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Episode Recap: Chuck vs. The Helicopter
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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Oct 1, 2007 9:16 PM
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I think it improved from the pilot, it found the right pace. I still don't like Morgan - it's like he thins he's in "The 40 (or 25) Year Old Virgin" and he's trying to be Seth Rogan.
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Oct 1, 2007 10:49 PM
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Did anyone hear Chuck say Oceanic Flight 815? Isn't that on a little show that we call "Lost" on another network? How cool was that?
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Oct 1, 2007 11:27 PM
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I HEARD IT!!! "Oceanic Flight 815 was shot down by..."
Loved the way they slipped it in there. Missed the quite a bit of following dialog because I was laughing in glee.
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Oct 1, 2007 11:50 PM
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I watched with the closed captioning on and it said "Oceanic flight 815 was shot down by surface to air ..."
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Oct 2, 2007 12:07 AM
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It is such a fun, exciting, quirky show and I love it!
..a little Alias kick***, a little Jake 2.0 .. just great!
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Oct 2, 2007 12:23 AM
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Two things bothered me about this show.
The first one was the heliocopter, like you. The first thing I said when he was having problems in the copter was "hasn't he ever played a flight simulator game?" And then I had to wonder how Sarah knows about computer games? She clearly couldn't have time to play them with her life.
The second thing that bothers me is that I don't think that the writers really understand nerds / geeks. Because they haven't let Chuck be smart enough. Geeks might have problems in social relationships but they are smart and in this episode I didn't get Chuck being smart. He was at Stanford, so you know he's smart. (Though why he's working at an electronics store and why he didn't go to college elsewhere after Bryce got him kicked out of Stanford ...)
In spite of that, I'm still enjoying the show, though I could also skip the awkward dinner parties in the future.
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Oct 2, 2007 1:30 AM
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I didn't have a problem with Chuck not figuring out the video game angle with the helicopter on his own, just because the situation he was in *was* pretty terrifying and quite confusing. He'd found himself being kidnapped, tranqued, dragged onto the helicopter, sees the pilot of the helicopter accidentally shot by the tranq and pass out and come to the realization that if the helicopter was going to land, he'd have to be the one to land it. Plus, he not only has all this new information tumbling around inside his head, but he's having to try to figure out who he's supposed to trust, and has just realized his lack of trust in Sarah could have gotten her tortured, if not outright killed. I dunno, you throw all that into my brain and then ask me to drive a car - something I do every day - and I could EASILY see myself staring at the steering wheel and dashboard blankly, trying to comprehend what they are and what I'm supposed to do with them. Sara's reminder to him of the flight sims was just enough to give him the nudge he needed to get out of "f'ing freaked out!!!" mode into "ok, I think I might possibly be able to maybe land this thing without killing anyone too badly - or at least I hope so - here goes nothing!" mode.
I'm really enjoying the show - but it would be SO much better without Morgan. I have nothing against the actor, and I think he's trying to make the best of the material he's being given, but the material they're giving him is seriously lacking in entertainment value.
I also thought the humour in the dinner scene felt far too forced.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed it enough to want to watch it again next week :D
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Oct 2, 2007 5:18 AM
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I also heard the "Oceanic Flight 815 was shot down by...." that cracked me up.
Im wondering why he Bryce got Chuck kicked out of Stanford.
But overall I liked tonights episode. Casey chasing down the shoplifter, and shoving Morgan down with his face....had me rolling.
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Oct 2, 2007 6:00 AM
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I thought the Oceanic comment was great! I enjoyed the show again, and it seems that they have a pretty good handle on where they're going. At some point, however, it does seem that some end will have to come from the secrets being in his head as they won't stay "current" forever...and that they're working on a new computer system.
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Oct 2, 2007 7:55 AM
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I really want to like the show. I really do. I think the premise for the show is different and something we have not seen before. Even if it is off the wall. But the helicopter thing did bug me just a little. The NSA guy (forgot his name) just happens to call Chuck and he just happens to have a blue tooth piece in his pocket. That was a bit much for me. I agree. It would have been better if he had talked his way into figuring out that it was like playing a video game.
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Oct 2, 2007 8:12 AM
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The whole video game/helicopter part was a bit of a strech with the magically appearing bluetooth headset and all, but that's why I watch TV. I LOVE this show! I'm starting to wonder that when it comes time for Casey to "do what he does best" he doesn't crack under pressure. hhmmm... I hope so, because I love all the characters, but the interactions between Chuck and Casey are some of my favorites.
And I'm glad to see everyone else seemed to catch the "Oceanic flight 815 was shot down by..." My husband and I came in late and were watching it on DVR. As soon as I heard that I immediately rewound it. So is it just a nod or an easter egg?? Man I love both of these shows!
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Oct 2, 2007 8:22 AM
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It took me a second to think... Is Lost on NBC? No... what? Loved that nod to Lost.
I just saw the premiere on Sat night, so it was still very fresh in my mind when watching this one. This show is so much FUN! I found myself just GIGGLING throughout the whole hour.
And I like Morgan. They need him. It grounds Chuck (no pun intended) while also giving us a slight comparison... that Chuck might be a geek, but compared to Morgan? He's Danny Zuko from Grease!
And Bravo to Adam Baldwin. So underrated. Loved him since My Bodyguard in the 80's... and he's still a badass.
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Oct 2, 2007 10:31 AM
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To me Capt. Awesome will always be Fran's boyfriend from Life with Fran 'tho I probably am the only person who will admit to watching the show.
I too found this episode a little uneven but I loved the way how Sarah seemed genuinely hurt by Chuck's constant "if this were a real relationship" talk. I think she actually likes the guy.
I think Bryce was trying to get out of the rogue spy business. It could be why Bryce chose Chuck - he knew that Chuck would do the honorable thing and that he and Sarah would get along.
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Oct 2, 2007 10:46 AM
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This show is just “enh” for me. I definitely liked the pilot better. It seemed like it belonged on the USA network last night, right up there with the silly antics of Monk and Psych.
How much does the actor who plays Chuck want to be John Krasinski? He needs to get his own schtick.
And the bangs on the sister had me so distracted in all of her scenes. Who thinks that looks good? Blech.
I did love the Lost shout out, but there’s no way this was meant to be an “easter egg”—a nod only, since I’m pretty sure NBC doesn’t have or give out ABC nuggets of info!
I though Reaper was better, but all in all, I’m a bigger fan of compelling tv, and this is just inane.
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Oct 2, 2007 10:52 AM
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