"Chuck vs. the Imported Hard Salami"
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 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!
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Chuck
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