Chuck

After way too long a wait, Chuck returned with two new episodes tonight. Why they were on a Thursday and separated by a part as mysterious as the one in Donald Trump's hair is beyond me, but hey, I'll take what I can get!

First up, we got a glimpse of Casey like we've never seen him: a besotted romantic. As Chuck proclaimed, "It's alive!" So what, or who, had Casey smiling, for a change? A Russian photojournalist named Ilsa, who moments after receiving a necklace from him, walked into a bomb. Poor Casey...his flashback on it was heartbreaking. Not a minute later, Chuck flashes on the mother lode of Intersect info: a cache of Russian weapons dealers all staying at a local hotel. But also in the bunch? Casey's lost love. And she's the guest of honor as the bride-to-be of the big baddie. Poor, poor Casey.

Chuck was the perfect blend of nosy and nice, helping (or so he thought)Casey win back his lady. But then Chuck discovered something else about Ilsa: she was actually a spy herself on a mission, and she had to tell John goodbye, returning the symbolic necklace. Poor, poor, poor Casey.

Choosing to lose himself in some Scotch and sappy Neil Diamond, Casey crashed at his place until Chuck came in to check on him. In the process, a Russian bug was found on Ilsa's necklace: her spy cover had been blown and she was in danger. Casey stumbled to arms and he and Chuck raced to the hotel to halt the wedding. But they didn't stop to think that THEY had been picked up by the bug too, so they walked right into a trap. A dramatic fight scene and a really high dive into the pool (ouch) later, Casey saves the day and his woman.

Elsewhere, Ellie and Awesome hit a rough patch in their relationship, and it was Morgan to the rescue, of all people. Morgan's "retail therapist" routine was surpisingly effective. But where was Anna?

There was so much to love in this episode (and I mean beyond just having the show back!). Here are only a few of the great moments:

• The Buy More poker night. I’m surprised Awesome didn’t want to stick around to at least take off his shirt, but I can understand why he wanted out of there when the other guys went for their belts.
• Chuck’s face at getting caught under the bed when Ilsa and Casey were about to get reacquainted. And then Casey holding the gun at the bed when the Russian was there with Ilsa.
• Fan girls everywhere should be thrilled that there was finally some shirtless Casey action.
• A quality guy fight, complete with yet more examples of just how hard-headed Casey is when the thugs repeatedly broke hands punching him.
• Casey’s slo-mo from the pool, in all his dripping, steamy goodness.
• She looks good with a gun. Such a Casey line!
• Casey shoving Chuck away at the end. Who didn’t see that coming? But it was still funny.

That was by no means even remotely close to all the great stuff, but I need to keep this short so I have room for the next episode. So let’s hear what stood out for you in this one!

Now on to Chuck.2 for the evening.

Chuck found a bug at the store, and it turned out not to be from the CIA or the NSA. With Chuck's cover possibly compromised, the agencies went into full exterminator mode looking for the rest of the bugs. And to do that, they cleaned out the store...literally. After finding over two dozen more devices, but no receiver, the intrepid trio followed a convoluted trail that led to Morgan, Big Mike's marlin, and a delivery girl who hid her identity better than her bosom. But it was too late: Chuck was called in to a secure bunker for his safety. Sarah got there just in time to say goodbye, but the agent was killed by the mole. One chick fight later, Chuck is off the hook, and Big Mike's marlin was back on the wall.

Morgan and the Buy More crew were back to being annoying, sadly. I wanted to reach into the screen and throttle those three morons. When Chuck slapped Morgan, I cheered. He so deserved it for such a long time. And again, where was Anna?

The subplot dealing with Awesome's ring was, to me, more important than Chuck's cover being blown. Maybe because I knew that wouldn't happen, and while I should have known nothing would happen to the ring either, it just seemed like more of a probability. But it also kept Chuck "real" in that he was more concerned about it than himself or the implications of his secret getting out.

So for now, all is right in the world for Chuck, but the ending scene, with Casey and Sarah on the outside looking in, was ominous. Let's hope we see more Chuck soon, as the clever cast commercials promised (weren't those a hoot!?).

Thoughts? Let's hear what you thought of this two-for Thursday edition of the Nerd Herd Hero.

There's even more Chuck in our Online Video Guide. Check it out!

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.

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!

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!

Be sure to stop in to our Online Video Guide for even more geektastic Chuck.

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!

Be sure to stop in to our Online Video Guide for more Chuck.

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 our Online Video Guide.

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 our Online Video Guide.

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 our Online Video Guide.

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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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!

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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!

Check out more Chuck in our Online Video Guide.

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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