Chuck: Season 1, Episode 13

"Chuck Versus the Marlin"

This was, sadly, the last episode of Chuck produced before the strike. It seems like NBC is willing to hang onto it through the strike, so hopefully we'll have Chuck and Captain Awesome and Adam Baldwin back on our screens next fall.

This one centered around bugs planted at Buy More by some bad guys called the Fulcrum, who apparently only needed the bug's reciever to determine that Chuck is the Intersect. If they get the reciever, Chuck's cover will be blown, and he'll have to be hidden away in a government bunker somewhere, for, as Casey puts it "so long you'll forget what fresh air feels like." Thankfully, the good guys figure that out first, and hilariously take everything out of Buy More in order to find the receiver.

It turns out the receiver is in Big Mike's prized marlin that hangs on the wall of his office. It's the same Marlin that Jeff and Lester take during a drunken escapade into Buy More and then hide at Chuck's apartment -- which is then stolen by Morgan, who then hides it in the Wienerlicious freezer.

Meanwhile, Chuck is panicking because Captain Awesome just asked his permission to marry Ellie (which: awwww) and then entrusted him with the keeping of the enagement ring. Of course, in the process of emptying Buy More and the subsequent hijinks with the marlin, the ring ended up inside the fish, leaving Chuck desperate to find the ring, convienently taken by the Fulcrum agent who is after the Intersect.

Sarah and Casey chase after the Fulcrum agent (who gets the ring and reciever from the marlin at Wienerlicious) in order to preserve his life with his family and friends. The general orders Chuck to be taken away, even if the Fulcrum agent is apprehended, for the safety of the Intersect.

The episode culminates on top of a building, as the CIA prepares to take Chuck away and the Fulcrum agent closes in, only to get her ass kicked by Sarah in a dumpster. The ring is found, Big Mike getes his marlin back, Chuck gets the ring to Awesome, Ellie says yes, and Chuck stays home with his family. (But only, it seems, for a short time, if Casey's final sentence and the ominous music are anything to go by)

Other things I loved:

These last two episodes had a ton of Captain Awesome in them, which is...awesome. He's one of the funniest supporting characters on TV. I think my favorite line of his tonight was on the phone with Chuck, who is still trying to get the ring back: "I need the ring. This is NOT awesome."

When Chuck first flashed on the bug, they showed Foxborough, Massachusetts and a football stadium. At that point, I was hoping that the episode had something to do with blowing up the New England Patriots. Or maybe, that bug was how Belichek did all of his cheating this year. Hmm.....

How cute was that first scene between Awesome and Chuck? I loved that Awesome asked Chuck for permission to marry Ellie.

Morgan called Chuck his "life partner." Hee.

Awesome to Chuck, after the ring has been recovered: "I always knew you could handle my family jewels." Double hee.

Chuck recap: Chuck vs. the Undercover Lover

The undercover lover would be Casey’s long-lost girlfriend, Ilsa, who returns from the “dead” this episode to give Adam Baldwin more to do, and remind me why I love him so much.

We first meet Ilsa in a flashback (Chechnya, 2004) as she and Casey are canoodling on a bed. As she’s getting dressed, Ilsa and Casey banter about their professions – she: photojournalist, he: “energy consultant.” After Ilsa leaves the snuggle session, she is on the street when a bomb explodes. Casey rushes outside to the scene of the explosion … only to find her banged-up camera on the ground. Poor Casey!

Buy More, Present Day: Chuck discovers Ilsa when he flashes on her and a bunch of Russian baddies on the hotel guest list of a swanky hotel (Jeff is supposed to be fixing the hotel’s computer, but instead he’s using his powers of geek to stalk Tara Reid).

Chuck has now appointed himself the Yente of the spy world, and he’s determined to get the scoop on Ilsa. Casey’s not into sharing his feelings, and Chuck gets Casey’s hand squeezed firmly around his neck.

Unlike Chuck, the CIA is not so interested in Casey’s love life. They’re more focused on the troupe of Eastern European thugs currently camped out in the same hotel as Tara Reid. They send Chuck and Sarah in undercover to a cocktail party at the hotel to investigate the baddie conference. Chuck thinks this would be the perfect opportunity for Casey and Ilsa to rekindle their love, but alas, Chuck’s matchmaker ambitions are dashed when Sarah reveals that Ilsa is dead.

At the cocktail party, we discover that Ilsa is (surprise!) not so dead, and looking pretty darn good for a girl who was blown to smithereens. Casey and Ilsa’s eyes meet, and Chuck might just have a future in matchmaking after all. But wait… Isla is marrying the king of the Eastern European baddies, who have all gathered here for the blessed union.

That’s the least of Casey’s problems, though. Turns out, Ilsa is French Secret Service and she’s being tracking/dating King Russian Baddie as an assignment. She has to go through with the wedding! She can’t be with Casey! Casey mopes then hits the liquor hard.

Chuck discovers that a necklace Ilsa had been wearing was bugged, meaning that King Russian Baddie knows everything and Ilsa probably won’t make it much past her wedding night. Chuck and a drunk, pants-less Casey rush to the wedding to save the day – only to be caught and tied together by more Russian baddies. King Russian Baddie tells them that Casey, Ilsa, and Chuck (as a “man stewardess”) will be sent on a doomed honeymoon flight, which leads to the best line of the night: “Casey, I don’t want to die as a man stewardess!”

Don’t worry Chuck, Casey will beat some people up, you’ll fall in a pool, and the Sarah/Ilsa team of hot girl agents will save the day!

Casey and Ilsa say their final tearful goodbyes and Casey is left to be consoled by Chuck. Awwww, male bonding. And then Casey shoves Chuck into a planter.

I'll miss you, Chuck. See you when the strike ends...