#Chuck vs. the Mask - vs. My Take

Another Monday another new episode of Chuck and sadly the last one before the Olympics deprive us of the conclusion for the next 3 or 4 weeks.  It's also another pretty packed episode one thing is for sure about the episodes in season 3 they are clearly trying to cover as much ground in the 19 episodes as possible.  Alright here we go with Chuck v. the Mask.

Spy World

So this week starts with Shaw trapped in a museum vault in a scene that seems to harken back to Mission Impossible and as the security for the vault kicks in Shaw is force to call in the intersect (Chuck) for backup. As someone who is not really on the Shaw bandwagon that is pretty satisfying in its own way. Poor super-spy Shaw has to call in Chuck for backup.

Once again we see how non-spy members of Chuck's life seem to be drawn to the blackhole of the spy-world this season as Hannah, eager to go on an actual Nerd Herd call, shows up unannounced at the Museum just as Chuck is trying get his spy on. However it all works out as Chuck's main purpose is to hack the vault's computer and free Shaw which to Hannah just looks like a server reboot.

We end up back at the Museum once again with Hannah as she and Chuck are invited to monitor the computer systems during the opening of the exhibit. Shaw, Sarah and Casey are still trying to steal the mask as Shaw is convinced that the Ring is hiding something in it.  While watching the security feeds Chuck flashes on YARA (Yet Another Ring Agent) and Shaw informs Chuck and Sarah that his cover is at risk since he has a history with this particular Ring baddie.  Chuck takes off to steal the mask while Hannah and Shaw have a bit of a computer battle.  In the end the get they mask and make it out.

Unfortunately Mr. Ring Baddie interprets Chuck as the thief and Hannah as his girlfriend and lures her to the museum to use her as leverage against Chuck. Meanwhile at Castle Sarah and Shaw manage to set off the chemical weapon hidden in the real mask, enter our FOTW (Flash of the Week) as Chuck flashes on the computer display of the poison detector and sees the chemical formula and antidote.

Chuck heads to the museum to try and get the antidote from Mr. Ring Baddie and comes up with a MacGyver-esque plan to trick the Ring dude into thinking he is being poisoned and revealing the location of the antidote, nice work Chuck. In the end it all works out Shaw carries Sarah in all hero style and gives her the antidote and Chuck manages to free a shall we say grateful Hannah from the vault.

Initially this felt like just another formulaic Ring plot with some more throw away Ring baddies. That is until the final scene of the episode where we finally get a glimpse at the more shadowy elements of the Ring let's say council. Ironically and comically they dispense with Ring baddie and declare that they are heading after Shaw next.
I have to admit I am still wondering if Shaw is completely a good guy or perhaps he defected from the Ring.  He seems WAY to quick to declare himself the safest guy in there is to Sarah. Some how I think he's the opposite. It is interesting there's lots of talk about relationships being dangerous but what about the arrogance Shaw seems to exude. Confidence yes that is one thing you'd want that in a good spy but arrogance and perceived invincibility which Shaw seems to have in spades (heck one of his first plans was to cheat death!) seem like they could get someone kill eventually. I still think it would add a cool twist if Shaw were a bad guy or had been and it could be used to explain a lot. So in the end I was very glad to see this final scene it gives me hope that there could be a larger plot and mythology at work with the Ring.

Charah

Well there's a lot going on here but this week I would say it is all about the pairings and a will they or won't they.  In the first half of the episode Sarah and Chuck are still clearly kinda trying to figure out what the heck is up at this point.  Shaw is very obviously making the moves on Sarah with the coffee, the cover at the party, etc.  It seemed like he was coming on a bit strong but I suppose that is mostly due to how strongly Sarah was rebuking him.

On the Chuck/Hannah front in Act I it feels much like Lou Part II again when Chuck messes up and form Hannah's point of view runs off with his ex after she basically throws himself at her. Not usually the best strategy.

In the end though we arrive at the point where we all probably realistically knew we would with the pairings of Shaw/Sarah and Chuck/Hannah being firmly established. Of course I am not a fan of either pairing.  The final scene at Castle is interesting we seem to get some realization from all corners of Team Bartowski that Team Bartowski isn't really sustainable. What that means I don't really have a clue.  I wonder if we won't see a scattering of the team much the way we did at the end of season 2.  Sarah and Chuck seem to come to terms with the pairings I guess, and Sarah makes the comment that she is in his way on multiple fronts, eluding to Hannah of course.  I suppose that is what you are suppose to do when you break up, see other people.

All of that being said accepting that Charah is out of the picture for the foreseeable future and as much as I'll always be a Charah shipper and still absolutely want them together at the moment there is nothing that can really be done about it other than accept that Charah is going to go separate ways for now and probably for a while. I may not like it but what can I do, not much for now. Except…So for the moment I'll concede that point to the writers and that being the case the relationship I am rooting for with the new dynamic is: Morgan and Hannah.

Buy More

So we pick up the Morgan/Ellie storyline from last week where they are still trying to figure out what it is that Chuck is up to.  They decide that Chuck has once again hit rock bottom after breaking up with Sarah and has sought refuge in his video game addiction.  They decide that they need to have an intervention but be for they can Morgan chickens out on Ellie and heads to work with Chuck.  It isn't until the final minutes that Morgan and Ellie plot their intervention.

The two show up at the Buy More in time to catch Chuck sneaking in the back entrance of the Buy More and heading for the Home Theater Room.  What they find is Chuck and Hannah lip locked on the couch. Ellie is of course elated and she is probably, for now, convinced that she knows Chucks "secret."

Morgan on the other hand is totally crushed, with good reason, and I actually feel really bad for him.  I think that part of this season is an exploration of what exactly is Chuck and Morgan's friendship these days.  Here Morgan is liking Hannah and Chuck going after her is just one more smack in the face to him, one more thing Chuck has that he doesn't.  I actually feel for him and as I mentioned I will be rooting for Morgan while Charah is on hiatus.

I've also been enjoying the Morgan/Ellie scenes and stories and while things have settled for the moment I hope that we get to see more interaction between them there is something that I have always liked about their dynamic and relationship such as it is.

Things that are AWESOME

- Casey switching the mic off so that Chuck and Sarah can talk without Shaw hearing. Wondering if the tweeps aren't right in thinking that Casey is really a Charah shipper.

- Sarah's kick but fight scene on the ascension line and above the vault.

- Casey "When am I gonna get to blow something up!?"

- Casey's grunt at the end when Shaw and Sarah say they're going to stay at Castle. That one short grunt says "Oh brother here we go all over again!"