Chuck
TV series by Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz
2007-2012
Niamh Cassidy
House: Ravenclaw
It's a great series! And often an overlooked one as well, though it has a strong cult following and there is still occasionally talk of bringing the series back as a movie or possibly a web series of some sort. One of the things I've always liked best about it was that the characters grow and develop over the course of the series, something that is often neglected in a TV show, so that was another reason why I thought of the series for this project.
Hero
Chuck Bartowski is the hero, though as part of his spy work he also uses the name Charles Carmichael.
Plot Summary
Chuck Bartowski is an ordinary guy working at the Buy More in Los Angeles. Unknown to him, Bryce, a former college friend turned rival is now an agent for the CIA. Bryce is believed to have turned traitor and stolen a revolutionary computer program called the Intersect, which gathers together all the accumulated knowledge of the various government intelligence agencies. Meant to be 'downloaded' into the brain of an agent, the Intersect is instead emailed to Chuck by Bryce, turning Chuck from an intelligent underachiever into an unlikely, unwilling top secret government asset, able to see 'flashes' of valuable information when something he sees or hears triggers the Intersect. The other main characters are Chuck's best friend Morgan, his sister Ellie and her boyfriend (later husband) Devon (known as Captain Awesome), and Chuck's handlers, NSA agent John Casey and CIA agent Sarah Walker.
Departure
Call to Adventure - Bryce Larkin is the Herald, calling Chuck to adventure by sending him the Intersect.
Refusal of the Call - At first not fully realizing what has happened to him, Chuck tries to go about his usual routine, ignoring the odd 'flashes' of knowledge he gets. Also, he repeatedly says during the first season that he isn't a spy and wants desperately to get rid of the Intersect and just be normal again.
Supernatural Aid - While not supernatural, two government agents soon appear to help guide Chuck through the world of espionage: NSA agent John Casey and CIA agent Sarah Walker. Also, the Intersect itself might be considered a form of Supernatural Aid, being so advanced, though it can be as much a curse as a blessing.
Crossing of the First Threshold - Chuck takes his first real steps into the world of the spy when he is called upon to help disarm a bomb, having 'flashed' on its location at a high-level military meeting.
Belly of the Whale - Soon, Chuck is forced to start lying to his sister and best friend, among others, in order to hide his work with the government, and realizes that until the Intersect is gone, this is what his life will be like.
Initiation
Road of Trials - These are many and varied! The most important, however, include his struggles against the Ring, a secret group within the CIA and other such agencies trying to create their own Intersect, and Alexi Volkoff, a powerful international arms dealer and billionaire. Both force Chuck to test his limits and gain the confidence he needs to triumph.
Meeting with the Goddess - The goddess in this story is clearly Sarah. He's interested from the first moment he sees her, and soon falls very much in love with her.
Woman as Temptress - Chuck is frequently torn between his desire to be with Sarah in her world (believing that she isn't really interested in a 'normal' life), and his wish to be safe and secure again, back in his own structured existence as an underachiever, which is a unreachable goal. There is also another temptation in the form of Jill, his college girlfriend, whose reappearance in his life makes him hope that he might go back to the way things were.
Atonement with the Father - In this case, Chuck's actual father, missing for many years, returns and is revealed to have been the original creator of the Intersect. Though often seeming a little 'off,' the elder Bartowski is undeniably a genius with great skill and ability.
Apotheosis - At one point, Chuck is left completely without the Intersect, thus in a way 'dying.' When he again receives the Intersect (version 2.0), he is reborn and his quest continues.
Ultimate Boon - Though the Intersect is the best example of a boon in this story and Chuck receives it right away, it isn't until he fully accepts it and gains more confidence in himself that he is able to use it effectively and reliably. This skill is the true boon that he was seeking, without even realizing it.
Return
Refusal of the Return - By season three, Chuck is as insistent that he wants (even needs) to be a spy as he was insistent earlier that he could never be one, and makes great sacrifices trying to be sure that he stays a spy.
Magic Flight - N/A
Rescue from Without - Later in the series, when Chuck is without the Intersect for a time, he is captured by enemy agents and Sarah goes on an unauthorized solo mission to rescue him.
Crossing of the Return Threshold - N/A
Master of Two Worlds - Once his personal life and spy life are no longer separated, with his family and Morgan all aware of his job, Chuck is able to excel in both areas.
Freedom to Live - No longer the uncertain (though very intelligent) nerd he once was, Chuck is able to be fulfilled through his life with Sarah and his own newly realized capabilities.
Final Thoughts
At first I was really struggling for a story that would work well with the Hero Quest that I also knew well and would enjoy analyzing. Once I thought of Chuck, though, I was amazed at how well it fit the pattern! The series is so modern and even trendy, it seems strange that it fits into such a classic pattern. And it was very interesting and fun to revisit the series from a new perspective.
I also considered trying to study the new Star Trek movie, which I think would also work well, and some of my friends suggested (believe it or not) The Lego Movie, which I hadn't seen until just recently but which, I have to admit, would probably also work.