 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Chuck
Common Sense Media says
Fun spy show is more about comedy than danger.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this action-driven comedy makes espionage look exciting and fun. But even when Chuck is involved in life-or-death missions, the danger seems unrealistic. In the beginning, Chuck doesn't use weapons, but the people trying to help or hinder him do (and as the series develops, Chuck goes to “spy school” and learns how properly defend himself). Some conflicts involve guns and shooting, although the violence is never really graphic. There's also some romantic tension between Chuck and his "handler" Sarah (who later becomes his girlfriend), as well as some social drinking.
What's the story?
When electronics-store employee CHUCK (Zachary Levi) opens a message from a spy whose dying act was to send him a trove of top-secret intelligence, every seemingly unrelated scrap of data about global espionage is subliminally implanted into his brain. But when the CIA and the NSA track the email to Chuck’s inbox, they can't decide whether to take advantage of his newfound knowledge or try to scrub his mind clean. As Chuck slowly starts to connect the dots, his ability to spot dangerous plots as they unfold makes him an invaluable asset, and the government recruits him to join their war on terror.
Is it any good?
Chuck is a completely improbable but highly entertaining romp through two worlds that rarely meet on TV: secret agents and high-tech nerds. And there's good reason to keep those worlds separate. After all, at first, Chuck's biggest concerns are playing video games and finding a date, preferably with his CIA handler, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), who eventually becomes his love interest. Meanwhile, Sarah has other things on her mind, including protecting the world and mourning her late boyfriend, the same spy who emailed the secret data to Chuck in the first place. But it's the contradictions between these two worlds that make Chuck a whole lot of fun.
Even though Chuck's spy life is obviously a farce, the interactions between Chuck and his tech-support pals ring true and are often quite funny, particularly his relationship with his best friend, Morgan (Joshua Gomez), who, if anything, is an even bigger nerd than Chuck is. Add in the element of “geek chic,” and your kids will have plenty of reasons to pay attention in computer class.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about this show’s distinctive style, particularly its uncommon blend of action and comedy. How do Chuck and the agents he interacts with compare to other spies you’ve seen on television and in the movies? Would the show be more or less enjoyable if the tone were entirely serious?
Do you think real-life spies are more like James Bond or more like Chuck, an average guy who tries to make sense of seemingly unconnected bits of data? Why do most movies and TV shows about espionage tend to romanticize life on the job?
How has Chuck’s view of the world changed over time? Does the show paint the world as more or less of a dangerous place than it actually is?
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AGE
Stay in the car
Chuck is brilliant and hilarious and epic. Three things that make me recommend this show to all of my friends. It's super violent and has a bit of sex, but it's morals are good and you tend to really warm-up to the main characters. Don't stop watching because Jeff and Lester are perverted. It's worth putting up with.
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AGE
XD
Chuck is loyal and determined with a quirky smile and a nerdy attitude. He is always funny and never fails to make me cheer him on!
Action and comedy mixed together!
There are plenty of bed scenes, but everyone has their clothes on and they mostly talk (and the bed scenes happen between engaged couples). Some language. But overall it's one of my favorite shows!
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AGE
The best television show on the air right now
Chuck is what every American TV show should strive to be- an exciting, hilarious and well-written show that highlights how everyone can make a difference if they just try, and that you shouldn't treat anyone differently based on their jobs or backgrounds. Chuck revolves around an employee at a WalMart-like company who accidentally downloads pictures encoded with government secrets into his head. These images cause him to flash on certain things and stop crime with information. When a beautiful female spy and her less-beautiful gruff male partner show up to help protect Chuck, they soon become friendly with the outgoing, friendly guy. Chuck is phenomenal because it is regularly inventive, exhilarating and funny. The beautiful spy is shown in skimpy outfits and there is some flirting between her and Chuck. There is some violence by the gruff spy but Chuck is never excessively violent and he treasures all human life. Chuck is a great show for the entire family.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 25, 2010
AGE
Not appropriate for our family
I watched the first half of the finale with my thirteen and fifteen year old kids, and was surprised at the borderline R rated content of a couple of conversations. We will definitely not be watching this show again.
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AGE
Not appropriate for our family
I watched the first half of the finale with my thirteen and fifteen year old kids, and was surprised at the borderline R rated content of a couple of conversations. We will definitely not be watching this show again.
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Kid, 11 years old
May 25, 2010
AGE
Not appropriate for our family
I watched the first half of the finale with my thirteen and fifteen year old kids, and was surprised at the borderline R rated content of a couple of conversations. We will definitely not be watching this show again.
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AGE
Excellent show.
I love this show. It's my favourite show on television right now. It has the perfect mix of comedy, romance and action. My sister (who is 10) watches this show with me, it's fine but many jokes are innuendos, so she doesn't understand a lot of the jokes.
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AGE
Chuck is a hit with teens!
This a great comedy/spy show, I love it, the only part that gets me is the sometimes crude comments made by some of the characters, and some shows show one of the main characters (Sarah) in her underwear along with another female in another episode. But other than that its a great show!
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AGE
Chuck is amazing!
I love chuck! I always watch it ! It's amazing and totally funny.
The story is amazingly well written and original, and it always makes me laugh :) i think it's good for 12 year olds and up
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AGE
Great for the whole family
This is an excellent, well-written show great for most any age. It's exciting, with good moral and family values. The sexual content is very minmal, (mostly kissing, flirting, etc.) and I don't even recall any swear words.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | NBC |
| Cast: | Joshua Gomez, Yvonne Strahovski, Zachary Levi |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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