Chuck TV Show - Chuck Versus the Ex - Chuck Recaps, Chuck Reviews, Chuck Episodes | TWoP

Recapped by DeAnn Welker · Aired 2008-11-10

Previously on Chuck (new viewers, pay attention; we're going way back tonight): Chuck couldn't get over his long-ago ex-girlfriend at Stanford, Jill, who was stolen by Bryce Larkin. Chuck's sister Ellie wanted him to move on, and he said he'd get over her "tomorrow." Do we think he did?

The episode begins with skyline shots of the Stanford football stadium and other red roofs on campus as title cards tells us this is Stanford University in 2003. People look happy all over campus, and then we see our hero in a green Buy More salesman uniform. See how far he's come since then? He doesn't have to wear the green shirt anymore, at least, right? He walks up to a ping-pong table where a group of people are playing beer pong on a front yard in broad daylight (man, I miss college). He borrows a paddle and some balls, and turns off the ping-pong players' music so that he can yell at Jill. He starts yelling her name and lobbing ping-pong balls at what I'll assume is her window. Jill's friend, Sherry, opens up and tells him to go away, and that if Jill wanted to talk to him she would have returned one of his 28 phone calls. She leaves the window open when she walks away, though, so Chuck proceeds to yell up at Jill. He tells her he was on break at Buy More and that he drove 346 miles straight from Burbank to tell her he still loves her. The partying crowd reaction is equal parts "awwwww" and mocking laughter. And how does he have this job, again, if he left on "break" for a 700-mile round trip? It's either the longest break in the world, or they put up with the same behavior from Chuck pre-CIA that they still put up with from him now. Anyway, Jill's reaction is somewhat more "awwww," because she shows up at the window at last. They did an excellent job of making Jordana Brewster sufficiently geeky that it's easy to believe she'd date Chuck (who, remember, is not all that geeky either). He asks if she'll go to coffee, and she says it's too late because it's over. He acts like an idiot and tries to get her to give him another chance, but Sherry the Bitch comes up and says, "She's dating Bryce Larkin now, Chuck. Deal with it." Chuck's devastated, and Jill says she's sorry.

The song that's been playing, Iggy Pop's "Pumpin' for Jill," takes us back to the present, where we see Chuck's at the Buy More listening to "Jill '03 Mix" on his iPhone. Buster Bluth comes up with a box of donuts and tells Chuck to get to the Sheraton Conference Center for a tech support call. Chuck asks if he has any Boston Cream in his donut box, and Buster says, "Oh yeah, several," and walks off without opening the box. I really hate him. And not even in a good, humorous way. Just in a way that somehow makes the Buy More scenes even more tedious and unimportant. He walks into Mike's office and gives him a donut. Mike starts choking on his first bite and Buster starts giving the Heimlich to Mike while yelling for help. Jeff and Lester come in, and Lester corrects Buster's Heimlich technique. He thinks Buster should be reaching down Mike's throat to pull the donut out (Buster's doing the proper technique, by the way). Eventually, the donut comes flying out and lands at Jeff and Lester's feet, to which Jeff responds, in all seriousness, "Are there any more donuts?" Because, in case you hadn't noticed, he's seriously disgusting.

By DeAnn Welker

When we return, Buster's standing in the back room at the Buy More, with all of the employees lined up in chairs in front of him. Directly in front of him is a round table with bell on it. He dings it, which is apparently his neurotic indication that he'd like people to pay attention to him (they already were). He tells them that they almost lost their dear leader to a tiny, little donut today. Morgan pipes up, "Please! We lost Big Mike to donuts years ago." Everyone laughs, so Buster dings his bell again. He shudders to know how these people would respond to an actual catastrophe, such as a fire or earthquake, so they have decided to implement an emergency preparedness course, and one of their colleagues knew someone willing to teach it. And in walks Captain Awesome with a CPR mannequin. Did anyone else notice this doll is clearly wearing a wig, in the style of Ellie? Do we even want to know? Chuck gets up and asks Awesome if he's sure he wants to do this. He tells Chuck he loves volunteer work (and, I'm sorry, but I think a company like Buy More should be paying for someone to do this; they're not a charity by any means) and that CPR is such a breeze that a child could learn to do it. Chuck says Awesome might have a shot then. Then Chuck tells everyone that Awesome is really good at this, and he's the one who certified Chuck. Buster pipes up that Chuck might be certified, but he will still have to take the test. Two things: Dude, Chuck got you a volunteer CPR instructor, so back off; and 2. I think it's probably not legal to make someone who's certified take the certification test for a job. But I know nothing of labor laws, particularly in California (or any state that I don't live in), so I'll shut up. Casey comes and tells Chuck it's time to get ready for his date and Chuck ducks out. Doesn't Casey have to take the class?

By DeAnn Welker

The Buy More staff is in the back room doing disturbing and stupid things with the CPR mannequins (they all have strange wigs; apparently this line of them comes with fake-looking wigs), when Awesome walks in for their lesson. He reprimands them, asking what's wrong with them. Jeff says he drinks too much, and Lester says his parents had impossible standards. Awesome tells them the written part of the test is tomorrow, but apparently they didn't know about this. Jeff says, "Man, if I wanted to take tests, I would have been a boat captain." I have no idea what that means, and I'm sure it doesn't matter. Buster tells them if they don't pass the test, they can take the 30-hour remedial CPR course, but they won't get paid for that training like they are this time. He laughs an evil laugh, and it sort of reminds me of Pee-Wee Herman. So now I feel like I should like this character, but I still don't.

Chuck's eating cereal in the morning when Ellie comes in and asks if she can ask him personal questions. He doesn't even make her ask, but tells her she was right and he never should have gone out with Jill. She tries to make him feel better, saying maybe she overreacted and maybe there was a reason he went to dinner with Jill. For example, he always had a million questions, and now he got some answers. He doesn't think it did any good to poke around in his past, but she thinks now he can close that chapter of his life. I love how Ellie can finally be okay with something she thought was a bad decision after she's already won. Anyway, Chuck tells her she's right again, so she's still winning.

Sarah and Casey are surveilling outside of Guy and Jill's hotel when Chuck arrives. He says he came to see if Jill's all right. Sarah tells him she hasn't left her room since coming home last night after their date. She's making a phone call, but Casey can't pick any of it up on their bug, so he and Sarah argue over who should go plant another one. Chuck says he can do it. He'll go up there, tell her he's really sorry, she'll tell him he's a giant loser, and he'll leave the bug. Sarah makes sure he knows where to plant it, and he says he does. He says he's going in.

By DeAnn Welker

Transition to Morgan saying the same thing to Jeff and Lester in the courtyard of Chuck and Ellie's apartment. He asks if they're ready, and Lester says he was born ready. Jeff says he was born premature. So, not so much ready then, Jeff? Jeff and Lester knock on the front door and Ellie answers. She tries to shut the door quickly, saying Chuck's not there, but they know already; they're here to talk to her about Chuck. Also, Lester calls her Elizabeth. I'm not sure I knew that was her name. Morgan digs around in Awesome's bag for the test while Lester and Jeff tell Ellie their concerns about Chuck: They think he has rabies. She thinks they are crazy and creepy, mainly because they are. She slams the door, and they realize Morgan's about to get caught. Morgan's knocked over a laundry basket trying to get into Awesome's bag and has just picked it all up, with one last pair of panties in his hand, when Awesome comes in and asks if Morgan's looking for something. He tells Morgan he'd never leave the test in his bag. Ellie walks in and asks Morgan if he's holding her underwear. He quickly drops them into the basket and said he wasn't here for those; he came for the test. Ellie's like, "So you deny being a perv, but you admit to being a thief?" But, really, a thief is slightly better, I think, all things considered. He gives himself props for being honest.

Chuck knocks on Jill's hotel door, and when she asks who it is, he says he's the lying, well-meaning fool who rented a Ferrari last night. Watching the hall camera on video, Casey bets Sarah ten bucks that she doesn't let him in. Sarah ups it to 20 and takes that bet, because she knows how charming Chuck is with the ladies. Chuck tells Jill he's there to tell her the truth. He says he works at the Buy More, lives with Ellie, and doesn't know what he's doing with his life. But he wanted her to think he was something special, hence the suit and the car he didn't know how to drive. Sarah and Jill are both melting a little. Chuck tells her that as soon as he saw her again, he knew he hadn't gotten over her yet. She opens the door and asks him to confirm that, and when he says no, he hasn't gotten over her, she lets him in. Casey pays up to Sarah back in the van. Chuck asks Jill again about her lecture as he turns the bug on. He goes to place it, but she stops him by telling him to stop underselling himself, because she had a really nice time with him last night. She wants no more lies and deception. Chuck turns off the bug and tells her there won't be more lies or deception. She kisses him. And he's giddy. It's completely adorable.

By DeAnn Welker

Back at the OOSSL, Casey's talking to Jill, who can't stop crying. Chuck and Sarah are on the other side of a one-way mirror watching, and he wants to console her. Sarah tells Chuck that Jill can't know he's a spy. He's much rather her think that than that he's a stalker, but Sarah assures him Jill won't think that. Casey asks Jill why she thinks Guy might have been killed. He tells her he's in a secret CIA compound, and that they've been watching them for days because they thought Guy was involved in something shady. Jill looks through the photos they've taken of her and sees Chuck. She asks Casey if he's involved, and says he's been acting really strange. She says he's almost like a stalker. Casey tells her it's a pattern with losers to get all infatuated, and that no, Chuck's not infatuated. Jill says that Guy wasn't involved either, at least not in the way they think. He has an anti-serum for a strain of influenza used in bioweapons. It's a bioweapon that can kill a person in one hour if exposed (this will be important later). According to Jill, Guy recently learned that their company sells the influenza bioweapon, so he was going to present the research at the convention to keep the company from covering it up. She says she will have to do the presentation instead. Chuck starts banging on the glass, because it's too dangerous to let Jill do this. Jill tells Casey his window's knocking. Casey goes door, and Chuck says Jill isn't going to the conference because it's too dangerous and the assassin will kill her. He says he's putting his foot down... gingerly. Casey says he has to look after everyone, not just whatever girl Chuck likes. Chuck appeals to Sarah and Sarah says fine, she'll give the presentation. Not exactly what he had in mind, but at least he knows Sarah can handle herself.

Back at the Buy More, Morgan, Jeff and Lester are wondering where Chuck is. They need him here for the written part of the CPR test so they can copy off him and pass. Buster wonders who they're talking about not being here, but he guesses it's the "perennial tardy Chuck." Chuck comes in apologizing for being late, but Awesome tells him he's right on time. I heart Awesome, especially because he really does love Chuck like a brother. Now if only he'll kick Buster's ass for us. Chuck sits down, and Morgan, Lester and Jeff fight over sitting to him. Buster finds this "interesting," but apparently doesn't get that they want to cheat. Lester even has a hat and sunglasses to make his cheating easier. They start the test.

By DeAnn Welker

At the presentation, Sarah's all professional-looking in a business suit, bun and glasses. The guy Chuck helped with computers earlier introduces Sarah as Dr. LeFleur's associate from Sydney, Australia, Dr. Ava Anderson. And, yay, Yvonne gets to speak in her native accent! And it's really lovely. I want her to be full-time Australian, but I'm guessing that wouldn't make a great cover. Or would it? No one would suspect an Australian of being CIA, would they? Sarah starts talking, but someone runs out of the room. She excuses herself and chases him out of the room. Casey heads to where he'd been sitting and sees the bioweapon. He has the room sealed, and says no one will get in or out. Sarah's running in her sexy business suit through the warehouse-looking halls of the hotel.

Chuck gets a call during his test, and a menacing photo of Casey comes up on his iPhone (again, why doesn't Casey have to take the test?). Chuck says he has to take the call. Buster doesn't want any phone calls during the test, but Chuck ignores and answers it. Casey tells Chuck about the bioweapons mess he's in and tells him to get to Jill and see if she has an antidote. Because there's only about an hour before he and everyone else in that room dies. Chuck doesn't think Jill wants to see him, but Casey points out that the dying that is going to happen is more important. Chuck takes off, and Buster picks up his test and throws it away, saying, "I guess someone doesn't think saving lives is important." Heh. But apparently Buster doesn't think saving paper is important, because that test can be recycled instead of thrown away.

Chuck's trying to tell Jill he's a CIA agent and they need to go to the conference center where the bioweapon has been released. She doesn't believe him and is going to call the police, but he shows her all of the agents with him. She knows he's finally telling the truth and tells him to hold on. When she goes back in, he looks at all of the big, serious agents and says, "She's pretty cute, right? We used to date." It's seriously cute. But I also wonder why they would need this many agents to come to the door with Chuck. In case there's danger? To escort Jill out if necessary? It seems like overkill, and I don't think the CIA would waste these resources just for Chuck to show off. Although maybe to convince her... so I guess I'll allow it. Because, you know, I have a choice in the matter. Jill's ready. Chuck tells her to stay close and not to be scared. I love that he's the big, tough agent here -- and she's totally buying it. I think she must not have known Bryce was an agent, either, or she wouldn't have been so surprised. Which indicates they probably weren't together all that long.

By DeAnn Welker

Chuck shows up at the conference center, asks who's in charge, and tells the guy who is that he's not anymore. Chuck gets on the walkie-talkie with Casey, who says they have about 15 minutes. Jill has to get in there. They don't have hazmat suits, but she's going in anyway. Chuck won't hear of it, and he's going instead. He says she can talk him through making the antidote, which is really not a good idea. After all, he's the Intersect. And what if something happens to the walkie-talkie? She says she'll let him go, then pulls out a needle and poisons him with the virus. He can't believe she just poisoned him, and she says that's the only way to make the antidote (with his blood). Sarah's in a big hotel kitchen, tracking our bad guy, the assassin from earlier. She ends up killing him, and he has a CIA badge. Uh-oh.

Casey greets Chuck less than warmly, saying that he thought things couldn't get worse, but knowing that their survival hopes rest with Chuck proves that they could and did. Chuck ignores him, and Jill starts talking him through what to do. He has to draw his own blood, but he wants Casey to do it. Unfortunately, Casey starts to pass out and drops the needle and breaks it. Jill tells Chuck that was the only syringe, but she's looking for another. He asks her to hurry, since they're running out of time.

Buster also says they're running out of time, telling Morgan, Lester and Jeff they have one minute left and haven't attempted the Heimlich section. Morgan and Lester get an idea, and give Jeff a pen cap to choke on. He obliges BECAUSE HE'S INSANE, and starts choking and turning red. It really looks to not be an act. Can you actually make yourself choke on purpose? Awesome comes over to give Jeff the Heimlich and says the steps out loud as he's doing them. Morgan and Lester write furiously. As soon as the pen cap is shot out of Jeff's mouth, Morgan and Lester put their pens down and say, "Done." Buster is not pleased. Poor Jeff. He had to do the choking and didn't get to finish the test? I hope he'll get an extra minute since he choked.

Chuck asks Casey what they're going to do, and Casey tells Chuck to think of something since he's smart and went to Stanford -- sort of. Someone sneezes and Chuck has an epiphany: Since viruses are spread airborne, he thinks maybe the antivirals metabolize in saliva. Casey doesn't get it, and Chuck can't even believe what he's about to do, but he licks his lips and prepares to kiss Casey. Casey resists, saying he's served his country with honor and wants to die with dignity. But Chuck pushes harder and plants a big, wet kiss on Casey. Right then Jill walks in wearing a hazmat suit, and asks Chuck what he's doing. Chuck and Casey both spit, and Chuck tells Jill he thought the antivirals could spread by saliva. She tells him it's no wonder he failed biochem, as that's totally ridiculous. But come on! It was the best TV kiss ever. Totally full of HoYay and also hatred. Chuck's apologizing to Casey, as Jill makes the antiviral using Chuck's blood. Chuck and Jill split up the serum and distribute it to everyone. Sarah's walking up to the front of the building right as Chuck, Jill, Casey and the survivors come out. Casey has to go vomit. Chuck sees Sarah, who gives him a huge, proud smile. He looks like he sort of wants to go talk to her, but doesn't want to leave Jill. He turns back to Jill, who tells him he was amazing. He downplays it but then says, "Well, maybe a little." Our Jill Mix song is playing again as Jill and Chuck kiss. It's cute and sweet, but it doesn't have the chemistry of any of Chuck and Sarah's past kisses. I think partly because we have to wait so long between them, but also because of Yvonne and Zach's unbelievable chemistry. That said, I like Jill and especially love the triangle -- and that the tables are turned on Sarah, and she has to long for Chuck like he's always done with her.

By DeAnn Welker

Back in the OOSSL, Casey and Sarah are talking to Agent Redhead. Casey wants to know what they should do about Jill knowing Chuck's an asset. Agent Redhead doesn't want them to do anything. Since the agent Sarah killed was a member of Fulcrum, Agent Redhead wants to keep Jill around to see if Fulcrum will make a play for her. Sarah tells Agent Redhead that Chuck has real feelings for Jill and wouldn't like them using her as bait, and Agent Redhead says that's why none of them will be telling him.

Chuck walks into the apartment grinning and Ellie tells him she hasn't seen his smile in awhile. He tells her he found some of the answers Ellie thought he was looking for. Ellie makes all sort of assumptions about what his answers were and tells him how special Sarah is and that's why he had to go through all that stuff with Jill so that he could figure out that Sarah's the one for him. Well, except for that whole matter of being CIA and you not knowing her real name or anything else about her. Otherwise? Totally the one. Chuck's phone rings, and Ellie assumes again that it's Sarah. Which is sort of dumb, considering that Morgan probably calls Chuck more than anyone else. But it's Jill. Chuck takes it and walks outside. She asks how his favorite secret agent is. He says he's good other than having to study for a CPR test at the Buy More, and he could really use some help with the mouth to mouth. Jill wonders if his cover girlfriend will get jealous; Chuck says no, that's just a cover. Jill thinks having everything be fake sounds really lonely. He tells her it is, but now that she's here, maybe they can have something real. Back at OOSSL, Sarah's listening in (to Jill's phone? Or Chuck's?) and looking sad -- probably just as much at the loneliness they're talking about as at not being the one with Chuck. Jill likes the sound of that, and Chuck asks about the mouth to mouth again. It's really cute, and I think sets something up for the show that could be sort of wonderful. This is make or break time for Sarah and Chuck, I think. She will have to fight for him or lose him forever. Unless the show makes Jill a bad guy, in which case it will be dead to me. It cannot be that simple. I think there has to be an actual choice here, and if she's bad, that's taken away.

By DeAnn Welker

week: Chuck will do anything to protect his real relationship, even "treason," according to Casey. And in order to save one girl he'll betray the other. He doesn't show which one he's saving and betraying, but the preview wants us to believe he's saving Jill and betraying Sarah. But it also wants us to believe that Casey's order, "Sarah, shoot him!" followed by her pointing a gun and shooting is at Chuck. The title of the show sort of indicates that's not going to happen. Nice try, preview!

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DeAnn is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. You can contact her at twopmodmars@gmail.com.