The Premier makes a speech, thanking his "new friends" for saving his life.  Undeterred by the failure of his previous attempt, the Premier asks Ellie to dance.  As they cut a rug (nice moves Sarah Lancaster!), Chuck and Sarah get word from Casey that a former freedom fighter is attending the gala on a fake passport.  Chuck spots him across the dance floor headed for the Premier and Ellie.  Chuck and Sarah need to get across the floor, but how?  Hearing the music, Chuck flashes some serious dance moves.  "Just follow my lead," he tells Sarah as he dips, slides and shimmies his way across the floor.  A well-placed exuberant dance move from Chuck knocks out the would-be assassin.  However, he was only holding an egg; he wasn't going to kill the Premier.  As Chuck and Sarah are led to the kitchen to "sober up," Chuck flashes on one of the Premier's guards.  The guard is the real assassin!  Casey needs to get into the gala and protect the Premier.  Thankfully for us, Casey begrudgingly agrees.  We are thankful because we get a second consecutive episode with Casey in a fantastic mustache!  (Between him and Ron Swanson on Parks & Recreation, the 'stache is back!)  Disguised as a guard, Casey converges on the assassin who himself is making his way toward the Premier with a needle full of poison.  Awesome sees the disguised Casey pull a gun, so, thinking Casey is about to kill the Premier, he runs and tackles him.  This does prevent the assassin's attempt, but it also reveals to the Costa Gravans the Angel of Death! 

Despite Chuck and Sarah's pleas (by the way, how did they get out of the kitchen?), General Beckman does not want to send anyone in to save the now imprisoned Casey.  The U.S. can't risk the Premier pulling back from his proposed democratic reforms.  Meanwhile, back in the Costa Gravan consulate, a bound Casey is visited by the Premier.  While the Premier and Casey go back and forth about Casey's own assassination attempts, the true assassin laces one of the Premier's cigars with poison.  When the Premier tries to smoke it, Casey kicks the Premier in the face.  Undeterred, the Premier smokes the cigar, and promptly passes out. 

Back in his apartment, Awesome is texted by the consulate (does no one make calls anymore?!?) to come help the Premier.  He sees Chuck and tells him that he has a way to get into the consulate and save Casey.  Chuck brings an awed Awesome to Castle to prep their rescue mission.  Sarah is there, though, and says she is one step ahead of them.  Chuck and Sarah, dressed as doctors, pose as Awesome's assistants and go to the consulate.  Casey, still being held in the basement, is approached by the assassin with another needle full of poison.  Responding to Casey's request for "professional courtesy," the (British!) assassin explains that he is a member of The Ring.  And while he would love to take the time to explain The Ring's overarching goals (something I was wondering in my preview if we would get), suffice it to say The Ring wants to preserve the Costa Gravas status quo.  Casey is able to kick the assassin away and fights for his freedom.  The assassin sticks the needle in Casey's leg, but is unable to push the plunger.  Casey whups the assassin, but is then shot in the leg by another Costa Gravan soldier.  With Awesome attending to the Premier, Sarah has taken out the guards ("That's some woman, bro," Awesome tells Chuck.  "You have no idea.").  Sarah takes out the guard who shot Casey,a nd bring shim upstairs to be helped by Awesome. 

The head guard is not so sure.  He wants proof that Chuck and Sarah aren't assassins themselves.  He wants Chuck to remove the bullet from Casey's leg, with no help from Awesome.  Sara tells Chuck to just relax and try to flash.  "You have surgeon's hands," Awesome tells Chuck.  Chuck does flash on some anatomy knowledge and is able to expertly remove the bullet.  While Casey is safe, the Premier takes a turn for the worse.  He needs blood immediately.  Awesome asks the soldiers if they know the Premier's blood type.  Casey answers, "AB negative.  You learn a lot about a guy you're trying to kill."  Chuck notices on Casey's dog tags that he is AB negative.  No way in hell is Casey going to give that commie despot his blood.  Chuck puts the anesthesia over Casey's face so he won't have a choice.

Casey wakes up in Castle, and is greeted by pre-revolution cigars from the Premier -- a gift for the "Angel of Life."  Awesome meets up with Chuck in the Orange Orange and tells him that he no longer wants to be a spy.  "If having a double life means giving up half of your real life, it's not worth it."  This is something for Chuck to think about.  He doesn't have time to ruminate long because Sarah enters.  They discuss what their cover should be going forward.  They agree that they should be friends.  Cut to Ellie on the phone with Awesome, telling him what a great time she had at the gala and how much she loves him.  Awesome has one more patient to see and then he'll be coming home.  That patient is the Ring assassin and he has a vial of poison waiting for Awesome.  Back to Chuck's apartment where Sarah is knocking on the door.  She is visibly shaken and whispers something in Chuck's ear.  His stupor is broken by Ellie's inquiry, "Has anyone seen Devon?"  And scene!

This was another great episode of Chuck.  If this is the quality of episodes we're going to get this season, I am quite stoked.  Funny thing, but I didn't even notice until I was writing this that no one associated with the Buy More appeared in this episode.  Not even Morgan!  I don't think that means they are superfluous to the show.  Far from it.  Rather, that the show can be successful without the counterbalance of Chuck's "real" life.  Specifically in this episode, there were some great directorial moments: Chuck mimicking Awesome when he spun around in the lawn chair to interrogate Awesome about the Premier's condition; the dance sequences; the fight to push the plunger of the needle in Casey's leg.  Really good stuff.  If I have one complaint, it is on the NBC promo department.  We were left with an amazingcliffhanger: is Awesome dead?  I know that it is doubtful, but when I saw Sarah and Chuck's faces at the endof the episode, I really thought Awesome was dead.  Then a few seconds later...there is Awesome in the preview of next week's episode!  I mean, come on, NBC!  Yes, he's still in danger, but wouldn't Awesome's possible demise be a better way to get people to come back and watch next week?  Wake up NBC!

Anyway, please leave any comments, questions or theories below.  Thank you for reading, and come back next week for "Chuck vs. Operation Awesome." (Yes, they shouldn't release the episode titles either!)