Chuck

Chuck Bartowski is the greatest nerd on television.  Of course, Chuck isn't really a nerd.  He's a good looking dude, isn't socially awkward, and has managed to acquire the feelings of one of television's hottest women.  And, he's also a quasi-secret agent who has all of the government's secrets stored away in his mind.  Chuck returns to NBC tonight for its second season premiere.  Josh Schwartz, Chuck's show runner, is smart enough to know that the series didn't receive great ratings last year and when you add that to the odd scheduling forced upon Chuck by the writers' strike, it was necessary to re-introduce the show to the general public.  And, that's exactly what tonight's season premiere did, and in quite enjoyable fashion.  If you liked the first season of Chuck, tonight's episode will not disappoint. 

See Also: Chuck: Season 2 Premiere, "Chuck vs. The Date" Early Review

Chuck is hung upside down by a huge man (Michael Clarke Duncan).  Chuck tells him that he works for the CIA, NSA, whatever, and that he's the most important intelligence asset in the world.  Chuck gives a rundown of what the TV show is about.  Casey and Sarah show up and Duncan runs away.  Chuck got what they were looking for: The Cypher.  Later, being debriefed by Directors Graham and Beckman, explain what the Cypher is.  It's the artificial brain of the new intersect.  This is news to Chuck.  The new intersect is set to go online the next day – Chuck is told that he'll be free to live his life once the new intersect is up.

Chuck is relieved, he thinks, when talking to Sarah.  Sarah admits that Chuck is better at the job than he gives himself credit for – he can do anything, she says.  Casey is told by the General that he must eliminate Chuck tomorrow night.  Casey is not too excited about killing Chuck, but them's the orders.

The next morning, Chuck wakes up to Huey Lewis (“Hip to Be Square” on his alarm clock.  It's a brand new day, and he's excited.  He walks into the bathroom and finds Awesome and his sister Ellie taking a shower together.  At breakfast, Chuck says that he's been thinking – maybe he should get a real job, a real future.  Ellie is worried – Chuck assures her the change of heart is a good thing. 

At the Buy More, Chuck is brought into a meeting with Big Mike.  First, he has a tender moment with Casey.  He offers Chuck the job of Assistant Manager straight away.  Chuck declines.  Mike forces him to interview the rest of the employees for the job.  Morgan assumes he has taken the job, Chuck tells him that he needs to interview the rest of the crew. 

We are introduced to Sarah working her new job as a frozen yogurt saleswoman to the strains of “Foux du Fa Fa” by Flight of the Conchords.  Chuck arrives and asks her out on a real date.  Chuck makes a good pitch.  Sarah, despite the fact that she'll probably be shipped out to a new post in the next week, accepts. 

Chuck readies himself for the date.  Casey gets ready to kill Chuck.  Sarah gets ready, and in doing so gives us all a wonderful underwear shot.  Sarah, since this is a real date, declines to bring her gun.  Morgan shows up before the date to try and test out a new Call of Duty strategy.  Chuck declines.

Casey is met at his doorstep by what he believes is the pick-up for the Cypher.  It's a trap, however.  He is gassed by the delivery guy after he takes the Cypher.  This is bad gas.  It's one of Michael Clarke Duncan's man. 

Chuck and Sarah eat Chinese food.  They make cute conversation.  Chuck tells us why Sarah is incredible.  Honestly, it doesn't need much explanation.  Sarah is appreciative. 

Casey looks like The Joker back at his apartment.  He crawls on the floor, bleeding and choking.  He manages to set off the sprinkler and inject himself with a shot of what must be adrenaline.  Sarah tells Chuck that she'll be moved as far away from LA as possible, probably.  Chuck and Sarah are about to kiss across the table when Chuck flashes on almost everyone in the restaurant.  They are surrounded.  Mr. Colt (Michael Clarke Duncan) shows up at the Chinese place.  He tells them to come with him.  Chuck stalls.  Colt has Sarah by the neck, when Chuck's watch start beeping.  Casey drives straight into the restaurant.  He's punched by Colt, leaving a face wound with Colt's ring on it.  The three of them manage to get away, however.

Chuck awakes the very next morning to some more Huey Lewis (“The Power of Love”).  This time, he's not so excited to wake up.  At Buy More, Morgan tells Chuck he has to interview Assistant Managers.  Chuck doesn't feel like doing the interviews, so he asks Morgan to take the position.  He refuses, says he has a system of not working very hard.  Chuck goes through with the interviews.  They are all mildly amusing. 

Casey barges in to back room to care for his face wound.  Chuck flashes on Casey's scar – it's the emblem for Colt's organization.  Chuck knows where their hideout is.  Casey tries to stall – he clearly doesn't want to find the Cypher and have to kill Chuck.  Chuck insists that Casey assemble a squad to go to the hide out.  Casey relents and leave work, Chuck follows him to the yogurt store.  Chuck and Sarah gear up, tell Chuck not to go with them. 

Morgan, taking over the interviewing process, has concocted a Thunderdome competition in the back of the store.  Chuck goes back to the store.  Big Mike tells Chuck to that Nerd Herd has been called for on location, specifically asking for Chuck. 

The SWAT team arrives at the given location.  They don't find anyone.  Chuck arrives at his destination, only to find Mr. Colt answer the door. Colt is held at gun point by about a dozen of Colt's men.  Colt makes it clear that, now that he knows Colt's face, he's going to have to kill Chuck.  Chuck goes to pull off a ruse.  He says that he's Charles Carmichael, and that they've walked into a trap.  He recites the Call of Duty strategy plan as a means to intimidate.  He tells them they're surrounded.  That they should hand over the Cypher.  Colt isn't buying it.  So, Chuck calls Morgan, tells him to recite the Call of Duty specs.  They buy it, allowing Chuck to escape with the Cypher. 

A chase ensues in the abandoned warehouse.  Colt finds Chuck, pushes him out of a window.  Casey and Sarah are on the way.  Colt, again, holds Chuck over a ledge.  Sarah arrives, gun pointed at Colt.  Colt drops Chuck – luckily, Casey catches him while on the fire escape.  Sarah and Colt fight using brutal hand-to-hand combat.  Sarah eventually takes him down.  Casey points his gun at the,, but is surrounded by Colt's men.  Then, Chuck arrives with a SWAT team, trumping Colt and his men.  Chuck still has the Cypher. 

That night, Casey is told by Beckman that the new intersect is minutes away from going on line.  His orders to kill Chuck are still intact.  Casey says that Chuck has potential as an analyst.  Graham reinforces that Chuck cannot be protected and has to be eliminated.  Chuck is cooking Sarah a meal at home.  Awesome and Ellie leave to get Mongolian beef, leaving Chuck alone in the house. 

As Casey sneaks into Chuck's house, Graham looks on as the new intersect is about to go online.  Moments before Casey pulls the trigger, the new intersect goes on line – the Cypher was a trick.  It explodes, killing Graham and a number of anonymous agents. It was planted by Fulcrum.  Sarah arrives and tells Chuck about the new intersect – Chuck remains the only intersect.  Casey hears this, leaves. 

Chuck is back at Buy More. 


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of NBC)