Yvonne Strahovski is such an unbelievably good actor, especially when she doesn't even speak. Her expressions often speak so much louder than her words would have. Her push/pull between Chuck and Bryce in season 1 is emblematic of her entire journey of discovering her "real girl-ness" in the context of her CIA career. What she wants versus what's expected of her. But she couldn't be saying goodbye to Chuck, or we wouldn't have had 5 seasons.
OMG yes I was just thinking the same thing. Her facial expressions are perfect and deliver the emotions you expect to see and feel without the "acting" some many others try to do. Sara completes this entire series and I fell in love with the show and here from the opening scenes where she first meets Chuck. I think the show would never have lasted 5 seasons without here gorgeous face in every episode.
@@irahaskell7488 I agree with you. I fell for her when she smiled as Chuck was helping the ballerina in E1, but then responded (non-verbally) to Graham when he told her to kill Chuck if he ran from her on their first (first) date. The opposing emotions of wonder at the kid, and assassin contemplating a job existing so perfectly in one face; and I was a goner. 5 seasons of her weren't enough!
@@cliffmaesaka1399 But shit got real when she said "I like you, Chuck" during the date in the pilot. It was obvious she meant it, and it's awesome that the writers kept the aspect that Sarah loved Chuck most at his dorkiest 😁😁
@@ErikLeber-td7oj Yes, absolutely. Bottom line, Yvonne Strahovski's skill as an actress, her chemistry with Zachary Levi (and the whole cast) is (IMO) a big reason why the show still has such a cult following to this day. I'm obviously a big fan of hers, as I think she's the best "non-verbal" actress out there (meaning she can convey more, without words, than any other actress I've seen.)
Something I thought of a bit later. When Sarah is looking out her window she is contemplating more than Chuck or Bryce. She has to decide between going forward with Chuck, or, going back to her old life with Bryce.
Agree. It is about two different lives. A fake life of lies, deception, no love, and no feelings Vs a real life, with love, friends, family, no lies and no deception. One is easy, she has done it all her life. The other road is very risky and a whole new world.
Another thing I noticed. There is a bit of uncertainty on Bruce's face saying that he's not really sure she will go with him. He's a little like Cole that he can't believe he losses out to Chuck Bartowski.
Tough moment for Bryce. "I have one friend in this world, you have....." now he has lost the girl too. He had it all for a bit. Great girl, exciting life. But as we are shown by the series, it is an empty life. Chuck offered Sarah a chance at a real life. But that "real" life also comes with vulnerability. After being hurt in Prague, Sarah shuts down, and tells Chuck in the Bow fight scene, S3E2, "You can't hurt me" The love is there, but it is going to take a while for Sarah to let her guard down.@@jeffspector2458
@@SteveFresca-qk1vd Unfortunately for Bryce, he was completely delusional about Sarah. In spite of their apparent intimacy, he didn't really know her because, at the time, she was unknowable, even to herself. All she was, was a spy. Bryce, mistakenly thought she loved him. How wrong he was. Chuck forgave Bryce for ruining his life, so I suppose Bryce could have considered him his only friend. OTOH, he said other gratuitous things to Chuck and actively tried to separate Sarah from him. His ego and arrogance shown through, dispute his words.
An observation. I'm not sure that she was saying good bye in the first scene. I think that she may have been having serious thoughts about her decision and what it would mean. Your final question is spot on. Was the call the deciding factor?
Good point, and that is why I posted the video and question. Perhaps the look is pensive. She is looking at Chuck trying to sort out her feelings and how she should act on those feelings.
Someone in another comment section pointed out the significance of the detail of the fact that Bryce called her on an old style phone, whereas Chuck called her on a smart phone, signifying that Bryce was her past, and Chuck her future. She pretty much told Chuck as much in the following episode. He just missed it, of course.
Yes, the phones represent the old and the new. Other symbolism in the scene is her watch clearly reflected in the window. Time to choose. And of course the song. When Bryce is framed the lyrics say "he is the ever living ghost of what once was" or "its all coming apart at the seams" when Chuck is framed the lyrics say, "No one is going to love you more than I do".@@ErikLeber-td7oj
@@SteveFresca-qk1vdSmall details like that are what made Chuck arguably the best show ever made. The show was always great with subtle details you don't necessarily notice the first time you watch. For instance, it took me at least 3 or 4 watch throughs to notice that during the final scene on the beach, Chuck and Sarah are on opposite sides of each other than near the end of the pilot. And I never noticed, until reading some UA-cam comments, that when they spend the night together "for cover" and when they temporarily move into together, that they also sleep on opposite sides of each other from when they actually get together.
@@ErikLeber-td7oj OMG I have watched this show series of all seasons at least 6 times and every time find something more in the small details I had missed. Love and miss this show.
"No one is going to love you" by Band of Horses. When Bryce is in the scene the lyrics say its all coming apart at the seams, or splitting at the seams, or "You are the everliving ghost of what once was". When Chuck is in the scene the lyrics are saying "No one is going to love you like I do". The old phone represents the old (fake spy) life and old relationship. The new phone represents a new love and a new "real" life. Her watch is reflected in the window. Its "Time" to make a decision. Old life or new life.
Yvonne Strahovski is such an unbelievably good actor, especially when she doesn't even speak. Her expressions often speak so much louder than her words would have. Her push/pull between Chuck and Bryce in season 1 is emblematic of her entire journey of discovering her "real girl-ness" in the context of her CIA career. What she wants versus what's expected of her. But she couldn't be saying goodbye to Chuck, or we wouldn't have had 5 seasons.
OMG yes I was just thinking the same thing. Her facial expressions are perfect and deliver the emotions you expect to see and feel without the "acting" some many others try to do.
Sara completes this entire series and I fell in love with the show and here from the opening scenes where she first meets Chuck. I think the show would never have lasted 5 seasons without here gorgeous face in every episode.
@@irahaskell7488 I agree with you. I fell for her when she smiled as Chuck was helping the ballerina in E1, but then responded (non-verbally) to Graham when he told her to kill Chuck if he ran from her on their first (first) date. The opposing emotions of wonder at the kid, and assassin contemplating a job existing so perfectly in one face; and I was a goner. 5 seasons of her weren't enough!
Sorry for the stupid Autocorrect I meant "Her " as Sarah not "here" like the reply says. :
@@cliffmaesaka1399 But shit got real when she said "I like you, Chuck" during the date in the pilot. It was obvious she meant it, and it's awesome that the writers kept the aspect that Sarah loved Chuck most at his dorkiest 😁😁
@@ErikLeber-td7oj Yes, absolutely. Bottom line, Yvonne Strahovski's skill as an actress, her chemistry with Zachary Levi (and the whole cast) is (IMO) a big reason why the show still has such a cult following to this day. I'm obviously a big fan of hers, as I think she's the best "non-verbal" actress out there (meaning she can convey more, without words, than any other actress I've seen.)
Something I thought of a bit later. When Sarah is looking out her window she is contemplating more than Chuck or Bryce. She has to decide between going forward with Chuck, or, going back to her old life with Bryce.
Agree. It is about two different lives. A fake life of lies, deception, no love, and no feelings Vs a real life, with love, friends, family, no lies and no deception. One is easy, she has done it all her life. The other road is very risky and a whole new world.
Absolutely, Old landline phone from Bryce, new cell phone from Chuck.
Another thing I noticed. There is a bit of uncertainty on Bruce's face saying that he's not really sure she will go with him. He's a little like Cole that he can't believe he losses out to Chuck Bartowski.
Tough moment for Bryce. "I have one friend in this world, you have....." now he has lost the girl too. He had it all for a bit. Great girl, exciting life. But as we are shown by the series, it is an empty life. Chuck offered Sarah a chance at a real life. But that "real" life also comes with vulnerability. After being hurt in Prague, Sarah shuts down, and tells Chuck in the Bow fight scene, S3E2, "You can't hurt me" The love is there, but it is going to take a while for Sarah to let her guard down.@@jeffspector2458
@@SteveFresca-qk1vd Unfortunately for Bryce, he was completely delusional about Sarah. In spite of their apparent intimacy, he didn't really know her because, at the time, she was unknowable, even to herself. All she was, was a spy. Bryce, mistakenly thought she loved him. How wrong he was. Chuck forgave Bryce for ruining his life, so I suppose Bryce could have considered him his only friend. OTOH, he said other gratuitous things to Chuck and actively tried to separate Sarah from him. His ego and arrogance shown through, dispute his words.
We need new video.
Working on it.
An observation. I'm not sure that she was saying good bye in the first scene. I think that she may have been having serious thoughts about her decision and what it would mean. Your final question is spot on. Was the call the deciding factor?
Good point, and that is why I posted the video and question. Perhaps the look is pensive. She is looking at Chuck trying to sort out her feelings and how she should act on those feelings.
Someone in another comment section pointed out the significance of the detail of the fact that Bryce called her on an old style phone, whereas Chuck called her on a smart phone, signifying that Bryce was her past, and Chuck her future. She pretty much told Chuck as much in the following episode. He just missed it, of course.
Yes, the phones represent the old and the new. Other symbolism in the scene is her watch clearly reflected in the window. Time to choose. And of course the song. When Bryce is framed the lyrics say "he is the ever living ghost of what once was" or "its all coming apart at the seams" when Chuck is framed the lyrics say, "No one is going to love you more than I do".@@ErikLeber-td7oj
@@SteveFresca-qk1vdSmall details like that are what made Chuck arguably the best show ever made. The show was always great with subtle details you don't necessarily notice the first time you watch. For instance, it took me at least 3 or 4 watch throughs to notice that during the final scene on the beach, Chuck and Sarah are on opposite sides of each other than near the end of the pilot. And I never noticed, until reading some UA-cam comments, that when they spend the night together "for cover" and when they temporarily move into together, that they also sleep on opposite sides of each other from when they actually get together.
@@ErikLeber-td7oj OMG I have watched this show series of all seasons at least 6 times and every time find something more in the small details I had missed. Love and miss this show.
what’s the song in the hotel scene?
"No one is going to love you" by Band of Horses. When Bryce is in the scene the lyrics say its all coming apart at the seams, or splitting at the seams, or "You are the everliving ghost of what once was". When Chuck is in the scene the lyrics are saying "No one is going to love you like I do". The old phone represents the old (fake spy) life and old relationship. The new phone represents a new love and a new "real" life. Her watch is reflected in the window. Its "Time" to make a decision. Old life or new life.
thank you.. and very well analyzed too