Looks Just Like Lester, Right?
Back in Castle, the General explains that Shaw has global command over all missions involving The Ring. Shaw states that he knows everything about The Ring and Operation Bartowski, including Chuck and Sarah's "relationship." Devon is now a bone fida mole inside The Ring so they can't pull him out now. If they try, and don't eliminate Sydney first (she seems to be the only one in The Ring who knows Devon is a "spy"), she will kill Devon. When Chuck protests that he can't keep putting his family in danger, Shaw asks if he has a better plan. Not at the moment, but the wheels are turning. Meanwhile, upstairs in the Buy More, Morgan hears something strange coming from the stock room. Previously, when Chuck tried to apologize for kicking Lester in the face, Lester said it was OK. He actually enjoyed it. He loved the rush of combat and thanked Chuck. Lester loved the rush so much he turned into his own, weird Nerd Herd version of Tyler Durden (see above). The noise coming from the stock room, Morgan discovered, was the new Buy More Fight Club. They even electrified the cage in which Jeff, bare-chested, was now dispatching co-workers. Morgan breaks up the festivities, but not before being threatened by Tyler...er...Lester, "You'll never be able to shut us down...Ass. Man," noting the abbreviated title on Morgan's name tag.
During this, Chuck has indeed come up with a plan. He asks Devon for the Ring phone Sydney had given him. In the Buy More stock room (now cleared of the Fight Club), Chuck works to rebuild the phone. Successful, Chuck calls Sydney himself and tells her that Devon was just a pawn -- Chuck is the spy that actually killed Agent Shaw, and that he is in charge of the mission now. He tells Sydney to meet him at the Buy More. When she arrives with her henchmen, Shaw, supervising from Castle, says no one can help Chuck. Chuck, despite his attempts to lure her to the home theater area, is caught behind the Nerd Herd desk. Sarah and Casey have seen enough and move to help Chuck. Shaw pulls guns on them to prevent their assistance. Sydney wants proof that Chuck is who he says he is, so she sics her men on him. Chuck tries to flash his kung fu, but is quickly floored by one punch. He gets up, and pulls his best Daniel-san "wax on, wax off," distracting them long enough to run back into the stock room. Sarah tries to run upstairs, and as Shaw moves to stop her (explaining that although he hates guns, they have to let Chuck do this on his own), Casey pulls his gun on Shaw. Shaw is impressed with Casey's speed. "I love guns," Casey notes. Shaw lowers his weapons, and Sarah and Casey run upstairs. Casey takes out two of the henchmen, and Sarah follows Sydney into the stock room. As the other two henchmen move to grab Chuck (now in the stock room cage), Chuck connects the car battery and electrifies the fence. The electrified henchman shoots the other, leaving only Sydney. Sarah and Sydney engage in some really impressive hand-to-hand combat, but Sydney, although now disarmed, gains the upper hand and runs for the exit. Chuck grabs Sydney's gun and chases her down. He orders her to stop, pointing the gun right at her. Pleading her to give up, Chuck tells her, "You choice. Live or die. Don't make me shoot you." She dares him , but Chuck is unable to pull the trigger. As Sydney pulls out a throwing knife from behind her back, and Sarah rushes in, a shot rings out. Chuck looks disbelievingly at his own weapon, but he has not fired the shot. Shaw shot her. "I hate guns, but it helps to know how to use one."
The team is debriefed by Shaw in Castle. He explains that they successfully contained Devon's identity. Casey says that they were lucky, but not without putting Chuck's family in danger, Chuck notes. Chuck tells Shaw that he must understand one thing about him, "There is nothing I care about more than my friends and family." When Shaw replies that family makes spies vulnerable, Sarah defends Chuck, "Sometimes it helps to know you've got something to lose." Chuck subtly nods to Sarah his thanks. Upstairs in the Buy More, Big Mike tells Morgan he needs to get his coworkers in line. The first rule of Big Mike management is that you "can't be afraid to pull the trigger." Morgan orders Lester to shut down the fight club. Lester rebuffs him (no way, Ass. Man.), so Morgan fires him. Lester quickly crumbles and pleads for his job (he needs to move out of his mother's house after all!). With an encouraging wink from Big Mike, Morgan gives Lester his job back.
That night, Morgan and Chuck have Ellie and Devon over for dinner. Chuck pulls Devon aside to let him know everything is fine and that he is safe. Chuck has also invited Sarah and Casey over for dinner. Ellie quickly pulls a bottle of wine from Casey's hands ("What's the matter with her?" Casey asks Chuck. "No idea."). Chuck tells Sarah that it wouldn't be the same without her. "I'm really glad you came." She replies "I'm glad too." As the six sit down to eat, we pull back to reveal Shaw watching them on a security camera. He looks a bit wistful. He pulls out a small jewelry box. The episode ends with Shaw putting on his wedding ring.
Commentary
For me, this was another great episode of Chuck. It appears with new-found life thanks to the fans and Subway, the show is hitting on all cylinders. In this episode, we were treated to a great fight sequence between Sydney and Sarah, the smooth introduction of Agent Shaw, some great comic bits from the Fight Club storyline, and a nice dose of heart at the end with Sarah first defending Chuck, and then the dinner party scene. We also had some nice growth for Chuck. With his first opportunity to be the "teacher" and not just the student, it would have been easy for him to stumble, make a fool out of himself and be saved by Sarah and Casey. Instead, the writers and Zachary Levi were smart and skilled enough to let Chuck be successful. Further, when it came down to it, he was able to save the day with his brain again, and not the Intersect. So far, the show has done a wonderful job (post-hour 1 of the season), in letting the Intersect-fed skills only be a part of Chuck's developing spy ability. We were told from the beginning of the series that Chuck Bartowski is a really smart guy to which unfortunate circumstances (and Bryce Larkin) have led him to an unfulfilled life. So, it is important that Chuck maintain his intelligence and not rely solely on the computer in his head.
The episode, and series, have introduced a bit of suspense, too. I mean, I doubted Chuck would kill Sydney, but when that gunshot rang out, I definitely believed for a split-second that he did in fact shoot her. There have also been internet rumors that Shaw will be a romantic interest for Sarah. With his putting on the wedding ring at the end of the episode, there is some real doubt that can be placed in those rumors (although, I bet she was killed because of one of his missions). Suspense is always good, and I trust that the creators of Chuck can fold it in smoothly. Lastly, is there anything funnier on television that Casey's grunts? I don't think so.
OK, that's it for "Chuck vs. Operation Awesome." Please leave any comments, thoughts, or theories below. What did you think of the episode? What are your feelings on Agent Shaw joining the team? Be sure to check out TVOvermind later in the week for some promos of next week's episode, "Chuck vs. First Class." Until then I'm off to learn the first rule of Fight Club.
I don't know if agree with your statement about Shaw. I believe he is a 'love interest' of sorts for Sarah. It seems like they had some sort of history. Perhaps he wife isn't dead, but was Sarah and now they are divorced? Just my thoughts, but I felt like that's where the writers were leading us to believe.