In This Section
|
« Chuck
Episode Recap: Chuck vs. the Crown Vic
The good news is NBC ordered "the back nine" to round out a full season pick-up of our favorite nerd-turned-spy. The bad news is Chuck goes on hiatus after tonight. And right after such an evil cliffhanger!
Tonight Chuck stumbled upon a counterfeiter who was posing as a humanitarian hosting a charity fundraiser. The mission to infiltrate his operation at the yacht club was scuttled by the tension between Chuck and Sarah, so Plan B was put into effect: Sarah would seduce the man to get the info they needed. This did not sit well with Chuck, and he did not hide that fact at all, so when his flash intel seemed to be wrong, they blamed it on his jealousy and they were all kicked off the case. But Morgan and Anna managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time: namely on a cruise with her parents on the very boat the counterfeiter planned to blow up to destroy the printing plates he had used for the funny money. Chuck convinced Sarah of the danger, Casey joined them at the marina, and after some last-minute reprogramming of a missile, the day (but not Casey's prized car) was saved. Later Casey received a call from the general: the replacement Intersect is nearing completion, and he must soon "deal with the subject." Casey responds in the affirmative: he is ready to carry out his orders.
Casey has been increasingly vocal about his unwavering devotion to the cause, not to mention his unrestrained delight in justified violence, and in this episode we see why that has been laid out: to show that no matter how much he may grow to like Chuck, duty and orders come first. That Chuck blew up Casey's pride and joy, a vintage Crown Victoria, only makes it easier for Casey. (Anyone else out there just know the car was going to get it as soon as you saw Casey lovingly washing it?)
I was not in suspense at all for the first part, when Sarah was missing. But it did set up another instance where Chuck got to trot out his favorite excuse for her; I wonder what will happen when she finds out he has been telling everyone she has a spastic colon.
Morgan was an enjoyable annoyance this time. Riding up on his bike and handing over the chain lock was no less goofy than his outfit or his nervous rambling during lunch. And his Titanic impression was so him. I really like that he and Anna are making it work as a couple. They really are cute together, especially the way she just accepts Morgan for who he is and does not want him to change. That has to be love!
The rest of the Buy More crowd were getting ready for the annual company party. How hysterical was it to see a game of dreidel filmed as if it were a high-stakes street-gambling scene? And you really don't need to know how to play to realize Lester cheated everyone, twice. Too bad Chuck was unable to pull off that bluff at the real gambling table.
Since this seemed to be the holiday episode, I was sad not to see any Ellie or Awesome. I was looking forward to the Bartowski yuletide traditions, but then maybe they did learn their lesson after Thanksgiving....
I think I will let you guys point out your favorite lines and scenes this time, because I simply can't decide what to include here. There was just too much great stuff, yet again. The writing has been consistant, if not improved, over the course of the season, which is quite impressive. I was afraid they could not keep up the standard they set with the pilot, but they've raised the bar each week. I hope we don't have to wait too long for Chuck and his Nerd Herd to return.
While waiting for new episodes, stop in to our Online Video Guide to get your fill of Chuck.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Dec 3, 2007 10:11 PM
|
That car was just so Casey. Who else would be in love with a Crown Vic?
Was that the world's slowest missile? Did it have a Hyundai engine in it? And from the size of the explosion it could not have taken down that yacht.
I actually found myself rooting for Morgan. How did that happen? His hero was Popeye? Way to aim high!
You'd think that even once they got the Beta Intersect working they'd want to keep Chuck as a backup - but I guess "they" are like upper management just about anywhere: advance planning means 30 minutes ahead.
I don't think Casey can kill Chuck, if the Beta Intersect comes online I think Chuck will disappear, and Sarah & Casey will cover for him (them be heroes when the Beta fails).
|
|
Dec 3, 2007 11:01 PM
|
Something occured to me when watching the end of tonight's episode and that is that the two instances in which the new intersect have been mentioned have both been on Casey's part. Sarah's boss (the Guy) has never been shown to know about the new intersect and Sarah obviously doesn't know about it.
So maybe it isn't "they" who have the beta intersect up and running after all.
Beyond that I thought it was a great episode albeit with a little (as I have affectionatly dubbed it) Chuckites (A syndrom in which too many locals prevents good parts of a show (Ellie and Awesome) to be left out of certain episodes)
I'm really curious to see where this goes (though with only two episodes left in the can it might be a long, long time before we actually see it play out)
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 12:32 AM
|
They obviously can't kill Chuck if there's going to be a show in the future so I'm not worried about a new Intersect coming online. Though it will be interesting to see how they resolve that situation.
Is it just me or was there another show recently where a character used the excuse of a "spastic colon" to cover for something?
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 2:07 AM
|
ThomasC22, it was established in the pilot that the NSA (who Casey works for) and the CIA (who Sarah works for) don't see eye to eye. Thus it was quite plausible for the NSA to be constructing a beta intersect secretly.
I imagine Bryce and "Fulcrum" will somehow factor into that plotline whenever Chuck gets back.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 4:35 AM
|
I didn't see Casey's car getting it when they first showed it, but as soon as the missile was launched and Chuck went to reprogram its course, I knew the car was toast (based on the previews, I knew the missile would hit a car, and then Casey himself mentioned the GPS in the plates).
Good episode...maybe not as good as the last few overall, but lots of good stuff. Morgan with the parents was hiliarious. Loved the use of Run-DMC's Christmas in Hollis at the Christmas, uh, holiday party at the Buy More. Figures Chuck would break out the Robot.
I can't wait for this show to return.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 5:21 AM
|
This show is the number one reason that I watch TV on Monday nights.
This is great TV. Morgan hanging up with Chuck when the lobster arrived was spectacular.The look on Chuck's face when Casey was rhapsodizing about the crown vic was hilarious.
Right about now is when shows usually go on hiatus so it won't be too bad that there's no more Chuck right now but come Jan and writers are still on strike...not good.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 7:26 AM
|
THe best part of this episode: Sarah in a bikini....WOW!!!!!
Casey's car getting blown up was obvious to me once they mentioned the GPS tracking system guided missle.
I did miss Awesome and Ellie as well. When Awesome gives Chuck one of his pep talks on Chuck and Sarah's "relationship", it's always good TV.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 8:26 AM
|
|
I loved Casey/Adam Baldwin's reference to his character in Full Metal Jacket with the line "Flush out your headgear new guy...". That's a line of dialogue Adam spoke as his character Animal Mother in FMJ.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 8:50 AM
|
I really love this show. It is well written, well acted, has good action, and is funny. And, it has Sarah in a bikini.
I like Morgan and Anna together, and Morgan has been much less annoying than before. The Christmas In Hollis during the Buy More party was great! The Robot, ZOMG!
I really liked how Chuck told his suspicion to Casey that Casey seemed to blow it off, yet Sarah ran out of the store. Of course, Casey was there, so it shows how much they both believe in Chuck.
As for the beta intersect, I wonder if this series will take a turn. Casey will be ordered to hit Chuck, so Sarah takes him into hiding. Because, at the end of the day, he will become a liability. The only other option, is that Sarah recommends him to become an agent (she knows that Bryce stopped the attempt to recruit him.)
I'm really interested to see where this series goes when it comes back, and I am so very glad it got the full season pickup.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 9:06 AM
|
It was a very good episode. I really hate to see it end. and yes when I saw Casey washing his car I knew something terrible was going to happen to it. I'm not sure if I think Casey will follow through with orders or do something to keep Chuck alive.
I'm also glad to see that Morgan is keeping his girl. They do look so cute together, too bad her parents didn't care for him.
Anyway, Can't wait to see the new episodes.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 9:50 AM
|
This is the only show I watch on Monday nights.
I love Morgan with Anna. It is funny how Morgan's life was a mess at the beginning of the series and now he has it together on his job and in his relationship and Chuck's life and relationship are a mess.
I did not think Casey's car was going to get creamed but hey, it was a guest star in this episode and we know they don't last till the final credits.
So the Beta Intersect is almost ready. I think Chuck will either become a full fledged spy on Casey and Sarah's team, or the beta Intersect will have problems and they will still need Chuck.
I don't see Casey taking him down for real, but maybe faking it and helping to hide Chuck for awhile.
And I too missed Ellie and Captain Awesome. I would love to see Ellie and Chuck's idea of Christmas.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 10:10 AM
|
The Buy More Christmas party just goes to show that nerds can't dance!
Casey is good at hiding his feelings, but I thought I saw a glimmer of doubt when he was ordered to take out Chuck when the intersect is finished. Loved the closeups of Adam Baldwin last night: such a handsome face. 
Good catch, couchgrouch on the FMJ reference!
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 10:38 AM
|
I really, REALLY love this show. It is by far my most favorite new show of the season.
My favorite lines:
"Never trust a woman whose name is a palindrome."
"I've made a terrible mistake." "What did you swallow this time?"
"When you guys eat Chinese food, do you get hungry again in an hour, too?"
Morgan has really grown on me, and I find myself rooting for him to be happy. He and Anna are very cute together.
I love Casey! My one quibble with this episode was that the missile was going so slow, that the three of them could have just gotten off the yacht and Casey's car could have been saved. 
I'll miss this show until it returns.
P.S. Someone mentioned in the comments above that Bryce will most likely come back to rescue Chuck from being "eliminated." (Should Casey stick with his plan to follow through with orders). I think that would be awesome! They could be spies together, undercover and on the run from the NSA. I think it would set up some drama - they could begin to be friends again, but they both love the same woman, so there will always be tension.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 10:47 AM
|
I love the two rules of the Christmas, oops Holiday, party were about Jeff! Lester cracked me up as well with his whole "holiday" issue and always finding a way to say he is Jewish. Aww, Casey! I actually thought at the end when you see a flicker of emotion in his eyes that Casey has grown a bit fond of Chuck; you see that brief flicker of hestiation. Also I love how Chuck knows Casey's looks/grunts by now.
No Captain Awesome or Ellie  Also Morgan with his jacket, hat and then the Buy More polo shirt was hilarious. And trying to valet his bike. LOL.
|
|
Dec 4, 2007 11:48 AM
|
|
|
