Chuck – Chuck & Sarah at a crossroads … again!

(Season 2, Episode 11 – “Chuck Versus Santa Claus”)

Once again, Chuck lives up to all our expectations and surpasses them. What started off as a simple hostage situation at the Buy More became something a lot more dangerous for Chuck, Sarah and Casey. I was pleased that I didn’t see that particular plot turn coming. I was also pleased to see the Buy More gang, along with Captain Awesome and Ellie, completely involved in the main plotline. In fact, the whole cast was together for this one, including Tony Hale … at least for awhile.

Isn’t it special when you can have everyone get together for a pleasant Christmas Eve together? Well, this wasn’t that show and I’m kind of glad of that. We already did the “sort of” traditional Thanksgiving episode, so it was nice to see something completely different for the Christmas one. And it was all worth it to see Big Mike dressed up as Santa Claus. And somebody give the guy in casting a raise for getting Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson, Family Matters) on board as Big Mike’s cousin.

So how do you react to what Chuck had to witness tonight, with Sarah? But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The twist that I loved was that not only was the hostage negotiator Fulcrum, but so was the hostage taker; that the whole thing was an elaborate set-up to find out who Casey and Sarah were protecting with their covers. A pretty brilliant move by Fulcrum, if I must give them credit.

Which leads to Sarah’s actions. Under the circumstances, I think it was really the only move she had available to her, both as the agent who’s sworn to keep Chuck safe at all costs and as the woman who’s falling for him despite herself. But later, when she lied about it to Chuck, it made things even more awkward. I didn’t expect her to tell him the truth, because I don’t think she wants Chuck to think of her as a killer, even though she’s clearly done her share of it in the line of duty.

The bottom line, though, is that the man was defenseless, inasmuch as a Fulcrum agent can be, at the time of his execution. Would there be fallout from the government for that, or would it be understood? I wonder if she’ll lie to them about it as well. It would be easy enough to tell them that he died in a blazing battle of gunfire. It does set up a nice foundation for the next phase of the Chuck-Sarah dynamic.

It’s beginning to look like the chances for those two crazy kids to get together are about as good as the chances of John Casey growing back a tenth toe. The other relationship in peril is Morgan and Anna. I like these two as a couple. And really it’s not like they’re in peril, just that Anna is looking for Morgan to grow up and Morgan thought she and Lester were hooking up. It is too bad that she missed Morgan’s bravery as we all know that kind of stuff really turns her on.

Chuck will be back in February, and NBC isn’t even going to honor us with any repeats to tide us over until then. Don’t forget about him or NBC will give him the axe when they have to make room on the schedule for Leno at 10:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. Central. And we’d rather have Chuck than Momma’s Boys on the schedule, right? Please say right!

Clacked by Jason Hughes
on Dec 16, 2008 @ 19:55 EST5EDT