The Nerd Who Went Out Into the Cold - Episode 3.06: Chuck Vs The Nacho Sampler

Written by written by Mark Miller/Scott Rosenbaum

Directed by Allan Kroeker

Chuck, 'Piece of cake.'

Except it never is in the spy world.

The other shoe has dropped. The closing moments show Chuck downing a generous shot of Johnny Walker Black after burning his asset.  It is a watershed moment for the character and the series. Almost half way to the 13 episode third season arc and Chuck is no longer able to skate around the dirtier side of the job. In the Nacho Sampler he meets and faces up to those responsibilities. And in the process changes who he is forever.

'I completed my first solo mish.'

Fresh off his first solo mission we find a slightly cocky Chuck chuckling at the apparent ease of his next assignment; take on a lonely and brillinat nerd and turn him into an asset. It seems that one, Manoosh Depak, has developed tech that the Ring is interested in. Casey has fun poking at Chuck using his background records at first to compare how close Chuck and Manoosh are. Though Chuck stumbles a bit out of the gate, Manoosh desperate for friendship, latches on to what seems like a kindred spirit. By the end of the episode Manoosh totally trusts Chuck. Just what any good handler hopes to achieve with their asset.

'Classic Geek Tragedy. Sound familiar?'

The parallels between Chuck and Manoosh, and two big thumbs up to actor Fahim Anwar for creating a sympathetic and a Chuck clone like character but with his own unique characteristics, are plain to see. If not for how each came into contact with the Intersect; Chuck's fate could easily have been the same as the that befalls Manoosh.

Each team member of Team Bartowski sees the parallels. Casey uses them as opportunities to needle Chuck. Sarah is obviously uncomfortable having to use her seduction skills on an asset that is all too much like the person she has fallen in love with. Chuck can, better than anyone, empathize with Manoosh's plight.

This is good writing. To take on an asset and then have to burn them is difficult enough for a first time handler. To do so when that asset is used to hold up a mirror to those involved gives the episode that extra bit of empathy and poignancy that makes this such a strong one.

Nerd Burns Fellow Nerd

'Just don't think about it Chuck. It makes spying a lot easier.'

During Chuck's indoctrination as a handler Sarah continues to worry that they are pushing Chuck too fast. She also struggles with the potential emotional trauma Chuck may face if they have to burn the asset. A term which covers a wide variety of possible solutions from lifetime imprisonment to termination. Sarah knows from her experience with Chuck that being a handler is rife with inner conflict, especially if the handler becomes compromised by their asset.

Plus she knows that Chuck may have to make decisions and take actions that are not reversible. Life changing moments that will forever separate Chuck from the person he was and the spy he will become. Chuck is going from a dipping a toe into the pool moment to near full submersion. He will be taking a person's trust to manipulate them to attain a goal and then discarding that person.

Episode Flashes:

• 
  
  Casey ragging on Chuck – one solo mish does not an agent make!
• 
  
  Weap - Con!
• 
  
  Chuck's first Johnny Walker Black
• 
  
  the drooping laser pen and Chuck's aim
• 
  
  Sarah Seduction of Manoosh
• 
  
  great callback to the pilot Vicki Vale scene to bookend the episode
• 
  
  Sarah's sadness at watching Chuck become a spy
• 
  
  Casey's quiet pride at Chuck becoming a spy
• 
  
  Hannah telling Morgan, in his broom closet office, about Chuck's Paris trip to the climatic strain of Swan Lake
• 
  
  Jeff & Lester – professional stalkers that do solid spy work on Hannah's background
• 
  
  Sarah's Frak Off T-Shirt
• 
  
  Morgan in a smoking jacket replete with cravat
• 
  
  Weap-Con floorshow models complete with automatic weapons

Casey, 'The kid is growing up. He's becoming a spy. That's a good thing.'

Sarah, 'Is it?'

Throughout the episode Sarah sees repeated demonstrations by Chuck of his growing abilities as a spy. Abilities, that Casey painfully reminds Sarah, that Chuck has picked up from Sarah. His handling of Manoosh, his ability to lie to Ellie, being capable of burning an asset by preventing his escape and then telling Manoosh to his face that he is not Manoosh's friend but a spy; all prove over and over again that Chuck Barktowski from the first two seasons is gone. The very qualities that made Chuck special to Sarah are being tainted by the spy world. Will there be anything left of Chuck to differentiate him from any other spy?

Sarah, 'Piece of cake.'

As both Chuck, in a clever pilot flashback, and Sarah have found out that expression does not apply in the spy world. There is a price to be paid with other people's lives and their own. Sarah seeing Chuck lose his innocence is hard for her to bear. Chuck laments that loss too. But hopefully, Chuck will realize just how much Sarah has done for him when she was his handler. Sarah put herself on the line for Chuck since the beginning. Repeatedly standing up for him to prevent Chuck from being burned. This realization can only help to bring the two of them together in the long run.

I must admit my first viewing of the episode left me ambivalent. There were parts that I loved but at the end of it the episode seemed uneven. Subsequent rewatches made me realize that I was very much feeling the same things that Sarah was feeling. Even though I knew these moments were coming and had to come for Chuck, I did not like seeing them. Now I am able to embrace this necessary evolution of the Chuck character like a parent leaving their child on their first day of school. It is a bittersweet moment. When one can feel that deeply about a fictional character it is a testament to the power of art.

With Ellie and Morgan on alert that there is something going on with Chuck, the walls between Chuck's dual life are getting ever thinner. Much like the barrier is between Chuck and Sarah.

The rollercoaster has started its first descent.

Nerd At 37,000 Feet!* - Episode 3.05: Chuck Vs First Class

Written by Chris Fedak

Directed by Fred Toye

In parallel story lines Team Bartowski continues to chafe under Daniel Shaw's leadership while Morgan has his hands full as the new Assistant Manager trying to quell a Lester lead staff revolt.
'Sometimes he sounds like Bond. And other times its like a Jerry Lewis movie.'
The Shaw ShakeUp continues for Team Bartowski; his mandate still unclear. It seems Shaw wants to make Chuck a spy even if that training causes Chuck to be killed. A strange combination when dealing with the world's only walking Intersect. Tough love indeed!
'Let me out of the car!'
After a review of missions Shaw concludes the team is dysfunctional. Its a nice little beat that everyone on the screen and at home expects Shaw to say that problem is Chuck. Instead Shaw shocks everyone when Shaw's verdict is that the problem lies not with Chuck but with Casey and Sarah.
They are too close to Chuck. Too protective. They will not let Chuck evolve. To remedy that Shaw announces Chuck is going on his first solo mission. Casey takes this proclamation of continuing proof of Shaw's incompetence. Sarah is besides herself with worry. Chuck is chomping at the bit for such an opportunity and is, of course, ecstatic. His reaction at the first class tickets and the packing of his nunchunks endear and set the worry meter even higher for Casey and Sarah.

AirSick Intersect?

Morgan: 'You command respect.' Casey: 'No. I take it.'
Over at the BuyMore, Morgan is struggling with how to gain control of the BuyMore crew as a battle of wills breaks out between him and Lester. One of the big problems that the show has struggled with, especially in the Second Season; most notably in the second half, is how to keep it relevant or a viable appendage of the show. More so that Chuck has moved on from the BuyMore.
'Insurgents? I hate insurgents.'
So the show has retooled the BuyMore storyline. Instead of being burdened with finding ways of getting Chuck out of the BuyMore, the focus is now shifted to a vehicle for getting Casey into the BuyMore world. A slick solution, for Casey's interaction with the BuyMore has always been a source of great comedic material. With this change in focus the BuyMore beats are now moments to look forward to enjoying instead of enduring.
Episode Flashes:

• Shaw calling Sarah and Casey on the reason for Chuck's slow spy growth
• Protective Sarah - a caged lioness!
• Chuck's reaction to his first class tickets
• Chuck and his nunchucks
• Russian Tranq Pen – Thank you KGB!
• Hannah and Chuck interaction - Hannah a perfect female mirror image of Chuck – and so sweet
• Shaw making it clear he knows all about Sarah's past
• Hugo Panzer's heart rate and pulse monitor with built in shocker
• Casey telling Chuck while he is in the coffin that there is no try, flash or die
• Casey helping Morgan with the BuyMore insurgents
• Sarah's unknown ability as a pilot – a call back to Chuck Vs The Helicopter perhaps?
• Casey's BuyMore promotion – Lieutenant Asisstant Manager and Chuck's bemused reaction
• The wedding rings from Shaw's dead wife and fellow spy

'This is crazy.'
Sarah is besides herself this episode. Trapped between obeying orders and wanting to protect Chuck. This is her nightmare scenario. She strides around the Castle like a caged lioness unable to reach and protect her cub. Always a person of action she is angrily frustrated by her inability to come to Chuck's aid. Her horror at finding out that the mission is on the plane instead of in Paris is palpable.
'Who are you, Agent Shaw?'
Ah yes. The proverbial $64,000 question. Who is Shaw and what is he all about.? Sarah goes on the offensive and Shaw shows how much he and Sarah are alike when he lets it be known they both like to keep their secrets. Secrets like Sarah's real background of which Shaw is fully aware. Shared history of having loved a spy and then lost them. Though in Sarah's case she cleverly manages to deflect Shaw's initial thoughts about Sarah and Chuck by turning them to Bryce. No doubt Sarah did do what she said in regards to Bryce's ashes but the real reason of running away with Chuck stays safe.
'You're different. You stand out.'
On the plane Chuck is seated by the season's second dreaded Potential Love Interest(PLI) Hannah played by Kristen Kreuk. Fans should breathe a collective sigh of relief as Hannah's injection into the storyline is adroitly executed and Kreuk is virtually luminous in the role as a female version of Chuck. Zac and Kristen have real chemistry together and Sarah will have her work cut out for her.
The villian of the week is exWrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, and through no fault of his own, his Hugo Panzer, while imposing in stature, does not stack up against the guest turns of Angie Harmon and Armand Assante. Basically a prop in the second fight sequence, Panzer's best moment comes when his heart rate/pulse watch monitor shocks him awake.
The concept of remotely controlling an airplane may have seemed cool in concept but plays rather flat in execution. Though knowing Sarah has a pilot's license in her spy repertoire was a delightful surprise. Back safely at home, Chuck gratefully acknowledges his team mates keeping him alive.
In the closing moments the mysterious weapon from 3.02 returns and turns out not to be a weapon at all. Instead it contains Ring Intel that cost Shaw his wife. Plus an envelope. An envelope which contains a ring of a different sort. A wedding ring.  Shaw has lost a loved one. Sarah is very much afraid of the same thing happening with her and Chuck. Already it can be seen that the bond between Shaw and Sarah will be based on something more than mutual professional admiration but on shared emotional experiences.
Throw in the unknown about Shaw's true intents, the appearance of Hannah at the BuyMore, the wedding ring, and they lead to possibilities of Shaw manipulations or true events or a combination of both. A different and more complicated approach to the PLIs than seen to date. Let the 3D chess games begin!
What about that closing shot with Hannah showing up at the BuyMore? What to think? What to think indeed. Sincere or manipulation? Hear that sound? It is the clankety ratchet of the Season 3 rollercoaster being pulled up the first big hill.  Buckle up Chucksters!  The real ride is about to commence.
* - title is a homage to The Horror At 37,000 Feet.

Bring On The Shaw! Episode 3.04: Chuck Vs Operation Awesome

Written by Zev Borow

Directed by Robert Duncan McNeil

Boom. Boom. Pow! Jack Bauer eat your heart out!
Chuck Bartowski is not a man to be trifled with especially when it comes to his family. Chuck Vs Operation Awesome is a treat full of spy drama, comedy, tension, great character introductions, and some heart felt expressed sentiments from an unexpected corner.
Carrying on from the cliff hanger ending of 3.03 finds Team Bartowski frantically searching for any leads on the whereabouts of Devon while Chuck tries to keep from freaking out. In an ill advised move, Chuck returns to the BuyMore to await news but his choatic emotional state sets him flashing off uncontrollably. In short order he berates an elderly Thai women in her native tongue sending her scurrying terrified from the store and then takes Lester out with a single karate kick.
Devon comes stumbling into the BuyMore where he tells Chuck that his kidnappers think Devon is Chuck. Ring agent Sydney Prince, played with delicious evilness by Angie Harmon, has left Devon a Ring cellphone and told him to await further instructions. Bringing Devon home to Ellie leads to a hilarious illustration of Devon's one major shortcoming. He cannot lie. A simple story quickly spins out of control and ends with a decaptitated bear. Devon, Ellie, and Chuck miming story points, are all hilarious here. It takes Chuck to rescue everything by creating an alternate tale that satisfies Ellie but ends up with Casey as an innocent bystander of her wrath.
Reluctantly Chuck agrees to use Devon to find Sydney and this allows for the opportunity for some great bits of Chuck channeling Sarah as the handler and Devon channeling Chuck as the asset as he was in Season 1. Sydney leaves Devon a package that includes an explosive ear piece and the spy action kicks off into high gear. It leads to my favorite laugh out moment in the episode.

A Trio Of Super Awesome Chuckness!

'Chuck you killed Julius!'
It shows just how spooked Devon is by the once exciting spy life. From here we get some great action scenes that show off just how adept Chuck is becoming a spy while Devon clings to him freaking out with each increasingly more violent order from Syndey. They finally make it to their objective only to find a CIA station. Just as Casey and Sarah are informed by Chuck of this, their van is shut down and locked up tight. A nice remote operation that all spies must just love. Beckman comes online and confirms Sarah's suspicion that yes indeed this is a setup.
What follows next is the best character introduction done on the show to date; Daniel Shaw.
'I know things. Lots of things.'
He does indeed. Including Chuck's name and that Chuck is the Intersect. Shaw urges Chuck to kill him in order to save Devon's life but Chuck cannot. In a sleight of hand move, Shaw shoots himself; faking his own death. After Sydney arrives and confirms Shaw's death, she removes the earpiece from Devon, welcomes him to the Ring, and tells him to await futher instructions.
Everyone reconvenes back at the Castle where Beckman informs Team Bartowski they have a new leader in Shaw, who is a foremost expert on the Ring. Shaw tells Chuck that unless he can come up with a better plan they need to use Devon still to trap Sydney for good this time. Chuck wants Devon out of the spy world so he takes Devon's Ring phone, modifies it, and calls Sydney telling she has the wrong guy and he is the spy she is really after.
Chuck tells Sydney to come to the BuyMore and calls Sarah asking for backup. Shaw intercedes and tells Chuck if he starts something then he has to finish it. Shaw detains a stunned Casey and Sarah telling them he is curious to see what Chuck's plan is. When it is evident that Chuck has no plan, the team sweeps in leading to a showdown between Sydney and Chuck. Once again Chuck is faced with a pull the trigger moment. Once again he cannot do it.
There is no doubt that Chuck's stance on killing is going to be an ongoing issue throughout the season. The resolution of this will be a major turning point for the character and the show.
Episode Flashes:

• Sydney Prince's tense introduction as she puts Devon in a precarious position
• Chuck channeling Sarah in order to be Devon's handler
• Devon channeling Chuck from Season 1
• Morgan being promoted to Assistant Manager and keep his business cards in a Twilight Zone card case
• Devon and the bear decapitation showing how poor a liar he is and how good Chuck has become at it
• original music scored by Tim Jones really amps up the spy drama and tension
• Daniel Shaw – best character introduction on Chuck yet
• Chuck taking out 6 guards using his Intersect skills but attributing them to Nintendo's Duck Hunt
• Shaw hanging up on Chuck – wants to see his plan
• BuyMore scenes had riffs on Fight Club, The Warriors, & An Officer And A Gentleman to name a few

'Really? This guy? I got back issues of Guns and Ammo older than he is!'
Sarah and Casey are mostly in the background in this episode but do have a few moments of goodness.
Casey's disdain of Shaw and his youth are obvious and expected. Shaw's suprise at Casey's quickness on the draw is punctuated by Casey's proclamation of gun love. This flies in the face of Shaw's stated distaste for guns even though he will use them as needed.
'Sometimes it helps to know that you've got something to lose.'
For Sarah her concern for Devon and Chuck can be seen throughout the episode and her worry about Chuck performing sets up a great comeback line for Shaw. By the episode end Shaw delivers a familar speech, one that Sarah has given Chuck many times, about family and friends making a spy vulnerable. But when Shaw asks Sarah for confirmation she does not. Sarah sides with Chuck. A big admission on her part and a far cry from the Sarah of past seasons. What is even better is the quiet acknowledgement of thanks that passes between Chuck and Sarah afterwards. It is for moments like these that new characters like Shaw are brought into the show.
The episode closes with a shot of Shaw watching the Bartowski clan together as he pulls out a wedding band and places it on his finger. A ring within a Ring? This glimpse into the personal background of Shaw is sure to play an important part in coming episodes.
My favourite episode this season in a season of a very good episodes.

Captain Awesome: Nobody Does It Better! Review Episode 3.03: Chuck Vs The Angel de la Muerte

Written by Phil Klemmer

Directed by Jeremy Chechik

Awesome is as Awesome does. And Awesome pretty well can do it all.
With the Angel de la Muerte the payoff for Devon finding out about Chuck being a spy last season is realized. Must be tough being Devon aka Captain Awesome. Everything comes to him so easily. From scoring with Ellie shortly after they first meet to becoming a doctor to mastering extreme sports to speaking other languages to being a straight arrow that accepts his gifts as matter of fact without being an insufferable cretin as would be expected. It is this mixture of awesomeness and matter of factness that has made Devon a fan favorite when he could have easily be turned into a caricuture.

What is so tough about so many high levels of competencies? Finding new challenges. In the grip of post wedding blues Ellie and Devon are fumbling looking for ways to reignite their zest for life. Devon finds his chance in the spy world when he treats a Premier from Costa Gravis – a fictional country named after the writer - played with hammy zeal by Armand Assante. Grateful for his treatment Goya invites Devon and Ellie to his embassy for a gala dinner. Insinuating himself as an invitee allows Chuck and Sarah to attend the ball with the hidden purpose of providing protection.
Devon informs Chuck that the Premier was poisoned and this intel sparks Beckman to assign Team Bartowski to protect Goya as the country is in the process of being a democracy. Casey has to stay in the car as he is known as the Angel of Death in Costas Gravas – even though he has three failed previous assasination attempts on Goya.
If there is any doubt that the showrunners have been strolling through forums and blogs word browsing this episode puts it to rest. The simultaneous conversations between Chuck and Devon on one side of the room and Sarah and Ellie on the other take many fan complaints and has fun with them. Particularly Devon's, 'Excruciating,' comment to Chuck about no sex. What is really great about this sequence is how at ease the four actors are with each other. Plus we finally get a long overdue Sarah/Ellie scene! Hopefully only the first of more to come.
The ball proves to be a slightly more complicated protection detail when Goya displays an open attraction to Ellie that puts her in harm's way of a would be assassin. Chuck flashes on some mad dancing skills and he and Sarah twirl their way across the dance floor to intercept him only to find out it is a false alarm. They are kicked out of the embassy forcing Casey out of the van. Misreading the situation and mistaking a Mario Brothers lookalike disguised Casey, Devon takes him out blowing Casey's cover.
This leads to the rescue of Casey and the saving of the twice poisoned Ambassador via a reluctant blood donation from Casey. Thus the Angel of Death becomes the Angel of Life. Too bad the Premier's thanks was done in a voice over instead of having Assante on stage to do this scene with Adam Baldwin. The interplay between the two would have been priceless.
Episode Flashes:

• Devon/Ellie closet makeout scene including Ellie's lucky sweater

• Devon/Ellie making out within moments of meeting each other. Poor Chuck and Sarah.

• Chuck returning from an unseen mission with the helicopter flying too close to home

• Devon switching effortlessly from English to Spanish during a news conference

• Devon scaring Chuck in his bedroom and Chuck unable to do so later on in the courtyard

• Armand's letcherous ways and dance scenes with Sarah Lancaster

• shirtless sweaty Devon for the ladies again.

• sweaterless Ellie for the guys – for the first time! No sweat though.

• Casey's fight scene with hypodermic needle filled with poison stuck in his leg

• Casey listing Goya's favourite movie and showering habits

• Sarah putting weapons in a bag and Chuck taking them out as she plans to storm the embassy in a solo rescue mission to save Casey

Finally this episode sets up the relationship landscape for the third season. The handshake scene near the end between Chuck and Sarah is rife with multiple emotions and bears much rewatching. Compare this one to the one from S1. In S1 it is a handshake between two giddy children. In this one it is between adults. There is an air of maturity, loss, and recently learned lessons. For the first time in the series the two of them seem like adults.
There is regret in that handshake. Sarah wants to keep it simple. She is willing to try again but wants to start from a real place this time. She needs time to heal and she needs to be in this place for now so she can properly protect Chuck and the world from Intersect 2.0.
Chuck accepts her offer but there is an air about him of a lost opportunity and the realization that his calling has come at a high price.
This is borne out in the final scene when Sarah brings Chuck bad news about Devon. She gives him a hug that is simultaneously intense, gentle and intimate. It is not quite a gesture of comfort from a life partner but it is much more than that of just a friend.
It is a moment of sobering reality and Sarah acts accordingly.
All in all a very solid episode that only disappoints by not having a proper closing scene for Armand Assante.

No Can Lead to Yes. Review - Episode 3.02: Chuck Vs The Three Words

Written by Ali Adler & Scott Rosenbaum

Directed by Peter Lauer

Carina, 'Oh my god! Walker. You broke the cardinal rule!'
The Cardinal Rule for spies, of course, being that they do not fall in love.
No suspense this time.
Favorite Episode of the series to date.
No surprise either as fan favorite writer Ali Adler is at the writing wheel this time. She along with co-writer Scott Rosebaum have crafted a snappy and crackling episode. Every instance in this episode is layered.

Chuck Explains The Finer Points of Party Crashing

Carina. Ah Carina. A fan favorite from the first season returns and, as before, she sets Team Bartowski on its collective ears again. This time around we see that Carina and Sarah are friends as they are out clubbing and shooting the breeze. It is an interesting dynamic that Carina can be such a prototypical spy, able to compartmentalize her feelings from the job, and yet so unerringly hone into the emotions of others. A few quick interchanges with Sarah and Carina has already mapped out the emotional landscape between Sarah and Chuck. Understandable that Carina is only a guest star with such an ability.
The spy part of the story deals with Carina's mark a weapons dealer Stromberg, played effectively by Vinnie Jones. The show continues to show us the more serious tone this season with Stromberg putting down a man with brutal disdain. In the next instant the writers demonstrate the show's ability to seamlessly shift between genres as he answers a call from Carina in an exchange of pet names of Smooch and Smoochie. This becomes a running gag throughout the episode.
Carina and Stromberg throw an engagement party at Stormberg's luxurious mansion where an item is being kept that is the reason for Carina's presence. Under the cover of the party Sarah and Chuck will sneak out and retrieve the item. This leads to two great sequences. One is the laser room that requires Chuck to flash on gymnastic skills to elude the lasers while the other sequence involves 'Uncle Johnnie.' With Uncle Johnnie the writers have some fun putting Casey, the man of few grunts, into a public speaking role to buy more time for Chuck and Sarah to retrieve the item. Seeing Casey scrambling to draw out a congratulatory speech is a hoot.
Chuck has been trying to talk to a still angry Sarah to the point of endangering the mission. Seeing this Carina pulls Chuck aside and when Chuck tells her Sarah has been so cold, Carina berates him. 'You idoit! That is because she is in love with you. Now pull your head out of your ass and focus on the mission.' Carina may have missed her calling in life. Relationship Consultant, anyone?
Chuck calms down enough to flash but only after Sarah promises him they will talk afterwards. Off Chuck goes and he successfully navigates the laser alarms, retrieves the case, and returns to the doorway. In his eagerness to talk Chuck accidentally sets off the alarm, locking himself in to a rapidly gas filling room. Anyone still worried about the Chuck character changing still?
Sarah rescues Chuck and when she opens the door, Chuck collapses into his arms. But not before he says the three words of the title.
Chuck, 'Sarah, I love you.'
Back at the Castle, a shaken Sarah asks to be reassigned but General Beckman tells her to suck it up and train Chuck to be a spy. An eavesdropping Chuck is caught by Sarah and she orders him to training. What plays out next is undoubtedly the most romantic scene in the series to date, rife with subtext. The Bo Training Sequence. Or is that beau? Sarah proceeds to lay beating on Chuck telling him to attack her using the Intersect. Chuck refuses, saying he does not want to hurt her. Sarah deftly puts Chuck on his back, stands over him, and fiercely declares, ' Don't worry Chuck. You can't hurt me.'
Oh Sarah. Yes he can. And has. And in ways you have never experienced before.
All things lead back to Casa Bartowski where a house warming party thrown by Morgan, in an attempt to score with Carina, ends in a standoff with Jones holding Carina hostage. Chuck talks Jones down, after setting Jeff's infamous Jail Juice on fire as a diversionary tactic. The talk may be directed at Jones but it is really aimed at Sarah.
Things end well, very well in fact, for Morgan as he finds out that saying No actually gets you want in the end. His victory pump slightly beats out the shot of Morgan's wall of shoes. Outside in the courtyard Chuck cleans up the aftermath of the party and finally he and Sarah talk. The dialogue is deliberately vague but for the first time Chuck and Sarah are on the same page. The hidden subtext is clearly understood. Chuck is resigned to Sarah withdrawing from him for not running away with her and Sarah may not have forgiven Chuck. But she is willing to stay and try to patch things up.
Episode Flashes:

• Carina slo-mo entrance into the BuyMore

• Smoosh and Smooshie

• Morgan channeling Ellie as he helps Chuck dress for his 'date' with Sarah

• Casey's Uncle Johnnie speech – proof Casey is made of more than grunts.

• Laser Room – awesome sequence and love the wink Chuck gives Sarah before entering the room.

• Jail Juice! Jeff's deadly mix sure to be a new staple of parties going forward.

• Morgan's Wall of Shoes

• The Bo or should that be 'Beau?' 'Training' Scene – most romantic scene of the series to date.

At this point 3.02 is already a superior episode but the final scene puts this one into the stratosphere. Carina says her goodbyes to Sarah after unsuccessfully trying to lure her to St. Tropez with her. Her final act is a gift for Sarah. A memory stick which has the video from the laser room. On the video Chuck gives an apologetic and regret laden explanation to Sarah why he could not go with her. The dialogue circles all the way back to the second episode of the first season, Chuck Vs The Helicopter, where Sarah asked Chuck if he was willing to sacrifice personal matters for the greater good. Sarah gets her answer and fights back tears as she realizes Chuck's reasons are indeed heroic.
This is a such a great scene on so many levels. For Sarah we get to see behind her mask as she tears up listening to Chuck. For Chuck the pain and anguish in his voice is plain to hear. Finally for Carina the act of giving Sarah the memory stick brings a depth of character to her we could only speculate on before. We see that not only does Carina have feelings but she really cares for Sarah. A very strong moment that holds multiple threads of poignancy at the same time. Writing does not get much better than this.
A return by Carina is eagerly anticipated. Whenever she does big things happen.

Chuck Is Back! Review: Episode 3.01: Chuck Vs The Pink Slip

Written by Chris Fedak/Matt Miller Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill It has been a long time coming! Eight long nerdless months but Chuck is back! New Season. New Intersect. Does this mean a new Chuck? What does the first episode of Season 3 show us? Chuck: ‘Bueno, bueno, bueno.’ Old Chuck for sure. Sarah: ‘Chuck, we should talk.’ Definitely new Chuck. Old Chuck meet the new Chuck. The Lemon Comes To Sarahs Aid The Lemon Comes To Sarah's Aid Season 3 picks up replaying the last few moments in the White Room from the Second Season. From there the show jumps 6 months to a spy training facility in Prague where we are treated to a great ‘show not tell’ sequence as to where things stand in the spy world for Chuck and Intersect 2.0. Things go relatively well until Chuck is given a kill order. An order which he cannot carry out. Things go downhill rapidly from that moment. Chuck literally gets caught with his pants down and Beckman sends him back home until they decide what to do with him. Chuck mopes around back at home and enters into a, ‘Vagrant Serpico,’ mode as aptly put by Emmett MillBarge. It is the discovery that Sarah is still at the Orange Orange, not even attempts by an Ellie recalled Morgan can snap Chuck out of his funk, which sparks Chuck’s decision to return to the real world. Rebuffed by Sarah and seemingly by Casey as well – though we see the old softie has been keeping tabs on Chuck – Chuck insinuates himself back into the spy game and by the end of the episode General Beckman grudgingly reactivates Team Bartowski. Throughout the episode call backs to the previous seasons abound with a tinge of new. A well groomed Jeff is off setting but the uncontrollable eye tics are still there. Devon & Ellie are still concerned about Chuck but move out to an adjacent unit. Morgan provides Chuck needed support but quickly owns up to flunking out of cooking school. Casey still tells Chuck to man up but berates Sarah for not giving Chuck closure. These are new times indeed in the ChuckVerse. Characters are being allowed to stop and ask questions or say things that occur in real life to a much greater degree. It is still the old Chuck with all the fun nerd references but there is more weight to the events because of the character beats. Nowhere is this more evident in how Chuck and Sarah interact with one another. Shown in flashbacks any doubts about Sarah’s feelings are quickly put to rest. In the first flashback, right after the events in the White Room, Sarah implores Chuck to run away with her to avoid becoming trapped forever in the spy world. Chuck agrees and the next flashback shows them meeting at a train station. A real romantic throw back. What happens at the station is heart breaking and a showcase scene for Yvonne Strahovski as she implores Chuck to come with her. A call Chuck regretfully declines. ‘This is simple. This is real,’ Sarah pleads with Chuck as she clasps Chuck’s hand. A big admission for Sarah. A very important reason must lie behind Chuck’s sorrowful refusal. Episode Flashes: - Tim Jones provides a rousing upgrade to the Chuck heroic theme during Chuck’s re-emergence sequence starting with his beard shaving onto Chuck donning the Nerd Herd uniform - Casey gleefully discharging his mini-gun aboard a helicopter as he rescues Chuck and Sarah - Morgan’s Benihana Chef utility belt - The Chuck and Sarah kiss and slap which puts the Nerd Herder down for the count. A perfect visual encapsulation of their relationship - Morgan’s ‘couldn’t flip the shrimp.’ line. - Emmett Millbarge’s mortally ill advised epithet leading to his shocking death and the haunting image of his blood covered and shattered eyeglasses. The stakes are higher this season indeed. - Chuck and Sarah talking about what happened between them. We may not like what we heard but finally the two of them are engaging in two way communications. A big step. Season premiere episodes have a lot of expositional setup ground to cover and often can be clunky. It is a credit to the writers so much background is covered and they still managed to incorporate several action sequences. The only thing missing was a clear explanation by Chuck was as to his decision not to run with Sarah. At the same time, threads have been planted for the Chuck and Sarah relationship, Chuck’s control issues with the Intersect, his aversion to guns and killing, Ellie and Devon moving out and Morgan moving in, and reassembling the team while also re-establishing Chuck’s cover at the BuyMore; all in a seamless manner. Of special note is Casey’s actions in covering up the Millbarge murder. Chuck’s entry into the spy world has come at a cost not only to him and his personal life. He inadvertently caused the Emmett’s demise when he lost his BuyMore Employee ID. This may have been nothing more than the show’s way of getting everyone back to the BuyMore. But it could also be a setup for a painful lesson for Chuck further into the season and a major confrontation between Chuck and Casey. As Casey says in the closing Eye of the Tiger/Rocky/Karate Kid/Kung Fu scene, ‘You have much to learn, grasshopper.’

Liars Never Prosper Episode 3.17 - Chuck Vs The Living Dead

Written by Lauren Lefranc & Rafe Judkin

Directed by Jay Chandrasakhar

'Yes I realize honesty is important in a relationship. Who do you think I am?'
Morgan is not the only one questioning you Chuck. Who are you indeed?
Liars never prosper. And in the ChuckVerse lies can lead to consequences that crash and burn with terminal results.
It is a strange dynamic that an excellent episode derives its thrust by using the over used cliche of characters lying. Lying to a point where it moves far beyond any ability for the viewer, or for me at least, to feel much empathy for the character and the reasons they feel justifies their lies. Chuck's lie to Sarah about his issues with the Intersect in the Tooth was understandable. His decision to continue that lie in The Living Dead plus the compounding fabrications he tells his father really became a major irritating sore point the longer it went on.
So with that major caveat pointed out this was still an awesome episode. No pretenses on my part. Scott Bakula rules. No doubt I am too enamored with him ever since those Quantum Leap days but he owns the PapaB role. Scott walks back into the show, not having been seen since the Season Two finale, without missing a beat. If there was any guest star that I would love to see elevated to regular cast it is this man. (Making Carina a regular would be pretty sweet too.)

Raise the Blast Shield! Raise the Blast Shield!

Scott takes a potentially stereotypical role of an absent minded professor and father figure and lends dramatic weight and layers of depth to the PapaB character. He often rises above the material and adds gravitas to situations that could end up being cheesy in lesser hands. I marvel at his ability to switch from being bumbling to brilliant to concerned to guilt ridden to caring – and often combinations of them - with ease. His scenes with Ellie and Chuck sharing a meal are so believable and natural. There is a real sense of family here.
The episode made excellent use of the entire cast with Morgan getting great material in every scene he was in. From a long, long overdue scene with just him and Sarah – just wish it could have been longer, to his scenes with Chuck, Casey, and Devon; Morgan has turned into the new Chuck. To the point where if Chuck does not correct soon with his lying I would be totally cool with the show being renamed Morgan. Right now he is the character I want to spend my time with. Morgan gets to play the voice of the audience questioning the other characters as to why they are doing what they are doing. Plus he is the only honest character in the show at the moment.
Ellie's storyline continues to capitivate. Forced into a situation because the truth has been kept from her by everyone close to her, Ellie falls into the same trap of keeping the truth to herself as she does what she thinks is best. Unlike her parallel storyline with Chuck about lying, empathy exists for her. Being kept in the dark for three seasons for good reasons have put Ellie in harm's way. As often happens with lies the end result is usually the very thing that the liar was trying to protect the person from. No good can come from Ellie's storyline and the denouement is going to be a painful one.
Episode Flashes:

• The clutter of PapaB's cabin – absent minded professor
• PapaB translating Ellie's message without needing to decode it
• Ellie having to use rough notes to decode and translate PapaB's response
• Morgan questioning Chuck on not being honest with Sarah
• Pop tarts!
• 'Of course Shaw's alive! Haven't you ever seen a John Carpenter movie?'
• Morgan prepping for Shaw in the Castle
• Sarah and Morgan finally having a talk
• Morgan hiding behind the riot shield from Sarah
• 'Reviewing pictures of people you killed? I do that myself from time to time.'
• Morgan in a ski jacket to hide his bullet proof vest
• PapaB quickly discerning Chuck is still a spy
• Casey gets a 2 for 1 needling Chuck and Sarah about Shaw – hilarious!
• Restaurant receipt musical chair
• Earrings! - the whole Shaw/Sarah interrogation scene was for one thing only – laughs.Please do not try to divine character motivations and backstory from it. The entire scene was a lark. Nothing more.
• customer paying Jeffster to NOT play
• PapaB/Chuck/Ellie dinner scene – HawkMan!
• Chuck and Sarah suction cupping up to Shaw's penthouse
• Shaw's book collection – Kama Sutra amongst others
• Sarah seen Predator style with the X-Ray/InfraRed glasses
• Shaw fake out – 'Shaw is dead.'
• Veiled callback to Sarah's real name at the safe
• PapaB to the rescue – 'Just an analyst huh.'
• Wills – refuse to use the term spy will - and those left behind
• Morgan barricading himself in his 'office' hiding from Shaw
• 'Shaw is alive and he is bringing the Reckoning with him!' Foreshadowing Morgan style.
• Morgan standing up to Casey defending Ellie
• Morgan falling for Devon while checking up on Ellie – warm, fluffy towels - sigh
• Sarah with the hatchet throw saving Chuck's life. 'Does she have the Intersect too?'
• The Governor – this is a cool extension of the Intersect technology
• PapaB helping his son because Chuck is using the Intersect for the reasons that PapaB created it in the first place – 'You're my son.'
• Ellie clocking Casey with the frying pan
• Sarah entrusting Chuck with her will
• foreshadowing closing scenes of Chuck writing his will and the accompanying montage of scenes
• Ellie an unwitting captive of the Ring
• Shaw reveal and his Intersecting Ring style – is a portable version far behind?

'Like I said. Nothing is what it seems.'
Rafe Judkins and Lauren Lefranc go three for three with their scripts this season. I dearly wish that they could have used another means beyond basing the storyline on the proliferation of lies. That knock aside, this was a crackling script. Take that out, and it would have been great to take some of the Jeffster screen time to explore more time with Morgan and Sarah or even an equally long overdue Sarah and Ellie scene, and this would have been perfection.

Intersect - Walker Style.

The show really needs to lock down the subterfuge that is being perpetrated between the lead characters. Especially since Chuck went through the whole lying scenario back in the Hannah arc.  The whole reason about putting Chuck and Sarah together was because they trust each other and can be honest with each other, was it not?
The motives behind what the show is doing are quite clear. As Morgan said there is a reckoning coming. It is coming because of all these lies. I am in mortal dread for the little bearded one. He has undergone such a great character journey this season, one that has been a constant joy all season, that I fear him paying the price for Chuck's indiscretions in the upcoming finale.
It could be a double whammy if PapaB also becomes a casualty. There is so much foreshadowing going on here I fear the worst. It is often the innocents that end up paying the price. I hope, I hope, I hope, I am wrong.
A season concluding double header next week. I am on the edge of my seat. How about you?