Another in the long line of shows ignored by Australian programmers, Chuck was one of the highlights of the 2007 new release calendar and also one of the many victims of the Writers Strike in the same year that truncated seasons, split them in half and generally interrupted the flow of every show on TV. A few recovered easily (The Office and 30 Rock remained safe bets) but for the newer ones like Chuck, Reaper and Pushing Daisies the task to retain viewers in an already vicious market was tough. Fortunately Chuck well and truly hit the ground running. A deft mix of slapstick, mundane office life gaggery, spy caper, espionage drama, twenty-something angst – it almost seemed too clever and chaotic for its own good. The premise required an extraordinary leap of faith – our unwitting/unwilling hero Charles “Chuck” Bartowksi (Zachary Levi) through the magic of the internet, and trickery of his malevolent ex-best friend/rogue CIA agent, has become a fountain of Government secrets. Downloaded into his brain, or something, it activates itself when he gets close to the scene of a potential crime. The Fed’s want him but Chuck is happy enough muddling along as a computer expert at the local suburban big barn electronics warehouse. Chuck eventually relents and becomes part time spy. It could be a hackneyed bore but with well written minor characters and perfectly pitched plot development Chuck exhibits a depth lacking in most network dramedies. Think Burn Notice via Judd Apatow. In the final third of this debut season something intangible happens; everything falls into place and it transforms suddenly from an already great show to outstanding television. A show ready-made for cultdom.
