by Jeanette Martin (TVGUIDE)
November 20, 2007
Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Imported Hard Salami"
Is it just me, or are these episodes getting better every week? The writing is top-notch, the storylines are deliciously deep and complex and the humor is right there. Each Monday I think it can't get any better, and then I am happily and pleasantly surprised.
So what happened tonight? Chuck seemed to have everything going his way: A beautiful "normal" woman (returning guest star Rachel Bilson) was interested in him... really interested, as the sweaty homage to Titanic illustrated. But the Intersect in his brain had to go and ruin it all. He flashed on the name of Lou's smuggler ex-boyfriend, and that lead to a downward spiral of mistake after mistake. He was ordered to wear a wire on a date with Lou to try to get some info, and he was so busy trying to do that that he ended up ignoring Lou. Sarah showing up didn't help either.
Chuck managed to make it up to her with a sexy sandwich order and a bouquet of Gerber daisies, but the intel he gathered the previous night ended up being compromised, and it looked like Lou had tipped them off. They had that incriminating photo after all, and it was just enough to send Chuck into his next big blunder of the night: He confronted Lou when he thought she was accepting weapons, and it turned out to be illegally imported deli meats. Certainly a threat to national security!
Next thing you know, Sarah is once again butting in, and that gets her and Chuck kidnapped without his tracking device. Luckily Casey figures out how to locate them and does so just in time to rescue them and find the real cargo: A very large and mysterious crate that seems to hold a bomb. A bomb that is ticking down very quickly. Just as the timer runs out, Sarah gives Chuck the kiss he only dreamed of. But then the "bomb" doesn't go off. It ends up being a cryogenic chamber that holds none other than Bryce... alive and presumably well.
OK, everyone all at once: "Awww, poor Chuck." He was a day late and a dollar short all evening. It was heartbreaking to watch him call Sarah, thinking he has a future with her (and why wouldn't he after that kiss?) as she opened the chamber and saw Bryce.
The B plot was equally surprising: Morgan and Anna got together. I really enjoyed how that came about. The pieces just seemed to fall into place and it didn't feel forced to me. I am so happy to see Morgan doing something that is not annoying.
The only complaint I have for this episode: no Ellie or Captain Awesome (shirtless or otherwise).
OK, moments worth mentioning:
• Casey saying as many times as possible that Sarah was dumped
• Sarah’s reaction to Lester when he went over to "console" her
• "He had me at pastrami."
• Casey’s reason for the rose. Too bad for Chuck it didn’t work.
• All the obvious little signs that Sarah was jealous and truly did care for Chuck: interfering with his date, telling Lou not to hurt him, sticking up for Chuck to Casey and their Washington contact, and my personal fave, the little catch in her throat when Chuck declared their mission was to make sure he "never had sex again."
• That powerhouse kiss. It was probably the first real moment those two have had.
I know I left out so many good scenes and lines, but I want you guys to share the fun of pointing out the winners from this episode, so let's hear what you all liked!
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Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Truth"
The truth is out there... or was it? Tonight a poison expert (guest star Kevin Weisman) got to Chuck and his crew and exposed them all to some killer truth serum, causing Sarah and Casey to drop the spy act and tell it like it is. Sorta.
Unfortunately Ellie got poisoned as well, and Chuck put her welfare before everything and everyone else. He had one dose of the antidote, and he gave it to her. Not a very spy-like move, but certainly a 100 percent Chuck choice. With time running out, Chuck realized how to track down the bad guy and got the antidote for everyone, but not before he got a painful confession from Sarah: Their fake relationship has no chance of getting real.
And that makes things even more difficult for Chuck, who found someone who could be real, and right, for him. The O.C alum Rachel Bilson breezed into Chuck's life with a broken phone and a deli sandwich named after him — what's not to love? Too bad he already has a "girlfriend" in Sarah. You can't blame Chuck for using the truth poison to find out where he stands. Too bad he didn't know she was trained to withstand the effects of the truth stuff. So was she lying or not?
And I know a number of you out there were thrilled to see Tang get shipped off to the pineapple farm. Any guesses as to who will be named his successor? Someone out there needs to fill the epaulets.... Could it be Morgan? Big Mike seemed to be getting pretty friendly there with him, dropping a big secret like that.
Now on to some of the highlights!
• Chuck’s face while Awesome went through his bike analogy. The poor guy really looked horrified! We saw quite a bit of old-fashioned sensibilities in Chuck tonight, and that is really sweet.
• The picture of President Reagan at Casey’s place. That is so him!
• Ellie’s truth rant, especially the "porno shorts" line and the bit about Chuck’s hair "making funny animal shapes."
• Casey admitting he wouldn’t shoot Chuck and telling him that he respects Chuck for being a nice guy.
• Chuck’s comment that Casey’s chin was carved by Michelangelo.
• Sarah winning the "who is the better lock pick" argument.
•Chuck’s comic-book knowledge allowing him to foil the poison expert.
• Shirtless Awesome! (And lingerie Sarah.) That was some serious fan service.
And the Britney song was a nice touch, I did not mind it at all.
OK, I know I left out plenty of great stuff from this episode, so let's hear what you guys enjoyed!
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Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Alma Mater"
I am going to start right off by saying this was a fantastic episode. It wasn't as amusing as some of the others, but it made up for that with a tight story and some really great information that explained so much. It wasn't just another bad guy of the week, it was a solid piece of the whole "Chuck as Intersect" premise.
Chuck learned that the professor who booted him from Stanford is actually an operative, and Chuck was assigned to "bring him in" for protection from an Icelandic assassin with some wicked crossbow skills. That part of the mission didn't go so well, but the road trip to Stanford proved to be very successful in more ways than Chuck imagined. There he found a disc that contained all the intel on the students recruited to the agency, including an entry on himself. Back home he opened his file and learned that Bryce got Chuck expelled to save him from becoming a agent.
I absolutely loved the way this episode tied up some plot points. Turns out it wasn't a random act to send Chuck the Intersect info; Bryce knew Chuck's scores for subliminal pattern recognition, so he had to have known that Chuck would respond the way he did to the e-mail. This sets up a very interesting twist: Bryce the "rogue agent" ended up being a really good guy, so, as Chuck wondered, maybe stealing the Intersect was for the greater good, too. I'm sure we will be seeing more of this storyline later on.
The flashbacks to Chuck's college days were bittersweet. You could tell it meant so much to him to be there, and you could see how much Bryce's betrayal hurt him. At first I thought it was going to turn out that Bryce set up Chuck out of jealousy, that he didn't want someone better than he was brought into the agency. That he did it for Chuck's own good was unexpected and a really nice touch. And it gave Chuck his friend back: through all the flashbacks of the happy times he had with Bryce, you got the feeling he missed Bryce's friendship more than he missed being a Stanford student.
As a break in the action, the Buy More crowd engaged in a power struggle against the overlord Tang. Morgan was actually effective (and annoying only once!). Most of us have worked with someone like Tang, and I admit I get some measure of vicarious satisfaction when he is outsmarted by the others.
I’ll just get right to some of the moments worth mentioning:
• The flashbacks. I already talked about them, but they bear repeating as standouts. It was a great way to shed light on Chuck’s past and fill in some gaps.
• Chuck figuring out Bryce’s hiding spot, then coming up with the plan to call the active student agents for back up. That is what sets Chuck apart from the original Intersect computer: Chuck came up with all that, and I doubt the computer would have devised those actions.
• The look on Casey’s face when Sarah admitted she had only one shot left instead of the half clip she claimed; and the look on Sarah's face when she saw what Bryce had done for Chuck.
• Shirtless Awesome. Need I say more?
I leave the rest of this amazing episode to you guys. Did you like it as much as I did, or think it was a bit contrived? Let's hear what you have to say!
For more Chuck, see ourOnline Video Guide.
Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Sandworm"
Poor Chuck: he thought he found a kindred spirit. Instead, the guy turns out to be a psychotic weapons expert on the lam from his handlers. Go figure.
Tonight Chuck discovered a rogue operative, Lazslo, in, of all places, a video arcade, where he and Morgan were having a video-game war. Lazslo made Chuck as an agent because of his watch (which Lazslo invented) and eventually won Chuck to his side by telling him the sad story of how he was kept in an underground facility since the tender age of 11, making high-tech gadgets and weaponry. The poor guy didn't even know about James Bond! Disgusted with Morgan's juvenile behavior, Chuck started to connect with Lazslo. That is, until the guy's twisted desire to blow things up came out. In the end Chuck learned how to disable the bomb and figure out who his real friends were.
Once again Chuck ran into trust issues, and managed to get everything all wrong. He was too eager to believe Lazslo, probably because he saw a bit of himself in the guy. Being right about all the bugs in Chuck's home did not hurt his case, either. Chuck should have realized they were placed there for his protection, but yeah, I would be mad too if Casey was listening in on everything I did. (It was great at the end when he purposely started up the sandwich conversation just to aggravate Casey!) He should have realized that that bit about not knowing anything related to James Bond was a line, too. Come on, how could a spy-toy guy like that not know about Bond?
I found it ironic that Chuck finally had enough of Morgan, but he wasn't all that bad this time. Chastised and feeling jilted, Morgan started questioning himself. That set up the hysterical "makeover" courtesy of Capt. Awesome, who summed up maturity by knowing when it was "time to tuck." He did an excellent job: Morgan cleaned up well. Too bad it happened on Halloween and everyone thought he was in costume.
And speaking of costumes, there were some great outfits. Awesome and Ellie as Adam and Eve (loved the shot of Awesome walking around in the leaf, and Ellie's hair was stunning. She should have it like that all the time). Chuck and Morgan as a sandworm from Dune. The Buy More outfits of the pimp, American Gothic and Catwoman. Tang looked appropriately ridiculous in the old-cowboy getup. Too bad Casey didn't dress up. I wonder what he would have been....
And a few more moments worth mentioning:
• The awkward coverup in Chuck’s room when he was pretending to "get lucky."
• Morgan trying to do the grown-up thing for his friend with the interview. (Anyone catch "Arthur" from The Tick as the HR rep?)
• Lazslo using the "You’re my only hope" line.
• Chuck’s frantic race to find Morgan after he realized he had stolen Morgan’s bike and left his friend in the lurch. I really thought they were going to hug each other!
• The nickname for the sandworm costume Chuck and Morgan dressed in every year.
• Sarah dressing like Princess Leia and taking a "real" picture for Chuck.
What stood out for you guys in this episode?
For more Chuck, see ourOnline Video Guide.
Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Sizzling Shrimp"
So far Chuck has been pretty good about keeping his secret spy life from interfering too much with his regular life, but tonight the two collided, and his friends and family lost. Ironically it was Chuck's own personal code of trying to help everyone that got him in trouble. Talk about no good deed going unpunished!
So how many different directions was Chuck being pulled in? Ellie wanted him to spend time with her and celebrate their special family "October Mother's Day," and Morgan wanted Chuck to help him with the sales contest. But Casey and Sarah needed him to check out a Chinese spy, who insisted Chuck help her rescue her brother after he botched her attempt (while being helpful to the wrong person, no less!).
Chuck felt so bad about getting the intel wrong that he was compelled to help the spy... which pretty much messed up everything for everyone. He wasn't there for Morgan or Ellie, while Casey and Sarah got captured on the mission he forced them to take. Of course, he came through in the end, overcoming his fear of fireworks to save his team and the Chinese spy, but that meant Ellie and Morgan had to pay the price. Chuck may have a supercomputer in his head and think at the speed of light, but he can't be in two places at once.
This allowed the supporting cast to have more airtime in this episode, especially Ellie, and I liked that her character was allowed to evolve. Ellie bonding with Morgan and coming to his rescue in the (as it turned out) bogus contest was really sweet. It was nice to see her character fleshed out as something more than Chuck's sister or Captain Awesome's girl. (By the way, the lack of Awesome tonight did not go unnoticed. Let's hope he's back next week.)
The other workers at Buy More got more lines, too, and they all seemed aimed at humiliating Morgan. They did a fantastic job of it, especially after Morgan managed to genuinely help a customer and get her number for his efforts. I did feel sorry for him when that happened, even though he was back to being excruciatingly annoying for most of the night. I know that is his role in the show, but really, a little Morgan goes a long way and there has to be something else he can do besides get under Chuck's (and the audience's) skin.
Chuck seems to be adjusting to his spy role, settling in with the idea of going on missions and not being freaked out or whiny about it. But I am still wondering why he hasn't gotten any training yet. By now he should have been given a crash course in self-defense at the very least. Casey and Sarah cannot always be there to protect him.
OK, now on to the highlights. This episode was pretty tightly put together. I liked how it moved along from one point to the next with some great lines or shots along the way, such as:
• Morgan flashing his geek badge with the line "Help me Chuck, you're my only hope." Yeah, we all know that was paraphrased from Star Wars.
• Chuck's increasingly ridiculous excuses to cover up his spy duties.
• Ordering the shrimp and having it delivered to the stake-out car.
• The way Ellie invited Morgan and Sarah to share the special family holiday.
I'll leave the rest for you guys to point out. Let's hear what you liked!
For more Chuck, see ourOnline Video Guide.
Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. The Wookiee"
I have to admit, ironically enough, that I can't wait for the weekend to be over so Monday night can roll around. The Chuck/Heroes one-two punch is a winning combination, and tonight's episode is a worthy addition to the series.
So what was Chuck up to this time? He got involved with a diamond heist and a sexy, sneaky DEA agent. It was great to see Chuck using his own expertise (spotting all the security tech) instead of simply relying on the Intersect info in his head. Despite the lack of training in fieldwork, he didn't do too badly, slipping through the door before it sealed shut, navigating through the pool area... and throwing the plate at Corina when she tried to swipe the gem from him at his home. But he also got tripped up with his own insecurities (and thankfully it wasn't Morgan's fault this time!). Chuck had more trust issues to work out when he realized that even though he and Sarah did pretty well playing that game of guessing each other's answers, he really doesn't know anything about her, including her real name. And that goes for the audience, too: How big of a surprise was it to hear her friend Corina ask what Sarah's "cover" was this time? I was a little disappointed in Chuck when he chose to trust Corina, a stranger and an obvious loose cannon, over Sarah. But then it was a pretty big lie she fed him about a very touchy topic: Bryce. Chuck seriously needs to get over the whole Bryce thing... quick.
I was happy to see Morgan in a nonirritating capacity this time. I even felt sorry for him when Corina played him the way she did. As a nice change, he was actually useful when he showed up and Corina slipped the diamond into his bag. I'm surprised Casey didn't figure that out. Come on, she was kissing Morgan, after all!
Casey didn't have much face time in this episode, but he made the most of what he was given. So did Sarah, snapping his picture when he was in that "delicate" position (and who out there doesn't want to know what happened in Prague?). He didn't get to beat up as many bad guys as usual, but he sure showed that bed who's boss! The scene in the elevator was priceless, standing there handcuffed to a headboard. At least he got his pants back on. Most importantly, viewers now have an answer to one burning question about Casey: He's a boxers man.
Thanks to Sarah, I have a new home-security tip: Always keep stockings and an extra bar of soap handy to defend yourself when a ninja breaks into your house. Her friendship with Corina was an interesting love/hate relationship. More hate, though, when Corina spilled the beans about Bryce and double-crossed Sarah with the diamond. I thought Sarah should have been more upset with Chuck, but then she was distracted making sure she could get back to the Weinerlicious store before she lost her job. I love the silly touches like this, the super-secret spies worried about their blue-collar covers.
Some other moments worth mentioning:
•Corina putting the goldfish back into the tank in the middle of the fight.
•The various references to the hairy villain. Calling him a Wookiee was hysterical.
•The look on Chuck’s face when Morgan described the kiss.
•The thug blowing smoke in Casey’s face.
•Chuck’s idea to mail the diamond. (I didn’t mind the obvious product placement at all. It made sense for the story and worked well.)
•Chuck noticing that Sarah doesn’t like olives.
•Sarah’s sad whisper that her middle name is Lisa.
There were plenty more: Let's hear what you guys liked about this one!
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Episode Recap: "Chuck vs. the Tango"
So, who out there wants to reach into the screen, grab Morgan by the neck and...? It seems tonight he was working overtime to make up for the lack of annoying behavior in last week's episode. And here I thought they were going to ease up on poor Morgan. I like the character, really I do! He just can't be used for every situation where something needs to go wrong! But wait, I am getting ahead of myself....
Instead of accidentally bumbling into a situation, Chuck was actually sent on his very first mission: The case involved a painting, plutonium and a dangerous arms dealer. Chuck literally framed himself while trying to act cool undercover, and under pressure, at the art auction; he really needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut. He ended up in the hands of a killer but managed to get away, mainly by demonstrating his incredible powers of computer repair to prove he was who he claimed to be, leaving Casey and Sarah to save the day, which they did with style.
Despite the overuse of Morgan-as-scapegoat, I thought this episode was funnier and more entertaining than the helicopter episode. So many great moments in this one! Here are some of the standouts:
• Casey once again was the comedic muscle. The way he delivered the mission message to Chuck (through the window blinds); his inside joke about the tango (was he making fun, or having fun with Chuck there?); his bonsai tree (I think that was the most tense he's ever been!); and the fight with the thugs in the store (which was better — taking out the guy with the microwave, or the punch to the face that left the bad guy's hand hurting?). And it seems there will be at least one thing each episode that Casey will "not kid" about. Last week it was quiche, this week it was about Chuck's life and the tango.
• Sarah once again got physical in a couple of really dazzling fight sequences. Yvonne Strahovski can really dish it out, and it really is her! (See this interview with Yvonne where she talks about her stuntwork.) She also showed her softer side: Could she really be falling for Chuck?
The supporting players had a lot to do this time. It was nice to see the Nerd Herd again. They had some great scenes and they all work really well together. Big Mike is a hoot and it's fun to see everyone, including Casey, jump when he shows up. Captain Awesome had some fancy footwork to contribute, too — who knew he could tango! It was priceless that he taught Chuck the woman’s steps, and Chuck rolled with it. That’s what I like so much about this show: The actors are willing to put themselves in embarrassing situations if that’s what it takes for the story.
Now if Morgan can just dial it down a notch or two. He started out decently, inspiring Chuck’s team to get to work on his behalf (and to keep the dreaded Tang from getting the promotion), but he used up all that credit quickly when he got locked in the computer cage and hounded Chuck to save him, followed by all his annoying antics at the store. I know he isn't aware of Chuck's life as a spy, but why does he have to be the one always getting Chuck into hot water?
The series seems to have found its footing with this episode. The cast came together like old friends and I like the overall direction it is taking. But please, give Joshua Gomez something substantial to work with as Morgan, I'd really like to see that character explored a little more.
What were some of your picks and peeves of this episode? Discuss!
Check out our Online Video Guide for more Chuck.
After that powerhouse pilot, I was a bit anxious the writing would not be able to hold up to that standard. This episode wasn't on the same level, but it had enough going for it that it was still a fun hour.
I'll get the two not-so-fun moments out of the way first. The dinner party scene was almost painful to watch. I am not a big fan of awkward situational humor, so in that respect it was well done because it made me antsy. I was also a bit disappointed with the helicopter situation. Chuck should have figured out the computer-game angle on his own.
Now for the good stuff, and there was plenty. The fight between Sarah and Casey was great. It was so over the top, but that's what made it so much fun to watch. She really handed him his butt, so his ego had to be bruised more than his body, which can clearly take a licking and keep on ticking. There was a good deal of humor based on Casey's tough guy status, such as chasing down the shoplifter, his stealth fighter comment and shrugging off the tranquilizer dart. His customer service training was a riot too. He certainly isn't a people person, and that was what was so strange about Chuck willing to believe him over Sarah. Sure, they did a really good job of making her seem to be the bad guy, but you knew that couldn't be the case. That doctor however: I knew right away he wasn't on the up-and-up. Maybe it was the hair, but I suspected him from the moment he walked in.
I really liked that Sarah was upset when Chuck lost trust in her. She tried to say it compromised the mission, but you could tell she took it personally. And just when you thought Casey might have a soft spot hidden in all that macho-man muscle, he doesn't even blink when he is told what to do with Chuck once the new computer system is up and running. While it wasn't exactly spelled out, it is pretty obvious "what he does best" isn't in the Buy More customer-service handbook.
But if you ask me what the most positive part of the whole episode was, I'd have to say Morgan was not as annoying. Let's hope they keep that trend going. It is too easy to make Morgan the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong and his character seems to be getting pigeonholed. His antics get old very quickly, so I was happy to see them kept to a minimum this time around.
And we finally got a name on Captain Awesome: Devon. Not as flashy, but it works. However, to me he will always be Hank, Sam’s little brother on Passions.
What did you guys think of week 2? Discuss!
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Episode Recap: Series Premiere
If you didn’t watch the debut of Chuck, why not? This is one of the smartest, funniest shows of the new season. Couch potatoes and computer geeks rejoice: ou have been given a hero who doesn’t have perfect hair or rock-hard abs. Armed with a pocket protector and deadpan sarcasm, Chuck is an unassuming every-nerd (we all went to school with a guy like this) who finds himself in the ultimate geek fantasy: working with the government to thwart international spies and evildoers.
It was a great choice to open with Chuck’s uncomfortable birthday party. I could feel how out of place he was in his own home when his well-intentioned sister forced him to socialize with "real live women." The scene not only laughed at Chuck’s stereotypical geek behavior, but it laughed with him when he made the joke about working on his five-year plan and just needing to "pick a font."
The sudden cut to Chuck’s former college roommate, "Big Man on Campus" Bryce, who turns out to be a spy (and not an accountant as was amusingly pointed out on screen) made me feel like I was watching a James Bond movie. It was a real thrill for this Firefly fan to see Adam Baldwin show up as tough-guy Agent Casey. Think Jayne in a suit and not as subtle. I loved how he shot first and said, "Don’t move" after the fact. Chuck’s name blinking on Bryce’s handheld was a great way to tie the two together and explain what was happening. All this in under 10 minutes!
The scene where Chuck is hypnotized by Bryce’s image-heavy e-mail was a clever way to show what Bryce had stolen. I don’t know exactly how that was supposed to work, but it was the only leap of faith I needed to take for the show, so I went with it. I’ve watched stranger things, I admit, so this wasn’t too far of a stretch for me.
I was laughing out loud when Chuck and his annoying buddy Morgan went to work at Buy More as members of "The Nerd Herd." The obvious similarity to the real-world electronics chain was brilliant. I also loved the throwaway visual joke of the "Astro Diapers" display at the barely disguised warehouse shopping club called Large Mart.
Now, about that so-called CIA agent, Sarah. She must be the agency’s best operative, because she sure doesn’t look like a spy. She had me fooled at first when she showed up at the store and made a pass at Chuck. But it was a no-brainer later on to see she was the "ninja" trying to steal Chuck’s computer. How funny was that scene? With friends like Morgan, Chuck doesn’t need ninjas to take him down.
I should have felt sorry for Chuck when he went on the ultimate date from hell with Sarah, but I was laughing too hard at the great one-liners and the dance/battle with Casey’s goon squad. The car chase that capped off the evening was extremely well done. Not Matrix level, but that was some fancy driving!
In the end, Chuck saved the day, as only a nerd could: by using a virus-riddled porn site to disable the bomb’s computer. I guess Morgan has his uses after all. But I’d really hate to see him in a sidekick outfit.
A couple points worth mentioning include Chuck’s nickname for his sister’s boyfriend. Calling him Captain Awesome is, well, awesome. Also, suiting up for the date was fun. Chuck was so worried about his shirt button, but considering how the date ended, he should have been more concerned about bringing a clean set of undies.
There were just too many high points to mention here: What were some of your faves?
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