Chuck returns to our television sets one week from tonight, but if you have the internet (i.e., if you are reading this right now) you can watch the entire season two premiere right here on BuddyTV, courtesy of Hulu.  If you can't find it in the corner of the screen, here is the link:

Full Episode: Chuck vs. The Date

Pretty cool, right?  These internets are downright magical sometimes.  NBC has been a big proponent of releasing new episodes of their series on the internet and On Demand before they actually air on the network.  They did it last year for Chuck's pilot, and have done it once again.  Josh Schwartz, the co-show runner of Chuck, knows that the ratings for Chuck weren't exemplary last year and that they needed to reintroduce the viewing public to the series.  Therefore, the second season premiere is something of a re-boot for Chuck, and it works well as an entry point for new viewers. 

Earlier today, I sat down and watched “Chuck vs. The Date.”  The exposition comes fast and furious, Chuck explaining to guest star and imposing figure Michael Clarke Duncan the premise for the whole series in under a minute.  Chuck is about to be replaced by a new intersect.  He has one more day before the new intersect goes live, and once it does go live, he will finally have his freedom...or so he thinks.  Casey still has his orders, if you know what I mean. 

I won't spoil the episode any further.  The premiere is mostly set-up for the new season.  Sarah has a new job, this time at a frozen yogurt shop.  The Wienerlicious costume will be dearly missed, though the premiere holds a few obligatory Yvonne Strahovski lingerie shots.  The episode is clever in allowing the characters to act in ways they wouldn't typically, thinking that the job is coming to an end.  The Buy More employees – now all in the opening credits – get more to do than we're used to, the show making a conscious move towards more office comedy.  The comedy didn't hit on all cylinders in the premiere, but with Chuck, even the jokes that fall-flat are inoffensively amusing, so no harm there. 

The biggest theme to come out of the premiere is a new-found ambition within Chuck to move beyond his current lot in life.  He starts thinking about moving on, maybe reaching his potential.  Also, he's gaining more confidence in his spying ability, and realizes that he could be an asset with or without the intersect in his brain. 

“Chuck vs. The Date” is a solid jumping off point for the show's second season.  I'm not sure if it's dynamic enough to bring in a significant amount of new viewers, especially on an already crowded Monday night schedule (In what must be the most annoying situation ever, Josh Schwartz finds himself pitted against, well, himself - Gossip Girl and Chuck air at the same time).  Those who are already fans, however, will not be disappointed.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of NBC)