Chuck vs. the Nemesis
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 counterall 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
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...check it out!
