Chuck brings on the heartbreak this week as our favorite geek-boy spy finds out that sometimes, love just ain't enough. Sometimes, love can get you killed. Plus, there's a stunningly fabulous Buy More Cage Match, Bryce shows his hand, and Captain Awesome brings the cheese -- but still managed to be oh so very awesome.

This spoiler mourns the lack of Huey Lewis, but appreciates the use of Heart. Rock on, Anna Wu!

Last week, Chuck was all set to get snuggly with Sarah, but discovered that Bryce had popped up again. It's like his spy superpower is cock-blocking. Bryce is oblivious to Chuck's pain. And why not? Everyone is talking about what a fabulous spy he is, and his cover story involves massive public displays of affection with Sarah.

This week's mission involves retrieving an chip that contains the latest update for the Intersect, and seriously, why are America's spy agencies still trying to put all of their information in one easily stealable place? Haven't they figured out it's a major security risk yet? Heck, even the evil cabal on Prison Break knows better!

Fulcrum has enlisted snaky computer genius Von Hayes to decrypt the chip. As it contains Sarah and Casey's cover information, along with everything else that's been going on since Chuck got the big download, the government is anxious to get it back. Conveniently, Von Hayes is throwing a massive party, perfect for infiltration. Sarah and Bryce will pose as a married couple who indulge in way too much PDA, while Chuck will be a waiter and attempt to flash on things. The first part goes ok -- Bryce and Sarah perform a lambada ("The forbidden dance!" Chuck gasps) that is barely legal. The second part... well, Chuck is so busy being horrified at seeing the woman he loves writhing around with his former best friend that he gets kicked out.

Now that Sarah and Bruce have established their need to Get a Room, they are free to break into the vault. However, Chuck finally flashes on something on the way out -- a "psycho elfin queen"  Fulcrum agent. Chuck breaks back in (with Casey's help) in time to see that (1) Von Hayes is carrying the chip, and (2) the psycho elfin queen is fine with shooting people in the face. When Sarah hears that Chuck is in danger, she abandons the mission to protect him. Von Hayes escapes, and Sarah is injured saving Chuck.

Later, Bryce tells Chuck that Sarah has feelings for Chuck -- and those feelings will get her killed. Chuck doesn't want to believe it. Besides, he's a bit busy: Chuck finds Von Hayes and gets him to agree to turn over the chip -- for $4.5 million. At the handoff, Von Hayes gets spooked and runs. Some thugs for hire surround him, and Bryce and Casey are planning to shoot their way through things. Chuck has a better solution -- he pays the thugs off. Duh! Casey goes after the thugs to get the cash back (America's taxpayers have enough problems right now without losing another chunk of change...), but the psycho elfin queen is waiting for Chuck. She snags him and threatens to shoot if Bryce doesn't turn over the chip. Bryce catches sight of Sarah and figures everything will be fine. She never had a problem taking a shot at random thugs that were using him as cover. But Sarah hesitates -- she can't bring herself to risk shooting Chuck. Fortunately, Casey doesn’t have the same qualms. He takes the Fulcrum agent out, and Chuck is saved.

That doesn't mean all is well, though -- Chuck realizes that Bryce is right, and he could get Sarah killed. What's more, he figures out he'll never have a normal life with her -- even after the Intersect is out of his head, Sarah will still be off saving the world in a death-defying fashion. He can't live with that.

Bryce says goodbye to Chuck -- I now you hate me, but you have to trust that I'm looking out for you. I always have been. He's got a funny way of showing it -- the spiffy spy sunglasses he leaves for Chuck are embedded with the new chip. When Chuck puts them on, he gets the latest data shoved right into his cerebellum. Then the chip burns up. Chuck now has a whole new set of facts in his head. Joy.

The Buy Morons
Buy More is beset by the hulking tyrants from the local sporting-goods store, who take over -- and trash -- the PlayStation demo room on their lunch break. Lester orders Morgan to get them out, which goes as well as can be expected. After a circuit is pulled at a key moment, Mitt of the Mighty Jocks arranges to meet Morgan and Lester in the parking lot for a thrashing. The guys stay in the store all night to avoid bloodshed.

But finally, they can't avoid confrontation. (Well, Morgan can't. Lester hides.) Morgan meets Mitt in the Buy More cage, and it looks like he's about to get pulverized. But what's this? Anna shows up with a couple of camera tripods and beats the snot out of Mitt in a spectacular fashion. Even Casey is impressed. Plus, there's Heart's Barracuda playing. How can you not love that?

Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends

• So, do you think Chuck really believes he and Sarah could never work out, or is he just quashing the relationship to keep her safe? I think it's mostly the latter, but I do hope there's a part of Chuck that realizes that yes, he can get a woman who's right for him (Pick me! Pick me!)
• They played the entire breakup incredibly well. Both Sarah and Chuck were so sad, and then they pasted on smiles and walked into the apartment as if everything was normal and happy. Oh, my heart!
• Captain Awesome has some great moments this week. He volunteers to take care of Sarah's stalker ex, and is none-to-gentle bandaging Bryce's wounds. He smiles genially the whole time.
• Awesome's little speech about being a cardio-thoracic specialist who knows the human heart was tremendously cheesy -- and yet, still sweet and (it must be said) awesome. How I love that man.
• Morgan complains about Lester's behavior: "I once read that Mussolini started in retail." I'd believe that.
• I loved the bit where Von Hayes and Chuck commiserated on how tough it was to do all this spy stuff. They were so happy to find another person who understood!
• Von Hayes asks Chuck to save him from Fulcrum: "I'm living in a Lamborghini. You have no idea how little legroom there is!" My heart bleeds, Von Hayes...
• Anna tries to tell Morgan he doesn't have to deal with a bully. "This isn't high school," she says. "No, it's worse. It's Buy More, " he replies. (I have to agree with him. As god as my witness, I will never work retail again!)
• Lester gives Morgan some advice in the cage match: "Sweep the leg! Sweep the leg!" Thanks, Lester!
• Anna's fight is fantastic -- the run around the wall of the cage? The tripods adapted as staff weapons? The music? Bliss.
• Casey, watching the fight: "Can I get I background clearance on one Anna Wu? I have a candidate for possible field work." That would rock!

Comments

I'm pretty sure that "sweep the leg" is from the climatic fight scene of the first Karate Kid movie - great stuff.

JT | Oct 13, 2008 8:42:26 PM | #

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Major goof: The opening scene flashback was set in "Bogata, Columbia;" of course it's Colombia.

stephen | Oct 13, 2008 9:04:38 PM | #

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Another great episode. Although they should have found a place to play Huey Lewis.

Scott | Oct 14, 2008 5:50:47 AM | #

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Michael Strahan was actually pretty darn funny in this episode

boze | Oct 14, 2008 6:28:38 AM | #

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I wonder if they're going to have Strahan and the sporting goods guys coming back any time soon. I also enjoyed him on there, of course playing Madden as the Giants. It was a bit ironic that Chuck went up against the Giants on MNF.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode. I just have a question about the end. Was Bryce giving Chuck another update (because he knows he can trust him) or was he sending what Chuck knows to some computer some place?

Kevin | Oct 14, 2008 6:53:45 AM | #

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(weakly) "I.. hate... Bryce Larson!"

I don't know how, but "Chuck" keeps getting better and better. Loving every moment of this show.

Each facet is played out really well: the Buy-More battle with Bettis, the Awesome-angle, the spies' spiel, the Von Hayes-Bartowski bond, even the sappy/cliche romance between Chuck and Sarah that almost goes over the top.

pakopako | Oct 14, 2008 7:01:05 AM | #

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Wow another entertaining episode. Loved that " I hate Bryce Larson". Bryce is jealous of Chuck, he knows Sarah is into him and keeping Sarah out of Danger was only part of his wanting to keep Chuck and Sarah apart.

I had begun to wonder how much longer they keep Chuck flashing on stuff that was up to date. Now its Chuck 2.0 and his better than ever.

How about Casey getting the money back and Von Hayes

jbw | Oct 14, 2008 9:01:04 AM | #

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Major spy power = cock blocking...I haven't laughed out loud like that in a while. Excellent recap!

Great ep. I agree: I think Chuck mainly told Sarah that they could not have a future to protect her. Both actors were particularly great in that scene. One of my favorite episodes to date (including Season 1).

Dan | Oct 14, 2008 10:13:26 AM | #

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Every week Chuck is like an excellent hour long movie. So much great stuff is packed into each episode.

I love Chuck! For me it's one of the best shows this season.

Casey is one of my favorite characters. Watching him clean his guns never gets old. No one wants to be protected by a guy with a lint clogged gun barrel!

DaisyRose | Oct 14, 2008 11:03:38 AM | #

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I love Chuck! It's AWESOME!
I hope the chiefs at NBC renew it - they have kept 30 Rock going inspite of dismal ratings, after all.

Last nights episode was great, filled with bits of comedy, drama, action and heartbreak that worked so well together. I laughed and I cried.

When I heard about all of the special guest stars that were planned for this season, I was concerned about stunt casting but so far each one has been perfect - over the top, but still enjoyable.

katie71483 | Oct 14, 2008 11:30:31 AM | #

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katie71483, so far as I know, Chuck has been given a full season nod (which was done last year before the strike), so it shouldn't be going away any time soon. Now what would be nice is if they could put it on a less-competitive night, such as on Fridays or maybe make a Saturday spy block with Chuck as the linchpin. I hate that the networks have all but given up on Saturdays, and with the economy the way it is, I think they'd find that more people are staying home than they think, including the to-them-all-important 18-35 crew. Whatever they do, Chuck should be safe for this season.

I like the fact that Chuck, the character, is growing up before our eyes. While I wish they'd tone back Ellie's mother-hen routine, it really warms my heart to see siblings played this way. Usually on network shows (like, say, Brothers and Sisters), sibs always seem to have it in for each other, or are "estranged" (hate that word), or are depicted as white sheep/black sheep. All of these are stereotypes that are older than Adam, so it's nice to see Chuck and Ellie being played as being so close. True, Chuck needs to get the hell out of the house and find his own place, but it is California, and I don't imagine Buy More has salaries high enough to enable Chuck to live in Newport Beach or similar enclave.

Yeah, that "Bogota, Columbia" typo was just sad. Typical of the American edumacation system that the screenwriters couldn't even be bothered to consult a freakin' atlas.

Ah, "sweep the leg." The only line that dude will ever be known for. Followed, of course, by, "You gotta problem with that?" "No, sensei." *cue dramatic music* Just glad they didn't have "Glory of Love" playing in the background during Chuck's real fake break-up scene with Sarah. I might have gagged. Yes, I know "Glory of Love" was from Karate Kid 2, so get your fingers off the keyboards. :P

"I...hate...Bryce...Larson..." Hope to see him back real soon, though!

Revenant | Oct 14, 2008 12:05:07 PM | #

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Yeah, the Karate Kid reference was good (as was Casey on the phone with a very impressed look on his face) But so far, I haven't seen anybody else but me catch the "Grosse Pointe Blank" reference. When Chuck is trying to "break up" with Sarah, he says something to the effect of "you'll be culling a revolution in Paraguay with a fork." The same think happened to John Cusack's character, Martin Blank, in that movie, except he killed the president with a fork. Well, who knows, maybe that would cull a revolution.

Patrick | Oct 14, 2008 2:37:35 PM | #

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Yay giving Julia Ling a martial arts sequence...but I'll be bummed if that's all she gets.

She was a finalist in Hong Kong's be the next Jackie Chan reality show thingee...she can kick butt!

VideoBeagle | Oct 14, 2008 2:45:20 PM | #

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Depends on the fork, I reckon. Pitchfork? That I can see. Pickle fork? Not so much...:P

Revenant | Oct 14, 2008 3:38:32 PM | #

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All I know is that they had a character named Von Hayes and it wasn't the Phillies star from the '80s. why would they do that?

tipper1234 | Oct 14, 2008 7:00:10 PM | #

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Nice catch, tipper. Maybe the writer's a Phillies phan? :P

Revenant | Oct 14, 2008 7:11:16 PM | #

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great episode. Michael Strahan was hilarious in it, who knew my favorite football player could act! This is very quickly turning into my favorite show on TV. I have class Monday nights, so I TiVo this, Heroes, Terminator, AND How I Met Your Mother - this used to be the first one I'd watch the next day, but now I save it for last b/c it's consistently the best!

Chris | Oct 15, 2008 6:32:21 AM | #

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Even though Strahan got his butt kicked by Wu, i hope they have him back because that was some really funny stuff! He really could have an acting career if he wanted. This show is getting better every week! And sweet Lord, Sarah, Chuck's sis and Wu are so hot!

Steve | Oct 15, 2008 11:57:54 AM | #

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More Anna; less Awesome, Ellie, and Morgan.

Greg | Oct 15, 2008 12:39:36 PM | #

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Love it! excellent episode, hate the break-up scene, it's so sad!!! I know we still have the whole season to go but I want NBC to guarantees another season already. Oh, where was Big Mike this time?!

mdaub | Oct 16, 2008 4:09:35 PM | #

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