(S02E16) If you liked the beefcake on display last week, tonight there was a lot more of Barker, Cole Barker, and his hot bod. And it turned out that Barker was more than meets the eye. Fortunately, there was also a lot more happening in Chuck's world as well, developments with Sarah, the Intersect, and his future roommate -- Sarah or Morgan. More on all that, after the jump.
First off, Cole Barker, the MI-6 agent, who had been captured and tortured last week, was again captured and tortured but never broke and managed to succumb nine (really 12, but he didn't want to boast) Fulcrum bad guys. I hope this wasn't the last we see of Barker because he turned out to be a really good character. Sarah was extremely tempted by him, especially because they share the same living on the edge lifestyle. His appeal to her to seize the moments of joy when you can get them, made sense.
But Barker was also savvy enough to see that there is something real between Chuck and Sarah. He respected her decision to remain true to her fake boyfriend, but I think Barker could return and Sarah could give in some time down the road.
Working with Barker was a learning experience for Chuck because Cole didn't treat him like a thing. He recognized that Chuck was a "special" agent -- as he put it -- but he didn't stop Chuck from getting into the action. He even gave him a gun, which resulted in two injuries, from only one bullet.
Code name Perseus was actually a nerd scientist -- played by Star Trek vet Robert Picardo -- Howard Busgang. His key encounter with Chuck, after the shooting, opened the door for a whole new direction for the show. Orion is the person/project that created the Intersect and might, theoretically, be able to remove it from Chuck's noggin. That's Chuck's new goal, a point underscored when he added the information to his work board which is the back of his beloved Tron poster. (By the way, if Casey and Sarah ever see the back of that poster, they'll run it through a wood chipper and Chuck will have to kiss it goodbye.)
It was a nice bit of storytelling that before Chuck ever had to tell Morgan he couldn't be his roommate, Morgan faced the same dilemma with Anna. Jeffster's advice was Operation Repulsion, something they understand when it comes to women. The sight of Jeff in sweaty tennis togs -- then he took off the shirt -- was pretty revolting.
Fortunately, Morgan was wise enough to take romantic advice from Chuck, who told him that if Anna could love him for being him, he shouldn't test her resolve. And taking his own advice, Chuck let Sarah know why he could not move in with her in a pretend way because he was crazy about her in a real way.
Other points of interest
-- How interesting that The Fulcrum agents made their "terrorism" sound like patriotism. No wonder Howard was confused.
-- The Tron poster was a gift from Chuck's dad, and Chuck still hasn't contacted him about coming to Ellie's wedding.
-- Anna's reaction to the Morgannuptial agreement was perfect. She laughed and said she'd have it framed.
-- After Cole was shot saving Sarah, Chuck offered him "soup, bisque or Us Weekly" while he recovered.
-- The music in the first half of the show was very John Barry/James Bond, especially breaking into the embassy party.
Chuck' Show & Cast Photos
- CHUCK Adam Baldwin as Major John Casey stars in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Adam Baldwin as Major John Casey stars in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Michael Clarke Duncan as Colt and Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker star in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski and Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker star in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski and Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker star in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski, Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker and Michael Clarke Duncan as Colt star in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski stars in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski stars in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski and Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker star in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC CHUCK Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker stars in the episode "Chuck vs. the First Date." Airs Monday, September 29, 2008. NBC
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-10-2009 @ 10:31AM
Christopher said...
This episode was awesome, I'm glad Chuck has taken a play from Charlie Crews.
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 4:19PM
Chris said...
Nah. Chevy Chase is Orion. Chuck's dad was the guy Orion STOLE from.
3-10-2009 @ 10:37AM
scifi.lefemme said...
Theory...
Orion is Chuck's dad. He had to get all those geek smarts from somewhere!
Reply
3-12-2009 @ 7:30PM
Hashbrown Hunter said...
Stupidest. Story Arc. EVER.
Seriously that would be terrible. I think Chuck's dad will have something to do with the overall mythology of the show, but if he was Orion I'd just get annoyed.
3-10-2009 @ 10:38AM
Cyantre said...
Finding out Chuck has been tracking everything on the back of that Tron poster was a huge reveal and definitely gave a breath of fresh air to the show.
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 1:16PM
Dan said...
It was absolutely awesome...it reminded me of the episode in the Sopanos (Pax Soprana) where the FBI revealed that they were on to Tony, Junior and their leadership of the New Jersey family. This was a great episode, and that poster basically gave every episode from before a little more importance. I just hope Chuck survives for at least another season, it's really gotten to be a great show.
3-11-2009 @ 5:49PM
WhoElseButME said...
I frame-forwarded to see who all were on the poster. Dont't know if you guys saw it but Chuck labelled Beckman as 'Roan's Girlfriend'!!
3-10-2009 @ 10:43AM
Adam said...
I too think that Orion is Chuck's dad.
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 11:10AM
George said...
I think you mean "subdue", not "succumb", in the third paragraph.
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 11:57AM
Key Rick said...
...versus the Lethal Weapon may well prove to be an efficient go-between to Chuck's character development. The preview for the next episode was the best part of this week's! He cannot soon enough for me embrace and demo his significance as a walking, talking, gun-toting piece of intelligence machismo, if you ask me. I can hardly wait for Zachary Levi to be able to break out of wimp mode. I know the Chuck character works as a Nerd Herder, lives with sis and had the ability to flash on spyhood thrust upon him, but if this series continues to limp along with the will-they-or-won't-they ever hook-up storylines and walk the ridiculous tightrope between family-hour fare where people die from gunshots at point blank range while others re-enact famous tennis matches using Wii (on the BuyMore clock?), a lot of fans are bound to tune out. Give us more Charles Carmichael, please. And hurry!
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 1:47PM
ussilov said...
coudlnt agree more! cant wait to see chuck show some back bone(they'll probably ruin the moment by adding some pratfall or slapstick nonsense).
3-10-2009 @ 3:19PM
Vijay said...
I disagree. The balancing of BuyMore and danger/espionage is what keeps me watching Chuck. I think it reflects reality more - I can't believe people in the world of 24 don't EVER make a joke or act silly, or that serious consequences don't exist in Friends. Sure, there is a Sam/Diane thing, but it is treated as motivation for characters' actions, not the center of the plot.
While the preview for next week looked intriguing, I hope Chuck doesn't become Alias, where everything is espionage. What makes Chuck interesting is that this is a mostly-regular nice guy, with regular limitations. He's a brother in the shadow of his sister (at home), the reliable guy (at work), the good guy (with friends/relationships), and an underachiever in life who doesn't know how to meet his potential. That's a very sympathetic character, to me. If he becomes "spy guy", the show loses its heart.
That said, there's been talk of a whole new direction, and I think if the sympathetic qualities of Chuck aren't lost (e.g., Jack Bauer), the show will continue to keep me as a viewer.
3-10-2009 @ 3:28PM
WhoElseButME said...
I agree with Vijay, atleast to an extent. I'd like to see more of Charles Carmichael but not at the cost of the 'essence' of the show - Chuck. If that makes any sense ;-)
3-10-2009 @ 12:32PM
jasahl said...
"How interesting that the Fulcrum agents made their 'terrorism' sound like patriotism"
That's one meme I'm getting a bit tired of. 24's been doing it since forever, there was that NBC miniseries XIII.
Terrorists declaring themselves patriots is the new "shadowy corporation"
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 1:25PM
Liz said...
You'd think the CIA would have given Chuck some basic gun lessons by now, and maybe a self defense class or two. He is one of the most valuable people on the planet after all, and its not like he doesn't get into trouble every episode...
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 3:09PM
Algebralady said...
Anyone think the Tron poster is how Ellie and/or Morgan figure out Chuck's double life, sometime soon?
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 3:22PM
WhoElseButME said...
~Unbridled Awesomeness~
Chuck saying "I will live the life that I want with the girl that I love because I am not going to let this thing rob me of that."
Not matter how much you root for Charah, you can't but like Cole.
The Tron poster bit - Chuck really is a lot smarter than he lets on.
The limp chase!
If such throughly entertaining shows are 'on the bubble' then the Rating Clowns aka Nielsen need to get their act together. (Seriously, they sample some 2000 homes and then extrapolate the data to millions. Can't we have a more transparent system or we have to take the word of some crackheads?)
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 4:59PM
WhoElseButME said...
After a rewatch, I would like to add - Lester and Jeff are also doing their bit very well. Pretty Funny.
'Repulsion is our Business. Business is Good'
Reply
3-10-2009 @ 9:04PM
Argus said...
Terrorist and bad guy aren't the same. Terrorists try to accomplish their goals through fear, and as Fulcrum operates in secret, they clearly are not terrorists. (If this posted twice my apologies.)
Reply
3-12-2009 @ 7:48PM
Hashbrown Hunter said...
I'm not going to try to think about the future of the show, but I am going to say that I love the darker direction the show is taking.
The 'conspiracy web' thing on the back of the Tron poster was really surprising, and it really does show how profoundly Chuck's life had been affected to the point where he is becoming obsessive.
And the Chuck-Sarah tug of war is getting enough fresh spins on it to keep it interesting.
I think something major is about to happen on the show that will really change some things. The Christmas episode was the first major sign and since then the story has been getting progressively darker. Can't wait for it!
Reply