Chuck vs. the Crown Vic
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.
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