This is a good series, but here is an episode where the writing got lazy and sloppy. So far the show has been pretty good about solid plotting without resorting to "mechanisms" - a writing term that means the writer has placed at least one artificial obstacle in the way of the plot just to fill out the minute/page quota.
Bryce could have explained himself at any point in this episode but instead choose to ask Chuck about the Intersect in his head, or kiss Sarah, or aiming his gun at people he has no intention of shooting (like Chuck or Sarah) until interrupted by one thing or another, effectively but not believably putting off his explanation until the clock has ticked by far enough to satisfy the writers.
Also, this episode conveniently forgets that, while Bryce may have had noble reasons for framing Chuck for cheating and getting him kicked out of Stanford (Chuck vs. The Alma Mater) he also stole Chuck's girl, Jill. Chuck comes to admire Bryce's skills as a spy without ever once confronting him about this. A convenient oversight, I suspect, to leave an excuse for Chuck to continue to moon over his past and maybe an excuse to bring Bryce back, or perhaps Jill.
Other problems with this episode include: The brevity of Bryce's debriefing after he turns himself in (at the Buy More, no less) after which he emerges wearing spy uniform A: a tuxedo. Sarah's continued infuriating silence on the topic of her attraction to either partner, Bryce or Chuck.
While I'm at it I find Casey's staunch asexuality problematic. Tough guy like him would be a cold, selfish, even rough lover, but he'd have no lack of women willing to give him a ride. He stills seems like a cutout, two dimensional, no real complexity or depth. He could do with some serious fleshing out.
Bryce could have explained himself at any point in this episode but instead choose to ask Chuck about the Intersect in his head, or kiss Sarah, or aiming his gun at people he has no intention of shooting (like Chuck or Sarah) until interrupted by one thing or another, effectively but not believably putting off his explanation until the clock has ticked by far enough to satisfy the writers.
Also, this episode conveniently forgets that, while Bryce may have had noble reasons for framing Chuck for cheating and getting him kicked out of Stanford (Chuck vs. The Alma Mater) he also stole Chuck's girl, Jill. Chuck comes to admire Bryce's skills as a spy without ever once confronting him about this. A convenient oversight, I suspect, to leave an excuse for Chuck to continue to moon over his past and maybe an excuse to bring Bryce back, or perhaps Jill.
Other problems with this episode include: The brevity of Bryce's debriefing after he turns himself in (at the Buy More, no less) after which he emerges wearing spy uniform A: a tuxedo. Sarah's continued infuriating silence on the topic of her attraction to either partner, Bryce or Chuck.
While I'm at it I find Casey's staunch asexuality problematic. Tough guy like him would be a cold, selfish, even rough lover, but he'd have no lack of women willing to give him a ride. He stills seems like a cutout, two dimensional, no real complexity or depth. He could do with some serious fleshing out.
