Chuck has another adventure tonight, and it involves sizzling shrimp (as per the title), fireworks, and an unorthodox celebration of Mother's Day. It's become clear that viewer's expectations for
Chuck shouldn't be all that high. That's not a criticism; it's just that
Chuck delivers light, escapist fare. You shouldn't be expecting hard-hitting drama or laugh-out loud humor or heart-pounding action.
Chuck is what it is. I've enjoyed what Josh Schwartz and company have been delivering with
Chuck. Tonight's episode was no better or worse than the last few.
Morgan has a night planned for everything, called "A Night of Morgan". Sarah is game, but she's not all that excited about it. Casey is not involved, nor does he want to be. A Chinese man is kidnapped outside the embassy. A Night of Morgan consists of three acts. Act 1: Sizzling Shrimp. Act 2: A screening of Enter the Dragon. Act 3: Fireworks. Chuck quickly nixes the fireworks. Bamboo Garden, where Morgan plans on eating the shrimp and also the name that was on the van which kidnapped the Chinese dude. They sneak in the back of the restaurant and Chuck has a flash when he sees a waitress is one oh China's top spies. He tells Sarah and Casey and the three of them immediately get to work on figuring out why the spy is there. Chuck neglects Morgan and Ellie, who are waiting to eat dinner with Chuck.
Ellie is upset with Chuck for missing dinner. Well, mostly she's upset that she was left with Morgan. Tomorrow, they have plans for their family's own October version of Mother's Day. Casey tells Chuck that they'll be staking out the Chinese waitress/spy tonight. Chuck's first stake out!
The boss announces a 24 hour sales competition at Buy More. 1st prize is an iPhone. 2nd prize is a large pizza. The last place salesman gets fired. Morgan feels like his job in his jeopardy. Morgan begs Chuck to help him with his sales technique. Chuck says he'll do his best to get back early that night to help him. At the stake out, Chuck orders an order of sizzling shrimp. Ben Lo Pan, the local Chinatown big shot, exits the Bamboo Garden. The spy lady follows the honcho's limo. Sara, Casey and Chuck tail the tail.
Chuck has a flash when he sees the spy's gun. It's a Chinese issued military gun. Chuck thinks she's there to assassinate the head honcho. Chuck hangs out alone in the car while Sarah and Casey head inside the club to catch the Chinese spy. The spy comes in guns-a-blazin', but Sarah warns Lo Pan in time and he wheels away (he's in a wheelchair).
As a gun fight ensues inside the club, Lo Pan wheels outside. Chuck sees Lo Pan and helps him get into his limo. He watches as Lo Pan's henchman throw a tied-up Chinese dude into the limo's trunk. They wheel away as the lady spy runs outside. Chuck is told by the spy that the tied up guy was her brother and that Lo Pan is Triad, a member of the Chinese mafia. She runs away when Casey and Sarah come outside.
The spy (named Mei Ling) was telling the truth, Casey informs Chuck the next morning. Lo Pan was always suspected as a gangster, but never proven. Sarah and Casey tell Chuck that they're done with this case, that it's out of their jurisdiction. Chuck wants to help Mei Ling, because he thinks it was his fault for identifying Mei Ling as the bad guy.
Morgan continues to have trouble in the sales competition. Mei Ling calls Chuck at work, tells him that she's looking at right now, and that she demands Chuck's help in saving her brother. Chuck informs Casey and Sarah of the call, and they immediately start searching for Mei Ling. Chuck is told to go to the storage cage to sign for a shipment, but it's Mei Ling, brandishing a gun.
Casey and Sarah arrive, guns out, and Mei Ling holds a gun to Chuck's head. Mei Ling agrees to defect to America if they'll all help her rescue her brother. Chuck heads home to have his Mother's Day dinner with Ellie. It's a night alone together, but Chuck is immediately called away to Casey's apartment to help on the rescue mission. Chuck gets dragged along because he's familiar with the security of the place where Mei Ling's brother is being held (the mafia stronghold).
Chuck hacks into the security system and acts as Mei Ling, Sarah and Casey's eyes. He tells them where the guards are and they beat them up. They find Lo Pan in his office, but are quickly surrounded by a ton of guards. Lo Pan is happy to have more bargaining chips (two American agents) in addition to Mei Ling and her brother. Chuck watches from the van as they're all taken away.
Chuck realizes that they're being taken to the Bamboo Garden. He follows them. He watches Sara and Casey be taken into the Garden. Ellie leaves Chuck a message, very disappointed that he's now missed Mother's Day. Morgan shows up and he and Ellie have a nice little moment.
Chuck buys some fireworks and sets them off inside the gangsters van. While they all come out to investigate, Chuck sneaks in and rescues Sarah, Casey, Mei Ling and her brother. A lengthy fight ensues between Sarah, Chuck, Mei Ling and a lot of Chinese gangsters. Good guys win.
Chuck returns to his house and Ellie is waiting for him. She tells him she's figured it out: Chuck's in love. Chuck goes along with it, but it's clear that he wants to tell her everything. Chuck asks if they can reschedule Mother's Day for tomorrow. Ellie agrees.
-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of NBC)