The Insider.com

Lots of warring emotions are swirling around inside Chuck fans today -- unbridled excitement over tonight's season five premiere quickly gives way to melancholy and an infinite sadness knowing that it's the last one they'll ever see.

• November 02, 2011'Little Couple' Surrogate Has Miscarriage
• November 02, 2011Pop Culture Rewind: Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly Team Up For 'Dark Angel'
• November 01, 2011SPOILER ALERT! 'DWTS' Dismisses Another Favorite
• November 01, 2011The Making of the 'New Girl' Show Open
• November 01, 2011Rewind: Kris Jenner Talks With Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush About Marriage
• November 01, 2011Greek alternate series finale

But Ryan McPartlin promises fans will not be disappointed by the 13 episodes that are about to be unleashed upon the world. Actually, Ryan believes the episodes are so good, they won't be the last we see of the characters or this world. More on that below as I chat with the star about his feelings over the "final" season, what upcoming episodes have in story and where Captain Awesome should end up whenever the series does come to an end.

Insider.com: How are you feeling about this final season?
Ryan McPartlin: Obviously it sucks to be canceled, but to be given a final season gives us the dignity you hope any good show gets. This is the only year we've had any kind of certainty, so there was a sense of relief going in. All the pressure was taken off. It kinda felt like season one again -- there are no expectations, it's all about having fun.

Insider: Having Morgan become the Intersect and Chuck his handler also feels like a great bookend for season one.
Ryan: They way the writers have made this season, everything does come full circle. I genuinely think fans will be bummed when it comes to an end. It won't feel like "that was the perfect ending." This season really does reinvigorate the show. Which is a good thing -- you want to go out on a high note and leave fans wanting more.

Insider: Do you ever think they'll get more?
Ryan: We're going to go away for a while, but the fans will make sure this isn't the end of us. Maybe we'll come back for a TV movie. Or a miniseries, like Arrested Development is doing. I know there will be opportunities down the road to do something more. I'm sure this won't be the end of Chuck. But, it'll be up to the fans, as it always has been.

Insider: What can those fans expect from this season?
Ryan: There's a renewed sense of energy about the show this year ... kind of like it's season one again. The first season you do any show, you have no expectations – it's all about having fun, and that's kind of where we are now again. The writers had a lot of plans this year and a lot to deliver on with where the stories go. I can't even tell you how funny it is, with Morgan being the Intersect. There's also a great episode with Rebecca Romijn, where she chases down The Awesomes thinking we're The Bartowskis. It's a fun episode that brings us into the spy world again. Lots of late nights and stunt work, but it pays off in the episode.

Insider: Where is Awesome's head at this year?
Ryan: Awesome is manning up a bit. He's not as afraid of the spy world. He's come to terms with the fact that The Bartowskis are the last line of defense against the evils of the world. If they can't protect us, no one can. It's his life now and there's a sense of empowerment there that makes Captain Awesome start to feel the itch to get in and be integral to that spy world again.

Insider: When all is said and done, what do you want to see for Awesome in the series finale?
Ryan: I'd like to see him bring his brawn to the table full time at the end of the series. Show how we all fit into this spying world and protect it as a family. You know how Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie film movies at different times so one of them can be there at all times? Ellie and I would have to alternate our spying to make sure one of us could watch the kids [laughs].

Chuck airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on NBC.