After a few shaky episodes here and there, this season of "Chuck" is really starting to get going now. "Chuck vs. the Tooth" was one of the funniest, most heart-wrenching episodes of the season, since it showed some significant character development all across the board while setting the stage for what is sure to be a powerful next two weeks.
We begin with the main plot for the week -- Chuck is having bad dreams, and no one seems to be taking him seriously that these nightmares are a sign of trouble for just about anyone and everyone. He starts to see Agent Shaw in them, but then he also quickly finds out that the really involve the President of some made-up African country being assassinated while at a Beethoven concert. Being quick to act on anything that is a flash / vision of any sort, our beloved spy decides to find any way possible to warn the President that trouble is coming his way.
However, there is a major problem in that no one seems to believe him at all. General Beckman assigns him to a CIA psychiatrist (the amazing Christopher Lloyd), who quickly tells Chuck that these "dreams" are a side effect of the intersect playing with his mind, and that he is temporarily removed from field duty while they try to figure out how to help him.
If you really thought that Chuck was going to lie down and quit, then you haven't watched this show very much. Since Sarah and Casey didn't believe him (that and Chuck didn't actually bother to tell either one of them that he was suspended), he recruited Morgan to help him attend the concert.
While listening to the sounds of classical music, Chuck did what a good many people tend to do while attending a Beethoven concert -- fall asleep, only to have some nightmares. While in his haze, Chuck learned that the doctor traveling with the President was the one who was actually going to do the assassination.
At this point, Sarah and Casey finally discovered where he was, and decided to at least believe him enough to let him confront the doctor. In doing so, Chuck flashed and quickly learned that there was Ring intel hidden inside the doctor's tooth. He then did what any reasonable agent would do -- punch him to knock out the tooth -- and was quickly wheeled away to an insane asylum for it.
The scenes with Chuck in the nuthouse were actually so funny that I wish there was more of them (versus the asylum scenes in "Lost" that just make me feel sad). All of the patients were former spies, and all of them acted acted on some sort of crazy compulsion. Chuck was still convinced beyond a reason of a doubt that he was innocent, so he did the best he could to convince everyone -- as a matter of fact, when Sarah and Casey arrived he pulled the tooth of them doctor out of his mouth (ew) and handed to them for tests. Unfortunately, the tooth didn't actually amount to much, since Chuck made the critical error of punching out the wrong one.
In the climax of the plot, the doctor went to kill Chuck for "knowing too much," and quickly injected Chuck with some loopy sort of poison / truth serum. After the locked-up spies failed to do any damage, Sarah and Casey arrived on the scene! In the end, the bad guys were locked up, and Chuck was vindicated! The real touching moment out of all of this was that Sarah finally told him she loved him, which was nice -- I didn't want to see "Chuck" go down the road of other shows when they dwell on this for practically forever.
Really, the only problem in this whole plot was at the end, when Chuck decided not to tell Sarah about his latest dream -- Shaw was alive. She just risked her life for him, and stuck her neck out as proof she trusted him. Why couldn't he open up after that?
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The other plot that we will be seeing more of soon involved Ellie, who was sent home from Africa due to Captain Awesome's sickness, and "Justin" the security expert (who is really working with the Ring). Using a CIA badge, he was able to convince Chuck's sister that John Casey was a very bad man, and they should watch out for him.
What made this work so well was the way the writers set up the Ellie - Awesome relationship. He doesn't want her to know the truth about the spy ring (to spare her worry), so he completely blew off the notion of Casey as a "dangerous guy." However, in doing this Ellie was drawn closer to Justin and was told to contact her father. Scott Bakula will be coming back soon! (Commence rejoicing.)
We still don't know what the plans are for the Bartowskis moving forward, but we're sure to find out.
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The final story this week may not be as important moving forward, but it was still fun. Anna Wu returned to the Buy More for a visit, and repeatedly tried to confront Morgan in order to give back his stuff. Grimes (who was too busy being an assistant manager and a spy) didn't have the time to deal with her, which only made Anna want him more.
In the end, Morgan learned something fast through this encounter -- he wants someone who will love him without needing to run away first to see that. If nothing else, Anna can always run away with Jeff!
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What did you think of this episode of NBC's "Chuck?" Let me know your thoughts with a comment and stay tuned for more TV news.
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Comments
I think the reason Chuck didn't tell Sarah about his latest dream and the Doc's lingering concerns wasn't because he didn't trust her, but because she JUST said "I love you" and revealed for the first time she saw a future for herself outside the spy game. That's not something you follow up with "I love you, too. Oh, and by the way baby, my brain is still melting."
Thought it was a great episode. WOW. I think you are right, bad timing to tell her that something might be wrong. And it's not for certain anyway.
They need to bring back SHAW!!! please !!
Ok, I wasn't happy that Chuck didn't tell Sarah either - however, that is the hook to keep you wondering and coming back - it is the draw for future plot twists. What happens now is what we are all talking about all over the internet. We can kick it all around the block, but it keeps us coming back and pining for MORE!! I loved this episode - it shows that Chuck is capable of even more story lines for another season and another. . .
I hopt Shaw is alive. Love him.
Good epi!
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