fastidium

Chuck Chuck Versus the Helicopter (Aired October 1, 2007)
Reaper Charged (Aired October 2, 2007)

For Chuck Bartowski, the adventure of how to get those memories out of his head has just begun. Sarah Walker, the CIA spy, and Mr. John Casey, the NSA agent, have taken jobs near Chuck’s work. Sarah works at the hot dog joint next door while John works with Chuck at the Buy More. When a doctor that could help Chuck is killed, Sarah and John both try to convince Chuck that the other is the culprit and can’t be trusted.

On Reaper, Sam wakes up to find that everything he touches gives him a shock. He consults Satan, who tells him that this is related to his next target, an escaped soul from hell who, in life, was the CEO of a corporation that profited from gaming states and counties with high energy prices and rolling black outs (think, Enron). His punishment in hell was being struck with lightning constantly. After escaping back on Earth, he seeks revenge on all those who tarnished his good name. In order to capture the escapee Sam must use his new vessel, a remote control monster truck.

My contention has been and still is that, even though one of its main characters is the Devil, Reaper seems more believable than Chuck. I think its because Reaper doesn’t try to turn Satan into an absent-minded gnome that can be thwarted by careful planning. On the other hand, Chuck has all kinds of plot holes.

For instance, why does Chuck need protecting at work but not other times? John Casey and Sarah Walker take jobs at or near where Chuck works but when he’s at home they’re not around. And, when Sarah is working at the hot dog joint next to the Buy More, she’s so involved with not burning french fries its hard to see how she’s monitoring Chuck.

On this episode, Chuck needs to be examined by the NSA’s top scientist, Dr. Jonas Zarnow. Instead of going to a secret NSA or CIA station, Chuck is asked to watch a series of images at …. The Buy More. Really? Further, after we realize that Dr Zarnow is really selling secrets to North Korea and has taken Sarah captive, John and Chuck try to figure out where he’s taken her. Chuck postulates that the L.A. Harbor is a logical choice for getting someone out of the country. Well… alright, but isn’t there anywhere else that Zarnow could have been used? Anyways. L.A. Harbor is probably a huge place. But John and Chuck just happen to pull up to the right warehouse where Sarah is being held. Uh, huh?

I know its just a fun comedy but if they’re going to make us think that what’s in Chuck’s head is so dangerous to national security then they have to tighten these things up.

I think the best way to sum of the two shows is that Reaper is a drama with a funny subplot. That subplot is made believable by a serious Devil and an unfolding storyline about the seriousness of commitments. Chuck is a comedy with a serious plot. But, it has too many holes to take serious.

Both shows are about young men who are forced into situations that require them to mature and grow. Sam seems reluctant because he’s working for the devil, Chuck seems reluctant because he’s scared. There seems to be more room for maturity from Sam.

Plus, the devotion between Sam and his friends is a greater emotional attachment for an audience that the “imaginary” romance between Chuck and Sarah.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?