Meanwhile, elsewhere in Castle, Casey sees the woman who liked his drink at the bar in Somerset. She introduces herself as Jane Bentley, an agent for NCS, the National Clandestine Service. She sees Casey's true potential. while she's sure he loves running around supporting Chuck and Sarah, she knows he is so much more than that. Bentley explains that she's putting together a new spy team and wants Casey to head it. Casey doesn't reply, but his face speaks volumes. Clearly, he's interested, so she'll be in touch.
Devon and Ellie lie awake in bed, wearily repeating the nonsensical lyrics to the Rusted Root song emanating from the Sleep Sheep. Devon asks if it is safe to turn it off after two hours. "It can't hurt to try," Ellie replies. He does, and there are two seconds of blissful quiet before Clara starts crying again. It could be worse, Devon says. They're doctors, so they're used to going without sleep. He turns on the sheep, and Clara falls quiet again.
When Chuck arrives home, he finds Morgan packing up his stuff. Chuck explains that he has to prepare for a mission, but Sarah called him to say Morgan is moving out, and he knew that was ridiculous. He apologizes for busting in on Morgan's Valentine's Day and tell shim not to leave. "It's time," Morgan answers, though neither of them want to admit it. Chuck is going to be married soon, and he and Sarah will need their own place. It's time for them both of them to grow up. "We are grown up!! We're happy!" Chuck exclaims, but Morgan continues. Things change, but that's not a bad thing. "It will be OK," says Morgan.
Chuck asks where Morgan will go, but he isn't sure. Morgan thinks he will just open himself up to the universe and see where it takes him. "So....you're going to your mom's," Chuck retorts. Morgan turns to dividing up their mutual stuff. Chuck gets the original Nintendo; Morgan gets the horror films. What about Han and Chewie? The guys went in on them together. Should they split them up, asks Morgan. No, they can't. Han and Chewie are companions, and they're worth more as a set. Should they sell them? As each of the guys holds one of the figures, remembering their long friendship, they settle on deciding that later. For tonight, Chuck takes Han, and Morgan takes Chewie. The cause the figures to give each other a high five before Chuck heads into his bedroom and sinks against the wall. Sarah is inside, and asks Chuck if everything is OK. She's sorry about Morgan, but Chuck insists that it's fine. he's fine. They're fine. Chuck straightens up and gets ready for their mission.
At Castle, Chuck and Sarah ask Vivian to walk them through an average day. She explains that every morning she goes for a ride on her horse. Cut to Somerset, where Sarah, dressed as Vivian, saddles up for a horse ride. To finish off the look, Vivian give Sarah her necklace, something she is never without. Casey confirms that he will be watching their every move in the woods. As Sarah gallops off, Vivian asks Chuck is he is sure Sarah will be alright. "She always is," he replies. Sarah rides through the picturesque and misty woods. She radios that she doesn't see Boris, while Casey lies in wait as a sniper. What Sarah doesn't see is Boris and a number of his henchmen hiding behind some trees.
Boris' gunmen start to move out of the woods. Sarah feels something is wrong. Casey starts moving toward her, but Boris presses a device that makes Sarah's horse buck. She is thrown from her mount and knocked out on the forest floor. Moments later, the horse returns, alone, to the stable. Chuck radios to Casey that Sarah must be in trouble. Casey answers that he is sixty seconds out from Sarah's location. Though Chuck tells her to stay safe in the stable, Vivian shouts that she is not letting anyone die for her. She climbs onto the horse, lifts up Chuck behind her , and together they race off to find Sarah.
One of Boris' henchman confirms that Sarah is not Vivian, so Boris says to kill her. As the baddie readies his aim, Casey shoots the gunman dead. Sarah rouses briefly and mutters that there are too many gunmen, so he should go and get Chuck. Casey says he is not leaving her, and that they need to find cover.
Chuck and Vivian are rushing to find Sarah and Casey when a couple of Boris' men in red English riding coats (real inconspicuous guys) chase after them. Vivian comments that she didn't spend ten years in equestrian school for nothing, and kicks the horse to run faster, as Casey and Sarah are surrounded by Boris' men. Chuck notices that the red coats are catching up to them because they have too much weight, so he has a Plan B. He tells Vivian that no matter what, she should not stop or turn back for him. Chuck, spying an upcoming tree branch, flashes some gymnastics skills. He grabs the branch as it passes overhead, swings around it and knocks the red coats off their steeds. Chuck flips down into a stuck landing, and radios Casey. Casey confirms that the bad guys are moving in, but he deftly kills all eight of them. He aims at a ninth coming down the hill through the mist, but it is Chuck, and he holds his fire.
Chuck rushes to Sarah and wakes her. She asks where Vivian is. Vivian radios that she is back at the stables. At that moment, Boris steps form the stable shadows. He says if she gives him the key, he will make her death painless. Vivian protests that she has no idea what he is talking about. She was never part of Volkoff's world. Boris explains that Volkoff, indeed, prepared Vivian to take over for him. She was trained in skeet shooting, multiple foreign languages, and economics. Vivian is Volkoff's chosen successor. Vivian uses Boris' explanation to get her horse to rear up on its hind legs and startle Boris. She grabs a shotgun from the saddle, and expertly dispatches with Boris. Perhaps she is her father's daughter after all.
Chuck, Sarah and Casey arrive back at the stable. Sarah knows that what Vivian did was hard, but she was only defending herself. She asks, while handing Vivian back her necklace, if Boris told her what he was looking for? No, he did not, Vivian lies. She thanks "Charles" for everything he did for her; it is time she figures out what to do with the rest of her life. "I'm sure you'll think of something," Chuck replies with a smile.
Back in Echo Park, Morgan announces that this is it. Chuck says he knows Morgan is committed to moving out, but he wants Morgan to know how much he and Sarah love him. Morgan knows. He sighs, noting it is an end of an era. The guys promise they will still will have video game night. Should they sell Chewie and Han? Well, Morgan explains, Chewie is Han's constant companion. Besides, they should stay in the family. Cut to Han and Chewie on a shelf above Clara's bed. Ellie and Devon back out of the room. Devon asks if it is smart that they leave her alone in her own room. She's three months old, Ellie explains, so her own nursery is just fine. Now they can finally get to do what they've been wanting to do for three months. The two collapse into bed and sleep!
In Castle, Casey tells Bentley that he isn't leaving his team. She understands the bond the three of them share, but he's been there for four years. This is the longest position he's ever had. He is going to have to leave eventually. "I'm not leaving Burbank," Casey states definitively. "You won't have to," Bentley replies, opening a door in Castle with her palm print. "The mission is here." The opened door reveals a hallway leading to a secret NCS room in Castle. Again, Casey's expression says it all.
The scene shifts to a picked over Volkoff Industries. Vivian enters underneath police caution tape, and goes into Volkoff's office. She uncovers her father's desk, and sits down. She notices a horse statue. In its base, she discovers an indentation, seemingly the reverse of the pendant she wears on her necklace. She takes the necklace off, and places the pendant in the indentation. When she turns it, a wall panel opens. Light cascades from the new opening. As Vivian rises and walks toward the light with wonder, the office doors close.
Commentary
With the fun, light episodes aside, it was time to put Chuck back into drive, and introduce the elements that will motivate the story for the remainder of the season. Color me intrigued by the possibilities surrounding Volkoff's daughter. The final scene begs the question: Is Vivian amazed by the power she now holds in her hand, or is she frightened by the larger conspiracy revealed to her when she opened the wall in her father's office? Will she attempt to run Volkoff Industries herself, or will she alert her new friends to a possible greater threat? For some reason, I believe it may be the latter, but I kind of hope it would be the former. All of Chuck's main foes have been men: Daniel Shaw, Ted Roark, Volkoff. So, it would be nice to see a true female crime boss for the team to oppose. Either way, if the story brings back Timothy Dalton as Volkoff, I will be happy.
I am less intrigued by the NCS storyline for Casey. We all know that no matter the operational control Casey receives working for NCS, there is going to come a point where he will choose his old team over NCS. Now, I trust the creators to put some real meat on the NCS story, so I don't think it will be a waste of time, but the other times the team has been broken up, it hasn't led to the best episodes. Maybe Casey will recruit his possible future son-in-law to keep tabs on him or something. That could spice up the plot.
As far as this particular episode is concerned, I thought all three stories did a great job of illustrating the theme that there comes a time when people must grow up, and move on from their current situation. Chuck and Morgan are becoming adults more and more, and realize that they need to be committed to people other than each other. Casey recognizes that he may no longer be useful, in the same ways, to Team Bartowski, so perhaps he should lead his own team. Ellie and Devon recognize that maybe they don't need to watch over Clara every single second and that it is OK to let her sleep in her own room. Each of these stories, in its own way, gave the show some nice forward momentum, informing us that the season is ready to pick up again. So, as a transitional episode from the big midseason climax, through two light, "reset" episode, and into the main action of the back half of the season, I thought "Chuck vs the Masquerade" really worked.
What did you think of the episode? What side do you believe Vivian will be on? Will Casey find fulfillment in his new NCS gig? How long before he heads back to Team Bartowski? What do you think are the chances the Echo Park apartment complex happens to have another open apartment for Morgan to move into? Maybe he will move in with Casey!! Please leave your questions, comments and theories below. For another take on tonight's episode, be sure to check out Emma's review. I'll be back next week with another recap. Until then, I'm off to Big Lots for their sale on bearskin rugs.
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As a genuine resident of Somerset, it was a thrill to see the team
in my own county…kinda [GG].
Nit pick – Brits NEVER, ever call random bar staff 'dear'!!
Somerset does have landed properties, but they would tend to be clad in the golden hued stone of the Mendips/Ham Hill.
At last, BAMF sexy Casey is back!