This week's episode of Chuck, "Chuck Versus the American Hero," was meant to be the penultimate episode of season three before NBC ordered an additional six episode, so going into you could expect some major game changers.

If you have not watched the episode, we're going to give a major spoiler alert.  On last night's episode of Chuck, the big shocker of the season was that Sarah killed Shaw's wife during the "red test" and not the ring.

We can't help but think this means that Eve Shaw was a ring operative, or there'd be no other reason Sarah was assigned to kill her and that the Ring would have it on footage.  We really hope this means there's actually something more to the Ring plot line of season three.

Since the start of the season, the Ring has been portrayed as far bigger and more sinister than Fulcrum, yet so far we've spent twelve episodes with them and all they've tried to do is kill Shaw.  How important could this guy and his dead wife be?

We're going to hope that Schwartz and Fedak are going to use their additional six episodes to actually make the Ring a real national security threat with actual missions, besides trying to steal a pill.

Other than our complaint, which is primarily direct at the season as a whole, the episode was fantastic for fans.  We finally saw Chuck develop the cajones he's been training for the last three seasons and brave his surprisingly short mission into the Ring base solo AND tell Sarah he loved her in one episode.  Go Chuck.

Meanwhile, the unlikely pairing of Morgan, Casey and Awesome, now that they're all civilians that are on the "inside" was hilarious, even if their mission was as ridiculous as trying to get Chuck back with Sarah.  Hey, they managed to give each of the guys believeable motivaitons.

Speaking of motivations, we're really going back with the Africa thing after a quick mention of a sabbatical?  What happened to how important the fellowship was to Ellie, etc?  Looks like everything is being set up to reduce the Chuck cast for a radically different season four.

So would you guys like to see season four in Rome with a completely new cast?  Or will they find a way to press the reset button yet again just to keep the expensive Buy More set and its staff?

The Chuck and Sarah moments were very sweet, and didn't have some of the painful awkwardness Chuck can have while professing his feelings in the middle of missions.  Instead, he acted like a Bartowski and broke out some impressive charm.

While we're pretty sure that Sarah was going to be Chuck at the station regardless, we were still proud of Casey for showing up Sarah's apartment to tell her the truth.  We can only imagine how hard it was for the big guy to actually selflessly confess his murder.

We can't wait to see how season three finishes up and really hope it's Chuck that puts the bullet in Shaw.  That guy has been one terrible thorn in this show's side for too long.  Now for our favorite Chuck quotes from the episode:

Receptionist: So where will we me sending you, Mr. Bartowski? Bali, Bora Bora?
Chuck: Burbank. Bob Hope airport to be exact.
Receptionist: I see, and will you be requiring a companion ticket?
Chuck: No thanks, she's still there. | permalink

Morgan: Is that what they teach you in the marines, roll over and die?
Casey: This isn't exactly combat, Morgan.
Morgan: That's where you're wrong, Casey, because love... love is a battlefield. | permalink

Awesome: Morgan, why don't you let me handle it. No offense, I've had my fair share of ladies.
Morgan: It's cause you live in a bubble. Take a look at your self. Go ahead. It's a freakish bubble of handsomeness. Now look at me, no bubble. I have to be completely verbal. | permalink

Jeff: Do they have any idea how much stalking experience I have?
Lester: If only they did Jeffery. You're very prolific. You're the Picasso of creepiness.
Jeff: It's true and this is my Blue Period. | permalink

Eric Hochberger is the programmer of TV Fanatic, so please forgive his mediocre writing. His programming is far better. Follow him on Twitter and/or email him. Just don't request threaded comments. They're coming.