The 2007 action spy dramedy Chuck is suddenly regaining popularity on streaming. The series is currently No. 10 in the United States in the Apple TV Store, per FlixPatrol.
Chuck ran on NBC for five seasons, from 2007 to 2012, and now, 14 years after the series finale, the show seems to be finding new audiences. Chuck seamlessly blended genres, combining spy tropes with sci-fi, action, drama, and comedy. Although the show never topped the charts in viewership during its run, it was critically acclaimed with a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is also in line, at 92%.
What Was Chuck About?
Chuck tells the story of Chuck Bartowski, played by Zachary Levi (Shazam!, Thor: Ragnarok). Chuck is an “average-computer-whiz-next-door” who works as a computer service expert at Buy More, an electronics chain store in California. Although he’s highly intelligent, he’s also unmotivated until one day, Chuck receives an encoded email from an old college friend who now works for the CIA. When he opens the email, the message embeds the only remaining copy of a software program containing the United States’ greatest spy secrets into Chuck’s brain.
Suddenly, Chuck has the knowledge to take down international assassins and terrorists, and he gets involuntary flashes of information triggered by things like faces, voices, objects, and keywords. With Chuck now being the only person with access to these secrets, the government sends NSA Major John Casey and CIA officer Sarah Walker to handle him. With no other options, they recruit Chuck for the country’s top-secret missions.
The series also stars Yvonne Strahovski (Dexter), Adam Baldwin (The Last Ship), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Sarah Lancaster (Blue Ridge), Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence (The Island), Vic Sahay (Roxy Hunter), Scott Krinsky, Julia Ling (ER), and Bonita Friedericy.
Chuck Remains a Fan Favorite
Since its finale, Chuck has remained beloved by fans, who continue to rewatch the series. CBR’s Laila Elhenawy wrote that Chuck perfectly blended sci-fi with spy action, “Even with the vast number of fun spy and sci-fi shows available, Chuck is still one of the very few that is absolute in its identity. It is uncomplicated, enjoyable, and combines gadgetry, humor, and real human feelings.”
Elhenawy added, “Even today, Chuck’s mix of genres feels fresh, whereas many newer shows rely heavily on spectacle or complex dark plots. Its durability comes from engaging characters, clever dialogue, and a steady storyline — proof that you don’t need a big-budget production to be captivating.”
CBR also listed Chuck as one of the “10 Best TV Shows From the 2000s That Demand a Rewatch.” Fans seem to be following through on that, based on Chuck’s sudden popularity on streaming.
Chuck is available for download in the Apple TV store.
- Release Date
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2007 – 2012-00-00
- Showrunner
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Josh Schwartz
- Directors
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Jay Chandrasekhar
- Writers
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Josh Schwartz
