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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?
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Oct 29, 2007 10:25 PM
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Wow, you didn't waste any time posting. Incredible.
I've got to watch the show again, there were simply TOO many terrific moments.
Favorite has to be Captain Awesome not saying AWESOME! And, the Morgan makeover was priceless. Certainly not what I was expecting the "talk" to be and better than I could have expected. Then there's the scene of Chuck being ejected from the Nerd Herder car.
The writers of this show deserve a standing ovation...it's just really excellent writing. Totally implausible premise, yet they make it both believable and hysterical. The cast works so well together, you'd think they had been together for years. I Love Lucy for the 21st century. Let's just hope it has a chance to become a classic in its own right.
Thanks Jeanette for doing such a wonderful job on the recap!
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Oct 29, 2007 10:50 PM
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This episode was pure genius. However, I wanna point out the thing I found the single most hilarious thing in it all to me.
So the scene where Chuck was frantically trying to get to the Halloween party to get to Morgan, who was looking rather dejected? For awhile it was pretty much a shot for shot parody of a scene that was exactly like that on The OC. There was a scene in a season 1 episode where Ryan was frantically racing through a hotel to get to a party where Marissa was looking rather dejected about Ryan not being there. The whole slow motion shots, especially when Chuck burst into the house, and the part where Chuck had to push through people to get to where Morgan was, and even the music that was playing in the background, was all directly lifted from that scene. I found it absolutely hilarious since Josh Schwartz created both shows, and was willing to basically parody himself with that scene. I'm not sure how many other people got that though, since I don't think Chuck's audience is the same as The OC's audience.
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Oct 29, 2007 11:21 PM
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Captain Awesome made the most of his scene - his whole "tuck it" thing made me htink of Barney's "Suit Up!" Hopefully the new adult Morgan will stay with us instead of the annoying juvenile Morgan.
Chuck being so easily fooled - by Lazlo this week and Corinne (?) the other week - is pretty understandable. He definitley feels like an outsider in this whole spy world, so it's easier for him to accept the lies of master manpulators than to believe that "Team Chuck' values him or trusts him.
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Oct 29, 2007 11:39 PM
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Awesome episode! I'm so glad they gave Capt. Awesome some great screen time, and made him say something other than awesome!
This show is a winner, and I'm shocked that not more people are watching it. Word of mouth alone should gain more viewers. I loved that Morgan acted more mature so he FINALLY wasn't overpoweringly annoying. And, Sarah in the Leia Slave Girl outfit alone makes this episode 4 stars. I mean, come on! I hope that the agents will no longer bug Chuck's room. If they're trying to protect him, then set up cameras and bugs OUTSIDE the house to try to watch and listen for anyone trying to get to him. but please, give the guy his dignity. Did I mention how awesome it was for Capt. Awesome to have screen time? Also, more appearances from the Buy More crew, including the return of bi-sexual Asian gal. I guess she was wearing fake tattoo sleeves at the start of the show, because she didn't have any tats in her catwoman outfit. I thought they might have been fake, although they were under her shirt sleeves, so I wasn't 100% sure. Pretty much all of the supporting Buy More folks appeared in this episode, and that makes me happy. They're flipping nutty! I hope the writing on this show remains at a high level, it has been great! BTW, who was the actor playing Lazslo's handler? I know he's been around forever, but I didn't catch his name.
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Oct 29, 2007 11:47 PM
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This was such a fantastic episode!
-great seeing Capt. Awesome! That made up for not seeing him last week. And I love his deep voice! I wonder if the actor talks like that in real life or just for the character?
-Casey was great as always, still my favorite. The end was hilarious when it showed him sitting in the chair in his brown robe thing listening to Chuck and Morgan talk about roast beef!
-I cracked up when Chuck was listening to his messages after getting away from Lazslo at Buy More, and when he was sliding down the street in the car seat!
-I could've done without the shirtless Morgan. Leave those scenes for Awesome!
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Oct 29, 2007 11:47 PM
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I am officially campaigning for Captain Awesome to ALWAYS be dressed as Adam. Good god.
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Oct 30, 2007 12:07 AM
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All I have to say is, I'm officially in love with Chuck Bartowski- he is adorkable and sweet, and has a beautiful smile. Zachary Levi, I heart you...
I am loving the character developments in this show, and I must say Sarah looked great in that outfit (b!+ch lol) and so did Ellie. Morgan was actually bearable.
I REALLY hope they don't cancel this show and give it a full season pick up as well as a second season pick up (please oh please oh please....)
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Oct 30, 2007 12:28 AM
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Does anybody know the name of the actor who played Laslow? He reminds me of a young Adam Ant. Yah, that's right...I'm THAT old. Anyhow, I'm sure I've seen him in something else.
Casey is still my favorite, but after tonight's episode, Captain Awesome is definitely in second place. I loved his grooming tips/life advice for Morgan. You think he's going to be egotistical and shallow, but he's always supportive and insightful.
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Oct 30, 2007 12:30 AM
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The HR Guy who played Arthur on The Tick series is David Burke. His most current stint is on Brothers and Sisters.
I think Lazlo is played by Greg Baine who was seen on the Nines and Veronica Mars. But I could be wrong. He is listed on www.imdb.com as being in this episode, but not under the name Lazlo. Maybe the character name changed or Lazlo is his code name.
Ok on to my favorite bits. The funniest line of the night was Tang on the sand worm costume. When he called it a sand p---s I died laughing. And his shrunken cowboy hat was a riot.
And speaking of costumes, Captain Awesome could have worn that fig leaf the whole episode. The girls looked great as Eve and Princess Leia, and the sandworm buddy costume was a hoot.
I am in love with Chuck, and especially this episode. Chuck has a heart of gold and takes people at face value. In his world people do not behave like Lazlo. But then again, not many people have a psychotic sociopath as a buddy.
Chuck grows more confident each episode. He stood up to Casey about the bugs planted in his room, to Big Mike about leaving the store and to our little Napoleonic Tang when he tried to wield his power as the new assistant manager.
And who would have thought that Morgan could clean up and grow up so fast. Captain Awesome's tuck analogy was so unexpected and exactly what I enjoy about this show. Let's hope the grown up Morgan is staying and the annoying one is gone for good.
The slo mo salute to the OC reminded me so much of the old hair color commercials - "the closer you get the better you look" as two lovers ran in slo mo to each other.
You can tell that Sarah has feelings for Chuck. Why else would she take a real picture with him at the Halloween party?
I did miss me some Casey action this week. Let's hope he gets spotlighted in an episode soon.
My final fave bit is Chuck being ejected from the car and ending up next two babes at a stop light. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
Chuck Bartowski is my kinda hero - sweet, adorable and brave.
I am so buying this DVD set when it comes out.
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Oct 30, 2007 2:05 AM
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I agree with the Captain Awesome love - not only is he easy on the eyes and that voice - whew! - but I love how they could have taken that character and made him shallow and unsympathetic, but instead he's supportive, he obviously likes his girlfriend's brother as a person, he wants to help, and nothing seems to bug him, not even Morgan.
It's nice to watch a show where the good-looking sister and her boyfriend are actually nice people! Too many shows take those 'pretty people' and make them obnoxious. Instead I like them both and hope the show keeps them. Ellie's a great character; I LOVE her relationship with Chuck.
I don't blame Chuck at all for believing Lazlo - Chuck was already starting to feel controlled and invaded, and here comes Lazlo to say 'you can lose all of this'. And yet another Buy More Buggy takes a big ding for world peace. The ejector seat? Too funny!
Anybody else see Lazlo's sketch on the napkin and think, 'this guy should be a graphic artist'?
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Oct 30, 2007 8:55 AM
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The funniest part of the entire episode? Captain Awesome coaching Morgan. I could not stop laughing  Plus the ending when he purposely talked about sandwiches with Morgan because he knew Casey was listening.
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Oct 30, 2007 9:15 AM
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Darclyte - The guy who played Lazlo's handler is Rick Hoffman. You are right. He has been around for a while. I recognized him from Jake in Progress (I was one of the 3 people that actually watched that show.)
tvdiva: I think Lazlo is played by Greg Baine who was seen on the Nines and Veronica Mars.
I actually think Lazlo was played by Jonathan Sadowski. He is listed on IMDb, but for the wrong episode. Go figure.
This show is so great, and this episode was no exception. This may have been my favorite of the season so far. My only complaint (and it is a tiny one) is that it does not seem that Casey gets a ton of screen time. That actually surprises me as he has such a cult following from his past projects & you'd think they would use that more.
There were so many great scenes in this episode, but like others, I think my favorite was the end with Casey listening in.
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Oct 30, 2007 11:42 AM
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Lazlo was played by Jonathan Sadowski.
Where do I sign up to join the Captain Awesome as Adam petition?
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Oct 30, 2007 11:43 AM
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I loved this episode. And the OC frame-by-frame parody was hysterical.
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Oct 30, 2007 11:55 AM
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