Plot: What’s it about?
A few years ago I was sitting with what who would become my step sons doing some channel surfing. We came across a television show called “Chuck” and decided to give it a try. As it turned out, “Chuck” was quirky and funny and had the right mix of action and humor that just seemed to make it work. The show was a hit with critics, though the numbers were somewhat low. Still, the first season plugged along and then the writer’s strike hit. “Chuck” was one of the shows affected and if I recall. Fans mounted a “Save Chuck” campaign as the show was rumored to be cancelled. The campaign was successful and “Chuck” was renewed for a third season (and subsequently a fourth). However if you’re new to “Chuck” here’s the premise…Chuck (Zachary Levi) is your average computer whiz boy next door. He receives an e-mail from an old college buddy which is encrypted with secret information. This information is called the “Intersect” and allows Chuck to access a database of information giving him inside knowledge and special skills not available to everyone else.
The third season of “Chuck” saw a bit of a departure from the first two seasons. Chuck (Levi) is now a full-fledged agent in training and together with cohorts Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) – the latter of which Chuck has had a very fond attraction for since Day 1. The intersect has now become more complicated and as more and more people want a part of it, Chuck becomes more and more the man in demand. The season also features guest star Brandon Routh (“Superman Returns”) as a good/bad guy, Chuck makes his first kill and a friend of Chuck’s becomes privy to some information that might even make him a target. Naturally I don’t want to give anything more away, but “Chuck” continues to deliver on so many levels. I do have to note that I did enjoy the first two seasons a bit more as I liked the “Buy More” atmosphere. The show seems like its trying to become more of an action series than a comedic one. I don’t know what other fans think, but season three just didn’t feel right to me. Still, there are few shows that I sit down and make time for and “Chuck” is one of them.
Video: How does it look?
As with previous seasons, “Chuck” is shown in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that looks just as good, but not quite as good, as the HD broadcast. Colors are bright and vivid and though there are a few areas which aren’t that great (namely the backgrounds), the standard DVD’s do a great job at representing how the show looks on television. Flesh tones seem warm and natural and though we’re not dealing with a motion picture here, I was surprised at how truly good some of the episodes really looked. Fans of “Chuck” will be pleased to see these looking ever so good.
Audio: How does it sound?
Again, as with the first two seasons, “Chuck” is encoded with the same Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack found on the standard DVDs and Blu-rays. Let’s face it, most television shows aren’t really geared for the “home theater” audience but this does have a few instances that aren’t too shabby. Dialogue is the main focus of these tracks, however, and I found nothing really wrong with the way this sounds on Blu-ray. There are a few ambient surround effects that come into play but you’ll do best to set your expectations to a more moderate level. Sit back and enjoy “Chuck”!
Supplements: What are the extras?
Season Three features a couple of featurettes and some deleted scenes and a gag reel. I’d have liked some commentary on at least a few episodes but we can’t have it all, right? We start out with ” Chuck-Fu…and Dim Sum: Becoming a Spy Guy” which is kind of a “making of…” featurette and a look at the show, some interviews and so forth. Nothing much in substance here and the same goes for “The Jeffster Revolution: The Definitive Mockumentary.” Supplements aside, the third season of “Chuck” has arrived on Blu-ray and that is most certainly a good thing.
