Entertainment
‘Big Bang Theory’ Meets ‘Alias’ in NBC’s Action-Packed 5-Part Spy Series
One of the best and most underrated shows of its era is suddenly shooting its way up the Apple TV Store charts. NBC’s Chuck was an amazing series that blended comedy, romance, and spy-thriller drama. Lasting for five seasons and 91 episodes, the beloved series constantly overcame the odds and near cancellation and improved with each season. Viewers who love the nerd pop-culture references of The Big Bang Theory but also enjoy the intrigue and action of spy-themed shows like Alias got the best of both worlds in Chuck!
How ‘Chuck’ Paralleled ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Chuck and The Big Bang Theory, both produced by Warner Bros. Television, debuted on the same night on opposing networks: Chuck on NBC and The Big Bang Theory on CBS. The Big Bang Theory and Chuck shared various elements, focusing on unassuming “nerdy” fanboy types, i.e., Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) and Caltech physicists Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). In Chuck, Chuck is smitten with and romantically pursues the blonde CIA super-agent, Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski). Meanwhile, in The Big Bang Theory, Leonard falls for his next-door neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco). It’s the typical trope of the “nerdy” guy falling for the unattainable “hot” girl, but Chuck throws in some amusing twists.
In Chuck, Sarah’s an experienced CIA agent. Meanwhile, Chuck is a down-on-his-luck IT specialist for the Buy More and its “Nerd Herd” squad. Through a twist of fate, Chuck receives an email, linking his brain to a CIA/NSA supercomputer called the Intersect. Now his brain contains all the data of two intelligence agencies, making him an invaluable asset to both. Chuck then forms a misfit team with Sarah and the grumpy NSA agent, Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin), where they go on crazy spy missions together. Chuck uses his Intersect “flashes” to aid Sarah and Casey, while many high jinks ensue along the way.
Before he was wrongfully expelled, Chuck was a brilliant engineering and scholarship student at Stanford University, so he possesses a strong scientific background, much like the lead characters in The Big Bang Theory. Both series routinely reference other pop-culture movies and television shows, especially of the sci-fi and fantasy variety, like Star Wars, Star Trek, Tron, and The Lord of the Rings, along with superhero comics.
‘Chuck’ Mixes Comedy With Spy-Thriller Intrigue and High Stakes
What made Chuck such a fun and exciting series was its genre mash-up style. It mixed hilarious comedy with spy-thriller intrigue and genuine stakes. The antics involving Buy More and its supporting cast leaned heavily on the comedic side, especially those involving Chuck’s goofy work colleagues Jeffrey Barnes (Scott Krinsky) and Lester Patel (Vik Sahay), or Chuck’s klutzy best friend with a heart of gold, Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez). However, the spy-related plots in Chuck, including the villains, were generally treated more seriously and with higher stakes, much like the hit ABC television series Alias. Most of the comedy comes from watching Chuck struggle with being thrust into life-or-death scenarios, where he tries to fake it as a genuine spy. The series also featured cool action scenes every week, much like Alias, which brought cinematic-level production values to television.
While the Buy More characters were mainly utilized for comic relief, the show’s villains were no-nonsense, serious threats. Chuck utilized a hyper-realized version of the spy world that leans into a more pulpy, comic book style, rather than a more grounded and realistic spy thriller. Throughout the series, Chuck faced malevolent clandestine organizations, such as FULCRUM, The Ring, and Volkoff Industries, mirroring the villainous organizations like The Covenant from Alias. Much like Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin) and other villains in Alias, the antagonists in Chuck presented genuine threats to the heroes, including Chevy Chase, playing against type as the megalomaniacal CEO Ted Roark.
‘Chuck’ Inspired Its Fanbase
Chuck was an underdog series that faced cancellation every season. However, thanks to a loyal fanbase that consistently rallied behind the show, the series miraculously defied cancellation for multiple seasons, right until its finale. The show came closest to cancellation after its second season, which ended on a major cliffhanger. Fans came together to save the series, targeting Subway, one of the show’s sponsors, in a creative grassroots campaign where even star Zachary Levi got involved. NBC took notice, and the show got renewed, with Subway even helping finance the show’s third season.
Chuck, with its unique blend of comedy that mixed the nerdy pop-culture-referencing style of The Big Bang Theory with the spy-thriller subplots of Alias, accomplished something fun and unique. When its two seemingly disparate styles of slapstick comedy and high-octane action collided, the show became even more entertaining. Chuck essentially offers the best of both The Big Bang Theory and Alias, which longtime fans of the series already know. The series and Chuck Bartowski’s journey from college dropout Nerd Herder to a world-renowned superspy is worth checking out on the Apple TV Store.
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