Though next week's 'Chuck' finale is titled 'Chuck vs. the Cliffhanger,' after last night's shocking episode, you'd be forgiven for wondering how much more cliffhang-y things could possibly get in Burbank.

Our blushing bride and dashing groom were left facing an uncertain future at the episode's conclusion, and at this point, making it to the church on time is the least of our spy team's worries.

Last month, AOL TV was among a number of outlets invited to the 'Chuck' set to interview the cast as they filmed the finale. Though the series still hasn't been officially renewed for another season, the actors were optimistic about their chances; 'Chuck' is the Little Show That Could, after all, sustained by fan love, product placement and more than a few 'Star Wars' references. (Edit: 'Chuck' has been renewed for a fifth and final season!)

Join us after the jump to discover what we learned about next week's climactic finale and what the stars had to say about their loyal fans. (Spoilers ahead.)

First things first: The gown that fans can expect to see Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) wearing next week? Hospital issue, at least while we were on set. That's not to say that our blonde bombshell won't trade the look for a more flattering wedding dress at some point during the finale, but since 'Chuck' was filming a portion of the episode on location at a closed hospital (the very same that doubled for Sacred Heart in 'Scrubs,' fact fans!), it's safe to say that Sarah won't be doing a whole lot of ass-kicking in the first part of the episode.

"I'm unconscious for the whole day -- it's my favorite day of the week," Strahovski joked between takes. "I get to sleep all day in a hospital bed, which I've never done before. Usually I'm fighting, doing something or other. It's good, it's relaxing!"

The cast were under strict orders not to reveal too much about the episode or its conclusion, but Strahovski felt confident that fans would be satisfied with the ending, regardless of whether the show is picked up for another season.

"It's a good ending, but it does serve as a good beginning if we do get a fifth," she confirmed. "I feel that every end of season has had to be that, because we never know, so the writers are always accommodating both situations, where if it's the end it has to be a satisfactory ending and a complete series end, or it has to carry on with another storyline. They plan for both. It's like those games where you get to pick your own ending."

Zachary Levi echoed that sentiment when we caught up with him and Joshua Gomez later. "Our diehard fans are going to be most looking forward to the fact that it doesn't end. And I think I can say that because the name of the show is 'Cliffhanger,' so ... I mean, it ends -- it ends in the same 'Chuck' way that we've always ended any season. But [fans are] going to see the same kinds of things that have happened every year, in that they'll see the whole team collaborating and working together to make things right and have some closure about certain things that are really big, but also leave potential to be continued later."



But while Strahovski is showing off her comatose acting chops, what will the rest of Team Bartowski be up to? Obviously, in a hospital setting, even Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) and Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) have their parts to play.

"I'm wearing scrubs, so Yvonne's character is in dire straits," Lancaster teased. "We're working on her right now. It's the end of the season, there's always typical 'Chuck' antics that ensue. We've been working towards a wedding, whether or not that will come off, so there's all kinds of drama that leads to us potentially getting to, or not getting to, the church on time."

While Ellie is tasked with lifesaving of one kind, her husband manages to get in on a little spy action, as Devon is so wont to do. In the scene we observed filming, Awesome and Morgan (Gomez) join forces to take out a suited agent in a hospital corridor -- Morgan is steeling himself to kick some ass, but Awesome gets there first, knocking the agent out with great aplomb.

"He sort of steals my thunder," Gomez admitted. "I was on my way to punch him out. Or sweep the leg, I believe. 'Sweep the leg, Johnny!'"

"Sweep the leg! Put him in a body bag, Morgan!" Levi interjected, breaking out a 'Karate Kid' reference mid-interview -- the first of many such nerdy moments, since the pair seem every bit as comfortable finishing each other's sentences as Chuck and Morgan are on-screen.

"Cobra Kai! So yeah -- I was on my way over there, debating whether to sweep the leg, or karate kick, or judo chop, roundhouse punch. And by the time I got there [and got] to a decision, Captain Awesome just knocks him out and drags his body out," Gomez pouted, much to our amusement.

"Let's be honest, I'm more suited for it," McPartlin reasoned wryly. "Even though Morgan is now a staple of the spy world, I think Captain Awesome is very jealous. He's a terrible spy, but I still think that Awesome thinks that Morgan's a worse spy than him. So they do put us together in situations where we're arguing over who is more essential to the spy world."

As for long-suffering Casey (Adam Baldwin), who has been forced to put up with both Chuck and Morgan as they stumble towards competence in the spy game, Baldwin informed us that he'll be doing what he does best: "Protecting Chuck. And this one. [Nods to Gomez] This one's coming along. He's a lot smarter, and his technical attributes are improving episode by episode. And he's getting bigger too ... bigger and stronger. But he still needs to work on the muscle control."

We also had the opportunity to talk to Gomez and Baldwin about the importance of their fans, and both actors were effusive in their praise.

"We wouldn't be here without them," Baldwin insisted. "I can't say enough about how dedicated the fanbase has been. It just makes it so much easier for the powers that be to make the decisions they do. We're not privy to the major decisions that go on up in the towers, but certainly the fans who call and write and tweet and blog and write fan fiction, buy the Subway sandwiches and all that stuff -- we wouldn't be here without them. So thank you very much."

Gomez agreed. "Yeah. I almost feel spoiled. You've had your fair share of loyal fans on shows --"

"I like to call them 'shiny,'" Baldwin joked, as a shout-out to his time on Joss Whedon's 'Firefly.'

"Oh I know, I know well," Gomez teased. "But for myself, it's overwhelming. I've never seen anything like 'Chuck' fans. It's really intense, and really wonderful. And like you said, we're not here in this fourth season without them. There's no question about that. So we can't thank them enough. That's why when we go down to Comic-Con or whatever it is -- anytime we get a chance to interact with them, I just wish the Comic-Cons and those kinds of panels were all Q&A."

It's obvious that the whole cast loves and appreciates the 'Chuck' fanbase, and credits the loyal audience with their successful bids for renewal year after year; Levi plans to spend plenty of time with them over Comic-Con weekend to thank them for their support -- and not just in an official capacity.

Keep an eye on The Nerd Machine for more information about the "Nerd HQ" that Levi and his geeky friends (such as Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day) plan to set up in San Diego during Comic-Con.

And in the meantime, watch the finale, Mon., May 16, 8PM ET on NBC, to find out if Chuck and Sarah finally manage to say "I do."

Follow Laura on Twitter: @LauinLA