Strahovski and Nacho Samplers
So after having a slightly unpopular opinion about last week’s episode, I’m taking a break from Mass Effect 2 and my budding relationship with Miranda Lawson.
It’s hard to pull myself away, but the show must go on and it’s time to review Episode 3.06 – Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler.
“Yogurt Time!”
Today I’m gonna start off talking about Adam Baldwin. I just renewed my HeroOfCanton.com domain name and this episode reminded me why. This episode was filled with Casey cracks.
I loved the ‘yogurt time’ moments when Chuck kept getting pulled away from Hannah. It’s interesting that they’re using Kristin Kreuk in such small doses, but I like that she feels like a real new cast member of the Buy More.
By the way, does anyone else find it funny that Anna left the Nerd Herd and she’s been replaced by Hannah? It is now my challenge to the writers to have a revolving crew of Nerd Herd females that all rhyme with Anna.
“It’s like I’m married to Morgan!”
I have a weak spot for Ellie and Awesome. I don’t know what it is about them, but if they’re in the episode I’m automatically going to like it that much more.
It’s interesting to see Chuck’s trip to Paris make such an impact. I like it much better when little things like that make waves than when they set up huge arcs that you can see coming from a mile away.
It’s funny that Awesome is such a bad liar. It’s the one thing he’s not good at, and I like that Ellie can see right through him. I also like that Chuck can so easily lie to Ellie at this point. Having Awesome in constant awe of Chuck is a very satisfying plot device.
“Take it easy, Tranqenstein.”
I led with Adam Baldwin, but let’s talk about Weap-Con! That’s some hilarious stuff. It’s like CES for gun nuts. I like it a lot when they hint at character idiosyncrasies like the fact that Casey attends every year.
Casey had more worthy quotes in this episode than I can possibly fit into a review. The eunuch quote comes to mind.
I also like the awkward humor that naturally comes from Chuck having to get close to Casey in any situation. The retrieval of the laser pen hearkened back to the ill-fated kiss between the two last season.
“Ladies, gentlemen, warlords, sheiks, and huns…”
When I saw the previews for Nacho Sampler, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the nerd-clone geek, but the guy delivered. He was appropriately funny and was a neat mirror.
Seeing someone who’s basically what Chuck was 3 years ago helps to bring into focus just how much Chuck has actually changed. Even as fans, I think we forget just how hopeless Chuck was at the beginning.
I was really cursing Chuck when he let Manoosh walk away, but he finally came through and owned his duties as a spy. I’m not quite sure how he had such impressive aim without flashing, but I’ll let it slide.
Though Levi is no Yvonne Strahovski, he emoted quite well when having to send Manoosh away. Of every action has taken this season, that was perhaps his single biggest moment.
“One mish does not an agent make.”
I’m super excited about Morgan and Ellie teaming up to investigate what’s going on with Chuck. I don’t know how that’s going to end, but hilarity will surely ensue. I hope they can capitalize on it without Shaw bringing it back to serious-land.
Ellie has really grown on me over the years and it’s been a while since we’ve seen her with Morgan. It should be good times.
“Sarah? That wasn’t real either?”
This episode really had it all. It furthered existing arcs, set up new ones, and had some hints to the heart of the show. It was really some of the most superb writing we’ve seen in Season 3.
Though the Charah relationship is never far from the plot, this episode was subtle enough in its implementation that it didn’t bring anything down.
Chuck is becoming a spy slowly but surely, and perhaps Sarah Walker wasn’t prepared to feel apprehensive about that. He was Manoosh when she met him and now he’s turning into Bryce (or worse, Casey). Will everything she loves about Chuck melt away?
It’s amazing that Yvonne Strahovski is able to get that much emotion through a few glances and a couple of not-so-subtle hints. But I suppose we’re used to thinking she’s amazing, being her biggest fans and all.
I really enjoyed the flashbacks, especially the end where we got to see what happened right before her introduction in episode 1. She’ll always be Chuck’s Vicki Vale…
So did you love this one as much as I did? Screen caps should be up tomorrow, but let’s talk it out until then.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:50 pm
I actually thought this was one of the best episodes of the series. It solidified Chuck and him gradually becoming a real spy. I really liked a lot of the pivotal moments as well. It definitely added a lot of depth to the episode.
On a side note, hopefully you’ll have plenty screen caps of the scene where Sarah and Manoosh are in Castle in her “apartment”.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:41 pm
This was a great episode. Brought me back to the good old days. Really funny.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:43 pm
I fully adore the episode (for the first time in the season). Everything works so well – even the Buy More subplot with Hannah. Sarah even have her funny moments, like her expressions when Chuck was trying to grab the laser pen. Hilarious stuff all around.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:04 am
@bzzg
I especially liked the expression on Chuck and Sarah’s faces when Casey was getting all excited over the Wep-Con pamphlet.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:20 am
Sarah wasn’t as beautiful in this episode especially when she tried seducing Chuck’s clone (Menoush) at the bar. Kristin Kreuk is a sight to behold in those rare moments we see her, and she seemed really interested in Chuck (duh!). Will we see a rivalry between Sarah and Hannah in the next episode or two?
Is Kristin a ring agent, or is she just an Anna replacement who we’ll see from time to time? Nothing like another girl to make things more interesting
Will Ellie and Morgan finally learn of Chuck’s secret identity? I hope not.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 am
I have a hard time believing that Chuck could turn into Casey. Casey’s too much of a gun-ho guy (no pun intended). I think Chuck is eventually gonna become his own brand of spy.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:33 am
This episode, was without a doubt one of the best. I enjoyed everything about it. How it took you all the way back to season 1 episode 1. When Sarah and Chuck first met. I LOVED the end how she said “Piece of cake” when she found out who the asset was. As did Chuck when he found out who his asset was. It really shows Chuck coming through as a spy, something Sarah never wanted. This episode; made me hate it in so many ways but love it. I hated it for how Chuck’s changing, so rapidly. When he lied straight to Ellie’s face, I was like ugh I hate this part. But I really loved it, I don’t know what it was. Just knowing Chuck’s well on his way of becoming a spy. I’m pretty sure this was a well thought out episode of the season, all the other ones in season 3 have been lacking but this one really shined. Ugh this was such a good episode though I’ve watched it multiple times. I am so pumped for the rest of the season. Kristen Kreuk eh I don’t know if I really like her in the show but I do love the buy more creepers
. Anyways, I tend to write extensive comments on Chuck episodes This is coming to an end now!
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:52 am
Ahhhh, this episode rocked. Chuck is now totally back in the swing of things, in midseason form.
@ Alvin, that was the funniest part of this ep for me, I was dying.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:54 am
Also, I’m happy Chuck tranqued Manoosh because if he had just let him go it would have shown no growth in him
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:55 am
And Lykaon, great review man. Glad you liked this one
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:55 am
Unlike pinoy_fan, I think Sarah was more beautiful during the bar sequence. Easy on the makeup looks good to me. I think her natural beauty shows more.
I liked this episode. It was old Chuck, new Chuck. As a Strahotski member, I really enjoyed Sarah’s expressions when she was telling Chuck about how she felt when they first met. And she is not taking Chuck becoming a full spy very well. This is really eating at her and knowing how she feels about him, I wonder what kind of agony she, and Chuck will be faced with as he progresses.
Random thoughts of a Chara fan.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:33 am
Definately liked how they showed Chuck handling Manoosh. It gives a window (albeit tacitly) into the turmoil that Sarah has gone through in trying to balance genuinely having feelings for Chuck with the knowledge that she will likely have to burn him in the end for the greater good. We also get a peek of what “could” have happened to Chuck had he gone down the wrong path or if he simply wasn’t the good-hearted person he is (as compared to Manoosh, who essentially was Chuck without a conscious).
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:02 am
@Tattoo
I doubt it’s because she’ll have to burn Chuck for the greater good later, but that he’s becoming a real spy. One of her greatest fears is losing Chuck and his personality. My feeling is that she doesn’t want him to change because she has genuine feelings for him.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:14 am
@ Alvin
I was referring to season 1 and early season 2 with the “burning an asset.” Obviously by this time in the series, it is no longer an asset/handler relationship anymore. Her feelings and reasons for worry have changed (as you have pointed out).
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 am
i loved this. but parts of this was posted on you tube before it even aired.only the last 8 minutes was left out.so i kinda watched this about 12 hours earlier. loved the scene of yvonne and chuck at the castle…hi fellow chuck pinoy fan.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 am
“I’m not quite sure how he had such impressive aim without flashing, but I’ll let it slide”
Duck Hunt Nintendo.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:28 am
@Arakaan
You beat me to the line!
Lots to like in this episode. Not yet mentioned… I cracked up over Morgan’s “office” and how he had to climb over the desk.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:20 am
Great episode. They played off the S01E01 and S03E06 perfectly against one another. Every situation was juxtaposed against one another and you see how Sarah and Chuck handled the same situation. More over you begin to realize how big of a deal it was for Sarah to do what she has to protect Chuck and not treat him as Chuck did Minoosh. Really gave a greater depth to their relationship IMO because we see what a sacrifice it is on Sarah’s part (and sometimes I think we only see it from Chucks point of view).
And yet again we see Chuck lose more and more of his innocence (which I feel is a major theme in his character and the Chara relationship) because as Chuck becomes more of a spy he becomes less of what Sarah found good about him to begin with. At the end of the day she doesn’t want the Spy life anymore and Chuck is running counter to that for the first time in their relationship.
Overall a GREAT episode!
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am
The “Tranqenstein” comment was hilarious, coke came out of my nose. It hurt a bit, but was worth it.
I’m surprised, this being a Yvonne Strahovski website and no one has yet mentioned the scene in her underwear. One word – AWESOME.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Oh, her underwear scene was awesome….but I thought that went without saying….
P
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
@Justin
I mentioned it. Hopefully we’ll see plenty of screen caps of that scene.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Boys…. *roll eyes*…
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Sorry Alvin, I must have scanned right over that comment.
Tattoo – it does go without saying, but I felt compelled to say it anyways.
I want to throw something else out there; I’m not seeing any continuity with the Buy More plot. One episode no one likes Morgan but he regains his stature at the end when he fires Lester. The next episode is the Fight club episode where any “hand” Morgan had over anyone from the previous episode is gone. Follow that up with Casey helping Morgan out with the “insurgents” and then Lester & Jeff being Morgan’s stalkers for last nights episode.
Now the Buy More plots aren’t the main focus of the show and I understand that, but if they are going to grow Morgan as character shouldn’t they worry about continuity of the Buy More plots?
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Really liked this episode, great review.
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:50 pm
wow. Tattoo is right about Sarah’s inner termoil, and Sarah still might be tasked to “burn” Chuck if captured. I hated this ep. because it feels like the ultimate train wreck. It felt like Chuck is on his downward spiral into the 7th ring of hell with Casey as his demon-guide delivering him to the devil himself. My problem is not with the acting nor writing, it’s with the dark direction Chuck must take to be a spy. Sarah’s deep guilt of turning Chuck into the ultimate spy will keep her near, but will she still love Chuck when the transformation is complete? Will Chuck burn the bridge of friendship with Morgan? We’ll see, same Chucktime, same Chuckstation!
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:33 pm
@zp3of7, i completely agree. :/
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:12 pm
@Justin
I see your point, but would it be safe to assume there is a certain period of time in between each episode in the Chuck realm? So what happens in the Buy More may be set days apart from each other rather than just back to back, because if all that happened back to back then the Buy More plot would just be all over the place.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:19 pm
@ Justin
You have it completely wrong. The Fight Club episode was the same episode where no one respected Morgan and he fired Lester at the end of that episode. Then the next episode (vs. First Class) Casey brainwashes Lester the “insurgent.” This last episode everyone is back on good terms generally speaking. That may not be great continuity (considering how everyone can go from outright rebellion back to normal), but certainly better than you imply.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Another great episode!!!
Casey’s cracks and digs at Sarah were extremely funny, and the banter with Chuck and Casey was very good too. Now that we are 6 episodes into a 19 episode season, things are starting to get very interesting. Chuck is really starting to become a real spy.. And Sarah is really not liking who Chuck is becoming. You could really tell from the looks on her face throughout that she is really having a difficult time with it. I think that she is seeing him change from the one she fell in love with and she doesnt want that to change. So now coming into the heart of the season and now all the new characters are in place. i.e. Shaw and Hannah.. Now the fun begins..
It was so sooo nice to see more Yvonne this episode. She really has some of the old Sarah from the previous two seasons. The screen captures from this episode are fantastic.. She really wore that Frak Off shirt very well..
Her outer beauty is just as beautiful as her inner beauty.. and Love that smile.. Plus that Aussie accent is absolutely wornderful(when she is not Sarah).
So on with the next episode.
and lots more Yvonne.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:02 pm
First off, completely enjoyed the episode, and appreciate the comments and insights. Yvonne, as usual, was absolutely stunning and her acting was outstanding. Also as usual, she didn’t get enough screen time, though what she did was pretty memorable…yes, bzzg, I’m talking about the apartment scene. No matter how old we get, most of us of the XY persuasion are still boys at heart.
I’d like to weigh in on the “Chuck becoming a spy and Sarah not liking it very much” line of comments. I agree that Sarah doesn’t like where Chuck is headed, and hope she decides to do something about it. I’d really love to see her pin him up against the wall like she did in vs. the Helicopter, not give him a chance to speak, and get all of her turmoil out in the open. Of course, Sarah being Sarah, it probably won’t happen. Maybe in a “fantasy” bit…
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:51 pm
I am torn with this episode. I can’t not like Chuck because Yvonne is in it, but I am stressing about where the Charah relationship is headed as Chuck becomes a real agent. His outershell is really starting to harden as you can tell by how he burns Manoosh and how easily he lies to Ellie. I am hoping though that no matter what happens Sarah will always be his Kryptonite and that she will be the only one that can really break through that shell to the real Chuck. I am excited though that Sarah’s heart is slowly melting back down since Chuck’s idiotic move of not running away with her. She was really cold towards him, but she made that comment about how she thought Chuck was really innocent and sweet and that she actually like him when Chuck said she must have thought him pathetic when they first met.
I don’t think Chuck realizes how much of his old sweet self Sarah loves and I think he thinks if he becomes an awesome spy like Bryce was she will think more highly of him. I hope they get things figured out (relationship wise)
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 pm
After last week disappointment -Sorry guys but i was with Lykaon about last week, that was a meh episode- i’m just happy to see Chuck bounces back with such amazing episode, it was excellent.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 am
“I don’t think Chuck realizes how much of his old sweet self Sarah loves and I think he thinks if he becomes an awesome spy like Bryce was she will think more highly of him. I hope they get things figured out (relationship wise)”
@Jake –
I think part of Chuck’s problem is that he still has an inferiority complex (albeit much less of one than in season 1). He sees guys like Bryce and Cole as “real” men, something he should aspire to if he wants to be successful and “worthy” of being with a woman like Sarah. All of the hints that Sarah has been dropping all along that she appreciates and actually prefers someone like Chuck, has essentially been falling on deaf ears….or taken the wrong way…
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:35 pm
“She’ll always be Chuck’s Vicki Vale…” could someone fill me up with the Vicki Vale story ;s
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
@AlexLoveYvonne
Vicki Vale is a character in the Batman comic series. She’s basically the Lois Lane of the Batman world. She’s was a reporter for the Gotham Gazette and often wrote articles on Batman’s activities and was romantically attracted to Batman and even Bruce Wayne on occasion.
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Thank you very much Alvin.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Lykaon, many thanks for the review and screen caps.
“Yogurt Time!”
Absolutely agree that Casey had great lines in this episode, especially about the shopping at WeapCon. The looks Sarah and Chuck gave him when he mentioned it were fantastic.
It is hilarious that Hannah is the only other sane Buymore employee, other than Chuck.
Great catch on the rhyming of her name.
“It’s like I’m married to Morgan!”
“It’s funny that Awesome is such a bad liar.”
Wellll, IMO, although this is funny, Awesome should have snapped out of it in this episode.
Having Awesome in constant awe of Chuck is a very good plot device, however Awesome is not Morgan.
They shd have gone to Paris. Also, how did Ellie find the Paris luggage tag? Did Chuck borrow their luggage?
“Take it easy, Tranqenstein.”
“I also like the awkward humor that naturally comes from Chuck having to get close to Casey…”
The retrieval of the laser pen was hilarious, and Sarah’s look while being quiet was fantastic. She acted like she was expecting Chuck to do it, without any problem and no hesitation. This scene and the one where they mentioned WeapCon earlier at the Castle really was funny as well and makes you think they are a team of 3, rather than Sarah and Casey.
“Ladies, gentlemen, warlords, sheiks, and huns…”
Manoosh was OK. As another Strahotski fan said, Chuck without a conscience.
Also, was it that easy to “reverse engineer” the Intersect 2.0 fragments? This point can be mostly overlooked since Sarah and the other parts of this episode were great.
Would not characterize Chuck as hopeless years ago. More of being a slacker/underachiever, since he was expelled by Stanford at the time.
“I’m not quite sure how he had such impressive aim without flashing, …”
Btw, Chuck was expert at Duck Hunt, as he said earlier this season, and the other Strahotski fans said.
“I’m super excited about Morgan and Ellie teaming up to investigate what’s going on with Chuck.”
Yes, this somewhat links to Season2, when Team Bartowski spied on Team Morgan doing what Sarah observed as “some pretty decent spy work” when Anna was dating that other guy. Now Morgan and Ellie are going to spy on Team Bartowski.
Btw, this makes you think: Don’t Sarah/Casey have the entire apt. complex under surveillance, including Ellie/Awesome’s new apt. and the courtyard? Will they catch this conversation by Morgan/Ellie?
Ellie and Morgan are good together, however more when Ellie is making a good natured joke about Morgan.
The Paris trip also apparently puts the kibosh on any feelings Morgan had for Hannah; clearing the way for Chuck. She is cute and is attracted to Chuck, as shown by her question about the yogurt shop and comment to Chuck about his ex-girlfriend.
She is an excellent addition to the cast.
This episode was odd in that Shaw left, with no explanation for any of us, the team or the show’s fans.
“Chuck is becoming a spy slowly but surely, and perhaps Sarah Walker wasn’t prepared to feel apprehensive about that. …Will everything she loves about Chuck melt away?”
It’s amazing that Yvonne Strahovski is able to get that much emotion through a few glances and a couple of not-so-subtle hints.”
Yes, Sarah/Yvonne was awesome, fantastic in this episode. The scenes where she and Chuck talked were great, in that they are speaking again, while keeping their feelings for one another in check. Excellent scene when Sarah kissed Manoosh and Chuck was jealous; earlier at the Castle when Sarah stated the CIA people thought that she and Chuck could connect; and when Sarah replied to herself “Is it?” when Casey said at the end, that Chuck becoming a real spy was a good thing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
@jj
Actually Shaw’s disappearance from this episode was explained in the beginning when Chuck is in Castle and asks where Shaw went. Sarah says that he’s undercover on some covert mission and Beckman replies that it’s not any of Chuck’s business where Shaw is.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
@Alvin
I’m not quite sure i follow..how the Vicki Vale’s story applies with Chuck and Sarah’s story :S
February 4th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
@Alvin,
about Shaw, I just meant Beckman’s explanation was really none at all. He came in, took over, then left on a covert mission, while supposedly being in charge of Team Bartowski to take down the Ring?
Doesn’t make sense.
Is he examining the DVDs/info. on the Ring that Chuck brought back from Paris?
Further, have to also say that Sarah/Yvonne was stunning throughout this episode, with the many hairstyles and clothes.
Although Sarah is not technically Chuck’s handler now since Chuck is a spy, at the end is where she usually would have spoken to Chuck to see if there was anything he wanted to talk about.
Also btw,
did everyone see the brief 1/31/2010 Parade magazine question/answer on Yvonne?
It is also great to see the show getting more sponsors, such as Honda.
With the Winter Olympics coming up, it will be really hard to have a break before the rest of the episodes r shown this season.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:49 am
i`m from Romania,i guess you know where is it…
i`ve seen two day ago this episode…wow very interesting
Now i`m searching next episode cus` Chuck really get a place in my heart..yvonne looks oh my god,zachary as well..
Some word in Romanian
-Sa traiti bine!Va urez toate cele bune si astept noile episoade…
peace!
February 8th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
@AlexLoveYvonne
It doesn’t really have anything to do with Chuck and Sarah’s relationship. I imagine it’s just part of the show’s humor. When Sarah walks to up to Chuck and he drops everything right there he just mentions it’s something from Batman.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Thank you again Avlin (:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
No problem.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:47 am
i absolutely loved this episode too. looks like the humor is back.
but i’m really sad about one thing. i don’t know about everyone else, but i’m really sad about Chuck turning into a cold blooded spy. at first, i thought i’d like Chuck more when he turns into a spy, but turns out i don’t. i liked him more when he’d care about a friend and break all these rules for friends and family and when he was a terrible liar. it’s like i’m looking at Bryce instead of Chuck now. i can’t believe this, but i actually like the innocent Chuck better.
February 13th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@sharon,
many others, including Sarah, seem to prefer Chuck as a normal guy helping out, instead of being a cold or real spy.
He still is an innocent spy, compared to the others, as he has not killed anyone with a weapon (yet) and does not like to multiple tranq anyone.
He still has a hard time with decisions like sending Manoosh away, even when he knows it is the right thing to do.
Also Chuck will never be Bryce in that Chuck still protects his family and friends.