase
.
Interviews with Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz have likened Chuck's development in the first two seasons to an origin story, describing Chuck as Luke Skywalker
and born into his role as opposed to Peter Parker who stumbled into it. Season two especially has focused on Chuck's evolution from a regular guy to show that he has the potential to be a true hero.
Zachary Levi has indicated that by the beginning of Season Three, two characters will have discovered Chuck's secret life. In "Chuck Versus the Colonel", Chuck reveals his work as a spy to Captain Awesome, but implores him to keep it secret.
Zachary Levi has suggested that the new skills Chuck learns from Intersect 2.0 will fade again after use.
Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak have confirmed that Intersect 2.0 will introduce a number of complications in Chuck's development as a spy. The most significant is that Chuck's emotional state will have a direct impact on the functionality of his abilities, as the modifications his father made at the government's request were designed for Bryce Larkin, a trained agent capable of controlling his feelings. Schwartz and Fedak have indicated Chuck's emotional state could lead to an unpredictable and potentially dangerous response from the Intersect to those around him, and that a substantial part of the third season will center on Chuck learning to control and focus his emotional state, and with it his control of the Intersect.
Actor Joshua Rush
was added to the recurring cast to play young Chuck in flashbacks. He first appeared in the role in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II", and returned in the Season 4 premiere, "Chuck Versus the Anniversary
".
Chuck, who has an aversion to violence and a low tolerance for pain, unwittingly enters a world of people willing to do violence to him. He is caring and sensitive, and those around him are often placed in danger. He is a trusting individual suddenly surrounded by people who constantly deceive him as a matter of course, to include his allies, one of whom is also his love interest; adversaries and allies alike take advantage of his naivete and generally friendly nature. He is trustworthy, dependable and supportive of those he cares about, and he is forced to lie to, disappoint and even shame them in order to protect them.
He has a deep sense of personal responsibility and honor, but these can put him in even greater danger; however, this sense and his determination to do the right thing has the habit of inspiring those around him to act against their nature and do the right thing themselves. Carina Miller, who is a selfish agent, was moved enough by Chuck's refusal to leave Sarah to fend for herself that she agreed to help when her instinct was to take off and abandon Sarah. The same can be said for Roan Montgomery (admits cowardice), Craig and Laura Turner (turned traitor), and Stephen Bartowski (default reaction is to run).
He is portrayed as a romantic in a situation in which he can't have a real relationship: all potential girlfriends may have ulterior motives, his main love interest must maintain professional distance (in part to keep them safe), and people in the spy business are often used/manipulated.
Most of all, he has a desire to live a normal life, when circumstances (including his natural abilities) constantly put him in a position of unique responsibility to do the extraordinary.
To rise to the occasion, Chuck must rely on what strengths he has.
His affable and wholesome nature makes those around him protective of him. At Stanford, Bryce protects Chuck from a life that he thinks will destroy Chuck, though this does cause Chuck some pain. Sarah immediately gets the impression that Chuck is a good guy after they meet, which leads her to protect him rather than suspect him of being a villain, and breaks protocol repeatedly (even risking her career and freedom) to help Chuck. Casey has trouble bringing himself to kill Chuck, even on orders. Jill, a Fulcrum agent, has trouble betraying Chuck, and risks being recaptured to go back and tell Chuck where his father is being taken. Even Shaw, following being turned into a Ring Agent, protected Chuck's identity as the Intersect from the Ring.
Among his excellent problem-solving skills, Chuck is proficient in the use, identification, repair and manipulation of a variety of electronics due to his experience in the Nerd Herd. These skills have come in handy many times, and his job as a member of the Nerd Herd has given him a good cover on missions. His job at the Buy More has, however, been a double-edged sword; he has been called away from the Buy More or away from his handlers by enemy agents (or, in Carina's case, agents who are not trusted) on a false 'computer emergency.'
At base, Chuck has inherited and developed a powerful intellect and has an impressive ability to solve puzzles. In "Chuck Versus the Alma Mater
," Professor Fleming touts Chuck's ability to retain subliminal information, saying that his essay responses correlated to 98% of the exam, making him one of the top candidates for a CIA military project (and the ideal recipient of the Intersect).
His well-developed geek interests, from music to video games to learning the Klingon language, have managed to come in handy on several missions. He has used a Tron
movie poster and a comic book to hide his personal research from his handlers.
And last, although he tends to be visibly frightened in situations involving guns and danger, he has a deep reserve of courage, and almost always summons the nerve to risk his own life during the course of a mission if he deems it necessary (such as if Sarah Walker's life is at risk). Even the fear itself comes in handy: Chuck takes advantage of his keen fear of needles by inciting a torturer to threaten him with a needle, so that he faints.
In "Chuck Versus First Class", Shaw expresses the opinion that in some ways Casey and Sarah have held Chuck back in his development as a spy, due to his reliance on them to help him in difficult or dangerous situations. Both objected to Shaw sending Chuck out alone on a mission. Chuck was eager for an opportunity to get out from under his teammates' control and not have to "stay in the car".
"Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler
" demonstrates the degree to which Chuck's personality has changed over the course of the series. Devon notes the ease with which Chuck is now able to lie to his sister, and he "burned" his first asset by using the relationship and turning him over to the same protective custody he himself was once faced with. At the end of the episode Chuck began drinking to cope with his actions. This change was further highlighted in "Chuck Versus the Fake Name
", where he is increasingly disturbed by what he is becoming and telling Ellie he doesn't know who he is anymore.
In "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
," Morgan reveals that Chuck suffers from eczema (which Chuck admitted to having earlier in the series) and is an avid fan of DC Comics. In "Chuck Versus the Role Models
", it is revealed that Chuck is allergic to cats and Chuck admits to being allergic to all members of the polecat family (Whether this is true or said to avoid spending time at Jeff's residence is unknown).
Chuck's loyalty and dependability to his best friend and his family have given him people he can always fall back on throughout the series, despite the strains introduced by his spy life as mentioned above. Casey is impressed by Chuck's loyalty to Morgan.
Chuck's good nature, humor, emotional supportiveness and obvious desire for a normal life have helped endear him to Sarah, who ultimately prefers Chuck to both Cole Barker and Bryce Larkin, both of whom are braver and better in combat than Chuck. Their relationship continues to develop despite constant setbacks. Chuck's personality is also a big factor in Lou's attraction to him.
Although he does not hold a management position at the Buy More, both the sales associates and Nerd Herd staff look to him for guidance and leadership. Co-worker Anna Wu (Julia Ling
) explained to a corporate efficiency expert that the store's chain of command is "There's Chuck, then there's the rest of us. Oh, and then there's Jeff", and Lester Patel (Vik Sahay
) reports that when unsure in a situation, asks himself, "WWCD, what would Chuck do?" When asked "Who personifies the Buy More ideal? Who makes the trains run on time? Who provides your moral compass? Who holds the team together?" the staff unanimously answers "Chuck". Even Big Mike holds Chuck in high regard, and has frequently turned to Chuck when he has things that need to be done and done right, and would have preferred him as Assistant Manager over Harry Tang. When Ned asks who is in charge at the Buy More, after he took the people there hostage, everyone, including Emmett and Big Mike, answers "Chuck". When Big Mike's new girlfriend revealed her son worked at the Buy More, Big Mike openly hoped that it was Chuck.
For these reasons and because several missions have dragged him through old personal anxieties, he was initially reluctant to participate in missions. By the middle of the second season, though, he began to look forward to missions and has even been disappointed when his handlers didn't have a new assignment for him.
However, this was contingent upon the fact that he still had the Intersect in his head. Chuck frequently expressed a desire to return to a "normal" life, based partly on his understanding that having the Intersect in his head is a barrier to a real relationship with Sarah. He was determined to remove the Intersect from his head once he began to believe it was a possibility, and pursued that possibility even at risk to himself. Once the Intersect was removed, Chuck turned down an offer to become an analyst on the new Intersect project.
In "Chuck Versus the Ring", Chuck decides to help Sarah rescue Casey (who fortunately did not need to be rescued) and Bryce and prevent the Intersect from falling into the wrong hands, and explains to his father that he is doing so because he loves Sarah. He strongly insists on joining the mission to the Intersect room, and argues that he is uniquely qualified to help. When he finds Bryce dying and is suddenly faced with the choice of downloading the Intersect again or just destroying it, he reflects on the confidence that others have in him (that he is both good and capable) and his sense of duty to protect those close to him. He downloads the Intersect, marking a shift from being a reluctant asset to being a willing agent.
In the aftermath, Chuck shows an unusual enthusiasm for becoming a different person as he gets the chance to train to be a spy. He soon turns down an offer from Sarah to finally run away together, choosing instead to go through with the training. Later, he explains that he made that choice because he has a unique ability to help a lot of people, including his friends, his family, and Sarah, and because he had learned from her to act for the greater good despite his personal feelings.
Chuck begins to challenge himself to prove he is a real spy. In "Chuck Versus First Class", when Agent Shaw concludes that Chuck's handlers have been holding back his development as a spy, Chuck agrees, and welcomes the news that Shaw is assigning him to a solo mission. And though he is clearly conflicted, he "burns" an asset, relegating that person to a life in an isolated facility instead of letting him escape; Chuck explains his decision by telling the asset, "I'm not [your friend]; I'm a spy".
However, when options necessitate the use of violence, Chuck is able to use means that could injure or kill. Later, during the events of "Chuck Versus the Suburbs", Fulcrum was attempting to refine their own version of the Intersect. The device was flawed, and except for Chuck, those subjected to the test were killed or driven insane. When Chuck saw Casey sneak up to the controls, although fully aware of what would happen to the Fulcrum agents who were in the test room, Chuck signaled Casey to activate the Intersect in order to prevent them from testing on Sarah. This incident was the first time that Chuck has willingly and personally taken a course of action where he knew that someone was going to be hurt or even killed as a result. In "Chuck Versus the Colonel", Chuck used a Dodge Challenger
to deliberately run down a crowd of Fulcrum operatives who were holding Sarah prisoner.
Chuck finally handled a gun for the first time on an actual mission in "Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon
;" it did not go well as Chuck accidentally stumbles and drops the gun, shooting Perseus in the leg. Despite his aversion to firearms established in this episode and earlier in "Chuck Versus the Marlin", Chuck points a gun at Casey so that he can get away to go on a rogue mission; Casey informs him that it is only a tranquilizer gun, and Chuck puts three darts into Casey. Chuck later asked Sarah if he got to have a gun for their rescue of his father in "Chuck Versus the Colonel".
In the beginning of Season 3 he is willing to personally harm others in combat (and take some pride in his ability to do so), though he still prefers to keep violence to a minimum and a preference to abstain from killing, or at the very least, being directly responsible for someone's death. Despite a long series of female adversaries, in "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners", Chuck still can't bring himself to hit a woman. In "Chuck Versus First Class", Chuck specifically reaffirmed his aversion to killing when packing for his first solo mission, having chosen nunchaku
as a backup weapon in the event he needed to defend himself. Chuck was later ordered to kill a rogue CIA agent selling secrets to the Ring. Although he attempted to carry out the assignment he hesitated at the last moment, and was only saved when the target attempted to draw his own weapon when Casey intervened and gunned him down first. Chuck was ultimately unable to avoid resorting to deadly force, and when Shaw attempted to kill Sarah, Chuck was forced to shoot him first. Shaw survived the shot, and Chuck, given a second chance decided on arrest rather than vengeance; while Shaw said it made him weak, Sarah said it is what makes him great.
In Season Four, Chuck has still, to date, not been directly responsible for killing another person, and has been more successful finding a non-violent method to prevent catastrophe. He's prevented civil war and a nuclear strike by surrendering and acting as a mediator and marriage counselor between Generallisimo Goya and his wife, Hortencia. He also prevents his mother from using a gun to dispatch Volkoff's guards, tranqs them himself and informs Mary that he's going to have a talk about the benefits of tranq guns. When Alexei Volkoff tries to use Chuck's gun on him, Chuck informs him that he was never going to kill Alexei, a fact that was proven when Alexei pulls the trigger and Chuck reveals that he "has this thing about bullets."
Ironically, despite his dislike of guns and aversion to using lethal force, several episodes have suggested that Chuck is an excellent shot even without the aid of the Intersect. In particular, in "Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler" he was able to pick up and accurately fire a tranq gun at Manoosh from a substantial distance with almost no time spent aiming and no observable flash. In "Chuck Versus the American Hero
," he tranqs a Ring agent from approximately the same distance and comments "No flash necessary." Chuck's frequent explanation to his marksmanship has been Nintendo's Duck Hunt
video game; however, upon learning of the Intersect, Morgan accuses Chuck of cheating when Chuck completes a round with a perfect score, stating 'You flashed on Duck Hunt.'
Chuck has become more proficient through development of the Intersect, as well. Stephen Bartowski teaches Chuck how to perform a superhuman feat of computation using the Intersect in "Chuck Versus the Dream Job". In "Chuck Versus the First Kill", Chuck is able to flash on multiple subjects at the same time. And the enhanced Intersect 2.0 grants Chuck physical abilities: his first flash teaches him kung fu, marking the first time Chuck has excelled in any kind of combat.
In the third season, Chuck has already shown that he is beginning to overcome some of his fears. Despite his previous fear of heights, he has now arrived at home wearing a harness from being dropped off by a helicopter, and he has used a zip-line. He is also noticeably less squeamish around blood in "Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte
" than he was in previous seasons. Finally, in Chuck versus the Tooth, while he is still phobic of needles, Chuck no longer faints.
By Season 4 Chuck has proven himself to be a fully capable agent, even without the aid of the Intersect (although he still uses flashes for assistance in combat, and for other skills Sarah and Casey have picked up over years of training). His success as an agent ultimately leads to the President making Chuck's reinstatement a priority and Beckman forcing Chuck back into CIA service. In "Chuck Versus the Suitcase
", Chuck shows Q-like capability when he develops his tranq gloves. In "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat
", Ellie remarks that she had never seen Chuck look as alive as he did when drawing on the Intersect to help her, Devon, Sarah, and Generalissimo Goya escape a coup in Costa Gravas. Chuck also planned an elaborate trap to lure Casey's old team out of hiding in "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" as part of his attempts to locate his mother, although it is left unclear how much of the plan was influenced by Casey and Sarah (though, as the original thought was Chuck's, it's very likely that Sarah's and Casey's involvements were minor.) In "Chuck versus Phase Three", General Beckman assures the team that Chuck, even without the Intersect, has a place as a spy.
Chuck's remarkable ability and natural aptitude with the Intersect has caused many members of the military and spy community to resent him; the most notable to date has been Director Jane Bentley, who briefly became the Project Leader and used Chuck's laptop to create Intersect Agents in "Chuck Versus the A-Team
". After a major debacle caused by one of Bentley's "trigger-happy" agents, Bentley was removed as Project Leader, and Beckman charged Chuck with the task of finding his replacement, essentially promoting him to Project Leader.
Since then, he has developed romantically with Sarah despite constant setbacks, he has (with the help of the government) finally attained his degree from Stanford and is able to successfully get a job at a top technology company (although for a mission), and is determined to take control of his life.
In the third season, Chuck has embraced his destiny to become a spy, and turns down Sarah's offer to run away together, though he still loves her. He also more than once expresses an interest in getting a better cover job.
At the end of "Chuck Versus the Other Guy", Chuck and Sarah finally get together and become a couple. He has also proposed that they would be together in 30 years. In Chuck Versus the Suitcase
while conversing with Sarah, Chuck has hinted that they were "next" after Devon and Ellie to get married and have children. This initially horrified Sarah, but she has since confirmed that she would marry him if he proposed. In "Chuck Versus Phase Three" it has been revealed to everybody that Chuck has an extravagant proposal plan, which he has since revised. In "Chuck Versus the Push Mix
" Chuck finally proposes to Sarah, and she accepts. By "Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible
", the couple are already planning their wedding. And on Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger
, the couple married and bought the Buy More, from all of the Volkoff Industries
' assets, courtesy of Hartley Winterbottom; AKA the former Alexei Volkoff
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fiction television show Chuck
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. He is portrayed by Zachary Levi
Zachary Levi
Zachary Levi Pugh , better known by his stage name Zachary Levi , is an American television actor, director, and singer known for the roles of Kipp Steadman in Less than Perfect, Chuck Bartowski in Chuck, and Flynn Rider in Tangled.- Early life :Zachary Levi Pugh was born in Lake Charles,...
.
Character profile
At the outset of the show, Chuck Bartowski is presented as a twenty something underachiever who lives in the Echo Park Section of Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and works at a dead end job at the Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
Buy More
Buy More
Buy More is a fictional big box electronics retail chain in NBC's action-comedy series Chuck. The Buy More is a parody of similar chains, particularly Best Buy....
in its Nerd Herd division (a fictionalized Geek Squad
Geek Squad
The Geek Squad is a subsidiary of the Best Buy Company and is based in Richfield, Minnesota. It was originally founded on June 16, 1994 by Robert Stephens. The company offers various computer-related services and accessories for residential and commercial clients...
). Chuck's life stalled after his college roommate, Bryce Larkin
Bryce Larkin
Bryce Larkin is a recurring character on the spy comedy series Chuck on NBC. Bryce is the ex-college roommate and fraternity brother of the series' main character, Chuck Bartowski and was formerly partnered and once romantically involved with Chuck's CIA handler Sarah Walker. Bryce was responsible...
, planted test answers under Chuck's bed and then reported him to the officials, which led to Chuck's expulsion from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(where he was a scholarship student) in 2003 — only twelve credits shy of completing his bachelor's degree. For a long time, Chuck hated Bryce for his betrayal, but he later learns that Bryce got him expelled to protect him from being recruited into the CIA because he knew Chuck wouldn't survive in the field. He also lost his college girlfriend, Jill Roberts
Jill Roberts
Dr. Jill Roberts is a recurring character on the action/comedy series Chuck on NBC. She is a prominent figure in the series mythology, though did not appear until the middle of the second season. Jill is Chuck's ex-girlfriend from Stanford, and is portrayed by Jordana Brewster...
(Jordana Brewster
Jordana Brewster
Jordana Brewster is an American actress. She began her acting career in her late teens, with a 1995 one-episode role in the soap opera All My Children. She followed that appearance with the recurring role as Nikki Munson in As the World Turns, for which Brewster was nominated for Outstanding Teen...
). Following his expulsion, Chuck moved in with his sister and began working at the Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
branch of Buy More. At some point over the next five years Chuck becomes the Nerd Herd supervisor.
That's his job at the time of the pilot
Chuck Versus the Intersect
"Chuck Versus the Intersect" is the pilot episode of the American action-comedy television series Chuck. The episode was directed by McG and written by series co-creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak...
, when the viewers are introduced to the key people in Chuck's current life: his older sister, Eleanor Fay "Ellie" Bartowski, M.D.
Ellie Bartowski
Eleanor Faye "Ellie" Bartowski Woodcomb, M.D., Ph.D., is the older sister of title character Chuck Bartowski on the television series Chuck. She is portrayed by actress Sarah Lancaster.-Biography:...
(Sarah Lancaster
Sarah Lancaster
Sarah Lancaster is an American actress. Since the show's inception in 2007, she has co-starred in the NBC comedy-spy series Chuck, as the title character's sister, Ellie Bartowski....
), her live-in boyfriend, Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb
Captain Awesome
Devon Christian Woodcomb, M.D., often referred to as Captain Awesome or simply Awesome, is a character on the TV series Chuck, and is portrayed by the actor Ryan McPartlin. The character's nickname comes from Chuck's assertion that "everything he does is awesome," and his frequent use of the word...
(Ryan McPartlin
Ryan McPartlin
Ryan McPartlin is an American actor, best known for his role as Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb on NBC's Chuck.-Early life:...
) and Chuck's best friend since childhood, Morgan Grimes
Morgan Grimes
Morgan Guillermo Grimes is a major character on the television series Chuck. He is portrayed by actor Joshua Gomez, and is the best friend of Chuck Bartowski....
. Very little else is known about his family. His mother left when Chuck was in the fifth grade and his father was "never really around" even before he also left (roughly eleven years ago), so Chuck and Ellie increasingly had to fend for themselves.
On his birthday in 2007, Chuck opens an email from Bryce Larkin that causes Chuck to download into his brain the full contents of a CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
/NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
supercomputer known as the Intersect
The Intersect
The Intersect is a fictional secret technology appearing in the television series Chuck. Within the series, it is used to house and analyze large quantities of encoded data...
, which has served as a database for their combined collected intelligence. Unbeknownst to Chuck, the Intersect computer has been destroyed, making his brain the only location of this top-secret information. The government learns that Chuck Bartowski was the last known person that Bryce Larkin contacted, so both the CIA and NSA (independent of each other) send agents to find him. The CIA dispatches field officer Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker (Chuck)
Sarah Lisa Bartowski is the alias of one of the main characters of the fictional television show Chuck on NBC. She is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski and is one of two agents assigned by the NSA and CIA to protect Chuck Bartowski after he unwittingly downloads the secret government computer known...
(Yvonne Strahovski
Yvonne Strahovski
Yvonne Strahovski is an Australian actress. Born in Australia to Polish immigrant parents, Strahovski speaks Polish and English...
) to retrieve a copy of the Intersect, while the NSA sends then-Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
John Casey
John Casey (Chuck)
Colonel John Casey is portrayed by actor Adam Baldwin on the television show Chuck on NBC. Prior to the episode "Chuck Versus the Tic Tac," he was partnered with CIA agent Sarah Walker to protect Chuck Bartowski....
(Adam Baldwin
Adam Baldwin
Adam Baldwin is an American actor, known for his roles as Animal Mother in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Ricky Linderman in My Bodyguard, Knowle Rohrer in The X-Files, and Marcus Hamilton in Joss Whedon's Angel...
) to capture Chuck. The two agents eventually cross paths, and Sarah fends off Casey. They then discover that Chuck is a human version of the Intersect who sees a rapid-fire series of images (or "flashes") of intelligence from the Intersect database whenever his brain recognizes a bit of related information with his own eyes or ears. The two agencies conclude that Chuck must be protected and assign Sarah and Casey jointly to the task.
Series Development
Chuck is the lead character on the show. Thus, major seasonal plot arcs generally revolve around the weekly missions that Chuck, Sarah and Casey engage in, as well as Chuck's relationships with Morgan Grimes (his best friend and co-worker), his fellow Nerd Herders and co-workers, his sister Ellie and her boyfriend (later husband) Devon. Chuck is also very worried about his future and wants desperately to remove the Intersect from his brain, although by the beginning of season three he has come to accept his role as the Intersect. Chuck is often involved in the major and secondary episodic plots and the two sometimes intertwine.The Intersect
Events in the series largely revolve around intelligence Chuck "flashes" on via the Intersect. Initially, Chuck is in possession of the original Intersect, the electronic version of which is destroyed by Bryce in the pilot. It is later updated in "Chuck Versus the Break-UpChuck Versus the Break-Up
"Chuck Versus the Break-Up" is the third episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on October 13, 2008. Chuck Bartowski is overcome with jealousy when his nemesis Bryce Larkin , Sarah Walker's ex-lover and partner, makes an unexpected return...
". Chuck is forcibly uploaded with the Fulcrum
Fulcrum (Chuck)
Fulcrum is the codename of a fictional hostile espionage organization on the television series Chuck. Fulcrum serves as the series' main antagonists up until the end of season two, though their specific goals beyond acquiring the Intersect have not yet been fully revealed.-History:Very little...
Intersect in "Chuck Versus the Suburbs
Chuck Versus the Suburbs
"Chuck Versus the Suburbs" is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on February 16, 2009. General Beckman sends Chuck Bartowski, Sarah Walker, and John Casey to an Los Angeles suburb on an undercover mission, with Chuck and Sarah posing as a married couple...
". Afterwards, flashes consisting of Fulcrum data are differentiated by a slight reddish tint. By the end of season two, Chuck chooses to download Intersect 2.0. Season three reveals that Chuck's ability to flash is dependent on his emotional state.
In many episodes Chuck, Sarah, and Casey work with other federal agents, or occasionally agents of allied foreign governments. Unless compelled to reveal the truth, Casey and Sarah almost always identify Chuck as an "analyst", not trained for field operations (to cover his lack of spy training); since virtually all of the intelligence community's secrets are contained in the Intersect, the knowledge that Chuck Bartowski is the Intersect is on a need-to-know basis. Only ten people knew that Chuck was the original Intersect, four of whom were killed, and two incarcerated. When initially trying to determine if the Intersect information could be removed from Chuck's mind in "Chuck Versus the Helicopter
Chuck Versus the Helicopter
"Chuck Versus the Helicopter" is the second episode of the television series Chuck. It aired on October 1, 2007. Chuck is meeting with a government specialist connected with developing the Intersect to determine if the secrets can be removed from Chuck's head, but suddenly finds himself unsure...
", they contacted Dr. Jonas Zarnow, who had worked on the Intersect project, and set up an elaborate system that allowed him to test Chuck's Intersect abilities without learning Chuck's real identity or even seeing his face; this proved a wise precaution because the doctor went so far as to fake his own death and kidnap Sarah Walker in an effort to force her to reveal the Intersect's identity. Chuck is painfully aware that possessing the Intersect information not only potentially puts him in great danger, but also threatens the lives of his family, friends and those around him.
The CIA and NSA were working on replacing the destroyed Intersect, at which point the government would no longer need him. Chuck believed that when that day came he and Sarah would be free to pursue a "real" relationship and he would have his "normal" life back. However, Casey was secretly assigned by Graham and Beckman to terminate Chuck once "Operation Bartowski" was completed, as it would be difficult to guarantee the security of the data. When the new electronic Intersect was about to be activated in "Chuck Versus the First Date
Chuck Versus the First Date
"Chuck Versus the First Date" is the second season premiere of the action-comedy series Chuck. It first aired on September 29, 2008. Chuck's time as the Intersect is coming to a close as the CIA and NSA have completed construction of the new Intersect....
", Casey's orders reverted to the elimination of Chuck to protect the information in Chuck's brain. Although Casey appealed the mission and noted Chuck's honorable service, he reluctantly prepared to assassinate Chuck and was visibly relieved when the mission was canceled at the last moment following the destruction of the rebuilt Intersect. As revealed in "Chuck Versus the Suburbs", Fulcrum believes the CIA has officially abandoned the Intersect project.
General Beckman made it clear to Chuck in "Chuck Versus the Predator
Chuck Versus the Predator
"Chuck Versus the Predator" is the seventeenth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on March 23, 2009. Chuck Bartowski reluctantly tells his handlers that he has been contacted by Orion, the mastermind behind the Intersect computer and the person who can erase the Intersect...
" that she doesn't want the Intersect removed from his brain, and that she expects him to become a spy. Chuck promptly begins this new phase of his life by hiding intel on the design of the Intersect sent to him from Orion (later revealed to be Stephen Bartowski, his father). Orion also indicated that the cube-shaped Intersect 2.0 he created, if reconfigured, could be used to remove the Intersect from Chuck's brain. Stephen and Chuck infiltrate a Fulcrum compound where the device is stored (at which time Stephen teaches Chuck to force himself to flash), but discover that Fulcrum had not finished the Cube and so it can't yet be used to help Chuck; Fulcrum arrives, kidnaps Stephen Bartowski and forces him to complete the project for them.
In "Chuck Versus the Colonel
Chuck Versus the Colonel
"Chuck Versus the Colonel" is the 21st episode of Chuck's second season, and the 34th episode overall. It aired on April 20, 2009. Chuck and Sarah go on the run in an effort to locate Chuck's father. At the Buy More, Morgan becomes a pariah among his coworkers after Big Mike's demotion.-Main...
", Chuck locates the base where Fulcrum has taken his father to work on the Intersect Cube. His father has completed the Cube, but against Fulcrum's wishes has done what he originally intended and configured the Cube to remove the Intersect from Chuck's brain.
However in "Chuck Versus the Ring
Chuck Versus the Ring
"Chuck Versus the Ring" is the second season finale of Chuck, which aired on April 27, 2009. The day of Ellie and Devon's wedding arrives, but Chuck finds himself forced to protect both his sister and the event from a vengeful Ted Roark....
", Stephen reveals that he has reconfigured the Cube yet again in a deal with the government, and Chuck subsequently downloads an enhanced Intersect which includes physical skills as well, such as advanced martial arts, before he destroys the Cube to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Actor Zachary Levi has confirmed that the new abilities provided by the Intersect will have a glitch and won't last. Part of the third season will therefore focus on Chuck learning to use and control the new abilities of Intersect 2.0. These abilities include: Martial arts (Both bare hand and with melee weapons [nunchuks, tonfas, swords and staves]), musical aptitude, gymnastics, dancing, medical knowledge, multiple languages, marksmanship training (though he rarely has need for this skill).
Part of the third season focused on Chuck learning to use and control the new abilities of Intersect 2.0. Creator Josh Schwartz explains that the Intersect 2.0 "was designed for Bryce Larkin. Somebody who was cold and calculating and in total control of his emotions. If Chuck can’t control his emotions, he can’t control his new Intersect". This was seen often early in season 3, when Chuck found it difficult to flash.
With the aid of narcotics (an emotion-suppressor called Laudanol), Chuck demonstrates a flawlessly functional Intersect flash in "Chuck Versus the Tic Tac
Chuck Versus the Tic Tac
"Chuck Versus the Tic Tac" is the tenth episode of the third season of the television series Chuck, airing on March 15, 2010. When Casey's former commanding officer returns, Chuck and Sarah take it upon themselves to clear his name when he is arrested for treason...
", where Chuck's reflexes and strength border on superhuman. Without emotions, Chuck's Intersect flash allows him to dodge bullets and lift a Ring agent off the ground by his throat. However, the lack of emotion nearly causes Chuck to kill in cold-blood, and only Sarah's look of fear lifts him from his stupor.
In "Chuck Versus the Tooth
Chuck Versus the Tooth
"Chuck Versus the Tooth" is the 16th episode of Chuck third season, and originally aired on May 10, 2010. When Chuck struggles with disturbing dreams, he believes his most recent one predicts danger for a visiting head of state. Beckman, however, is unconvinced and assigns Chuck to meet with a CIA...
", it is revealed that Intersect 2.0 has begun having the same effect on him as the Fulcrum Intersect on the hapless agents upon whom Fulcrum tested their device on. The computer began influencing Chuck's dreams, and the CIA psychiatrist Chuck was ordered to consult expressed a concern that the system may eventually destroy Chuck's mind. The diagnosis was initially well-founded; in "Chuck Versus the Subway
Chuck Versus the Subway
"Chuck Versus the Subway" is the 18th episode of the third season of Chuck. It originally aired on May 24, 2010 in a special two-hour block with "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II." As the Intersect continues to malfunction Stephen hurries to complete the Governor for his son...
" the flashes begin to cause an intense pain that delay Chuck's ability to utilize the flash, and eventually render Chuck completely defenseless when Chuck attempts to regain the Governor from Shaw after Shaw's exposure in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
"Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II" is the 19th episode and season finale of the third season of Chuck. It was originally aired May 24, 2010 in a special two-hour block with "Chuck Versus the Subway." Team Bartowski escapes execution by Shaw, thanks to Morgan and Devon...
."
In Chuck vs the Living Dead, Chuck's father offers to build him a device called the "Governor" which will control the electrical energy of the Intersect and protect Chuck's brain. He finally obtained this device for good in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
"Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II" is the 19th episode and season finale of the third season of Chuck. It was originally aired May 24, 2010 in a special two-hour block with "Chuck Versus the Subway." Team Bartowski escapes execution by Shaw, thanks to Morgan and Devon...
" after Daniel Shaw
Daniel Shaw
Daniel Shaw is a fictional government agent on the television series Chuck. Shaw is introduced in the third season episode "Chuck Versus Operation Awesome" as a government agent specializing in the terrorist organization known as the Ring, and who becomes a mentor to Chuck Bartowski and ultimately...
attempted to steal it from him for use to control his own Intersect, which The Ring
The Ring (Chuck)
The Ring is a major spy organization on the television series Chuck. The main antagonist of the second season , Fulcrum, is revealed in the Season Two finale to be only one part of the Ring, which then serves as the main antagonist of Season Three...
had successfully built and uploaded into his brain.
It was revealed in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
"Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II" is the 19th episode and season finale of the third season of Chuck. It was originally aired May 24, 2010 in a special two-hour block with "Chuck Versus the Subway." Team Bartowski escapes execution by Shaw, thanks to Morgan and Devon...
" that Chuck had inadvertently uploaded an early version of the Intersect as a child. This memory also triggered a reaction that Chuck referred to as a "reboot," where Chuck's mind apparently shuts down, possibly countering the "overheating" effects the Intersect has on the brain, causing the Intersect to, once again, function flawlessly; this reaction is not an isolated incident: In "Chuck Versus the Suburbs
Chuck Versus the Suburbs
"Chuck Versus the Suburbs" is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on February 16, 2009. General Beckman sends Chuck Bartowski, Sarah Walker, and John Casey to an Los Angeles suburb on an undercover mission, with Chuck and Sarah posing as a married couple...
," Chuck experienced a similar reaction when forced to download the flawed Fulcrum Intersect, causing Chuck to briefly retreat into a catatonic state (which Fulcrum mistook as brain-death) before he regains consciousness.
While Chuck is not the only person in possession of an Intersect (Stephen Bartowski was in possession of an Intersect prototype; Daniel Shaw is in possession of the Ring Intersect; Morgan Grimes is housing the current Intersect), Chuck is the only one to have multiple Intersects uploaded: The first Intersect (uploaded in the pilot), which was later erased by his father in "Chuck Versus the Colonel
Chuck Versus the Colonel
"Chuck Versus the Colonel" is the 21st episode of Chuck's second season, and the 34th episode overall. It aired on April 20, 2009. Chuck and Sarah go on the run in an effort to locate Chuck's father. At the Buy More, Morgan becomes a pariah among his coworkers after Big Mike's demotion.-Main...
" to give Chuck the chance to have a normal life, the Fulcrum Intersect (uploaded in "Chuck Versus the Suburbs
Chuck Versus the Suburbs
"Chuck Versus the Suburbs" is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on February 16, 2009. General Beckman sends Chuck Bartowski, Sarah Walker, and John Casey to an Los Angeles suburb on an undercover mission, with Chuck and Sarah posing as a married couple...
"), whose forced upload had killed all other test subjects except for him, the Intersect 2.0 he uploads in "Chuck Versus the Ring
Chuck Versus the Ring
"Chuck Versus the Ring" is the second season finale of Chuck, which aired on April 27, 2009. The day of Ellie and Devon's wedding arrives, but Chuck finds himself forced to protect both his sister and the event from a vengeful Ted Roark....
" and an early prototype of the Intersect [revealed to be in his possession since childhood in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
"Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II" is the 19th episode and season finale of the third season of Chuck. It was originally aired May 24, 2010 in a special two-hour block with "Chuck Versus the Subway." Team Bartowski escapes execution by Shaw, thanks to Morgan and Devon...
". Furthermore, he unwillingly uploaded an update to the original Intersect when putting on the sun glasses left by Bryce in "Chuck Versus the Break-Up
Chuck Versus the Break-Up
"Chuck Versus the Break-Up" is the third episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on October 13, 2008. Chuck Bartowski is overcome with jealousy when his nemesis Bryce Larkin , Sarah Walker's ex-lover and partner, makes an unexpected return...
," and a trial Fulcrum Intersect a day prior to the full Fulcrum Intersect upload. He is also the only person to have housed more than one version of the Intersect at the same time: The Original Intersect; The Fulcrum Intersect; The Intersect Prototype.
It is unclear however, what happened to the Fulcrum Intersect. As it is not stated otherwise, it seems as if it still is contained in Chuck's brain, even though there could be the possibility, that it was erased with the original Intersect, given that the one Stephen Bartowski used was originally made by Fulcrum. The Intersect prototype Chuck uploaded when he was a child seems to be still contained in his brain, but he never accessed it directly. It is probable however, either that his father erased it a long time ago or the data was not designed to be accessed in the same manner that Chuck retrieves information from the current Intersect (the latter is the more plausible as the creators of the series stated that the prototype simply uploaded data, not pertinant espionage information; how or if this information is even accessible is undetermined.)
In "Chuck Versus the First Fight
Chuck Versus the First Fight
"Chuck Versus the First Fight" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired November 1, 2010. In the wake of his first fight with Sarah, Chuck Bartowski embarks on a rogue mission to prove his mother's innocence, ultimately colliding with her MI6 handler, Gregory...
", Mary Bartowski neutralizes the Intersect with a device Stephen Bartowski created, to keep Chuck from being a spy and prevent him from danger. Chuck subsequently is unable to flash, even when in mortal danger. She however gives Ellie details about a car they used to drive as well, which contains a letter from their father and a computer, that, after having been fixed by the Buy Morons, contains the description of a "memory problem" which Ellie is able to solve. At the end of "Chuck Versus the Leftovers
Chuck Versus the Leftovers
"Chuck Versus the Leftovers" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired November 29, 2010. Chuck Bartowski's mother comes over for "Thanksgiving leftovers" dinner the day after the holiday...
" Awesome gives the laptop to Chuck, telling him that he probably could use it and that it contained the memory problem fixed by Ellie. Chuck consecutively uploads an Intersect update, which makes him able to flash again. Whether this just reverted the changes made by the device Mary Bartowski used on him or is a real update to the Intersect 2.0 remains unknown.
During the course of the series, Chuck's identity as the Human Intersect has been one of the most important and crucial secrets for the CIA and NSA to protect. However, Chuck's secret has managed to be disclosed to, or discovered by a number of people. To date, the following people have found out that Chuck is the human Intersect:
Allies
The following have known Chuck to be the Human Intersect and have gone to lengths to either protect that secret, or aid Chuck in some manner:- Agent Sarah Bartowski (née' Walker) - Chuck's CIA handler/ partner/ wife. (Figured out Chuck was the Intersect when he confessed to opening Bryce's e-mail.)
- Col. John Casey - Chuck's NSA handler/ partner/ Buy More co-worker. (Told Chuck was the Intersect by Sarah.)
- Agent Morgan Grimes - Chuck's best friend/ partner/ Buy More co-worker & manager. (Learned of the Intersect when Chuck confessed everything upon confessing to be a spy.)
- Ellie Bartowski-Woodcomb - Chuck's sister (Informed of intersect status by Chuck.)
- Brigadier General Diane Beckman- Team Bartwoski's Commanding Officer/ NSA (and CIA, with the death of Graham) Liaison. (Supposedly informed of Chuck's being the Intersect by Casey.)
- Director Langston Graham [Deceased] - Team Bartowski's Superior/ CIA Liaison. (Supposedly informed of Chuck's being the Intersect by Sarah.) [killed when the sabotaged Beta Intersect exploded]
- Agent Bryce Larkin [Deceased] - Chuck's college roommate/ CIA Agent. (Sent Chuck the Intersect e-mail.) [fatally wounded prior to uploading the Intersect 2.0]
- Agent Cole Barker - MI6 Agent. (Learned Chuck was the Intersect after Chuck, Sarah and Cole were captured by Fulcrum.)
- Dr. Howard Busgang/ Perseus [Deceased]- Intersect technician. (Witnessed Chuck flashing and deduced Chuck was the Intersect.) [Murdered by Fulcrum handler.]
- Agent Alexandra Forrest - Chuck's CIA handler (Sent to replace Sarah as Chuck's handler; privy to the knowledge of the intersect.)
- Stephen J. Bartowski/ Orion [Deceased] - Chuck's father/ Primary Intersect Technician. (Chuck used the intersect his father made at age 9, his father saw that the data was uploaded in Chuck's brain.; Witnessed Chuck flash to deduce that Chuck downoaded the 2.0) [murdered by Shaw]
- Dr. Leo Dreyfus - Chuck's CIA therapist. (Privy to knowledge of the Intersect)
- Mary Elizabeth Bartowski/ Frost- Chuck's Mother/ Volkoff Industries Enforcer/ Deep Cover Operative. (Unknown how she determined Chuck was the Intersect.)
- Agent Jim Rye [Deceased] - Chuck's partner/ therapist. (Brought in to repair the Intersect; Privy to knowledge of the Intersect) [Shot in the back by the Belgian]
- Hartley Winterbottom [In Hiding] - The real identity of Alexei VolkoffAlexei VolkoffAlexei Volkoff is the alias and alter ego of Hartley Winterbottom , a fictional character on the television series Chuck. Volkoff is the head of Volkoff Industries. For the first six episodes of the fourth season, he was an unseen character, directing his operatives from behind the scenes...
(Overheard information revealing Chuck as the intersect)
Enemies
While the discovery of Chuck as the Intersect has been viewed as the espionage world's version of the holy grail, the information has been proven to be a sure method to guarantee swift incarceration to a cell deep underground where "you'll never see the light of day ever again" or, simply, execution as the following have discovered:- Dr. Jonas Zarnow [Captured] - Intersect Technician/ Traitor (Witnessed Chuck flash and deduced he was the Intersect.) [Captured by Chuck trying to flee with the Intersect]
- Fulcrum Agent Tommy Delgado [Captured] - Fulcrum Agent (Deduced Chuck was the Intersect.) [Captured by Sarah, Bryce and Casey in a failed attempt to kidnap Chuck.]
- Fulcrum Agent Lizzie Shafai [Captured] - Fulcrum Agent/ Pita delivery girl. (Witnessed surveillance identifying Chuck as the Intersect.) [Captured by Sarah in a failed attempt to kidnap Chuck]
- Fulcrum Agent Frank Mauser [Deceased] - Fulcrum Agent/ L.A.P.D. Lieutenant hostage negotiator. (Chuck confessed to being the Intersect upon Mauser's threat to execute Ellie) [Executed by Sarah in failed attempt to kidnap Chuck]
- Meadow Branch Fulcrum Cell [Deceased/Incapacitated] - Fulcrum Scientist Cell assigned to rebuild the Intersect. (Forced Chuck to upload the Fulcrum Intersect.) [Killed or mentally incapacitated by an unprotected run of the Fulcrum Intersect]
- Ring Agent Miles (and team) [Captured] - Ring Operative/ former Member of Special Ops Force led by Col. Casey (Witnessed Chuck flash and deduced Chuck uploaded the Intersect 2.0.) [Captured by Chuck in a failed attempt to steal the Intersect 2.0]
- Ring Agent Justin Sullivan (and team) [Captured] - Ring Operative/ corrupt CIA Agent (subordinate to Daniel Shaw (?); presumed privy to Chuck's identity as the Intersect.) [Captured by Casey and Morgan trying to extract Ring Elders Team captured by Chuck and Sarah in a failed attempt to steal Stephen Bartowski's Governor]
- Ring Elders [Captured] - Daniel Shaw's Ring superiors (Unknown if Chuck's identity as the Intersect was disclosed.) [Captured by Morgan and Casey trying to flee a trap set by Team Bartowski]
- Ring Agent Daniel Shaw [Captured] - CIA Ring expert corrupted by the Ring. (Team Bartowski's lead agent upon the Team's discovery of the Ring; privy to knowledge of the Intersect.) [Captured by Chuck and Sarah in a final showdown with Chuck]
- Adelbert de Smet/ The Belgian [Captured] - Black Market Dealer (in possession of intel identifying Chuck as the Intersect.) [Captured by Sarah, Casey and Morgan in a failed attempt to isolate and repair the Intersect]
- Dr. Mueller [Captured] - Doctor/ Neurosurgeon (Attempted to force Chuck to flash by erasing memories non-pertinent to the Intersect.) [Captured by Sarah, Casey and Morgan in a failed attempt to isolate and repair the Intersect]
- Agent Clyde Decker - The CIA's "toughest" agent. Brought in to apprehend Chuck. (Privy to knowledge of the intersect)
Sarah Walker
A major thread throughout the series is that Chuck is in love with his CIA protector Sarah, who is pretending to be his girlfriend as part of her cover story. The two characters continue to become closer despite frequent setbacks and constant resistance due to their circumstances.Sarah is depicted as slower to recognize her own feelings toward Chuck than the other way around, and for various reasons has been reluctant to voice what she does feel. Despite Sarah characteristically hiding her real feelings, several other characters have detected a genuine attraction and pointed it out, as early as "Chuck Versus the Wookiee" when Carina (who is familiar with Sarah) tells Chuck that Sarah wants him, though she probably doesn't even know it yet.
Sarah and Chuck have shared kisses under unusual circumstances in "Chuck Versus the Imported Hard Salami
Chuck Versus the Imported Hard Salami
"Chuck Versus the Imported Hard Salami" aired on November 19, 2007. It is episode nine of the first season of Chuck. Chuck is ordered by General Beckman to take advantage of his new girlfriend, Lou, to get close to her smuggler ex-boyfriend, while Morgan looks for a girlfriend of his own.-Main...
" and "Chuck Versus the Seduction
Chuck Versus the Seduction
"Chuck Versus the Seduction" is the second episode of Season 2 of the U.S. television series Chuck, first airing October 6, 2008. Chuck must go undercover to retrieve the Cipher from Sasha Banachek , known as the Black Widow...
". In the former case, Sarah kisses Chuck seconds before the countdown on what they believe to be a bomb reaches zero. In the latter case, Seduction trainer Roan Montgomery (John Larroquette
John Larroquette
John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
) quickly discerned that there was more than a working relationship between Chuck and Sarah.
Sarah maintains that it would be unprofessional of her to actually engage in a real relationship with Chuck while she is serving as his CIA handler, and indeed her feelings for him have proven to be a liability at times, placing the mission and both of their lives at risk.
Complicating the developing relationship between Chuck and Sarah are a series of love triangles.
The longest-running triangle involved Chuck's nemesis Bryce Larkin, who was previously partnered with Sarah and developed a romantic relationship with her which he still wishes to pursue. During Bryce's return in "Chuck Versus the Nemesis
Chuck Versus the Nemesis
"Chuck Versus the Nemesis" is the tenth episode of Chucks first season. It aired on November 26, 2007. Chuck is forced to confront his former college roommate and the man who ruined his life when Bryce Larkin is discovered alive.-Main Plot:...
", Sarah is clearly torn between Larkin and Chuck. However, when he later reappears in "Chuck Versus the Break-Up", the situation has changed. Sarah chooses Chuck's safety over their assigned mission objectives, and when later confronted by Captain Awesome (who correctly and unknowingly recognized that Sarah's feelings for Chuck are genuine and not part of her cover), Bryce realizes that Sarah has chosen Chuck. At the end of the mission Bryce warns Chuck that her feelings nearly got both her and Chuck killed, and have interfered with her performance. Bryce claims that in this, as always, he is looking out for Chuck, and challenges Chuck to "do the right thing" as usual. Chuck acquiesces and tells Sarah that regardless of how they feel towards each other, they can never be together.
Sarah also has a minor love triangle with Cole Barker, an MI6 agent who, like Bryce, contrasts with Chuck—he is a skilled spy who excels in combat, has a high tolerance for pain and a suave personality. Chuck is of course jealous of him.
The other two love triangles involved Chuck seeking a real relationship, with Lou the sandwich girl (Rachel Bilson
Rachel Bilson
Rachel Sarah Bilson is an American actress. Bilson grew up in a California show business family, and made her television debut in 2003, subsequently becoming well known for playing Summer Roberts on the prime time drama series The O.C. Bilson made her film debut in the 2006 film The Last Kiss and...
) and later with his ex-girlfriend Jill Roberts. In both cases, Sarah becomes jealous and protective, though she makes more of an effort to give Chuck space with Jill.
Sarah's feelings for Chuck and their ramifications for their mission are the focus of "Chuck Versus the Broken Heart
Chuck Versus the Broken Heart
"Chuck Versus the Broken Heart" is the 18th episode of Chucks second season, and the 31st episode overall. It aired on March 30, 2009. Tricia Helfer guest stars as agent Alex Forrest, assigned to evaluate Sarah's performance due to General Beckman's concerns about her relationship with Chuck...
", when Beckman decides Sarah and Chuck are too close emotionally, leading her to temporarily replace her with Agent Alexandra Forrest (the 49B). After the mission takes a turn for the worse, it becomes clear that the strong emotional bond between Chuck and Sarah is more of an asset than a liability, leading Beckman to reinstate Sarah's position.
At the end of "Chuck Versus the First Kill
Chuck Versus the First Kill
"Chuck Versus the First Kill" aired on April 13, 2009, the 20th episode of the second season, and 33rd overall. Chuck strikes a deal with his ex-girlfriend Jill to have her released from prison if she cooperates with his search for his father...
", Beckman orders Sarah to lure Chuck to Castle so he could be taken into custody and returned to Washington. Feeling guilt in the act of betraying him, Sarah instead warns Chuck of the plan and reveals that they thus have to flee. They nearly have sex in "Chuck Versus the Colonel", but a series of circumstances, including the arrival of John Casey, interrupts them.
Despite their apparently genuine connection at the close of "Chuck Versus the Colonel", with Chuck being free of the Intersect, Sarah wavers in "Chuck Versus the Ring
Chuck Versus the Ring
"Chuck Versus the Ring" is the second season finale of Chuck, which aired on April 27, 2009. The day of Ellie and Devon's wedding arrives, but Chuck finds himself forced to protect both his sister and the event from a vengeful Ted Roark....
" between leaving Chuck on her new assignment (the new Intersect project with Bryce Larkin) and staying with him. She ultimately chooses to stay with Chuck, which finally resolves that love triangle, but Chuck doesn't learn of her choice until Bryce tells him in the Intersect room. Despite this knowledge, and reflecting on her confidence in him as a hero, Chuck uploads the new Intersect. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak have suggested that Chuck re-uploading the Intersect will have implications for his developing relationship with Sarah. Josh Schwartz says that "in a way, she becomes his Kryptonite
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
" as Chuck's emotional state will impact his ability to control his new Intersect.
By the beginning of "Chuck Versus the Pink Slip
Chuck Versus the Pink Slip
"Chuck Versus the Pink Slip" is the third season premiere episode of the television series Chuck. It aired on January 10, 2010 in a special two-episode block...
", Chuck's relationship with Sarah has been shattered. Flashbacks over the course of the episode reveal that Sarah asked him to go AWOL and run away with her to be together. Chuck was initially happy to do so, but by the time he met with her at their agreed rendezvous point had changed his mind and declined. Sarah was heartbroken and cut off contact with him. Their relationship was partially mended by the end of "Chuck Versus the Three Words
Chuck Versus the Three Words
"Chuck Versus the Three Words" is the second episode of the third season of the NBC action-comedy television series Chuck. It was aired January 10, 2010, on NBC....
" when Carina shows Sarah security footage of a failed attempt by Chuck to explain the situation: He had to turn her down because of the sense of duty and confidence Sarah instilled in him, and that he knew he needed to be a real spy to protect those he loves—Sarah included.
Chuck finally admitted directly to Sarah he wanted to be with her in "Chuck Versus the Final Exam
Chuck Versus the Final Exam
"Chuck Versus the Final Exam" is the eleventh episode of Chucks third season. It originally aired on March 22, 2010. Chuck faces his final test as a spy, under the watchful eyes of Sarah and Shaw. Meanwhile, Casey must readjust to his life as a civilian....
" and asked her to run away with him in "Chuck Versus the American Hero
Chuck Versus the American Hero
"Chuck Versus the American Hero" is the 12th episode of the third season of Chuck. It first aired on March 29, 2010. Chuck is given a week's paid leave before being sent on his first mission as a real agent, and chooses to use that time in an effort to win back Sarah's heart.-Main plot:Chuck...
". In "Chuck Versus the Other Guy
Chuck Versus the Other Guy
"Chuck Versus the Other Guy" is the thirteenth episode of Chuck third season, and originally aired on April 5, 2010. Sarah and Shaw are ordered to track down the Director by Beckman, but Chuck has misgivings over whether Shaw can be trusted after the revelation that Sarah killed his wife.-Main...
", Sarah saw the lengths to which Chuck was willing to go when he misappropriated a government strike team in an attempt to rescue her when he believed Shaw intended to kill her. Chuck's misgivings over Shaw's stability after learning Sarah was the one who killed his wife proved well-founded when Shaw revealed he had been turned to the Ring, and he was forced to shoot Shaw when Sarah's life was in danger. Chuck and Sarah subsequently began a real relationship and had sex in a hotel room in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
He and Sarah did attempt to run away from the spy life together in "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
"Chuck Versus the Honeymooners" is the 14th episode of the third season of Chuck. It originally aired on April 26, 2010. When Chuck and Sarah go AWOL after the death of Daniel Shaw, Beckman sends the newly-reinstated Casey and Morgan to bring them back...
", however a run-in with a surrendering Basque terrorist led them both to realize (with the advice of the terrorist) that they wanted to "have it all", being together without giving up their jobs. Although Beckman was not pleased when she learned of their relationship, even she noted "it's about damn time". In "Chuck Versus the Role Models
Chuck Versus the Role Models
"Chuck Versus the Role Models" is episode 15 of the third season of Chuck. Chuck and Sarah are assigned to train under Craig and Laura Turner , a married CIA team who, despite their impeccable record, hate one another. The Turners' stormy relationship forces Chuck and Sarah to wonder if they're...
", Chuck hints that he and Sarah could be together in 30 years.
In "Chuck Versus the Cubic Z
Chuck Versus the Cubic Z
"Chuck Versus the Cubic Z" is the third episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired October 4, 2010. A prison transfer delivers old foes, Heather Chandler and Hugo Panzer , to the Buy More, canceling Chuck Bartowski and Sarah’s romantic mission...
", Chuck accidentally proposes to Sarah when he found Big Mike's engagement ring and held it out to her. In "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat
Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat
"Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired October 11, 2010. Indebted to Captain Awesome for saving his life in "Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte", Premier Alejandro Goya and his wife Hortencia show their gratitude by inviting the...
" it is revealed that both walked away awkwardly but at the end of the episode, Sarah, taking the advice from a self-help book, reveals to Chuck while he is asleep in bed that nothing could ever change her love for him and that if Chuck really were to propose, she would say "yes". Chuck, seemingly sleeping, slowly grins.
In "Chuck Versus Phase Three
Chuck Versus Phase Three
"Chuck Versus Phase Three" is the ninth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired November 22, 2010. In order to escape the Belgian , whose mission is to discover more about the Intersect, Sarah Walker, Chuck Bartowski, Morgan Grimes, and John Casey immerse themselves in the...
", it is revealed that Chuck had been planning a proposal to Sarah. Before she goes on a rogue mission to find Chuck (after he was kidnapped in the previous episode
Chuck Versus the Fear of Death
"Chuck Versus the Fear of Death" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired November 15, 2010. Worried his relationship with Sarah Walker is souring, Chuck Bartowski aims to impress by attempting a dangerous mission...
), Sarah tells Casey "I'm different without Chuck, and I don't like it"; she proves this by kidnapping a Thai aide, and threatening his life by injecting him with ammonia. When she finds Chuck, he is unconscious and has nearly completed Phase Three-a lobotomy
Lobotomy
Lobotomy "; τομή – tomē: "cut/slice") is a neurosurgical procedure, a form of psychosurgery, also known as a leukotomy or leucotomy . It consists of cutting the connections to and from the prefrontal cortex, the anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain...
removing all portions of his brain not pertaining to the Intersect. She tells him that she would marry him if he were to propose.
Chuck attempted to propose in "Chuck Versus the Balcony
Chuck Versus the Balcony
"Chuck Versus the Balcony" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired January 17, 2011. Chuck Bartowski embarks on two secret quests. As he tries to locate a nano-chip in the vineyards of France, he also attempts to stealthily concoct a romantic getaway for Sarah...
" but is repeatedly disrupted. Sarah overhears him discuss the plan with Morgan and recruits Grimes to make sure the next attempt succeeds. However just as Chuck is about to pop the question Sarah is arrested as a setup for an undercover operation.
In "Chuck Versus the Push Mix
Chuck Versus the Push Mix
"Chuck Versus the Push Mix" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired on January 31, 2011. Much like "Chuck Versus the Other Guy" in the third season, this episode was intended to be the fourth season finale before an additional eleven episodes were ordered...
" Chuck finally proposes to Sarah. By "Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible
Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible
"Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible" is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired on February 7, 2011. This episode followed the intended season finale, "Chuck Versus the Push Mix", making it the first of an additional eleven episodes ordered...
", it is revealed that Sarah has said yes. Sarah asks Chuck to elope, but Chuck disagrees, wanting to have a big "family wedding." The two go so far as to attempt to seduce each other into agreeing, but Sarah finally relents and agrees to Chuck's version of the wedding.
Chuck and Sarah finally marry in "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger
Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger
"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" is the fourth season finale of the American NBC 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...
".
Spy Life
Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer
"Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer" is the fifth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on October 27, 2008. Life in espionage takes its toll on Chuck Bartowski and everyone is taking notice. Chuck tries to explain his unusual behavior to Ellie Bartowski and to the quirky Buy More...
".
While police and operational backup personnel have supported Casey and Sarah in various episodes, Chuck is revealed near the climax of "Chuck Versus the Ex
Chuck Versus the Ex
"Chuck Versus the Ex" is the sixth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on November 10, 2008. Chuck Bartowski runs into his ex-girlfriend Jill Roberts while on a Nerd Herd call. In an attempt to save face, he lies to the girl who broke his heart and tells her that he is more...
" to have gained the contact information required to summon such teams on his own initiative. Moments later, it is further revealed that Chuck carries a badge and credentials which give him some degree of authority over local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the police and FBI. This is demonstrated in the episode when, upon arriving at an emergency situation where an assassin released a biological weapon on a scientific conference, Chuck promptly assumed command of the operation without dispute from the senior officer on-site. In "Chuck Versus the Beard", Chuck reveals to Ring agents Del and Neil that he has "Level 6" security clearance, though how high this places him in the CIA security hierarchy has not been expanded on, though it is high enough for Carina to become interested in Chuck.
Chuck has been charting every piece of information he can find on Fulcrum unknown to his handlers, the Intersect and various figures connected to the CIA and NSA on a board hidden behind the Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
poster in his bedroom, and continues to express a desire to have the intel removed from his brain. Using the data, Chuck built a bot to search the web for Orion, which he can be seen using in the opening scenes of "Chuck Versus the Predator". He succeeds in doing what the CIA and NSA could not; he gets the attention of Orion who recognizes Chuck as the Intersect and thus wants to meet him. Orion reveals it is possible to remove the Intersect from Chuck's brain before his apparent suicide upon his capture by Fulcrum. It was later revealed in "Chuck Versus the Dream Job" that not only did Orion survive, but is actually Chuck's father.
In "Chuck Versus the Ring", after Bryce is killed, Chuck downloads the modified Intersect 2.0 before destroying the computer system. When confronted by agents belonging to the Ring
The Ring (Chuck)
The Ring is a major spy organization on the television series Chuck. The main antagonist of the second season , Fulcrum, is revealed in the Season Two finale to be only one part of the Ring, which then serves as the main antagonist of Season Three...
who had been intent on taking control of the system, he uses the knowledge received from the Intersect to quickly disable them in hand-to-hand combat. Earlier in the episode, Ted Roark reveals that Fulcrum has specifically ordered that Chuck be killed regardless of whether they recover the Intersect.
Chuck was fired by Beckman after failing his spy training in "Chuck Versus the Pink Slip", but by the end of the episode proved his value and was reinstated on the team. He was sent on his first solo mission by Daniel Shaw
Daniel Shaw
Daniel Shaw is a fictional government agent on the television series Chuck. Shaw is introduced in the third season episode "Chuck Versus Operation Awesome" as a government agent specializing in the terrorist organization known as the Ring, and who becomes a mentor to Chuck Bartowski and ultimately...
in "Chuck Versus First Class
Chuck Versus First Class
"Chuck Versus First Class" was the fifth episode of Chucks third season. It aired on January 25, 2010 in the US . While Chuck embarks on his first solo mission, Morgan faces a continued revolt of his co-workers masterminded by Lester....
". Throughout the third season Chuck continued to train with Sarah, Casey, and Shaw. In "Chuck Versus the Final Exam
Chuck Versus the Final Exam
"Chuck Versus the Final Exam" is the eleventh episode of Chucks third season. It originally aired on March 22, 2010. Chuck faces his final test as a spy, under the watchful eyes of Sarah and Shaw. Meanwhile, Casey must readjust to his life as a civilian....
", Chuck completed his last tests (with Casey's help) and was activated as a full-fledged spy by Beckman and ordered to report to Washington, D.C. for induction. He quits being a spy but after finding his father's secret room it is uncertain whether he'll remain a civilian. In the premiere of season 4 it is revealed that after the success of Operation Bartowski, the President made Chuck a priority and is forced to become a spy again at the orders of Beckman.
It is revealed that Chuck comes from a long line of spies as his father told him through the electronic message.
In "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock
Chuck Versus the Couch Lock
"Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired October 18, 2010. When Colonel John Casey's Clinton-era team returns looking for him, Chuck Bartowski must decide what he's willing to sacrifice in order to find his mother...
" Beckman expresses a great deal of pride in Chuck's development as an operative, after Chuck outlines a complex plan to lure Casey's old team out of hiding by using Casey himself as the bait. However the realization that he is putting his friend in danger for his own purposes unsettles him greatly, and he is prepared to call off his clandestine search for his mother entirely to protect them.
Family Life
Chuck had been attempting to locate his father for Ellie's wedding but had met with limited success, as Stephen Bartowski didn't want to be found. However, his search ends in "Chuck Versus the Broken Heart" when Sarah uses her access to the CIA databases at Langley to run her own unauthorized search. She successfully locates him in a trailer in a field 100 miles east of Barstow, CA and takes Chuck to see him. In "Chuck Versus the Dream Job", Stephen reveals his identity as Orion and said he had allowed Sarah to find him. Chuck went to work for Stephen's rival Ted Roark to help the CIA stop a major virus attack. After Stephen's capture by Roark he convinced Beckman to assign them the mission to rescue him.Due to his "exceptional field service", Chuck received his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Stanford, a degree he was only 12 credits short of earning when he was expelled. Sarah and Casey both played a significant role in this development. In "Chuck Versus the Dream Job", we learn that Stephen (his father) is really Orion, the Intersect's creator. Although Stephen J. Bartowski
Stephen J. Bartowski
Stephen J. Bartowski is a recurring character on the television series Chuck portrayed by actor Scott Bakula. Stephen is the estranged father of Chuck and Ellie Bartowski, and under the government codename "Orion" was the chief designer of the Intersect....
would appear in "Chuck Versus the Dream Job", no real information about their mother has been given, except that she left them at a young age and her name is Mary Elizabeth. Chuck and Ellie celebrate "Mother's Day" each year with dinner to celebrate the day they both learned to take care of each other.
In the Season Two finale, Chuck finally quits the Buy More as a wedding present to Ellie, who has been encouraging him to live up to his potential. By the beginning of the third season, Chuck is still living with Ellie and Devon. At the end of the premier they move out leaving Chuck with the apartment to himself until Morgan agrees to move in (to Ellie's disappointment). Chuck returns to his old position at the Buy More for his cover.
Chuck was ultimately unable to protect his sister from his spy life. By the end of Season Three, the Ring took advantage of Ellie to lure their father out of hiding in an attempt to capture the Governor for Shaw. She was further manipulated by Justin Sullivan, and was in his "protective custody" when Chuck, Sarah and Casey unwittingly trailed Shaw to a CIA facility as part of Shaw's plan to discredit Operation Bartowski. Chuck accidentally revealed his spy connections when he punched out Justin in front of Ellie. The events also lead to the death of Stephen, who Shaw murdered for the sole purpose of compromising Chuck's emotions, rendering the Intersect unusable. After being captured by Shaw and then rescued by Ellie, Devon and Morgan, Chuck agreed to quit the CIA for Ellie's sake once the Ring was defeated.
However Chuck was forced to begin lying to Ellie again at the beginning of Season 4 after being coerced back into the Agency by General Beckman when his rogue search for his mother coincided with Casey and Sarah's own missions to bring down Volkoff Industries. Chuck did eventually admit to Ellie that he was searching for Mary, but kept his return to government work a secret. In "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" Chuck spoke to his mother for the first time—presumably since she left the family some twenty years earlier—when she contacted him at the conclusion of his operation to extract information on her whereabouts from Casey's old special forces team. Chuck was stunned and disheartened when what he had learned suggested Mary may have been working for Volkoff all along.
Ellie announced to Chuck that she was pregnant in the beginning of season 4, which was a contributing factor to him not tellng her of the search for their mother. Ellie's pregnancy progresses as the season goes on, and in the Season 4 mid-season finale, Chuck's niece, Clara, is born.
Character development
Zachary Levi was the first actor cast for the series, and was announced as starring in the title role on February 7, 2007. On January 16, 2009 it was announced that Scott BakulaScott Bakula
Scott Stewart Bakula is an American actor, known for his role as Sam Beckett in the television series Quantum Leap, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1991 and was nominated for four Emmy Awards. He also had a prominent role as Captain Jonathan...
would appear as Chuck and Ellie's father in a three-episode story alongside Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
.
Interviews with Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz have likened Chuck's development in the first two seasons to an origin story, describing Chuck as Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
and born into his role as opposed to Peter Parker who stumbled into it. Season two especially has focused on Chuck's evolution from a regular guy to show that he has the potential to be a true hero.
Zachary Levi has indicated that by the beginning of Season Three, two characters will have discovered Chuck's secret life. In "Chuck Versus the Colonel", Chuck reveals his work as a spy to Captain Awesome, but implores him to keep it secret.
Zachary Levi has suggested that the new skills Chuck learns from Intersect 2.0 will fade again after use.
Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak have confirmed that Intersect 2.0 will introduce a number of complications in Chuck's development as a spy. The most significant is that Chuck's emotional state will have a direct impact on the functionality of his abilities, as the modifications his father made at the government's request were designed for Bryce Larkin, a trained agent capable of controlling his feelings. Schwartz and Fedak have indicated Chuck's emotional state could lead to an unpredictable and potentially dangerous response from the Intersect to those around him, and that a substantial part of the third season will center on Chuck learning to control and focus his emotional state, and with it his control of the Intersect.
Actor Joshua Rush
Joshua Rush
Joshua Rush is an American television actor known for roles as young versions of Gabriel Gray in Heroes and Chuck Bartowski in Chuck.- Early life :...
was added to the recurring cast to play young Chuck in flashbacks. He first appeared in the role in "Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II", and returned in the Season 4 premiere, "Chuck Versus the Anniversary
Chuck Versus the Anniversary
"Chuck Versus the Anniversary" is the fourth season premiere of Chuck. It originally aired September 20, 2010. When the CIA gains control over the Buy More, Chuck Bartowski begins searching for his mother . Sarah and Casey follow a trail to Russia as they investigate the mysterious Volkoff...
".
In Relation to Spy Life
Chuck's personality stands in contrast to the role into which he is thrust, a conflict which drives the series from several angles. Chuck is portrayed as a sincerely well-meaning underachiever, so when he is caught up in a larger struggle, he has to draw on his potential and become something new to meet the threat, while trying to maintain his good nature.Chuck, who has an aversion to violence and a low tolerance for pain, unwittingly enters a world of people willing to do violence to him. He is caring and sensitive, and those around him are often placed in danger. He is a trusting individual suddenly surrounded by people who constantly deceive him as a matter of course, to include his allies, one of whom is also his love interest; adversaries and allies alike take advantage of his naivete and generally friendly nature. He is trustworthy, dependable and supportive of those he cares about, and he is forced to lie to, disappoint and even shame them in order to protect them.
He has a deep sense of personal responsibility and honor, but these can put him in even greater danger; however, this sense and his determination to do the right thing has the habit of inspiring those around him to act against their nature and do the right thing themselves. Carina Miller, who is a selfish agent, was moved enough by Chuck's refusal to leave Sarah to fend for herself that she agreed to help when her instinct was to take off and abandon Sarah. The same can be said for Roan Montgomery (admits cowardice), Craig and Laura Turner (turned traitor), and Stephen Bartowski (default reaction is to run).
He is portrayed as a romantic in a situation in which he can't have a real relationship: all potential girlfriends may have ulterior motives, his main love interest must maintain professional distance (in part to keep them safe), and people in the spy business are often used/manipulated.
Most of all, he has a desire to live a normal life, when circumstances (including his natural abilities) constantly put him in a position of unique responsibility to do the extraordinary.
To rise to the occasion, Chuck must rely on what strengths he has.
His affable and wholesome nature makes those around him protective of him. At Stanford, Bryce protects Chuck from a life that he thinks will destroy Chuck, though this does cause Chuck some pain. Sarah immediately gets the impression that Chuck is a good guy after they meet, which leads her to protect him rather than suspect him of being a villain, and breaks protocol repeatedly (even risking her career and freedom) to help Chuck. Casey has trouble bringing himself to kill Chuck, even on orders. Jill, a Fulcrum agent, has trouble betraying Chuck, and risks being recaptured to go back and tell Chuck where his father is being taken. Even Shaw, following being turned into a Ring Agent, protected Chuck's identity as the Intersect from the Ring.
Among his excellent problem-solving skills, Chuck is proficient in the use, identification, repair and manipulation of a variety of electronics due to his experience in the Nerd Herd. These skills have come in handy many times, and his job as a member of the Nerd Herd has given him a good cover on missions. His job at the Buy More has, however, been a double-edged sword; he has been called away from the Buy More or away from his handlers by enemy agents (or, in Carina's case, agents who are not trusted) on a false 'computer emergency.'
At base, Chuck has inherited and developed a powerful intellect and has an impressive ability to solve puzzles. In "Chuck Versus the Alma Mater
Chuck Versus the Alma Mater
"Chuck Versus the Alma Mater" is the seventh episode of the first season of Chuck. It aired on November 5, 2007, and finds Chuck returning to Stanford to track down a data disk, and answer questions about his past...
," Professor Fleming touts Chuck's ability to retain subliminal information, saying that his essay responses correlated to 98% of the exam, making him one of the top candidates for a CIA military project (and the ideal recipient of the Intersect).
His well-developed geek interests, from music to video games to learning the Klingon language, have managed to come in handy on several missions. He has used a Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
movie poster and a comic book to hide his personal research from his handlers.
And last, although he tends to be visibly frightened in situations involving guns and danger, he has a deep reserve of courage, and almost always summons the nerve to risk his own life during the course of a mission if he deems it necessary (such as if Sarah Walker's life is at risk). Even the fear itself comes in handy: Chuck takes advantage of his keen fear of needles by inciting a torturer to threaten him with a needle, so that he faints.
In "Chuck Versus First Class", Shaw expresses the opinion that in some ways Casey and Sarah have held Chuck back in his development as a spy, due to his reliance on them to help him in difficult or dangerous situations. Both objected to Shaw sending Chuck out alone on a mission. Chuck was eager for an opportunity to get out from under his teammates' control and not have to "stay in the car".
"Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler
Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler
"Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler" is a third season episode of the television series Chuck that originally aired February 1, 2010 in the United States...
" demonstrates the degree to which Chuck's personality has changed over the course of the series. Devon notes the ease with which Chuck is now able to lie to his sister, and he "burned" his first asset by using the relationship and turning him over to the same protective custody he himself was once faced with. At the end of the episode Chuck began drinking to cope with his actions. This change was further highlighted in "Chuck Versus the Fake Name
Chuck Versus the Fake Name
"Chuck Versus the Fake Name" is a third-season episode of the television series Chuck. It was the eighth episode of the season, and the first to air after a two-week hiatus for the 2010 Winter Olympics...
", where he is increasingly disturbed by what he is becoming and telling Ellie he doesn't know who he is anymore.
In "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
"Chuck Versus the Honeymooners" is the 14th episode of the third season of Chuck. It originally aired on April 26, 2010. When Chuck and Sarah go AWOL after the death of Daniel Shaw, Beckman sends the newly-reinstated Casey and Morgan to bring them back...
," Morgan reveals that Chuck suffers from eczema (which Chuck admitted to having earlier in the series) and is an avid fan of DC Comics. In "Chuck Versus the Role Models
Chuck Versus the Role Models
"Chuck Versus the Role Models" is episode 15 of the third season of Chuck. Chuck and Sarah are assigned to train under Craig and Laura Turner , a married CIA team who, despite their impeccable record, hate one another. The Turners' stormy relationship forces Chuck and Sarah to wonder if they're...
", it is revealed that Chuck is allergic to cats and Chuck admits to being allergic to all members of the polecat family (Whether this is true or said to avoid spending time at Jeff's residence is unknown).
In Relation to Non-Spy Life
Aside from its implications for his spy life, Chuck's personality is notable for the close relationships he develops with his family and best friend, its impact on his romantic life, and the position of leadership it earns him at the Buy More.Chuck's loyalty and dependability to his best friend and his family have given him people he can always fall back on throughout the series, despite the strains introduced by his spy life as mentioned above. Casey is impressed by Chuck's loyalty to Morgan.
Chuck's good nature, humor, emotional supportiveness and obvious desire for a normal life have helped endear him to Sarah, who ultimately prefers Chuck to both Cole Barker and Bryce Larkin, both of whom are braver and better in combat than Chuck. Their relationship continues to develop despite constant setbacks. Chuck's personality is also a big factor in Lou's attraction to him.
Although he does not hold a management position at the Buy More, both the sales associates and Nerd Herd staff look to him for guidance and leadership. Co-worker Anna Wu (Julia Ling
Julia Ling
Julia Ling, born Xiao Wei Lin , is an American actress most widely known for her television work, including her recurring roles on NBC series such as ER, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and most recently, as a series regular on Chuck.-Biography:Ling was born in Temple City, California.At age 6,...
) explained to a corporate efficiency expert that the store's chain of command is "There's Chuck, then there's the rest of us. Oh, and then there's Jeff", and Lester Patel (Vik Sahay
Vik Sahay
Vikram "Vik" Sahay is a Canadian actor best known for playing Lester Patel, a member of the Nerd Herd in the NBC television series Chuck on which he became a series regular from the second season, and Rama in the Roxy Hunter Saga.-Life and career:...
) reports that when unsure in a situation, asks himself, "WWCD, what would Chuck do?" When asked "Who personifies the Buy More ideal? Who makes the trains run on time? Who provides your moral compass? Who holds the team together?" the staff unanimously answers "Chuck". Even Big Mike holds Chuck in high regard, and has frequently turned to Chuck when he has things that need to be done and done right, and would have preferred him as Assistant Manager over Harry Tang. When Ned asks who is in charge at the Buy More, after he took the people there hostage, everyone, including Emmett and Big Mike, answers "Chuck". When Big Mike's new girlfriend revealed her son worked at the Buy More, Big Mike openly hoped that it was Chuck.
Evolution
Self-Perception and Initiative
Chuck became the Intersect unwittingly, and was essentially forced into a life in which he has no privacy and greatly reduced personal freedom, in which his relationships with his friends and family are strained, and in which he and those around him are in constant danger. He did not initially respond positively to this, but cooperated one mission at a time, all the while insisting he was not a hero. His perception of himself as less than heroic despite repeatedly saving the day seems to be based on his aversion to violence, low tolerance for pain, and lack of skill in combat.For these reasons and because several missions have dragged him through old personal anxieties, he was initially reluctant to participate in missions. By the middle of the second season, though, he began to look forward to missions and has even been disappointed when his handlers didn't have a new assignment for him.
However, this was contingent upon the fact that he still had the Intersect in his head. Chuck frequently expressed a desire to return to a "normal" life, based partly on his understanding that having the Intersect in his head is a barrier to a real relationship with Sarah. He was determined to remove the Intersect from his head once he began to believe it was a possibility, and pursued that possibility even at risk to himself. Once the Intersect was removed, Chuck turned down an offer to become an analyst on the new Intersect project.
In "Chuck Versus the Ring", Chuck decides to help Sarah rescue Casey (who fortunately did not need to be rescued) and Bryce and prevent the Intersect from falling into the wrong hands, and explains to his father that he is doing so because he loves Sarah. He strongly insists on joining the mission to the Intersect room, and argues that he is uniquely qualified to help. When he finds Bryce dying and is suddenly faced with the choice of downloading the Intersect again or just destroying it, he reflects on the confidence that others have in him (that he is both good and capable) and his sense of duty to protect those close to him. He downloads the Intersect, marking a shift from being a reluctant asset to being a willing agent.
In the aftermath, Chuck shows an unusual enthusiasm for becoming a different person as he gets the chance to train to be a spy. He soon turns down an offer from Sarah to finally run away together, choosing instead to go through with the training. Later, he explains that he made that choice because he has a unique ability to help a lot of people, including his friends, his family, and Sarah, and because he had learned from her to act for the greater good despite his personal feelings.
Chuck begins to challenge himself to prove he is a real spy. In "Chuck Versus First Class", when Agent Shaw concludes that Chuck's handlers have been holding back his development as a spy, Chuck agrees, and welcomes the news that Shaw is assigning him to a solo mission. And though he is clearly conflicted, he "burns" an asset, relegating that person to a life in an isolated facility instead of letting him escape; Chuck explains his decision by telling the asset, "I'm not [your friend]; I'm a spy".
Attitude toward violence
For most of the series Chuck has been strongly pacifistic. He specifically told Sarah he dislikes guns and showed a preference of avoiding or preventing conflict. He was deeply disturbed by Sarah's execution of Fulcrum agent Mauser.However, when options necessitate the use of violence, Chuck is able to use means that could injure or kill. Later, during the events of "Chuck Versus the Suburbs", Fulcrum was attempting to refine their own version of the Intersect. The device was flawed, and except for Chuck, those subjected to the test were killed or driven insane. When Chuck saw Casey sneak up to the controls, although fully aware of what would happen to the Fulcrum agents who were in the test room, Chuck signaled Casey to activate the Intersect in order to prevent them from testing on Sarah. This incident was the first time that Chuck has willingly and personally taken a course of action where he knew that someone was going to be hurt or even killed as a result. In "Chuck Versus the Colonel", Chuck used a Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.The first generation Dodge Challenger was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second...
to deliberately run down a crowd of Fulcrum operatives who were holding Sarah prisoner.
Chuck finally handled a gun for the first time on an actual mission in "Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon
Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon
"Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon" is the sixteenth episode of the second season of Chuck. It originally aired on March 9, 2009. When Cole Barker escapes after being tortured by Fulcrum and returns to Castle, Sarah Walker and John Casey are assigned to hunt down a scientist codenamed "Perseus", who...
;" it did not go well as Chuck accidentally stumbles and drops the gun, shooting Perseus in the leg. Despite his aversion to firearms established in this episode and earlier in "Chuck Versus the Marlin", Chuck points a gun at Casey so that he can get away to go on a rogue mission; Casey informs him that it is only a tranquilizer gun, and Chuck puts three darts into Casey. Chuck later asked Sarah if he got to have a gun for their rescue of his father in "Chuck Versus the Colonel".
In the beginning of Season 3 he is willing to personally harm others in combat (and take some pride in his ability to do so), though he still prefers to keep violence to a minimum and a preference to abstain from killing, or at the very least, being directly responsible for someone's death. Despite a long series of female adversaries, in "Chuck Versus the Honeymooners", Chuck still can't bring himself to hit a woman. In "Chuck Versus First Class", Chuck specifically reaffirmed his aversion to killing when packing for his first solo mission, having chosen nunchaku
Nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.-Etymology:The Japanese word nunchaku is the Kun'yomi reading of the Kanji term for a traditional Chinese two section staff....
as a backup weapon in the event he needed to defend himself. Chuck was later ordered to kill a rogue CIA agent selling secrets to the Ring. Although he attempted to carry out the assignment he hesitated at the last moment, and was only saved when the target attempted to draw his own weapon when Casey intervened and gunned him down first. Chuck was ultimately unable to avoid resorting to deadly force, and when Shaw attempted to kill Sarah, Chuck was forced to shoot him first. Shaw survived the shot, and Chuck, given a second chance decided on arrest rather than vengeance; while Shaw said it made him weak, Sarah said it is what makes him great.
In Season Four, Chuck has still, to date, not been directly responsible for killing another person, and has been more successful finding a non-violent method to prevent catastrophe. He's prevented civil war and a nuclear strike by surrendering and acting as a mediator and marriage counselor between Generallisimo Goya and his wife, Hortencia. He also prevents his mother from using a gun to dispatch Volkoff's guards, tranqs them himself and informs Mary that he's going to have a talk about the benefits of tranq guns. When Alexei Volkoff tries to use Chuck's gun on him, Chuck informs him that he was never going to kill Alexei, a fact that was proven when Alexei pulls the trigger and Chuck reveals that he "has this thing about bullets."
Ironically, despite his dislike of guns and aversion to using lethal force, several episodes have suggested that Chuck is an excellent shot even without the aid of the Intersect. In particular, in "Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler" he was able to pick up and accurately fire a tranq gun at Manoosh from a substantial distance with almost no time spent aiming and no observable flash. In "Chuck Versus the American Hero
Chuck Versus the American Hero
"Chuck Versus the American Hero" is the 12th episode of the third season of Chuck. It first aired on March 29, 2010. Chuck is given a week's paid leave before being sent on his first mission as a real agent, and chooses to use that time in an effort to win back Sarah's heart.-Main plot:Chuck...
," he tranqs a Ring agent from approximately the same distance and comments "No flash necessary." Chuck's frequent explanation to his marksmanship has been Nintendo's Duck Hunt
Duck Hunt
is a video game for the Nintendo Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System game console system in which players use the NES Zapper to shoot ducks on screen for points. The game was developed and published by Nintendo, and was released in 1984 in Japan...
video game; however, upon learning of the Intersect, Morgan accuses Chuck of cheating when Chuck completes a round with a perfect score, stating 'You flashed on Duck Hunt.'
Competence
Josh Schwartz has stated that Chuck will continue to evolve and gain confidence in his new role. Although inexperienced, Chuck's natural intelligence and observational skills have steadily been making him a more effective agent. Sarah has frequently encouraged him in this regard, and even Casey has made observations on Chuck's abilities. After Chuck removed the Intersect from his head, General Beckman invited Chuck to become an analyst, telling him he "showed real promise".Chuck has become more proficient through development of the Intersect, as well. Stephen Bartowski teaches Chuck how to perform a superhuman feat of computation using the Intersect in "Chuck Versus the Dream Job". In "Chuck Versus the First Kill", Chuck is able to flash on multiple subjects at the same time. And the enhanced Intersect 2.0 grants Chuck physical abilities: his first flash teaches him kung fu, marking the first time Chuck has excelled in any kind of combat.
In the third season, Chuck has already shown that he is beginning to overcome some of his fears. Despite his previous fear of heights, he has now arrived at home wearing a harness from being dropped off by a helicopter, and he has used a zip-line. He is also noticeably less squeamish around blood in "Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte
Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte
"Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte" is the third episode of the third season of Chuck. It aired on January 11, 2010 as part of the season's three-part premier, following "Chuck Versus the Pink Slip" and "Chuck Versus the Three Words" on January 10...
" than he was in previous seasons. Finally, in Chuck versus the Tooth, while he is still phobic of needles, Chuck no longer faints.
By Season 4 Chuck has proven himself to be a fully capable agent, even without the aid of the Intersect (although he still uses flashes for assistance in combat, and for other skills Sarah and Casey have picked up over years of training). His success as an agent ultimately leads to the President making Chuck's reinstatement a priority and Beckman forcing Chuck back into CIA service. In "Chuck Versus the Suitcase
Chuck Versus the Suitcase
"Chuck Versus the Suitcase" is the second episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired September 27, 2010. There are crimes of fashion when Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker go undercover in Milan for Fashion Week to seize a high-tech weapon, yet Chuck soon recognizes a flaw in his...
", Chuck shows Q-like capability when he develops his tranq gloves. In "Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat
Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat
"Chuck Versus the Coup d'Etat" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired October 11, 2010. Indebted to Captain Awesome for saving his life in "Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte", Premier Alejandro Goya and his wife Hortencia show their gratitude by inviting the...
", Ellie remarks that she had never seen Chuck look as alive as he did when drawing on the Intersect to help her, Devon, Sarah, and Generalissimo Goya escape a coup in Costa Gravas. Chuck also planned an elaborate trap to lure Casey's old team out of hiding in "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" as part of his attempts to locate his mother, although it is left unclear how much of the plan was influenced by Casey and Sarah (though, as the original thought was Chuck's, it's very likely that Sarah's and Casey's involvements were minor.) In "Chuck versus Phase Three", General Beckman assures the team that Chuck, even without the Intersect, has a place as a spy.
Chuck's remarkable ability and natural aptitude with the Intersect has caused many members of the military and spy community to resent him; the most notable to date has been Director Jane Bentley, who briefly became the Project Leader and used Chuck's laptop to create Intersect Agents in "Chuck Versus the A-Team
Chuck Versus the A-Team
"Chuck Versus the A-Team" is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It aired on March 14, 2011. Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker suspect John Casey is carrying out private missions. Chuck fears the CIA's new operatives , who have downloaded the Intersect, will render him obsolete....
". After a major debacle caused by one of Bentley's "trigger-happy" agents, Bentley was removed as Project Leader, and Beckman charged Chuck with the task of finding his replacement, essentially promoting him to Project Leader.
Personal, Professional, Romantic
Chuck has developed in other ways since the series started. At the beginning, he is socially awkward to the point of driving away women, in large part because he is unable to get over his betrayals at Stanford. He is stuck in a bad job, unsure if he even wants to advance within the company, and lacks confidence that he can do better.Since then, he has developed romantically with Sarah despite constant setbacks, he has (with the help of the government) finally attained his degree from Stanford and is able to successfully get a job at a top technology company (although for a mission), and is determined to take control of his life.
In the third season, Chuck has embraced his destiny to become a spy, and turns down Sarah's offer to run away together, though he still loves her. He also more than once expresses an interest in getting a better cover job.
At the end of "Chuck Versus the Other Guy", Chuck and Sarah finally get together and become a couple. He has also proposed that they would be together in 30 years. In Chuck Versus the Suitcase
Chuck Versus the Suitcase
"Chuck Versus the Suitcase" is the second episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired September 27, 2010. There are crimes of fashion when Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker go undercover in Milan for Fashion Week to seize a high-tech weapon, yet Chuck soon recognizes a flaw in his...
while conversing with Sarah, Chuck has hinted that they were "next" after Devon and Ellie to get married and have children. This initially horrified Sarah, but she has since confirmed that she would marry him if he proposed. In "Chuck Versus Phase Three" it has been revealed to everybody that Chuck has an extravagant proposal plan, which he has since revised. In "Chuck Versus the Push Mix
Chuck Versus the Push Mix
"Chuck Versus the Push Mix" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired on January 31, 2011. Much like "Chuck Versus the Other Guy" in the third season, this episode was intended to be the fourth season finale before an additional eleven episodes were ordered...
" Chuck finally proposes to Sarah, and she accepts. By "Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible
Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible
"Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible" is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired on February 7, 2011. This episode followed the intended season finale, "Chuck Versus the Push Mix", making it the first of an additional eleven episodes ordered...
", the couple are already planning their wedding. And on Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger
Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger
"Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger" is the fourth season finale of the American NBC 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...
, the couple married and bought the Buy More, from all of the Volkoff Industries
Volkoff Industries
Volkoff Industries is a major organization on the television series Chuck. It is a public business front owned by an international arms dealer named Alexei Volkoff, portrayed by Timothy Dalton. Volkoff Industries is introduced in the third season finale as a threat against which Stephen J...
' assets, courtesy of Hartley Winterbottom; AKA the former Alexei Volkoff
Alexei Volkoff
Alexei Volkoff is the alias and alter ego of Hartley Winterbottom , a fictional character on the television series Chuck. Volkoff is the head of Volkoff Industries. For the first six episodes of the fourth season, he was an unseen character, directing his operatives from behind the scenes...
.