Chuck is a love story set in a world where love is considered a liability. The theme of love vs duty is as old as human literature but the version explored in Chuck more closely resembles that of Star Wars—the spies in Chuck‘s world are the Jedi knights in Star Wars. The theme is also echoed in the Night’s Watch in Game of Thrones. When Chuck decides to become a spy, he will have to navigate this established reality and find his own path, just as Luke Skywalker does in Star Wars (Expanded Universe).
The theme is also in almost every superhero movie ever made. It’s, in fact, the same decision made by Peter Parker as Spiderman. His Prague is symbolically a cemetery—duty is the death of love. With great power comes great responsibility.