(S02E21) If you were waiting all season long for an episode this power-packed, you finally got your heart's desire. You wanted action; you got it. Story line development? Check. More about Sarah and Chuck? Casey in the middle of everything? Guest stars? References to pop culture and old movies? Morgan's deepest dreams revealed? Yep. This was the episode for you. The penultimate Chuck for season two -- and hopefully not the next to last of all time -- was perhaps the best episode of the year.For sheer dynamics, the team was not working together. Casey, who was promoted and thus became the colonel of the title, was put in the tough position of having to apprehend Chuck and Sarah. Since they all know each other so well, there was no advantage on either side, and Chuck's emotional appeal about finding his father seemed to have little effect on Casey.
Putting the Fulcrum subterranean base in an abandoned drive-in movie theater was cool, especially when Chuck's dad was able to use a Tron reference to signal his son. By the way, was that the same drive-in theater used in Psych last season? Also, were Chuck and Sarah using Michael Weston's vintage black Charger from Burn Notice?
Chevy Chase was back as bad guy Ted Roark, browbeating Stephen B. into making the new intersect. It's now a handy, dandy portable cube floating in blue gel. There was so much chasing and capturing, that for a while it seemed we weren't getting anywhere. But in a good move, the Buy More story intersected (get it?) with Chuck and Sarah confined to the Castle. Jeffster used some explosives lifted from Casey's locker -- thanks to Awesome's investigating Chuck's disappearance -- to knock out the Burbank electric grid for a little while.
While Sarah and Chuck made their escape, Casey was facing off with Devon. And how awesome did Captain Awesome turn out to be once Chuck gave him the lowdown about being a CIA asset? It took about two minutes to penetrate his noggin, but once he got it, he was cool with it. At that point, Casey showed his true colors and decided it was wiser to work with the team than against it.
There was a wonderful sight gag when all the convertibles retracted their roofs for Ted's big announcement. It almost looked like a commercial, but I missed the name of the car. My bad. When the Intersect film launched, it was shades of Raiders of the Lost Ark (again) -- "Don't look at the screen." But Orion had double-crossed Roark. He got Chuck to open his eyes and watch because he had created an intersect removal process just to get Chuck's brain back to normal. By the time Roark realized he couldn't "flash," the air strike had blown up the installation and the good guys -- Casey, Chuck, Stephen and Sarah -- had gotten away with the intersect gizmo in hand.
There was even a happy ending when Ellie reunited with Dad and Chuck and everyone was heading to the rehearsal dinner. And at the Buy More, Morgan regained his manhood. He referenced The Godfather Part II as he talked to Michael, the step-father, about a dignified "death" in which his family (Mom) would be taken care of when Morgan fell on his sword. In an homage to An Officer and a Gentleman -- minus the military whites -- Morgan carried Anna out of the store...or tried to. He's off to fulfill his dream of becoming a Benihana chef in Hawaii. Can't wait to see those webisodes!
But not all was perfect. Guess who's planning to crash the wedding? Ted R., who has a really nasty looking thumb. His appearance should make for a bang-up season finale. Hopefully, we may even get back to Sarah and Chuck in bed together.
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
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-21-2009 @ 10:38AM
Jason said...
Get back! Back! No, NBC! Put that plug down! No! Bad NBC! Do you want to go outside? No!
I really hope this show survives for another season. They've really upped their game, I just hope it isn't all for naught.
Reply
4-21-2009 @ 11:40AM
Dan said...
Anyone who watched this episode would know that this is an amazing TV program and deserves to remain on the air. Absolutely awesome! This is one of the best hours of TV I've seen in a long time, such a great episode with so much depth and detail.
I don't think the Intersect is fully out of Chuck's head, and that he'll flash at the end of the next episode and say "Oh Boy!" as an homage to his father.
4-22-2009 @ 4:39PM
WhoElseButME said...
If I can just rant. I feel that Nielsen is a joke. They have a minuscule sample of some 5k homes and extrapolate it to everywhere between the Pacific and the Atlantic. And the lack of transparency is just abhorring. What is this, the Dark Ages?
4-21-2009 @ 10:42AM
Wii60 said...
What a great show. NBC, you must renew it. Get rid of Medium for it if you have to, just get Chuck a third season and move it to a (Not Friday) night were it doesn't compete with other programming nerds like me like. This mean keep it away from Fringe, Big Bang Theory, House, and Lost. I guarantee that it will start kicking up in the ratings.
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4-21-2009 @ 11:05AM
amanda82977 said...
1. The car was a Chysler Sebring - I thought that it looked like a car commercial - smart product placement though...
2. I will be so lost if NBC cancels this show!!! I think that besides being clever (I have stated in previous posts my pension for Josh Schwartz's style of writing) it is also a great action show. In a reality filled crap-hole of television there are only a few real standouts that while being funny are also smart. I really hope that NBC makes the right decision & works on how they are going to balance the great programming they have with the completely unnecessary. Seriously do we really need a 10pm talk show??? Aren't there enough floundering talk shows during the day as well as a 4th hour of the Today show & then several more choices after the evening news???
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4-21-2009 @ 11:03AM
Steve said...
Awesome episode, can wait for next weeks (hopefully not series) finale
I think the show may change a lot if it does get renewed next season
I bought the season 1 DVD's to help Chucks renewal cause
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4-21-2009 @ 11:06AM
Christopher said...
M. Westin drives a charger, there were in a Challenger. Best Episode ever. Too bad I think this is the end of the line for Chuck.
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4-21-2009 @ 11:13AM
WhoElseButME said...
This episode was all kinds of awesome.
I watch a lot of shows especially on Monday and Chuck has also been the most consistent show on air, for quite some time now. It really is a great TV watching experience.
Three cheers for Charah and Colonel Casey!
Why is Bryce back? I hope he dies!
Also, I'd recommend reading Alan Sepinwall's review. He's got this 'dayenu' thing going on. Highly recommended!
Also, I am taking part in the Watch/Buy/Share promotion to save Chuck, by buying a couple of sets. Anyone who needs a free DVD or BD set mailed to their house for free, drop me a mail!
I am NOT kidding :-)
Go CHUCK!
Reply
4-21-2009 @ 11:18AM
WhoElseButME said...
Oops...Figure the id - my user name AT google's mail. I am buying just one extra so I give it to the first mail I get.
4-21-2009 @ 1:58PM
Craig said...
Thank you for your generous offer and enthusiastic support of this terrific show. As I mentioned in my e-mail to you earlier, I just bought a new Blu Ray player and can't wait to re-watch the first season. Thanks to you I'll be able to watch it whenever I want.
I'll be hosting a "Save Chuck" party next week during the season finale.
Best wishes!
4-21-2009 @ 2:03PM
WhoElseButME said...
~NBC PLEASE RENEW CHUCK~
Craig you should get the BD in about 5 days!
4-21-2009 @ 10:25PM
Adam said...
It would be absolutely fantastic if I could have a free Chuck set if you're still up for it email me at ahidhiahimhi@gmail.com
4-21-2009 @ 11:54AM
Christian H. said...
I was totally surprised it was Awesome who found out Chucks "secret". I had all my money on Morgan...
And I agree: Best episode of the season!
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4-21-2009 @ 12:08PM
Grover said...
Nah, you could see this coming for a couple of weeks now. Awesome has been close to finding out about chuck, sarah, and casey for some time now. Chuck covering and saying his 'Agent Carmichael' alias was for a game he and morgan play and then devon accidently linking onto a video conference with beckman... and the bachelor party (just to name two).
4-21-2009 @ 11:47AM
Odimerus said...
I'm going to pretend this was the series finale unless Chuck gets picked up for a third season. I'm not going to watch next weeks episode until it gets renewed. This episode tied up most of the story lines especially if I ignore Roark at the end. I don't want to watch all the story lines get untied next week and then not get to see anything if the show gets canceled. So as far as I know, Ellie and Devon get married and Chuck and Sarah live happily ever after. Morgan and Anna go to Hawaii for a little while until Morgan realizes that being a Benihana Chef is not for him, and he moves back to Burbank where him and Chuck start their own business.
Reply
4-21-2009 @ 12:20PM
Howey said...
Best episode evah!
I'm expecting Captain Awesome to join the CIA next season. Please, NBC, let there be a next season!
Wouldn't Chuck be great leading into LOST? Hello, ABC? Make an offer!
Reply
4-21-2009 @ 12:29PM
Liz said...
This was such a great episode. Chevy Chase and Scott Bakula were great in both their roles! I loved all the nerdy pop culture references, the character development, the action, etc. NBC has to renew this show!
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4-21-2009 @ 12:32PM
Will said...
Best. Chuck. Ever.
Glad I got caught up the night before.
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4-21-2009 @ 12:54PM
JWB said...
Two great seasons
What more can a person ask for? Why ruin it with a third season?
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4-21-2009 @ 12:57PM
david.yamasaki said...
I don't know whose car it was, but the license plate read "2GAT123" which is the same license plate used in LA Story (Steve Martin's car), Training Day (Denzel Washington's car), and Mulholland Drive (the limo at the beginning) just to name a few.
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