Strahovski and Deloreans
Woohoo!! Anna’s back! Not to mention, I’m pretty sure this is absolutely my favorite episode of the entire series. I feel like I say that every week, but this time I mean it.
“That schnook from last night, Chippy?”
They could not have picked a better actor to play Jack Burton. I love that guy.
I loved him in Office Space, and he was the saving grace of the ill-fated Brady Bunch movies. The guy is a class act in comedy.
His whole character was absolutely brilliant. I loved all of his corny sayings, and I love that he conned the CIA.
They have really gotten themselves a wonderful recurring character in the vain of Adam Baldwin’s old nemesis, Sapphiron.
“Big step, little man.”
What an amazing B plot this week! It was a perfect mix of Morgan and Awesome.
Devon is even awesome when he’s mad, and I loved the way he handled the situation. It didn’t quite make the quote list, but threatening to pluck Morgan was pretty classic.
The Delorean stuff was pretty funny. I love how the show works in pop geek culture as often as it can. I hope they don’t run out of this stuff because as a geek, it really draws me in.
It’s a fine line to walk between geek culture and mainstream geek culture. Here’s hoping they stick to the less mainstream stuff.
“He won’t be using the region for a while.”
After weeks of missing Anna, I was glad to see her back. She was a bit underused in my opinion, though. She doesn’t bring the funny like Morgan, but she can play a worthy foil.
That being said, when Anna and Devon ganged up on Morgan I was laughing. I like seeing Devon integrating into the Buy More cast. It’s also interesting to get a taste of just how much wealthier Devon and Ellie are than Chuck & Company.
I was betting on the car the end being a Firebird Trans Am (KITT from Knight Rider), but I was pleasantly surprised to see the General Lee. Did he buy it or not?
“He pulled a Lichtenstein.”
Now let’s get to talking about the real reason we all watch the show — Yvonne Strahovski.
She was phenomenal as always, and it was a really good to get yet more back story on Sarah Walker.
It adds a lot of depth to find out that she grew up participating in her dad’s cons.
I really hope they can work that in to more episodes in the future.
They generally use Yvonne to play the straight man to Chuck.
Having her be savvy and tricksy could be a refreshing change of pace.
Yvonne’s talent at facial expressions were certainly put to good effect as she showed both pride and shame in her father’s actions. It’s exactly the sort of mixed emotions we’ve come to expect from our girl.
“I can be Copface and you can be Schnook.”
With all that was going on in this episode, I was also impressed to see a healthy use of Casey. Though he played primarily a support role, his treasury department arrest at the end was awesome. Who knew Casey could throw out some different accents.
The benefit that a character like Casey brings is that whenever he goes soft it has a big impact on the viewer. Trying to help Sarah’s father at the end was heart touching for the big lug.
“That’s pretty eloquent for 9am.”
To think all of this stuff ultimately led to an affirmation of the love that Chuck has for Sarah. We’re back on track after the Jill incident and it feels great. As much as I want Yvonne to return Chuck’s love, having it be more of a hopeless crush suits the show.
I’m not sure they can keep that going indefinitely, but I enjoy when things are in that state.
Having Chuck crushing on Sarah while she slowly grows to love him is a perfect pace that is a mirror of many a geek relationship. And ultimately, Chuck is here to entertain the inner geek in all of us.
“I guess I have no choice but to take those off you.”
That line was downright scandalous taken out of context, so I had to include it in here somewhere.
But what I really want to talk about is the writing for the episode, as well as the direction. Both were fresh and snappy compared to previous episodes and it was a welcome enhancement to the show.
Here’s hoping they keep whatever writing and directing changes they used for this episode for the future. The soundtrack was pretty spectacular as well.
Did I mention this was a spectacular episode? Screen caps should be up tomorrow. Until then, I’m sure we have lots to talk about in the forums or on this post.
December 8th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I, too, loved this episode…I’ve been missing Anna and I like Captain Awesome getting more attention. Yvonne was spectacular as usual….Great website by the way.
DEMORGAN….HAHAHA
December 8th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
i’m totally loving this format for episode recaps…thanks
December 8th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! lol…man this has been one of the best episodes in a while…plus most of the show Yvonne was on the screen!..what more can we ask for! I hope that Chuck and Sarah’s romance can continue to grow..i love those two together! Anyway..now with this style of review i find myself throughout the episode thinking of the quotes that could go up on this site lol. did i mention that i love this show..and i love Yvonne! Whoo i always get really pumped after Chuck
December 8th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
This episode is so much better than the last one!! I love it.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
WOW you update fast. Where I am, the episode only ended less than an hour and a half ago. Anyway, the quote style is very nice, I like it. What I really find has improved lately is that Chuck is finally doing things and being assertive instead of nearly getting killed all the time. He saved Sarah and her father when he pretended to be Lichtenstein. Back in “Chuck versus the Gravitron”, he arrested Jill
on his own. He’s DOING stuff.
Oh, and lastly… Deloreans. Every geek’s dream car. I was thinking either a Lambourgini (I probably didn’t spell that right) or a Delorean. Or a Gullwing. Just something awesome like those.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Haha, that episode was AMAZING! “I made a 10million doller bet that he loved you. And I was right.” That or “You gave me 10million reasons to leave, but one really good one to stay.” I thought those were great lines for a sarah chuck moment!
December 9th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Come on, how can you talk about Awesome and Morgan, but not use the best line between them? Awesome calling him “Captain Morgan” was…awesome.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Yeah I think this is my new favorite episode too. I was still stuck on Chuck versus the Truth from last year.
To respond to Mike, you were close; it’s “Lamborghini”. And when you say Gullwing, I assume you mean the mid-1950s Mercedes 300SL Gullwing coupe. A Delorean actually *is* a gullwing-doored vehicle itself.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:49 am
It was a great show and was a great riff on the British con series Hustle. Loved that shoe, loved this episode.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Small request, O Great and Powerful Master of Screencaps: get at least a couple of good shots of Yvonne kickboxing. As much as I love her with a gun in hand, I just love her that much more throwing her awesome kung fu moves.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:41 am
UNBELIVEABLE!!!It was so amazing this week!!
I think after last week, this one definitely up’d the pace and made it a lot brighter and back to deep down, rock solid CHUCK!
It really made me love the geek in me
<3 Now I really can’t wait.
Wonder what they have in store next week!
And the end scene at Sarah’s place was so cute! I definitely agree with your crush thing, even if it can’t stay that way. But hey, who knows!
P.S. I love your reviews!
December 9th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Great recap! I’m liking this format even more. This is indeed one of the top episodes of the show for me. It was an entertaining hour albeit the slow start. Such a wonderful bonus to have a Sarah-centric episode too! Yvonne has been consistently bringing on her A-game. Thank goodness that we have Yvonne to play Sarah. Love the touchy moments in the episode, especially at the end.
December 9th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I’m curious as to what Sarah does in the next episode that has more impact than getting held at gunpoint or Casey getting shot, according to the episode 11 promo.
December 10th, 2008 at 12:21 am
THIS EPISODE WAS ONE OF THE BEST! A+ plot! good action! LOTS OF YVONNE! and Chuck is becoming more spy like and taking the initiative each episode!
December 10th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I agree with Scott…I was stuck on the Chuck vs. the truth episode from last year too. That episode had so much in it….it was great. It was hard to beat for me, and this last episode is a pretty good contender.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Ok, so I watched this episode twice on TV, thank God for Tivo, and six more times on my PC (thank you Hulu) so I think it’s safe to say this is my absolute favorite episode so evah! I mean what’s not to like? Yvonne based story line? CHECK, good relationship development? CHECK, Casey’s Cop Face? BIG CHECK, and of course – Chuck showing his hidden talent for being/doing the right thing at the right time? CHECK. Did I mention Yvonne?
Oh, and I loved the bit in the hotel lobby where Sarah and her father are dealing with the arabs, held at gunpoint and Chuck has himself paged – straight out of Remmington Steele’s pilot episode. Way to do the pop culture on that one.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:08 am
I confess, this is the most re-watchable episode of the season for me, without much use for the forward function on my video player. In fact, I sat through the whole episode every time.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I’m pretty sure they’re not going to run out of geek humor as there is a vast pool in which to draw. Love the fact that they referenced Wolfenstien and Hogan’s Heroes on how he learned his German. Copface was a brilliant name for Casey.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Yep. Having just watched 02×11 I will now have to rewatch this episode at least three more times to try and heal my broken Charah heart. I can’t believe they did that to me, it’s a freakin’ action/comedy people, you’re not supposed to make a grown man tear up and force him to blame it on the jalepenos he sprinkled on the nachos.