rate_review Reviews

I hope you don't take some of these reviews to heart too much, MCP. Everyone has different experiences with relationships. As someone who also has a debilitating fear of commitment due to a lot of circumstances in my childhood, teen-hood, upbringing in general, I don't think it's a tired concept for Sarah to still be dealing with. It isn't just that she doesn't want to face her emotions, because she is facing her emotions, in my opinion. She's afraid. And she knows she is. Maybe because of that fear, it is difficult for her to admit she likes him as much as she does. But even then, she admits that she cares about him. Yeah, the way she comes at the relationship is confusing and maybe even a little immature. But for how together she has her professional life, she's obviously having issues with this part of her life. And that's totally human. It's so boring to want a protagonist who has all their shit together. I don't buy your readers saying that Chuck and Sarah aren't having realistic reactions. Like there's only one appropriate way to react to a situation or an emotion. If you dislike the reaction Chuck has to Sarah when he first enters the office, maybe it's because that isn't how you personally would react. It probably isn't how I'd react either. But I'm not Chuck. And of course it's a huge coincidence that Chuck is the tech specialist called in to help. Who cares? Life is full of kismet situations like that. So it moves the plot forward. Cool! You guys are so freaking nitpicky, wow. I like the idea of chance bringing them together again, and Sarah being a little banged up is the perfect way to get Chuck to lower his guard. And in turn, that softens Sarah as well. Of COURSE Chuck is going to be concerned. Yes, 5 weeks passed without them talking, but that doesn't mean he would see her standing there injured and give her the cold shoulder anyway. "Oh you're injured? Boo hoo. Maybe you shouldn't have been so mean to me." Come on, you guys. This is Chuck. If he's proven anything, it's that he isn't petty. And that's what's going to win Sarah over eventually. How kind hearted he is. I loved the slow burn in the last half of the chapter, with them being so close, Sarah pining over him as he is working in the interrogation room, not wanting him to leave. And that smile he sends her as he's walking out. Why does Sarah have to be the one to reach out? She already tried calling and leaving a message. She assumed he was done when he didn't return the call, and she stepped back. I loved this chapter. And I relate a lot to Sarah. So I guess I take it kind of personally when people say they're tired of Sarah struggling with her fear of commitment and her reluctance to show her feelings. We still don't know her full story, yet. We don't know what she's gone through. And it's frustrating how impatient some of these reviews have been. I want to see where the story goes, too, but I'm not going to tear MCP apart because they are exploring the emotions of an obviously emotionally dysfunctional character. I'm fine with Sarah's characterization. I like it, even. I feel like she's like a lot of people out there. And I can't wait to see how Charah work this out. Personally, I'd like to see Chuck pursue her. I want to see him put his foot down and be like, "Look I understand your feelings. I respect them. But I'm also going to romance you." I think that would throw her for a loop. I'd love to see that. But whatever you write, MCP, I'm glad to read it! And I'm sure I'll love it!

Agree with mcp fan. It's easy to say how a character should act from your own perspective. I find it refreshing that we're given an inside track to a scared, emotionally wounded (even stunted) Sarah Walker. She doesn't know what to do with the explosion of emotions inside of her, she's scared she's going to be hurt again. Why's it so bad that she's trying to protect herself? I think that's a very human reaction. She's not fully ready for a romantic relationship, obviously, both emotionally and mentally. It'd be cruel for her to dive headfirst into one with Chuck when he's so ready and she isn't. It makes much more sense to have them begin a real, full-fledged romance when they're both ready. And I appreciate that MoreCharahPlease is doing that. However, I too, would like to see Chuck be understanding about her fear, but to want to help her get over it. Instead of being like "ugh well then fuck this" and run off. He's going to want to protect himself, too, I assume. But he can do that and still have sex with Sarah with his eyes wide open. Maybe with some more hope? Hope that he can show Sarah she doesn't have to be afraid of him? I like to think I'm one of the readers who gets the characters and understands. Maybe I give myself too much credit though. If so, sorry MoreCharahPlease!!! I'll love your story no matter what you write! Great chapter. And thanks for verbalizing my thoughts, mcp fan!

Mcp fan. I think you are a little too biased. And chuck should put his foot down. I've read thousands of chuck fanfics, and 98% of those have chuck trying to win Sarah over when it's Sarah who needs to try harder. She gave bryce a chance at a relationship, and she's already stated that chuck is a better man then bryce is and would never hurt her. It's just Sarah's stupidity that's keeping them apart. And you say she's already reached of to chuck. What? 1 phone call after the way she treated him? Does that seem enough to you? No where near in my opinion she should have been grovelling. It seems the author is just dragging this out for the sake of it. The first 13/14 chapters were the best in my opinion since then it's been aload of unnecessary angst and nonsense.

Stuart- Biased how? I can assure you, I have never met MCP. I don't know anything about the author except that he or she writes stories that I enjoy. The second I stop enjoying the stories MCP puts out, I will stop reading most likely. I don't feel obligated to read these stories or review them positively. I do it because I want to. That isn't biased. I just like the story. I like what I'm reading. Human beings are complicated, some of us more than others. And it sounds like you want a story that is less emotionally complicated. So maybe this particular story isn't your thing. That doesn't automatically make the story or its direction WRONG, it just isn't what you like. I agree with what you said about Bryce. It does seem like there was more there than Sarah was willing to admit for awhile, maybe because she was still hurt at the beginning of the story and unwilling to admit it. That's why a couple reviewers said she's an unreliable narrator. Maybe her hurt over Bryce and her coworkers betraying her for so long while she skipped along clueless and in love was still there a year later when she met Chuck. And she didn't want to admit it. Maybe being around Chuck has opened her up emotionally and she just doesn't realize it's happening. But we, as readers, have been watching it happen. So maybe she still isn't in a place where she can make that leap, but she's definitely grown a lot in the last three months. And maybe even Chuck might be able to see that sometime in the future and be hopeful. I really don't think this author gets enough credit for the subtle character growth underneath what Sarah says. It's a pretty cool way to write a story. Yes, I apologize. You are right about the 1 phone call. That really isn't enough. Sarah isn't totally blameless. She probably called him, went "Oh he didn't call back" and even though it hurt, she saw it as a way out maybe? "Well that's it then I guess". And that doesn't say much about her maturity. But I like that she's got faults. It means she can grow. I don't feel like it is being dragged out, though. Nor do I think it is unnecessary angst. Isn't it much more satisfying to have them come together (no pun intended) when they're both ready? Like in canon with Honeymooners. Damn, that episode was so satisfying. :) The idea of Sarah groveling appeals to a lot of you guys out there, I notice. And while she definitely needs to take some steps towards Chuck, I think she has to figure her shit out first and really WANT to take those steps for it to be a healthy romance between them. Just my thoughts.

Wonder if Sara's intruder is Bryce can't wait for the next chapter

@mcpfan - "Personally, I'd like to see Chuck pursue her. I want to see him put his foot down and be like, "Look I understand your feelings. I respect them. But I'm also going to romance you." I think that would throw her for a loop. I'd love to see that." That would make no sense to me at all. For starters they just had an argument about Chuck apparently 'forgetting' the rules of their arrangement, for him to ignore it again after Sarah just lost her shit at him, would make no sense at all. To each their own though...

mcp fan and anonnn...the level of hypocrisy in your posts is reaching epic proportions. You can't on one hand rave how Sarah is this 'real' character because she is shown to be complicated and confused, and then expect Chuck to be this clear headed hopeless romantic who just sits there and accepts her behavior and keeps coming back for more regardless of what she says or how she treats him. If you want to defend Sarah by saying "Human beings are complicated" then you also have to accept the POSSIBILITY of Chuck not wanting to deal with it and giving her the cold shoulder. You cannot sit there and defend Sarah for being complex and then abuse people for the mere suggestion that Chuck should be hurt and SHOW that hurt. Because humans are complicated....right? Or is that only when it comes to Sarah?? That's why Chuck's reactions are unrealistic and the whole chapter was about giving Sarah a free pass in terms of getting back into contact with Chuck. There's nothing complicated about Chuck's reactions, there's nothing redeeming about what Sarah TRIED to do to fix her mistakes. One phone call isn't an attempt, she gave up. And the typical thing is that Chuck shows concern, smiles at her, gives her hope, when SHE was the one who ruined their 'friendship'. To reduce that down to people apparently wanting her to 'grovel' is just fucking stupid, I'm sorry. If Sarah gets to treat Chuck like a piece of shit, then Chuck gets to give her the cold shoulder. It goes both ways. Some people are under the assumption that just because this story is told from Sarah's P.O.V...then she is the only one who gets to be 'human' and have "complicated" emotions. Give me a break.

Based on reviews seems like this was a somewhat polarizing chapter, but I'm one of those who loved it, and I too would call this the best chapter so far. Yeah, it felt a bit too convenient that it was Chuck who got called in to check on Sarah's computer, but I also considered the possibility that it wasn't a coincidence. I don't know what exactly that would mean, but it's something that I thought about.... I don't understand the reviewer who said he/she didn't like Chuck showing concern over Sarah, asking if she was okay, wanting to him be distant... come on this is Chuck we're talking about, that would have been horribly out-of-character behavior from him. I'm happy that their problems weren't solved in just one chapter, and that they just didn't jump back to bed together. Hopefully they don't do it until they redefine their relationship. Maybe Chuck, being the chivalrous guy that he is, will ask Sarah if she would feel safer sleeping in his apartment for a while? Looking forward to seeing how things develop from here.

Big fan of this. Always looking forward for an update. Great to see additional plot

Alright, this was my favorite chapter so far and it barely had any sex in it. I'm happy you introduced this little mystery as well, very intriguing. Some small criticisms: It felt a bit too coincidental that it just happened to be Chuck who got called in to examine Sarah's laptop, but it's not a big deal. Who recommended him? Orion? Also, Sarah's fear of commitment is starting to feel a bit too strong. Sure, Bryce hurt her, but considering she was never head over heels in love with him, it feels kinda silly to me at this point. But again, not a biggie. This is definitely the best Chuck story I've seen here at aff.org, you should consider posting it at the M rated section of fanfiction.net to get more audience :) Thanks, can't wait for the next chapter!