S2Ep16 Vs The Lethal Weapon -- The Chuck Series Companion

Covering Season Two Episode Sixteen of the Television Series Chuck, Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon - Watch the Episode, Listen to the Show! - Subscribe on iTunes!

S2Ep16 Vs The Lethal Weapon

Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon

Agent Cole Barker has been captured by Fulcrum and he's being tortured while continuously being asked what he knows about Perseus (It's the dude from Clash of the Titans obviously, Fulcrum. Sheesh) and their favorite question, "Who is the Intersect?" -- Cole is a bad ass though, he's not going to let a blow to his rib cage with a steel pipe intimidate him, right? Ouch.

Meanwhile, Chuck and Sarah are sharing a bed, their cover is now of a reunited couple who will soon move in together. Chuck though, worries that Sarah may have already fallen for Cole, he's a super spy and Chuck can't help but notice that Sarah is rather distracted. Ellie on the other hand, knows none of this or any of Chuck's spy life, she's eager to get these two kids into a home together and get ready for phase two of their relationship (or is that phase three? Pun intended. Hehe).

There's a great moment where Ellie jokes with Sarah about getting rid of some of Chuck's belongings because let's face it, she wants Chuck to grow up. She wants to start with his Tron poster until Chuck reminds her that their Father gave it to him. The mood instantly turns somber until Sarah changes the subject wondering what Morgan thinks about Chuck moving in with her instead of him. One problem, he hasn't broken the news to Morgan yet.

Morgan is already banning Jeff and Lester from any future parties at their soon to be bachelor pad when he catches them making fun of him to the entire Buy More staff. Does anyone work at this place? Don't answer that, I already know the answer. Before Chuck can let Morgan down gently, he's swooped up by Casey and taken to Castle. The CIA has failed to locate Agent Barker so they are putting Chuck on lock-down at a secure facility before Fulcrum shows up at their underground base. The alarm is tripped but fear not, it's only Cole Barker, he's escaped and he looks like crap. I love Chuck's reluctance to believe that Cole could defeat nine fulcrum bad guys to escape. He knows that Cole is awesome but c'mon, does he have to be THIS awesome? The answer is yes, Chuck.

Beckman orders Chuck and Cole to stay in Castle while Casey and Sarah go to a fancy shindig at the Swiss Consulate looking for a man Codenamed: Perseus. There are some great moments here as Chuck desperately tries to work in some Sarah compliments as Cole bombards her with constant comments on her beauty. Chuck also takes the time to point out some nice hor d'oeuvres on a passing tray to Casey. It's not long before Fulcrum agents spot Casey and Sarah as they have now found Perseus, a one Doctor Busgang Robert Picardo. When Chuck and Cole lose contact, Cole explains to Chuck that you don't try to be a hero you just do what has to be done. There's a great moment when Cole does something that Sarah and Casey have never done, he gives Chuck a gun!

I love later on when Chuck shows Casey his gun and Casey proclaims that they are all going to die. He's nearly correct when Chuck gets his leg stuck in the window and drops the pistol, only for it to fire and hit Dr. Busgang in the leg. Poor guy, he was only helping Fulcrum because he thought they were the real CIA. Cole takes a bullet for Sarah and Chuck feels even more inferior and what makes it worse is that Cole is actually a decent guy, he even refers to Chuck as 'Buddy'. He's genuinely concerned about him when Chuck complains about his leg. So Fulcrum gets away and so does Busgang and all Chuck has to show for it is a hurt ankle.

                                         "We're dead, Bartowski's got a gun."

Back at the Buy More, Anna found Morgan's Apartment Lease papers in the store fax machine and now she thinks Morgan was going to surprise her with an apartment. Now Morgan is screwed, he has no other choice than accepting Jeff and Lester's help. Dear God, no. Their idea is to repulse Anna so much that she will think twice about moving in with him. They try Wii Tennis which doesn't work, even with a sweaty Jeff trying to put his arm around her. He tries a Morgannuptual demanding only String Cheese in their household. This doesn't work either. I loved when Morgan says she will probably have to put down her pet, Chico. Anna's not having any of it, she's too excited looking for Ikea furniture to be repulsed. Later on, Chuck asks Morgan what the hell he's doing, trying to repulse Anna? Anna is in to him, why is he trying to ruin it? He needs to seize the day, there's this girl who's into him and he needs to decide if this is what he wants. The time is now, Morgan! I love that Chuck is in the dark here, sure he's giving Morgan great advice but he has no idea that Morgan is trying to repulse Anna because she thinks they are moving in together. It's nice to have Chuck not know what's going on for a change.

When Chuck returns home, Ellie and Devon -- who are doctors -- immediately notice his limp and rush him to the hospital and it's there he sees Dr. Busgang. Chuck pursues and is followed by Fulcrum. I love the moment when Busgang is in awe of Chuck's ability to flash and he seems genuinely sympathetic to Chuck's plight. Chuck flashed on the name ORION and Busgang explains that Orion created the Intersect but before he has a chance to tell Chuck more, he's killed by the same Fulcrum Agent that tortured Cole. Cole repays the favor by tackling him before he can kill Chuck but Cole takes another bullet. Jeez Cole. This time Sarah saves them and once again, Chuck is competing for sympathy from Sarah with Cole. It's a pretty funny moment when Sarah asks, "Are you okay?" and then improvises, "Both of you?" But Chuck knows she meant, Cole.

This episode had some great music, it opened with God & Suicide by Blitzen Trapper and then we got to hear an awesome cover of Walk Like an Egyptian by The Puppini Sisters and finally Signs by Bloc Party.

Listen to the Podcast Episode: S2Ep16 Vs The Lethal Weapon

Alan Sepinwall enjoyed the episode in his review but he thinks he found some plot holes. Plot holes in Chuck? I think not, surely you must be mistaken Sir! Eric Goldman dug the episode in his review and AV Club gave Lethal Weapon a B-. B Minus!?! How dare they!

When the Team returns to Castle, they are commended by General Beckman. I love when Cole tells Casey that he didn't take out nine bad guys, it was actually twelve -- he just doesn't like to boast. He then says to Chuck that he is the most SPECIAL agent that he has ever worked with. Casey guffaws at this. Chuck leaves Sarah and Cole to say goodbye to each other, he doesn't want to get in the way of their good vibes they have for each other. Now I am saying Chuck feels this way, it doesn't mean that it's actually true. Cole has indeed fallen for Agent Sarah Walker but she's just not into him and she finally breaks it to him. He finally realizes that her heart has been set on Chuck the entire time. Agent Barker loses the girl to Chuck Bartowski, indeed.

Now the episode isn't over yet, Morgan gently breaks it to Chuck that he can't move in with him because he's moving in with Anna. Chuck is genuinely happy for him. He looks on as Morgan and Anna kiss in the break room, wondering if he will ever have that himself. When he arrives at the courtyard fountain, where he and Sarah have shared many moments. Sarah explains that Cole and her aren't happening, he's a great guy but she belongs there. He seizes the opportunity to tell her that he can't move in with her, because it would just be torture to him. He's crazy about her and it would destroy him, pretending. He then promises her that one day he's going to get the Intersect out of his head and when he does he's going to get the girl. She understands. He has no time to explain this to Ellie as he makes his way to his room and takes the Tron poster off the wall. You know the one that Ellie wants him to get rid of because it's a sign of his stagnant life and his youth. It was given to him by his missing Father and it means a lot to him. He turns it over to reveal that he has mapped out everyone he has encountered since getting the Intersect in his head. He writes down the word ORION because he knows that this is it. Orion is the key, the key to getting the Intersect out of his head.

Thank you for reading and listening to the Chuck Series Companion. It doesn't matter how long I am away from Chuck, when I sit down to watch Chuck again, those happy feelings return. I love Chuck and I hope that this Blog and Podcast prove it.

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Until then...

The Jastrom