This was supposed to be a review of the latest 2 episodes of Chuck. However, my phone, now upgraded with iOS4, decided it was going to overwrite my draft review with an out of date one thanks to a rubbish auto-sync feature. Needless to say, I've now switched this off and managed (just) to overcome the desire to jump up and down on the phone until all that's left is a pile of crumbling circuits. Seriously, the number of problems I've started having with my phone since upgrading to the new operating system is driving me loopy. It's not just the iphone 4 itself that Apple have screwed up (no, you're holding it wrong. Oh, and we displayed the wrong number of bars meaning your phone has always been getting an appalling signal. Yeh, great way to "fix" the issue guys). iOS4 is dreadful. The much mooted multitasking is diabolical, since you can no longer properly close an app. Instead of switching between 3 screens of apps, I can now double click and have to scroll through even more screens that only show 4 apps at a time, because the phone thinks everything I've used for the last fortnight should remain open. I've never been the greatest of typers on the virtual keyboard but I swear the number of mistakes have skyrocketed since the newer, slower OS has been in place. There's now a longer delay between hitting the key and the letter appearing, meaning you can't see what you're typing and the often wrong auto-correct has been activated before you even know it. iBooks is a joke. Download Stanza and flick through a book. Now flick through the free copy of Winnie the Pooh you get with iBooks. Spot the difference? Yeh, that's right, iBooks takes much, much longer to turn the page, so you drag your finger across and have to wait for the page animation to catch up. Great reading experience there. I'll happily get by without colour and fancy fonts if it means I can read a virtual book at the same speed as a real one. If I wasn't locked into a contract and already had a lot of music purchased through iTunes (meaning I can't now port it to a non-Apple device without paying extra, another cunning money spinner from Jobs and co.) I'd be moving onto Android in a heartbeat.
Right then, onto what's left of my Chuck reviews...
Versus First Class (S3Ep5)
Another fun and funny episode, the biggest surprise by a mile being Kristin Kreuk. Back in Smallville she was a doe-eyed plank of wood. Now, out of nowhere, she's charming, sweet in a sophisticated way, relaxed, natural and simply a joy to watch. I've no idea how she got from the insipid Lana Lang to this great guest role but here's hoping there's more to come.
As to the plot, Chuck is sent on his first solo mission, seemingly in Paris in reality taking place on the flight over. Chuck has to find and retrieve a key from a tough Ring agent with no one to back him up.
4/5
Versus the Nacho Samples (S3Ep6)
Chuck has to acquire and then burn an asset, while his family and friends start to wonder what's he's up to.
It's an enjoyable episode if not as fun as usual due to the difficult and painful decisions Chuck has to make regarding his asset. The repeated tranqing is hysterical though.
3/5
