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Written by Zev Borow
Directed by Robert Duncan McNeil
Boom. Boom. Pow! Jack Bauer eat your heart out!
Chuck Bartowski is not a man to be trifled with especially when it comes to his family. Chuck Vs Operation Awesome is a treat full of spy drama, comedy, tension, great character introductions, and some heart felt expressed sentiments from an unexpected corner.
Carrying on from the cliff hanger ending of 3.03 finds Team Bartowski frantically searching for any leads on the whereabouts of Devon while Chuck tries to keep from freaking out. In an ill advised move, Chuck returns to the BuyMore to await news but his choatic emotional state sets him flashing off uncontrollably. In short order he berates an elderly Thai women in her native tongue sending her scurrying terrified from the store and then takes Lester out with a single karate kick.
Devon comes stumbling into the BuyMore where he tells Chuck that his kidnappers think Devon is Chuck. Ring agent Sydney Prince, played with delicious evilness by Angie Harmon, has left Devon a Ring cellphone and told him to await further instructions. Bringing Devon home to Ellie leads to a hilarious illustration of Devon’s one major shortcoming. He cannot lie. A simple story quickly spins out of control and ends with a decaptitated bear. Devon, Ellie, and Chuck miming story points, are all hilarious here. It takes Chuck to rescue everything by creating an alternate tale that satisfies Ellie but ends up with Casey as an innocent bystander of her wrath.
Reluctantly Chuck agrees to use Devon to find Sydney and this allows for the opportunity for some great bits of Chuck channeling Sarah as the handler and Devon channeling Chuck as the asset as he was in Season 1. Sydney leaves Devon a package that includes an explosive ear piece and the spy action kicks off into high gear. It leads to my favorite laugh out moment in the episode.
‘Chuck you killed Julius!’
It shows just how spooked Devon is by the once exciting spy life. From here we get some great action scenes that show off just how adept Chuck is becoming a spy while Devon clings to him freaking out with each increasingly more violent order from Syndey. They finally make it to their objective only to find a CIA station. Just as Casey and Sarah are informed by Chuck of this, their van is shut down and locked up tight. A nice remote operation that all spies must just love. Beckman comes online and confirms Sarah’s suspicion that yes indeed this is a setup.
What follows next is the best character introduction done on the show to date; Daniel Shaw.
‘I know things. Lots of things.’
He does indeed. Including Chuck’s name and that Chuck is the Intersect. Shaw urges Chuck to kill him in order to save Devon’s life but Chuck cannot. In a sleight of hand move, Shaw shoots himself; faking his own death. After Sydney arrives and confirms Shaw’s death, she removes the earpiece from Devon, welcomes him to the Ring, and tells him to await futher instructions.
Everyone reconvenes back at the Castle where Beckman informs Team Bartowski they have a new leader in Shaw, who is a foremost expert on the Ring. Shaw tells Chuck that unless he can come up with a better plan they need to use Devon still to trap Sydney for good this time. Chuck wants Devon out of the spy world so he takes Devon’s Ring phone, modifies it, and calls Sydney telling she has the wrong guy and he is the spy she is really after.
Chuck tells Sydney to come to the BuyMore and calls Sarah asking for backup. Shaw intercedes and tells Chuck if he starts something then he has to finish it. Shaw detains a stunned Casey and Sarah telling them he is curious to see what Chuck’s plan is. When it is evident that Chuck has no plan, the team sweeps in leading to a showdown between Sydney and Chuck. Once again Chuck is faced with a pull the trigger moment. Once again he cannot do it.
There is no doubt that Chuck’s stance on killing is going to be an ongoing issue throughout the season. The resolution of this will be a major turning point for the character and the show.
Episode Flashes:
- Sydney Prince’s tense introduction as she puts Devon in a precarious position
- Chuck channeling Sarah in order to be Devon’s handler
- Devon channeling Chuck from Season 1
- Morgan being promoted to Assistant Manager and keep his business cards in a Twilight Zone card case
- Devon and the bear decapitation showing how poor a liar he is and how good Chuck has become at it
- original music scored by Tim Jones really amps up the spy drama and tension
- Daniel Shaw – best character introduction on Chuck yet
- Chuck taking out 6 guards using his Intersect skills but attributing them to Nintendo’s Duck Hunt
- Shaw hanging up on Chuck – wants to see his plan
- BuyMore scenes had riffs on Fight Club, The Warriors, & An Officer And A Gentleman to name a few
‘Really? This guy? I got back issues of Guns and Ammo older than he is!’
Sarah and Casey are mostly in the background in this episode but do have a few moments of goodness.
Casey’s disdain of Shaw and his youth are obvious and expected. Shaw’s suprise at Casey’s quickness on the draw is punctuated by Casey’s proclamation of gun love. This flies in the face of Shaw’s stated distaste for guns even though he will use them as needed.
‘Sometimes it helps to know that you’ve got something to lose.’
For Sarah her concern for Devon and Chuck can be seen throughout the episode and her worry about Chuck performing sets up a great comeback line for Shaw. By the episode end Shaw delivers a familar speech, one that Sarah has given Chuck many times, about family and friends making a spy vulnerable. But when Shaw asks Sarah for confirmation she does not. Sarah sides with Chuck. A big admission on her part and a far cry from the Sarah of past seasons. What is even better is the quiet acknowledgement of thanks that passes between Chuck and Sarah afterwards. It is for moments like these that new characters like Shaw are brought into the show.
The episode closes with a shot of Shaw watching the Bartowski clan together as he pulls out a wedding band and places it on his finger. A ring within a Ring? This glimpse into the personal background of Shaw is sure to play an important part in coming episodes.
My favourite episode this season in a season of a very good episodes.
Shaw seems like a pretty interesting character. He kind of reminds me of Chuck in a way. I don’t know why. Love his comment to Sarah about performance issues. LOL Best line of the ep.
Shaw’s wedding band obviously has deep personal meaning and at some point will be a symbol for his seemingly dogged pursuit of The Ring.
I too, am encouraged by the subtle expressions of communication between Chuck and Sarah, both the unspoken support and pain they currently share for each other.
One of the most important lessons I believe each has learned through three years of interaction, whether one is a seasoned spy like Sarah or a novice like Chuck fumbling his way through as an asset, is that any form or branch of the government cannot be completely trusted.
Obviously, Chuck trusts and relies on Sarah. But I also believe that, despite the confusion and end result in Prague, Sarah still trusts and believes in Chuck.
I think she recognizes Shaw as a capable spy, but her instincts may tell her he’s not necessarily trustworthy. I believe she senses Shaw could have been directly sent in to keep Chuck and Sarah apart or perhaps the whole dismantling of Team Bartowski.
My guess is that Sarah, in an attempt to protect Chuck like she alwasy has, will play up to Shaw’s natural attraction to her in an attempt to closely monitor the alleged Ring expert.
So, Charah fans, as advertised it may be choppy, bumpy and a little torturous, but ultimately I don’t think Sarah will really betray Chuck.
As has been correctly reported by folks on these threads, she hasn’t to date. Like I’ve aforementioned, I trust there’s a valid reason why Chuck plays tonsil hockey with Hannah. I’m reminded of a quote by Jack Burton to his daughter in vs the DeLorean. “That kid would never betray you.”
I think that is what has everyone so upset on these threads. That even though they are “on a break” if they are involved with anyone else it’s a betrayal to their true feelings. We’ll see how it all plays out. Certainly next weeks guest star Kristin Kreuck is used to the will they or won’t they from her days on Smallville.
Mike I just think she’s good at her job. She’s not just a combat fighter. She’s adept at playing the game. Deep down I know she’s not an easy “ride” in reference to that guy Timlay, (I think) who called her an “office bike.”
I think she’ll get close to Shaw as if he were a mark. As far as we know, Sarah has not slept with anyone since she’s known Chuck, while he cavorted with Jill. If memory serves me correctly, he only kissed Lou.
Ok, so, right now, Shaw seems like a great guy. And, from the sneak peeks I’ve seen for the next ep, he will be even greater!!
I hope you’re right, kg. That this Sarah/Shaw as second intentions. And after this episode and what little I know from the next one, maybe that isn’t such a remote possibility =D
That moment with the family talk between Chuck and Sarah was really sweet. And we never had moments like these whenever another PLI was involver (Bryce, Cole, Jill, Lou…)
So… We’ll see.
New Chuck clip during WWE Raw last night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUakgvu5mFE
I think its time for casey to break out the shirt from Season 1 Vs crown Vic
when he is wasing his car.
Haha I love that shirt! I agree
i thin it was a great episode and that Shaw is an interesting character and that even better episodes are waiting for us
I’m excited to see in what circumstance Chuck would be able to pull the trigger of a real ‘gun-gun’, even without the utter intention to kill.
The character of Shaw could be what Chuck will be in the future if Chuck chooses espionage as a long-term career and becomes a wee bit hardened by the spy life.
And if his friends’ and family’s lives are directly on the line, we saw that Chuck can completely control the Intersect. Aces, Charles. Aces.
I think Shaw is sort of a douche bag. He comes in out of no where and acts like he’s running the show. If he makes a play for Sarah, I hope Chuck kung fu’s him back to metropolis.
Well General Beckman did make it clear to the team that Shaw IS, in fact, running the show. I’m going to reserve my judgement on him for now.
I have never laughed so hard, this episode I think was on of the best! Well done Zev Borow!
The Chuck and Sarah moments were fantastic and for a fan who wants to see them together.
I always like it when the who gang sits down at the table together, it shows that they are one big family who care about each other and that is why the team is CIA’s best like Sarah said, “sometimes it helps knowing you have something to lose”
In the preview for season 3, we see Shaw tell Chuck “You had your chance.” (Regarding Sarah). And Chuck punches Shaw in the face without flashing. I cannot WAIT for this moment 😀
Charah fans will be more than a little upset when they see Shaw attempting to make a move on Sarah and then essentially tell Chuck to kiss off because he blew his chance with Sarah. At least that is what the extended promo for episodes 3-8 that aired after the premiere of season 3 leads us to believe.
The reassuring news is that the new Chuck doesn’t take it like the old Chuck might have. Instead he punches Shaw out as Sarah is watching. Of course how Sarah reacts to all this is anyone’s guess but I’m betting that she will be more impressed with Chuck’s actions as she once told Cole Barker that she prefers men that act instead of those that just talk.
She also prefers “men who can take a back seat.” (vs. the Seduction).
Great review. Loved the episode.