In This Section
|
« Chuck
Episode Recap: Chuck vs. the Nemesis
Yet another jam-packed episode! This one promised to hold a lot of answers, but it seems to have opened up just as many new questions along the way. We might know a bit more about why Bryce destroyed the Intersect, but we found out about a new secret group of agents with their own agenda. And where do Sarah's loyalties and feelings lie now?
So, what was on Chuck's plate this Thanksgiving? Unfortunately a not-so-dead duck by the name of Bryce Larkin. Not that there would have been a good time to tell him, but Sarah drops that little bombshell on him at a really bad time: right as Chuck's hopes are at their highest. Next thing Chuck knows, he is face to face with his former friend speaking Klingon. This was certainly not one of Chuck's better holidays....
How exactly did Bryce return from the dead? Even he did not know how, but he knew why: Bryce was not rogue after all, but sent on a mission by a secret group within the CIA called Fulcrum, and they saved Bryce believing he was the Intersect. Chuck was able to confirm Bryce's story through some Intersect flashes, though Casey was a bit disappointed he couldn't kill Larkin again.
Fulcrum wasn't done with Bryce and they almost got him back, but a shoot out and an action-packed fight sequence at the Buy More during Black Friday had Team Chuck come out on top. Bryce was reinstated as an agent and was sent off on his next super secret mission...complete with tux and briefcase. (Just where exactly are they stashing all this stuff in that home theatre room!?)
Meanwhile, Morgan was again entrusted by Big Mike with an important mission: This time he had to train the Nerd Herd to prepare for Black Friday. That did not go so well, and neither did Ellie's Thanksgiving dinner. The evening was ruined by both Anna and Chuck getting jealous, and I really could not blame either of them. The way Morgan was carrying on about those sweet potatoes, and of course the way Bryce was carrying on with Sarah, well it is a wonder things did not go even worse!
I applaud the writers for once again bringing the various story lines together in a logical way. I am always pleasantly surprised at how everything falls into place. Finishing up Bryce's plot at Buy More during Black Friday, and the fiasco that resulted, was perfect, especially the way they covered up what really happened: with NSA agents posing as firemen to clean up the mess.
There were lots of winning lines and scenes tonight. Here are just a few:
•We got a lot more Casey this time than we have lately, and that is never a bad thing. I loved the way he casually told Chuck that Bryce was a trained assassin before shoving him into the room and locking the door. And how sharp did he look in his suit for Thanksgiving dinner? He even got into the action at Buy More: the way he grabbed Chuck and carried him off was hysterical, and the guns a-blazing shoot out in slo-mo was classic Casey at his best. (For more Casey goodness, see this interview with Adam.)
•Chuck has yet to let this whole spy thing go to his head, and he demonstrated just how much of a nerd he still is when he was embarrassed to admit he knew how to speak Klingon, and later when he told Bryce he could summon Sarah and Casey with ‘one girlish scream.’ The most adorable (adorkable?) though was when he saw all the weaponry hidden in the home theatre room and his reaction was to voice concern that some kid might have found the guns.
•The Black Friday set up had so much going on all at once. Lester and Jeff hiding from the customers; Morgan dropping the box on Jeff’s head; Big Mike with the impressive leap over the counter…all in the slow motion that was also used for the spy fight. Too funny!
• Sarah's dilemma at the end of the episode was nicely portrayed as she stood between Bryce's call on the old phone and Chuck's call on the new one. A bit of symbolism there that Bryce is the past and Chuck is the future?
I don't want to hog all the fun, so I leave the rest of the highlights for you guys to point out as your faves.
Our Online Video Guide is chock full of Chuck...check it out!
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 26, 2007 10:40 PM
|
Pineapple!
So many diverse pieces came together so well. Yet they left enough open to pull us back - did Sarah's iPhone stop ringing after that fade to black while the other phone kept ringing?
Other than "Pineapple" my favorite line had to be:
"Gee Bryce, I wouldn't want you to kill that totally random person."
Oh- Morgan telling Bryce about Chuck's "friend" Bryce was the perfect awkward moment. wow, I said something positive about Morgan.
|
|
Nov 26, 2007 10:58 PM
|
Pineapple!
I loved it. Ellie mentioning that they shouldn't have anymore family dinners and Awesome responding by suggesting going on location (something like that) for Christmas.
And what about Jeff getting whacked in the head with the bullhorn after the box fell on his head.
You passed the test!
|
|
Nov 26, 2007 11:27 PM
|
When Sarah and Bryce teamed up to fight the rogue agents at the Buy More, it was a magic moment. When Chuck saw that, even he was impressed, and knows he can't compete. Bryce is Sarah's perfect spy partner, while Chuck is the perfect normal guy. So...whose phone does Sarah answer? She sure wasn't pushing Bryce away when he kissed her in Chuck's room.
"Jeff, you're the only one old enough to fix the cash registers. They're from the 80s."
Jayhawk said here last week that he could kinda see Casey and Ellie as a couple. Was it just me, or was there a little chemistry between the two at Thanksgiving dinner? Captain Awesome better watch out!
|
|
Nov 26, 2007 11:45 PM
|
One thing I like about this show is how it manages to drop little things in that are funny on their own, and then come in useful later in the plot - such as the pineapple and Klingon-speak in this episode.
Too often, shows will just be really heavy handed with stuff like that, so there's no way to miss it - and it's so obvious that you *know* it will be important later. "Chuck" usually manages to make them make sense on their own - the Klingon speak was funny all by itself, so when it came up later, it not only fit in well, but it was just that much funnier.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 5:58 AM
|
|
ok. I am definitely in love with this show. It is must see tv for NBC. and I hardly ever watch that channel anymore. The scene with the buy more manager jumping over the counter had me rolling on the floor. If there is a complaint. And trust it is a small one) it is the fact that Sara asks Chuck every week did he flash. They have got to come up with a better way to ask him that question. Am I the only one with that beef? Even Morgan does not bother me.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 7:22 AM
|
|
God, I love this show. I'm glad it got a full season order (if the writer's strike ends.) This show had it all...again. Humor, action, suspense, romance, great stuff! Anna being jealous at Ellie. Morgan carrying Anna out of the store. The Black Friday training. The staff hiding from the customers. Capt Awesome offering to take Casey whitewater rafting. Sarah and Bryce fighting as a team. Chuck again coming up with good ideas to save the day. SPEAKING KLINGON ON A NATIONAL TV SHOW THAT ISN'T STAR TREK!!! Ok, that ALONE should garner this episode a writing Emmy for a comedy. That was great how it was used both times. God, I love this show!
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 8:14 AM
|
I absolutely love this show! The manger jumping over the counter in slo-mo (and the instant replay of it) had be rolling! How could Sarah be caught in a delima between Chuck and Bryce! For me it would be Chuck - hands down.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 10:33 AM
|
|
The Klingon was awesome. Even more so when you consider all of the Star Trek ties this show has: Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris from Voyager) directed this and many other episodes, Garrett Wang (Harry Kim a fresh out of the acadamy ensign at the start of Voyager, also Tom Paris' best friend) as the lead rogue agent. This show has so many little tidbits to love and the fact that it ties into and uses people and things from previously loved shows is just one more of their little perks.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 10:45 AM
|
Darclyte - Thanks for bringing the full-season pickup to my attention. I was not aware they had done that. That rocks!
I also love this show; every single element of it. I am happy Casey has had more screen time the last two episodes. Enjoyed his dry delivery of lines again. Commenting that Chuck is a "natural born interrogator" & passing on the 'what I am thankful for this year' thing were a couple of my favorite Casey moments. Any time he gets to be a badass is a plus as well.
The Buy More employees had a decent amount of time and really added to the story again this week. Poor Jeff. First a box on the head, then a megaphone straight into the noggin. How sad is it that he thinks pineapples are fun because his dad used to throw them at him?
I loved Bryce in this as well. He obviously cares about Chuck & I felt a tinge of sadness in him when he said he only has one friend. Of course, moments later he was kicking ass which he obviously enjoys very much. I want Sarah with Chuck, but that does not mean I do not think Sarah and Bryce have mad chemistry. I agree with huntress that their fight scene was just plain awesome.
My favorite Chuck moments were just him being typical Chuck. Loved his "No shooting! No shooting! I am susceptible to bullets" & his comments when he was under that sedative. I also laughed that they just had to throw in cheesy elevator music in the elevator when Bryce was making his initial escape.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 10:50 AM
|
I loved Jeff's "gobble, gobble" sweatshirt he was wearing during the security training!
I liked how Bryce was all in Chuck's face about him working at BuyMore, and asking what happened to his dreams of being a software tycoon and all, and then later, realizing it was pretty much his fault that Chuck's life sucked.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 11:18 AM
|
I'm so glad they are continuing with Morgan and Anna being a couple. Anna was terrific with her tartar sauce green bean casserole, her tests and the murderous looks she was giving Ellie. She will definitely keep Morgan in line.
I, too, liked it when Chuck was drugged up and then Casey leaned over him. "Ahhh, not pretty, not pretty."
Am I the only one who really, really wants to see Awesome and Casey on that rafting trip with their shirts off? Oh my...I need to go lie down now!
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 11:43 AM
|
I love this show!!! It always keeps me on the edge of my seat.
The "Pineapple" scene at the buy more was an excellent plan. I would really like to see Sara and Chuck together, but I do think that Sarah and Bryce make good partners.
I did see some chemistry between Morgan and Ellie, but I just don't think they work together.
And I thought the funniest thing was when Jeff said he liked pineapples because his dad used to throw them at him.
All in all great episode as usual can't wait to see whose phone call Sarah answers.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 11:43 AM
|
|
I think that we all know that Sarah answers Chck's phone call. She is a regular member of the cast and with the full season pick-up she will not be leaving the show any time soon. I did like it when Casey said that he would get Chuck another girl!
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 11:57 AM
|
This was such a fab episode. It was always great to see Anthony Ruivivar from TW on the show again even with that scar.
I am still a bit meh on Bryce but Casey was great - loved the suit for Thanksgiving and drinking the cosmo (?), enjoying Chuck's shock at news Ellie invited him over! I loved the brief moment with Captain Awesome touching Casey's arm and his comment.
The Black Friday thing brought back alot of memories as someone who used to work behind the counter on that day -- and I nearly died at the comment about soccer moms becoming possessed.
Chuck! I loved how he used that horrible word pineapple. And poor Jeff getting things dropped him left and right. Also it was nice to see Chuck not let his fear totally get to him and think alot more on his feet and ulimately prevent something really bad from happening.
|
|
Nov 27, 2007 12:22 PM
|
|
|
