"#Chuck vs. First Class" vs. My Take

Another Monday another Chuck! More guest stars, some international travel, poison, a sword fight, and the Nerd Herd desk all in a days work for Chuck Bartowski. How'd I feel about his episode? Stick around. I'll say this though if I come off sounding a bit harsh about this episode it's only out of love and respect.  Obligatory spoiler warnings apply.

Spy-World

Chuck's ready for his first solo mission, though that seems to depend to some extent on who you ask.  Chuck it seems is still chomping at the bit to prove to everyone that he's a real spy, and in a reference that pokes fun at seasons 1 and 2, to get out of "the car" and go on a real mission.  Sarah and Casey are shall we say a tad skeptical.  The whole thing plays out, not by coincidence I'm sure, like a couple of overprotective parents watching their child venture out into the world.  Just incase we didn't get it the first 4 episodes we're treated to some brow beating lines courtesy of Shaw where he uses such flattering adjectives as coddling to refer to Casey and Sarah's treatment of Chuck thus far.

It's clear Shaw is here to redefine the dynamic of Team Bartowski to make not only Chuck see that he's ready to be an equal member of the team but also to make Sarah and Casey, which is perhaps the more difficult of the two.  It's worth noting that Chuck seemed to have no problems flashing without Sarah by his side on this mission.  I get it, but I feel as though for about the 5th episode straight that I'm being beaten over the head a bit like I don't get it…really I do!

So Chuck ends up completely out of his element in first class and only then learns that his mission is to take down YARO (yet another ring operative) played by this week's guest star Stone Cold Steve Austin.  A malfunctioning tranq pen, a sword fight in the cargo hold (which is our FOTW), and the generic encryption key is in Chuck's hands and our YARO is detained in the cargo hold. Whoops or not! Now it's Chuck's turn to get poisoned and call in the calvary when YAYARO shows up.

We learn an interesting tidbit about Shaw and the female YARO in that they seem to have some kind of past. Interesting, I think it'd be interesting if perhaps Shaw were a defected Ring operative. It would explain why he knows so much about the Ring and perhaps why Casey and Sarah had no knowledge of him.  The Calvary this mission comes in the form of a satellite link-up from Castle (or Crystal Palace apparently the codename) to the 747 a commercial jet liner. We learn that Sarah is apparently a pilot (or has at least played Microsoft Flight Sim) and she takes control of the plane to throw the Ring baddies off their guard. After a whole cargo hold worth of luggage falls on the Ring baddies they are apparently actually out this time.  I also have to say I really did feel bad for Chuck when he realized at the end of the flight that they had dangled Paris in front of him and then snatched it right back.

In the final scenes of the episode we learn that Shaw's wife was a spy? Gee I wonder how that's informed his views on…oh yeah right queue Season 3's "Spy's don't fall in love" mantra. I suppose we should have seen that one coming from about 3 episodes ago.

I have to say it seems like the plot holes abound in this week's spy-world. Why have the mission on a plane? Really? Also the whole link-up of the planes controls were a bit over the top even for the over the top world of Chuck. Right up there with "Executive Decision" docking a stealth F-117 to a 747. I would like to start to feel like their is more of a strategy or plan from Shaw in how we're going to go after the Ring, it seems a bit like a pinball game right now where we simply bounce between the YARO flavor of the week. I'd like a real mythology to develop at some point but also recognize this isn't Battlestar Galactica.

It seems that the once again the spy plot was really the mechanism used to underscore a central theme in this case "Chuck is a real spy" and "Spies don't fall in love."

Charah

There wasn't much in the way of legit Charah this episode but there was some interesting probing of Sarah by Shaw with regards to the situation.  We learn that, most likely after the train station, Sarah goes completely off the grid for three days and seems initially hesitant to provide an explanation to Shaw. Shaw suspects that she was either contacted by the Ring or it had something to do with a Chuck/Sarah relationship. In the end Sarah's explanation about spreading Bryce's ashes seems to satisfy Shaw for the moment.

Many have speculated that Sarah and Shaw will end up together. I've yet to see any evidence of sparks flying up to this point. Clearly Shaw pushed Sarah way out of her comfort zone this episode with regards to what Chuck is capable of and what she is willing to put him through. It seems clear that telling Chuck he is a real spy and ready and he can do anything to boost his confidence (a la season 2) and him actually being all those things is something Sarah is having trouble reconciling. It's clear Shaw is serving as a wedge for Charah and I suspect things will be largely on hold while Shaw is in the picture in any capacity. Given what we learn of his history I can't imagine he would tolerate any kind of relationship between "real spies". I guess it was nice to have the back story behind why he's been so adamant.
 
Lou Part 2

While in first class Chuck meets Hannah an attractive IT professional for a big company, or former IT professional we learn. Frankly the whole thing strikes me as Lou Part 2. Hannah actually even looks a bit like Lou from Season 1.  It is interesting to me how when developing alternate love interests for Chuck, all signs seem to be pointing that way, the writers always seem to give Chuck his perfect girl. Attractive but also nerdy in their own way in the case of Lou it was sandwiches and now we get an IT chick. I suppose common interest is really the one leg up anyone else could have over Sarah because really you're just not competing on looks, ever.

Shockingly (or not) in the end Hannah ends up at the Buy More and if we take Chuck's offer as a fore-shadowing is due to become the Anna replacement? Hanna, Anna? Interesting.  It makes me think though that apparently I need to find myself a Nerd Herd counter just based on who's walked up to Chuck's over the years.

As evidenced by my title of the section so far the whole thing seems very Lou Part 2 but I suppose we'll have to see how it plays out. I should reserve judgement but I flat out stopped watching Dawson's in the post-Pacey & Joey era so there's little chance of that legitimately happening. To be continued.

Buymoria

I think the Buymoria moments might have been my favorites of this episode. Morgan is still struggling to achieve the respect of his employees and particularly the Jeffster duo. He asks Casey how he gets their respect and Casey replies with an epic Casey line of "I take it."  Morgan eventually recruits Casey, in a great scene where he "pulls rank" on him as his Lt. Assistant Manager after Casey realizes that the insurgents (he hates insurgents) must be dealt with swiftly.  

We get some hilarious moments and some really cool Morgan/Casey bonding. I think Casey realizes that they both have mutual enemies after all Casey has no love lost for the nameless Buymorians. Some classic moments include Casey extinguishing his cigar into his hand. Perhaps the most hilarious moment is when Casey gets psyops on Lester and we see Lester in his Onesy pajamas. I hope that we see more of this dynamic where Morgan and Casey realize their interests align and help each other out in the potential absence of Chuck.

Things that are AWESOME

- "I hate insurgents", John Casey referring to the insubordinate Buymorians.
- "Don't freak out.", Chuck in the coffin trying to calm himself I just like that they've brought back the line from Season 1.
- "The Volleyball incident." Apparently reference to an incident involving Casey a previous store party that strikes fear into the Buymorians.
- Lester's Onesy pajamas…somehow it's just a perfect fit.