'Chuck': Season 3 continues its Awesome start

Finally, Captain Awesome gets an episode of "Chuck" worthy of his sheer awesomeness. And equally notably, it's an episode that doesn't set foot in the Buy More. I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot more episodes with limited casts thanks to NBC's budget cuts. But you know I'm not Morgan's biggest fan, so I'm totally on board with a breather every now and then.

I cannot believe that our dear, responsible Ellie missed her first med school class to hook up with Awesome in a broom closet. Not that I blame her - as Michael Bluth would say, you've gotta lock that down. Now, nine years later, she wants to recapture that magic. It's a bit hard to keep Awesome's focus, though, since while Ellie's playing the romantic, he's trying his hardest to worm his way into the spying game because he's apparently ever in search of a new adrenaline high. You don't get to be Captain Awesome by staying home and spending time with your wife! Apparently!

Awesome gets his first taste of glory when he saves the life of the communist Premier of "Costa Gravas," who intends to open his nation up to democratic elections and is thus under the secret protection of the U.S. Government (i.e. Team Chuck). Awesome confirms to Chuck that the Premier didn't have a heart attack; he was poisoned. And much as Chuck would like to keep him out of the CIA world, Awesome is invited to a big party at the consulate, giving Team Chuck an in to continue secretly protecting the Premier.  

Casey, of course, is known as El Angel de la Muerte in Costa Gravas thanks to several attempts on the Premier's life. When Chuck and Sarah are kicked out of the party for dancing so vigorously (another of the Intersect's many talents) that they knocked out a political protester whom they thought was the assassin, Casey is forced to step in, disguised as what appears to be Luigi from Mario Bros. Awesome, hungry for another moment of glory, sees Casey's gun and tackles him, knocking his mustache off and getting him taken prisoner. But hey, he did get that moment of glory! And so did Ellie, as the object of the Premier's very amusing lust. Seriously, that was some frisky dancing.

Wile the General insists on using diplomatic channels to rescue Casey to avoid rocking the political boat, Chuck hilariously busts Sarah preparing to storm the consulate. Luckily, Casey is unable to prevent the assassin from poisoning the Premier again right in front of him, and so Awesome is called to the consulate and brings Chuck and Sarah as his medical assistance. He wonders, though, what army Chuck will be using to overpower their two armed guards. Chuck: "Uh, that would be Sarah and, uh, her fists." Heck yeah!

They aren't fast enough to keep Casey from getting both injected with poison and shot during a fight with the assassin, who works for the apparently democracy-hating Ring (figures). Worse, the Costa Gravan soldiers refuse to believe that Chuck is a doctor and not an assassin unless he operates on Casey's wounded leg. But as we all probably predicted, the Intersect is quite adept at surgery. And after also stealing some blood from an unwilling Casey in order to save the Premier, everyone lives to fight another day.

You'd think democratic elections in Costa Gravas for the first time in decades would be enough to get Casey to quit sulking, but apparently it took a box of fancy cigars to seal the deal. It's accompanied by a Miss Manners-worthy thank you note, too. Somebody's mother raised him right!  

Awesome is officially over the espionage thing, unwilling to give up half of his real life to lead a double life. And so, of course, his last patient of the day back at his normal life job is the Ring assassin, who's ready and waiting with a syringe. OH NOES!! Sarah shows up at Chuck's door with some whispered but somber news about Awesome, and we're left to think that he may have been killed. Though NBC's preview for next week doesn't really leave us in suspense for long, huh?

Chuck and Sarah: At the party, Ellie refuses to believe Sarah when she insists that she and Chuck are "just friends," just like Awesome can't believe it when Chuck tells him that they were never a real couple. Aww. After the mission, Chuck asks Sarah what their cover should be moving forward. She suggests keeping it simple and going with "friends." Chuck: "I suppose I could fake being friends with someone like you." Sarah: "And I don't find you completely repulsive, so..." And they shake on it to seal the deal. That's just sad, you guys.

And I have to wonder if Chuck's new hairstyle played a part in Sarah's eagerness to keep their relationship on the "friends" level. I miss the old, adorably messy hair! What's next? Chuck wearing loafers? So weak.

How did you like Awesome's moment in the sun? Are you feelin' this season so far?

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