Image Credit: NBC
It was the ultimate good news/bad news situation: Producers for NBC’s favorite underdog Chuck learned last May the show was renewed — for a final season. “We were picked up and cancelled in same phone call,” recalls writer-producer Chris Fedak. Still, it presents producers with a rare opportunity. Despite all the press surrounding the conclusion of Lost, broadcast TV producers very rarely get the luxury of planning an entire final season in advance. Readying for an appearance at Comic-Con today (the Chuck panel is always a high-energy highlight of the conference), Fedak talks about his plans for his hero’s last adventure.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was your reaction when you learned about the final season order?
CHRIS FEDAK: We were very excited to be able to do one more season of the show. It’s really amazing to be able to plan a great finish for your story and it doesn’t always happen in TV. We look at it as an amazing opportunity to close the Chuck story in one epic final chapter. We have a big story pitched and we have a final moment for the series that we’ll have been working up to for five seasons.
Some fans worried about too much of a focus on Morgan next season. How are your going to balance Morgan’s new super-powered story and still keep it a show about Chuck?
Fedak: It’s still very much the Chuck show. He’s the star and Zachary Levi is fantastic. Watching Chuck without the Intersect is just as fantastic as watching him with it. We thought that would be ane fun way to start to season — watching him get used to not having it, and starting the spy team and working outside the government while best friend now has a super computer in his head. We have a lot of exciting twists and turns planned.
Will Chuck ever get the Intersect back? People liked badass Chuck.
For me, the most badass version of Chuck has been when he uses his brain. I always feel like was the hero who figures out the unconventional solution — in the writers room, we call it “The Chuck solution.” He’s still surround by two season spies and Morgan — the half-assed spy.
The first episode is “Chuck vs. The Zoom.” What is the Zoom?
The Zoom is a secret I will not be giving it up to you. But it’s a rather dangerous and powerful secret.
Are we going to have another major villian arc this season?
Yes, we are going to have a villain story this year. But if you look at episode 24, we’re exploring Chuck starting up his own spy firm and exploring the bromance between Chuck and Morgan — he has to become Morgan’s handler. And the heart of the Chuck show the show is a romance, just because they’re married doesn’t mean they’re riding off into the sunset. There’s a lot of things that are going to happen this season.
So in terms of series endings, do like Sopranos-style enigmatic or are you going for more solid closure?
I love endings that are in some ways a beginning. This is the Chuck story and I would be a bad storyteller if I implied it was going to be a happy ending. There’s a lot of scary things ahead. As far as a TV fan, it’s really neat to look at all the other endings — Lost, Sopranos, Newhart — and figure out what’s going to be our own crazy snowglobe.
My personal favorite is The Shield.
Oh! Heart wrenching! I don’t think we’ll go that dark. But you never know… “
Soo intriguing I hope they know what they’re doing with Morgan….
Me too. I like Morgan as a comic relief character, but in small doses. I’m not looking forward to having him around all the time. Plus, I didn’t care for Morgan getting the intersect as I felt that it negated the premise that Chuck was special and had a special mind connection to the device that his father created, and no one else save Ellie. But for me, less is more concerning Morgan…
Yeah, I thought the whole point was that everyone else they tried giving the intersect, even in that episode where they brought in Chuck 2.0 spies, always failed, so it only worked with Chuck.
Perhaps we’ll see Morgan fail spectacularly. I don’t think the PTB have forgotten that Chuck is special when it comes to the intersect. They’ve always been pretty conscientious when it comes to continuity. Let’s just sit back and see what happens. (Personally, now that Men of a Certain Age is gone, I’m hoping for the return of Bakula!)
I always been a HUGE fan of “Chuck” since the beginning and NBC deserves it for having being its “final season” and on top of all that, a loyal fan base.
My god, this was difficult to read because of all the typos. For God’s sake, EW, do us all a favor and employ some proofreaders!
Love the brave storytelling that is always going on in Chuck. Maybe it’s because they are always on the bubble, but they take risks and it pays off for the viewers. Giving Morgan the intersect and firing Chuck? What show would do that?! But it’s brilliant, either way.
I truly hope this season is not a letdown. I thought last season’s finale could have served as a series finale. I am skeptical about Morgan with the Intersect, but this show has rewarded its fans always, so I have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I can’t wait. But if Chuck doesn’t get the Intersect back, even if Morgan also keeps it, I’ll be disappointed.
episode 24 was about exploring the bromance between chuck and morgan, in what universe was that ep 24, maybe the same one where shaw and sarah were soulmates, I think the only bromance going on is between fedak and morgan
Can’t wait for the new season. I’ve watched from the very beginning so it’s bittersweet to see it end, but I’ll always be a Chuck fan. Viva Buymoria!
Whoawhao typo city, I was starting to wonder if the writer spoke english?
morgan looks so serious in that picture lol. did he and casey’s daughter break up? i’m still on season 3 so haven’t seen the wedding yet, but the series finale better kick ass!
w/o spoiling for you beyond the picture, Morgan was officiating at their wedding.
I love Chuck, but the typos… wow.
I cannot wait to see what they do with Morgan and the intersect.
I cannot wait for the new season, even though it is the final one. The show has been given this rare oppurtunity and I cannot wait to see the results.
Love Chuck and I can’t wait for the the final season to start. I’ve been a fan from the beginning so it’s definitely bittersweet but I’m happy there will be closure.
I think it’d be pretty hilarious if “the Zoom” were actually the kids from “Zoom” who’d mutated into mini-assassins, wearing the old-school striped rugby shirts. Yes, I have way too much time on my hands today.