Chuck Episode Recap: "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer"
It's a flashback to the 80's when we spend a little more time with crazy Jeff from Buy More. Why are terrorists tracking him and how far does Chuck have to go to save the world? Put on your drinking pants and let's journey down memory chip lane.
We all love a great back story and when it involves some of the wacksters from Buy More it's an extra special treat. So when we see Jeff Barnes circa 1983 surrounded by two bikini-clad ladies, it was certainly a giggle moment. These characters, including Lester Patel, Anna Wu and Big Mike have been underserved and if you follow the Simpsons as an example, these secondary characters can make the show that much richer.
This week's spy mission is to figure out why a terrorist that Chuck flashed on is looking for Jeff. Sarah and Casey assign Chuck with the unenviable task of getting to know Jeff to uncover his secret before the terrorists get to him. Chuck learns that Jeff is a Missile Command champion and as Chuck flashes on Morimoto, the CEO of Atari, the terrorists conveniently walk right thru the front doors machine guns at full tilt to apprehend Jeff.
I was having my own flashback watching Chuck walk through Morimoto's office revealing all the 80's icons. What were those 3-foot action figures in his office? I searched for 45 minutes and couldn't jog my memory. Transformers? Godzilla? Voltron? Finally finding Morimoto playing his last game of Missile Command - I had another flashback remembering the days at the Sunrise Ice Rink feverishly wacking away at the local Missile Command arcade. Those were the days. Who needs Grand Theft Auto when you've got classic Missile Command? Don't get me started on Pac Man. Did anyone else get to the keys?
The 80's geeks comes out of the woodwork as Chuck convinces Jeff to mount an exhibition to play one final game of Missile Command to bring down the spy satellite that might just start World War III. Jeff can't take the pressure so Chuck moves in and while Rush's Tom Sawyer (hence the episode title) plays on Morgan's iPod he ends up saving the day. Separately, Sarah goes on a karate kick ass fest getting to the terrorists at the local TV station where they're controlling the deployment of the satellite. Chuck gets to secret code and saves the world, again.
So now that we've got a taste of Tony Hale's Emmett Milbarge I want to see more. Sort of like when you can never get enough of Missile Command... or potato chips.
