| Chuck Season 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States | ||
| No. of episodes | 13 | ||
| Broadcast | |||
| Original channel | NBC | ||
| Original run | October 28, 2011 | ||
| Season chronology | |||
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| List of Chuck episodes | |||
The fifth and final season of the American action-comedy television series Chuck was announced on May 13, 2011. It is reported to include 13 episodes, which airs in fall 2011. The season premiered on October 28, 2011 and will conclude January 27, 2012 with a two-hour finale.[1]
Continuing from the eponymous cliffhanger ending of the fourth season finale, "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger", the fifth season will feature the series returning to its roots. With their new-found wealth, Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah Bartowski (Yvonne Strahovski) own the fictional big-box store Buy More, as well as their new freelance spy organization, Carmichael Industries, which includes John Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez). Meanwhile, Morgan acts as the human possessor of the government database known as the Intersect, and Chuck is forced to act as Morgan's protector in the same way that Sarah and Casey were to Chuck in past seasons.
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Series co-creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak expressed a desire to produce a fifth season of Chuck as early as March 2011, when it was revealed that the fourth season finale would be titled "Chuck Versus the Cliffhanger".[2] Fedak later confirmed that the episode, as the title suggests, would have a cliffhanger ending leading into the fifth season.[3] Despite a drastic decline in viewership, the series was renewed for a fifth and final season of 13 episodes on May 13, 2011.[4] The season was scheduled to premiere October 21, 2011[5] and mark the transition of the series' timeslot from Monday nights to Friday nights at 8/7c,[6] before being rescheduled to one week later, October 28.[7]
In April 2011, Fedak and actor Ryan McPartlin discussed the possibility of having a musical episode.[8] It was announced on September 8, 2011, that series star Zachary Levi would direct the fifth episode of the season. Levi had previously directed an episode each in the third and fourth seasons.[9]
Series stars Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, and Adam Baldwin all expressed an interest to reprise their roles of former Special Agents Charles "Chuck" and Sarah Bartowski, and Colonel John Casey,[11] and an interview with Ryan McPartlin about the future of the series suggested he would also return as Dr. Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb.[8] Chris Fedak later confirmed that Joshua Gomez and Bonita Friedericy would reprise their roles of Morgan Grimes and Brigadier General Diane Beckman. The big-box store Buy More, which Chuck purchased in the fourth season finale, is also featured in the fifth season, with Mark Christopher Lawrence, Scott Krinsky, and Vik Sahay reprising their roles as Michael "Big Mike" Tucker, Jeffrey "Jeff" Barnes, and Lester Patel, respectively.[10][12] It was confirmed at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International that Sarah Lancaster would also reprise her role as Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Bartowski Woodcomb. Chris Fedak hinted at Comic-Con that one of the of the main characters may not survive the season.[12]
At the 2011 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Fedak revealed his intention to feature Star Trek actors as guest stars.[3] It was confirmed at the Comic-Con panel that Star Wars actor Mark Hamill would play a villain in the fifth season premiere.[12] Comedian Craig Kilborn also appeared in the season premiere as Roger Bale, a dangerous man who steals money from other dangerous villains.[13] John Casey is said to have a possible romantic interest in Gertrude Verbanski, the head of Carmichael Industries' biggest spy competition, Verbanski Corp., said by Fedak to be "the best spy company in the world".[12] It was later announced that The Matrix actress Carrie-Anne Moss would play Verbanski.[14] At Comic-Con, Fedak revealed his desire for Linda Hamilton to return as Mary Elizabeth Bartowski.[12] It was later confirmed that she would appear in the final episode.[15]
Lost's Jeff Fahey and Smallville's Justin Hartley guest starred in the season's second episode, as Karl Sneijder, "the president and CEO of diamond giant Natal Jewelers," and his kidnapped brother Wesley, respectively.[16] The fourth episode featured The Office's David Koechner and The Shield's Catherine Dent as Crazy Bob, "a jolly Buy More manager," and Jane Robertson, another Buy More manager and "a close friend of Bob's," respectively. The two cross paths with Chuck and Sarah at the company’s Employee of the Year Convention.[17] The fifth episode featured a cameo appearance by Community's Danny Pudi.[18] The sixth episode featured Rebecca Romijn as Robin Cunnings, a cold, cunning CIA agent known for her abrasive interrogation technique who is a member of a rogue group which tries to frame Chuck.[19] Brandon Routh returned to the series as Daniel Shaw, a villain that the team had previously defeated.[20] Stan Lee portrayed himself in the seventh episode, encountering Chuck "in the most unexpected of places."[21] The eighth episode featured Cheryl Ladd as Emma, Sarah's mother,[22] and Tim DeKay as Kieran Ryker, Sarah's former handler.[23] The tenth episode will feature Bo Derek as herself.[24] Angus Macfadyen will appear in the final four episodes as the series' final recurring villain, Nicholas Quinn.[25]
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 1 | "Chuck Versus the Zoom" | Robert Duncan McNeill | Chris Fedak & Nicholas Wootton | October 28, 2011 | 3X6751 | 3.42[26] |
| After Carmichael Industries' first mission–to recover a stolen vase from a vicious thief (Mark Hamill)–goes slightly awry, Chuck and the team go up against Roger Bale (Craig Kilborn), a man who steals secrets from other villains. Meanwhile, Chuck attempts to buy a new house for Sarah, and Decker (Richard Burgi) continues to hunt the team. | |||||||
| 80 | 2 | "Chuck Versus the Bearded Bandit" | Patrick Norris | Lauren LeFranc & Rafe Judkins | November 4, 2011 | 3X6752 | 3.08[27] |
| Chuck and the team take the case of a man (Jeff Fahey) whose brother (Justin Hartley) has been kidnapped, but soon realize that things may not exactly be as they seem. Meanwhile, Gertrude Verbanski (Carrie-Anne Moss), a rival spy, attempts to woo Sarah away from Carmichael Industries. | |||||||
| 81 | 3 | "Chuck Versus the Frosted Tips" | Paul Marks | Phil Klemmer | November 11, 2011 | 3X6753 | 3.13[28] |
| Carmichael Industries attempts to track down a wanted fugitive while Casey reunites once again with Verbanski (Carrie-Anne Moss). Captain Awesome begins paternity leave with Baby Clara and, when it’s not quite as exciting as he expected, he is led to the Buy More. | |||||||
| 82 | 4 | "Chuck Versus the Business Trip" | Allan Kroeker | Kristin Newman | November 18, 2011 | 3X6754 | 3.11[29] |
| At the Buy More Employee of the Year Convention, Chuck and Sarah cross paths with two Buy More managers (David Koechner and Catherine Dent). Meanwhile, Chuck pretends to be Morgan in order to catch an assassin code-named Viper tasked with destroying the new Intersect. | |||||||
| 83 | 5 | "Chuck Versus the Hack Off" | Zachary Levi | Craig DiGregorio | December 9, 2011 | 3X6755 | 3.66[30] |
| The team must turn to Verbanski (Carrie-Anne Moss) when they need help tracking a virus, forcing Casey to confront her once again. Meanwhile, Lester and Jeff's relationship is threatened by the arrival of a new employee (Danny Pudi) at the Buy More. | |||||||
| 84 | 6 | "Chuck Versus the Curse" | Michael Schultz | Alex Katsnelson | December 16, 2011 | 3X6756 | 3.22[31] |
| Chuck is framed for the crime of the century by a group of rogue CIA agents. One such agent is the cold and calculating Robin Cunnings (Rebecca Romijn), who is widely known for her torture techniques. Ellie and Awesome go on a date that quickly turns into a night full of action after a case of mistaken-identity. | |||||||
| 85 | 7 | "Chuck Versus the Santa Suit" | Peter Lauer | Amanda Kate Shuman | December 23, 2011 | 3X6757 | 3.42[32] |
| Chuck and Sarah discover that the identity of the person trying to take down Carmichael Industries is Daniel Shaw (Brandon Routh). He escapes from prison, kidnaps Sarah, and holds her hostage in Castle in order to force Chuck to steal the Intersect 3.0 from the CIA. | |||||||
| 86 | 8 | "Chuck Versus the Baby" | Matt Barber | Rafe Jenkins & Lauren LeFranc | December 30, 2011 | 3X6758 | 3.18[33] |
| Sarah must embrace her past when she fears her original handler (Tim DeKay) will try to harm her mother (Cheryl Ladd). | |||||||
| 87 | 9 | "Chuck Versus the Kept Man"[35] | January 6, 2012[1] | 3X6759 | |||
| Chuck and Sarah try to determine the future of Carmichael Industries while Verbanski asks Casey to go on a mission in South Beach. Jeff and Lester investigate an irregularity at the Buy More.[34] | |||||||
| 88 | 10 | "Chuck Versus Bo"[36] | January 13, 2012[1] | 3X6760 | |||
| Bo Derek helps Chuck and Sarah while they are on in Vail on their final mission. Jeff and Lester continue their investigation at the Buy More.[24][36] | |||||||
| 89 | 11 | "Chuck Versus the Bullet Train"[37] | Buzz Feitshans IV | Nicholas Wootton | January 20, 2012[1] | 3X6761 | |
| Casey must make a difficult decision while Chuck and Sarah encounter Quinn (Angus Macfadyen) on a Japanese bullet train.[37] | |||||||
| 90 | 12 | "Chuck Versus Sarah"[38] | January 27, 2012[1] | 3X6762 | |||
| 91 | 13 | "Chuck Versus the Goodbye"[39] | Chris Fedak[40] | January 27, 2012[1] | 3X6763 | ||
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