To answer your questions from my less-than-enthusiastic recap last week, PopWatchers: Yes, I was watching the same show as you; and, no, it wasn’t the tryptophan that got me down. But I have to note that all the questioning of my fondness for Chuck hurt more than a Casey-punch to the face, my friends. And to that, I simply say: I love Chuck. In fact, I love Chuck so much that my expectations going into each episode this season have risen higher than Jeff after a thermos of eggnog. So when a potentially mind-blowing episode delivers more slapstick than intrigue (especially after stellar back-to-back shows in previous weeks), I tend to get a tad bit grumpy. Is it too much to ask for one, tiny plot twist?
But thankfully, Chuck redeemed itself in my eyes last night after delivering that coveted plot twist. And holy giant shrimp, was it a plot twist! Seems the trusty ol’ government has cooked up a beta version of the intersect that will soon render our Nerd Herder unnecessary. We all know that in this technology-driven world, a digital duplication of the intersect points to Chuck’s termination (where’s John Connor when you need him?), and now that we know that Casey (played by Adam Baldwin, pictured)is in on the plan, we can’t be too sure of who is on what side. Thus, we now enter our Chuck drought with a bevy of questions: Has Casey officially gone bad? Were we right to question the NSA agent in the first few episodes after he (kind of) took down innocent rogue-spy Bryce? And does Casey’s questioning Sarah about being compromised with Chuck mean that Sarah knew Chuck’s tenure as a spy would be, quite literally, short-lived? Though I doubt both characters will be completely led into the dark side — Casey’s priceless affection for his car makes me believe the stoic agent has at least a little bit of heart left — we can certainly expect both to make some questionable decisions once Chuck returns.
Speaking of our CIA agent, last night’s episode gave us a littleglimpse inside Sarah’s mind. Poor, confused Sarah. After beingforced to choose between staying in L.A. with Chuck, or leaving for"Omaha" with her ex last week, the agent predictably chose to followthrough with her mission and continue to keep our hero guessing abouttheir relationship status (this week: friends ). Not that Sarah wassatisfied about said decision. Whether she was frustrated about havingto leave behind Bryce, having to mask her feelings for Chuck, or simplyhaving to wake up in the morning in time to serve hot dogs at amini-mall, girl was not a happy camper. And though that alarm clockbore the brunt of her anger early in the episode, Chuck seemed to beSarah’s target for the majority of the hour. She not only adopted anunusual, cool demeanor typically reserved for the likes of Casey, butshe also accused Chuck of intervening with a mission because of hisjealous ways. And her admission that their kiss was a mistake — and,for that matter, will never happen again — left our hero with a bruised ego and little hope for a rekindling romance.
But we all know that Sarah’s cool exterior was simply a defensemechanism against her true feelings. Based on her conversation withCasey, it seems Sarah yearns for white picket fences — a life shecannot have. But her sour mood didn’t last for too long; after all, asuccessful mission always cheers a girl up. After Sarah and Casey werebenched for closing in on a target too early, Chuck convinced the twoto return to their mission in order to defeat an antagonist who managesto resemble both Richard Branson and Willem Dafoe. And thanks toChuck’s computer skills, the threesome managed to divert a bomb headedfor a yacht holding none other than Morgan and Anna Wu. Through themission, Chuck gained back Sarah’s trust, and the CIA agent made goodat Buy More’s Christmas holiday party by complimenting Chuck’s spy craft. Yep, seems Sarah’s finally realizing what we’ve all noticed throughout Chuck’s11 episodes — that our hero has finally embraced his spy roots tobecome quite a pro. Hey, he even managed to rock that fetching suitwith far more flair than during episode 3’s art auction.
And I know I have never given Chuck’s sidekick much love, but I haveto say that I genuinely enjoyed Morgan’s scenes for the first timesince, well, Chuck’s premiere. Not only has he toned down hisirritating demeanor, but he also appears to be a bastion of knowledge(Lesson No. 1: Never trust a woman whose name is a palindrome). Thoughhis relationship with Anna Wu once appeared to be a casual hook-up,their newly serious courtship has proved to be a sweet subplot for Chuck that not only provides laughs, but plenty of heart as well.
What did you think of the episode, PopWatchers? Are you beginning tolike Morgan more? Has Casey officially gone bad? Does Sarah know aboutthe government’s plans? And, finally, how will you survive the holidayswithout visions of Captain Awesome dancing in your heads?
Comments (1-30) of 43 Add your comment
I don’t know if Casey has gone “bad”, but I hope not. I love him, and it just made me happy that his dream car is a crown vic, of all things. The loving way he washed it revealed that he does have some tenderness underneath all those grunts, including “grunt number seven”.
Of course I love Chuck too, esp. in Charles Carmichael mode.
I’m really gonna miss Chuck. its such an awesome show. can’t wait for the next yr!
I absolutely LOVE this show! What a Great Episode!!! Hurry up and end the strike!!!!
I like this show, but this reviewr says Chuck is finally turning into a pro? A good agent? Maybe when he stops acting like a child all the time, and getting jealous of any guy who is with Sarah. She has a job to do, to get close to that guy last night. Or any other guy a mission might require her too. That includes flirting. Come on, Chuck! Start acting like a grown up and realize that Sarah and Casey are professional gov agents and let them do their jobs. I can’t believe Chuck started drinking and getting jealous last night at the casino during a mission. That is not being a pro, as this reviewer put it. I like this show and will continue to watch, but I hope Chuck grows up a bit before his next assignment. You don’t have to loose the awkward and the funny with the show Chuck, but Chuck needs to start acting like he’s older then 12 and ruin a cover because he doesn’t like who Sarah is flirting with. When he does that, then I’ll call him a pro.
When Chuck called the Crown Vic “shiny” and Casey replied “You bet it’s shiny” – I had a mini Firefly flashback.
Glad you liked this episode!! I thought it was a great one. The image of Morgan at the front of the boat was my favorite.
He’s definitely one of my favorite parts of the show now.
Didn’t the general call Casey by the name “John” when telling him about the beta intersect and to get ready to eliminate Chuck? I feel that was the biggest plot twist and indicates Casey definitely isn’t trustworthy
this was no plot twist. at bryce’s funeral we knew they’d ‘take care’ of chuck after the intersect comes up….hello!
I meant the reveal that Casey’s name is really John is a plot twist. Or did we know that already?
His name is John Casey.
I am sorry that your feelings were hurt. People on the internet can say mean things when we are anonymous. I am happy that you are recapping the show. I was just disappointed last week because I loved the episode more than others and was sad that every person on earth didn’t feel the same way. Let’s make up.
I thought the episode was good, especially the twist at the end, but I thought that the coincidences were a little exessive. Chuck just happens to be sent to a job that happens to be a counterfitter and he flashes… The boat that Morgan happens to be on is going to be blown up…I know I’m supposed to suspend my disbelief, but these just seemed like too much of a stretch. Don’t get me wrong, I love the show, I just didn’t love last nights premise.
Casey gone bad? No. He is really more of the human version of a T-1000. His job is to do what he is instruted to do. We actually knew from episode one that once the intersect was back up Casey was going to take Chuck out. This is really only a reminder. Also, it was no secret that Casey’s first name was John. It was cool to see that Chuck is getting better at his job, but I think the show would benefit from Chuck trying to take a step back from being a spy. While I’m sure the long term survival of the show depends on Chuck surviving and continuing to be a spy, it seems like in real life he would be trying to reject the role since his life keeps getting put in danger and he’s (for now) not going to get the girl. I would love it if the show focused on him trying to advance his real life without having to do the spy duties, and then get sucked into it whenever he is desparately needed, eventually pulling him in all the way. Sort of like a certain Al Pacino role.
I take it the government does not want anyone to have that much information in their head, otherwise, why are they not making Chuck a full-time agent? The whole reason Bryce went bad on him, was because the CIA was going to make him an agent in the first place. So they thought he had the skills. No reason to eliminate him, especially now that he is a portable, on the fly intersect, rather than some room that can’t go into the field. I would think he’s the perfect agent! I don’t think Casey will “go bad”, he’ll figure out that the chain of command may not have assessed the entire situation properly…or some other military speak for “you’re wrong”. But before that, Sarah will have to protect Chuck, and they only one she can now trust will be…Bryce. They will bring him back in for the season finale, where now Bryce will realize what she and Chuck are starting (and why no “Ohmaha”), and he will have to decide to save his friend, or allow something to happen so he can have Sarah.
I don’t think Casey will be “bad”. So far, he has made it clear he ALWAYS follows orders. When he is ordered to terminate Chuck I think that will become his first time not to obey.
I thought last night’s show was good as usual. Just the right mix of seriousness and humor. Maybe Morgan isn’t as annoying because he’s finally getting some? Adam Baldwin is my new crush!
I loved how Morgan bought it so easily that the blonde he was seeing was not Sarah and how he “wasn’t really looking at her face”. That made me crack up.
Did anyone else catch how the pictures flashing on the wall with the new intersect were all of Chuck’s family & friends? Captain Awesome made it into the episode, if only as an image on a wall.
I don’t think Casey will go through with killing Chuck (not that he would succeed if he tried since that would end the show), and I don’t think Sarah knows about the plans to eliminate Chuck. My guess is Casey will refuse to kill Chuck and one way or another the NSA and CIA will decide to let Chuck remain alive.
Here’s betting that Casey actually goes and destroys the new intersect instead…covertly of course.
Thanks for adding Chuck to the popwatch blog, btw. Constructive criticism keeps us from avoiding a Heroes downward spiral! Anyway, if anyone knows stuff about beta software, is that it NEVER works as designed. So at the very least, there should be a year of testing before poor Chuck is in danger… but I agree, Bryce should be called back to help. Glad Morgan’s chilled out.
My theory? The NSA leader (Beckman I think?) that told Casey to kill Chuck is part of Fulcrum. Problem 1? The original Intersect IS in Chuck, and since they don’t have copies of the info, I’m assuming, wouldn’t they need him to still have all that info? It’d be a huge loss for them to eliminate Chuck!
Maybe I’m just dumb, but wouldn’t having a human version of the intersect, able to “flash” on anything he sees, be an asset?
Casey is an agent for USA first and foremost and will set aside his feelings for the greater good of the nation (handlers orders). The question is: is Casey compromised and not know it?
I think the (for the show) reason for killing the human intersect would be because there is a risk in having all that info in a portable version, just walking around for any bad guy to abduct and use. This is obviously a bit absurd because in real life they would probably just lock him up and label him an “enemy combatant” and no-one would ever hear from him again.
I agree the new intersect will have bugs, but I don’t know why it wouldn’t have all the info. The reason they need an intersect is to have a way to check both CIA and NSA data at the same time, so that they can coordinate their intelligence. So, during the time the intersect was down, they did have all the info, they didn’t have an easy way to check each other’s data.
there were so many moments in that episode that showed casey actually cares about and likes Chuck…he won’t hurt him
I agree that if Casey tried to take out Chuck it doesn’t mean he’s gone bad. This is what he was meant to do from the beginning. What would/will be a plot twist is if Casey does not follow through on the order. He’s made it very clear that he always follow orders no matter what they are.
Oh, and I forgot to add… I LOVE THIS SHOW! Please hurry up and end strike!
The fact that John Casey is there to kill Chuck when the computer intersect is up and running isn’t a plot twist at all. That was introduced early on, and really, the real plot twist here is that he might not be ready to do it.
I <3 Casey
Morgan opinion changing here too. First time ever he was tolerable, though the lunch w/ Wu clan and the “King of the World” boat ride keeps him tied-up in my basement. Wasn’t there a Morgan quote about ‘being wrapped up in a womans lie…’?
Nerd Herd & Buy More sales geek love is growing too. Appears they at least know how to party. Big Mike love growing too.
Good sound track as well. Loved the music that went with Agent Casey waxing his 84 Crown Vic w/ 4.6 liter, etc….
Seems they have had a lot of Sarah in bikinis/undies lately – not judging, just observing.
Missed Sis & Awesome last night but I guess there was no place for them to fit “comfortably” into the plotline.
Last nights’ bad guy needed more “development”. To much face-value trust on that one. OH! And what guy donating earthquake relief medicines to Taiwan puts it on a yacht (SLOW BOAT = two weeks) to China? Seems you’d need to put it on one of the half dozen flights out of LAX daily to Taiwan. punto.
Wait a minute I thought that Sarah and Casey both knew that Chuck was going to have to go once the new intersect was done!? Of course somehow that won’t happen because there would be no show if it did but I’m still pretty sure that the plan was knowledge to all but Chuck.