Just when I thought "Chuck" was getting a tad bit predictable, they went and created an episode like this. "Chuck vs. Nacho Sampler" was an episode that fired on all cylinders, as it managed to bring every facet of our beloved spy's life together.
To start things off, Captain Awesome and Ellie made a return visit this episode as Ellie made a bold discovery: Chuck was recently on a flight to Paris...and he never told her about it; instead, she found the tag on his luggage. While I may agree that a spy leaving a paper trail is a bit convenient, we do have to realize that this is Chuck Bartowski we're dealing with. The fact that he forgot part of the mission isn't surprising, especially since so much of it ended up being a success.
With that revelation came the storyline involving Hannah, Chuck's potential new "love interest" from the airplane last episode. I was expecting this to turn into something similar to when Rachel Bilson was on the show, but I'm glad to be wrong. Instead, we got to see Hannah working as a member for the Nerd Herd, which of course meant that half of the men in the Buy More suddenly turned into sheep. The problem? She spilled the beans about Chuck's trip to Morgan when he was trying to "work his magic."
Now, we find ourselves in the fun situation where everyone around Chuck is really starting to question what this guy is up to all of the time. It's a great move by the show, especially since it was inevitable that question marks would start coming up somewhere. We're looking at a story that will probably develop over the course of several episodes, and could eventually have every one of Chuck's close friends hanging on for dear life.
This episode also had a fantastic self-contained plotline involving Manoosh (Fahim Anwar), a cocky geek who managed to create his own version of the intersect inside a pair of sunglasses. Not only was it entertaining to see this guy try and act tough, but it was also interesting to see Chuck actually handle an asset for the first time.
Throughout the mission, we had a ton of funny moments ranging from the constant use of tranquilizer darts to John Casey being a kid in a candy store at a weapons convention in Dubai. At the end, though, we were left with a sobering moment where Chuck was yet again forced to be the bad guy. He saved Manoosh from The Ring (who was looking to take the "new" intersect away), but he also was locked up in return.
So the "new" intersect was smashed, Manoosh is in isolation, and everything seems to be normal...for now. We still don't know what side Agent Shaw is on, and the future for Chuck's character is hanging in the air. More than any episode this season "Chuck vs. Nacho Sampler" was funny, action-packed, and suspenseful -- let's hope for more great installments down the road.
What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts with a comment below.
--
Want to read more of the latest TV news? Then click the "subscribe" button at the top of the page to receive continuous updates. You can also follow me on Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter.
Recent "Chuck" stories:
"Chuck" recap: spies on a plane!
"Chuck" recap: super-spies meet Superman
Today's top TV stories:
"The Bachelor:" is Chris Harrison foreshadowing Ali's demise?
Can any show replace "Lost" after this season?
Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller apart, but reportedly healing
"Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" castaway spotlight: Cortney Yates
"Jon and Kate Plus 8:" Jon Gosselin's former entourage heads off to Haiti
"Jersey Shore:" Snooki nude photos reportedly for sale
Comments