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Armand Assante guests in this episode as a crazy former Communist dictator who's about to announce his fictional country (Costa Gravas) will have its first democratic election. Unfortunately, he ends up poisoned and Team Bartowski has to take the lead on trying to make sure he isn't killed. Fortunately, for them his doctor is Awesome. As in, the Captain. He saves the premier's life and ends up invited to his gala (along with his wife, brother-in-law and his brother-in-law's date). So Sarah, Chuck and Awesome all head to the gala, everyone clear on the mission except Ellie, who just thinks this is an exciting, romantic, sexy reminder of the passion she and her husband have lost lately. Casey can't be inside during the mission at the Embassy, because he can't be on Costa Gravas soil, since they consider him the Angel of Death for the many times he tried and failed to assassinate the premier back when he was evil.
An assassin makes it into the gala, though, and Chuck and Sarah have already been kicked out for seeming drunk (they knocked out a protester whom they thought might be an assassin), so Casey gets in disguise and heads in to take out the assassin. Awesome mistakes Casey for an assassin, though, and knocks him out, saving the premier again. Casey ends up held as a Costa Gravan prisoner, although the real assassin is among the premier's guards. He poisons his cigar, and the premiere only wants Awesome as his doctor. Awesome, who really, really wants to be a spy, invites Chuck and Sarah along to try to get Casey back. They go in undercover as a doctor and a nurse, and when Casey's shot, Chuck has to prove to the premier's men that he's a doctor by removing the bullet from Casey's leg. He flashes and removes it, then gasses Casey when the premier needs a blood transfusion and Casey's type matches. Casey gets a box of cigars from the premiere and a new nickname: Angel of Life.
Awesome realizes this is all the excitement he can handle, and tells Chuck he can't imagine having to hide part of your life, and giving up part of your real life in the process. He tells Ellie he has one more patient, then will be home, and they're both cute and sweet and in love. But Awesome's last patient is the guy who tried to poison the premier, and he's not happy the assassination attempts didn't take because of pesky Dr. Awesome. The episode ends with Sarah coming up and whispering something to Chuck. They hug and look sad, then Ellie comes out and asks where her husband is. If they kill off Awesome, that will be decidedly not awesome.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!No previouslies. We open instead on a cadaver foot and are told we're at UCLA Medical Center in 2000. A professor's asking for volunteers to help with his dissection, and when he gets none, he calls on Devon Woodcomb. When he doesn't respond, the professor says Devon must have more pressing issues on his first day of medical school (right; like you dissect a cadaver on your first day). So he calls on Eleanor Bartowski, who's not there either. That's because they're making out in a broom closet somewhere. They make small talk, and learn each other's names. But at least they're gaining the appreciation of the human body that the professor wanted to teach them. They undress, and Awesome says he loves med school.
In the present, Ellie's asking for a broom to sweep up a wedding plate she broke. She's cranky Chuck's not there to help them move, but Awesome sticks up for him (as he also tries to channel him while setting up the flat-screen TV). Ellie comes upon their wedding album, and gets nostalgic for several months ago. She wonders when they get another break from real life, and get to be those people again. Awesome says he's going to take a break, get some food, and they'll watch their wedding video on the couch and maybe afterward re-create their wedding night. She wonders about the TV, and he says it's a job for a professional. Just then a helicopter loudly flies over, and Ellie asks if it's just her or there have been a lot of those lately. Awesome pretends he hasn't noticed.
Chuck's arriving home after his helicopter drop-off. When he turns on his bedroom light, Awesome's sitting there, and Chuck screams. Awesome apologizes for scaring him, but Chuck suggests not sneaking into someone's room at night then. Awesome suggests Chuck's pilot land farther from the apartment, and Chuck says he'll work on it. Chuck's opening his spy kit (which has a Buy More badge in it), and Awesome helps him take off some sort of spy gear as Awesome asks where he was, and tells him Ellie's mad that he didn't come over to set up the TV. Chuck says he was on a CIA mission, which was the basic: cocktail party, bad guys, weapons. Awesome thinks it sounds kick-ass, and then tells Chuck he might want to keep his body armor on when he finally sees Ellie.
Awesome and Ellie's. Chuck easily sets up the TV, and Awesome says he could have been a surgeon with those hands. Ellie snidely replies he could have been a lot of things, but she would have settled for on time. Then he turns the TV on, and she takes it back. The news that's on the TV, though, is about the premier of the fictional Communist country of Costa Gravas, who's visiting the U.S. for the first time since 1974. Chuck flashes on the leader, who's a killer. Awesome notices the flash and asks if Chuck's okay. Chuck gets a page, and tells Awesome he has to run. Awesome asks if it's something with the premier, and Chuck says it's confidential spy stuff. Awesome's page beeps, too, and he answers Chuck the same way. Ellie comes out, and Awesome tells her that duty calls, but he'll make it up to her.
At Castle, General Redhead is filling Team Bartowski in on their mission: to go to the hospital and guard the premier's life. Casey reminds her she's personally ordered him to kill "that Commie crackpot" three times. She reminds him that he failed every time. Sarah mocks Casey for not having the perfect record he's always said. General Redhead says relations between the U.S. and Costa Gravas are changed, because he's about to announce plans for the country's first democratic election. She says they're not assuming this is an assassination attempt until they secure his medical records. She says he's being treated at... but Chuck guesses that it's Westside Medical, and you know it is. At the hospital, men in military uniforms with machine guns guard another guy in a military uniform, when Awesome comes in and tells them not to worry; the doctor's here. Back at Castle, Chuck asks if General Redhead wants him to exploit his relationship with his sister and/or brother-in-law, and she's like, "Duh." She says if anything happens to the premier, she's holding Chuck responsible. At the hospital, one of the uniformed guys tells Awesome the same thing. Opening credits.
Casey's scowling at the TV as Team Bartowski watches a press conference about the premier being released from the hospital already. Who's talking to the press? None other than our own Captain Awesome, who says the premier's an amazing man; a real fighter. Casey's going to be sick. Someone asks Awesome a question in Spanish, and he responds in Spanish, but ends with "muy awesome." Sarah asks if there's anything Awesome can't do, and Chuck says that's kind of where the nickname comes from. Casey's sick of sitting around and wants to apprehend Awesome and get the medical records. Chuck says he's family, and he'll talk to him.
Awesome enters the apartment courtyard, and Chuck spins in his squeaky outdoor chair and tells Awesome he didn't mean to scare him. Awesome: "You didn't." Chuck: "Whatever." He tells Awesome he'd like to talk to him about something, and Awesome knows it's the premier. He asks Chuck if the CIA doesn't want to debrief him or something, and Chuck's like, "Uh, I am debriefing you." Awesome means in the secret base, but Chuck laughs awkwardly and says Awesome watches too much TV. Basically, all Awesome knows is that the premier didn't have a heart attack, so Chuck says that's all he needed to know: that the premier was poisoned. Awesome asks if there's anything else he can do; if the CIA needs an extra set of hands. He says married life is great, but he needs some adventure. Chuck: "You're an adventure-sports cardiologist." Awesome: "Whatever, man! I could do that in my sleep." He needs some real action. He wants to feel like he did on the football field, and can still run a 4.4 forty. Chuck says they'll call him if they need a tight end, but Awesome is his brother-in-law and Ellie would kill him. Yeah, Chuck, I sort of think she'd kill you for doing it yourself, too, but that hasn't stopped you.
Castle. General Redhead needs Team Bartowski to guard the premier at an event at the Consulate that night, which is technically sovereign soil, so she says the CIA has no official knowledge of this mission. When Chuck asks, she says they can't tell the premier he's in danger, because he wouldn't trust the country that's tried to kill him for so long. She says their protection must go undetected and shuts herself off. Chuck lays it out: So, if they get caught, the CIA pretends they were on their own and they rot in a Costa Gravan prison. Sarah corrects him that in Costa Gravas it would mean death by firing squad. Casey loves this mission, but has to recuse himself since he's a wanted man on Costa Gravan soil. Chuck laughs and thinks Casey's a little paranoid, but Casey says they called him el Angel de la Muerte (Angel of Death) Chuck says it was the '80s, and the premier wouldn't give a flying crap about him. Casey growls, but just then a bunch of military guys show up in the courtyard. Casey gets weapons and asks for cover, but Chuck points out that they're actually not coming here; they're knocking at Ellie and Awesome's.
Awesome's working out on a stationary bike as the guys knock at the door. Ellie wants him to get it, as she's trying to sleep on the couch after being on call for three days. Awesome says he really needs his workout. Chuck tries to call, but Ellie hangs up on him. The knocking continues, and Awesome finally goes to the door. It's the premier (Armand Assante), of course, and he's there to thank Awesome for saving his life. He laughs, and Ellie comes out to ask him to keep it down. The premier introduces himself and tells Ellie how beautiful she is, then explains that Awesome's a hero, and all the men salute him. He says he owes Awesome his life, and invites them to be guests of honor at his gala tonight. They say yes, and then Chuck runs out and gets himself an invitation (but only after the premier says he sees the resemblance between Chuck and Ellie, with their delicate features that are much better on a woman). The premier and his men leave, and Ellie squeals about how she can't believe this is happening.
Gala. Chuck's worried about Ellie and Awesome, but they think this is totally romantic. Sarah tells Chuck he has to relax if he wants the Intersect to be able to protect them. Casey's in a van outside, telling them where the guards and metal detectors are. Sarah goes to check the doors and Chuck's supposed to look for potential assassins. Unfortunately, there's lots of knives and ice picks and fire where the chefs are, so he goes to talk to Awesome, who asks if they're going to whack the premier. Chuck says no way, they're here to defend. Awesome asks what his mission is, and Chuck says it's to keep his eyes on Ellie all night. Awesome looks over, and the premier's kissing Ellie's hand and flirting. Commercials.
Awesome wants to get Ellie away from the target of the assassination plot. He says he's going in, but Chuck tells him to let a professional handle this. Sarah goes in, and greets the premier and Ellie. He says he's not usually around such lovely ladies, and his doctor tells him to avoid such stimulation. He adds, with a laugh, "But then, my doctor is your husband." The girls giggle, and Sarah leads her away. Awesome tells Chuck how good Sarah is. Ellie and Sarah start talking about Chuck, and how hard this must be for them to be on a sexy date right after breaking up. Chuck and Awesome are talking about it, too: Awesome wonders if Chuck and Sarah have ever, like, you know. Chuck says no, and Awesome's surprised they weren't a real couple. Awesome thinks it would be hard to pretend you're in love with someone like Sarah for three years and not fall for her. Ellie thinks Sarah still has feeling for Chuck. Casey butts in and tells them to cool it with the girl talk -- and he's talking to Chuck, too -- and get back to protecting the premier.
The premier starts to make a speech, which Casey thinks makes him a walking target. Armand Assante is awesome and crazy here, going on and on about capitalism and the historic meeting of these two nations. [They clearly have a relationship now, so why can't America just warn him, again? - Zach] He invites "Mrs. Dr. Woodcomb" to dance. She tries to say no, but he doesn't give her much choice. Awesome looks nervous. The premier sort of grinds all over Ellie, as Awesome looks at Chuck, all "Do something!" Meanwhile, Casey uploads a photo to Chuck's phone of a guy who spent time in a Costa Gravan prison who got into the gala on a stolen passport. Chuck spots him, and Sarah says they have to get across the dance floor to take him out without anyone seeing them or suspecting them of making a move to hurt the premier. Chuck flashes on dance moves and leads Sarah across the dance floor. It's awesome in an entirely different way than the premier and Ellie, who are still dancing. Awesome's still not loving it. Fake passport guy reaches into his pocket and Sarah tells Chuck to take him out. So he does, with his elbow. Turns out he just had a rotten egg in his pocket, and was a political protester. But it was enough to get Chuck and Sarah kicked out to "sober up." On the way out, Chuck flashes on a guy (the "Hey! It's that Guy!" who plays Samuel's brother, Joseph and Desmond's monk) who's most definitely not a Costa Gravan guard.
Once they're locked out, Chuck tells Sarah, who tells Casey he needs to get in there since the premier's completely unprotected. Casey sneaks in, dressed as a Costa Gravan guard, with a fake moustache. He sees the assassin heading toward the premier and goes toward him. Awesome sees him, doesn't recognize him [For a doctor, his facial recognition skills are decidedly un-awesome. - Z], and thinks he's after the premier. He tackles him. When Casey's moustache flies off, Awesome realizes what he's done. The premier's guards recognize Casey immediately as "El Angel de la Muerte," and take him away. The real assassin's still free. The premier tells Awesome he saved his life. Again. Ellie can't believe he just did that, and Awesome's like, "I can't believe I did, either," but he knows he messed up. Commercials including the latest "Journey to Vancouver" Honda commercial. Awesome's driving now, and Morgan brought some roadtrip music. They sing a bunch of songs, but Awesome and Chuck have to stop and cry after Don't You Forget About Me, agreeing on no more power ballads. I wonder if these will go on until the Olympics. That would be... Awesome.
Castle. Chuck asks General Redhead what she means by "Wait." We see she's in a fancy cocktail dress as he says he hates to interrupt her cocktail party, but they have a man down here. She appreciates Chuck's loyalty and will do everything they can to get the colonel back, using diplomatic channels. She says they can't risk upsetting relations with Costa Gravas, whose future is in the balance. She says Casey will have to handle himself. In a cell, the premier asks Casey when he will realize he can't kill him. Casey says he's here to protect him, but the premier questions that argument from the Angel of Death. He reminds him he put a bullet in his spleen in '83 and blew up his dog, Chuly, in '88. Casey apologizes about that one, since the bomb was meant for the premier. Casey tells him his life's in danger, but the premier's had enough and has Casey gagged just as the assassin comes in. Casey recognizes him, and sees him put poison in the premier's cigar, but he's gagged, so he just kicks it out of the premier's mouth. The premier picks it up and re-lights it. He offers Casey a final smoke, but then decides against it. He takes one drag and goes out like a light.
Back home, Ellie thanks Awesome for tonight and making her forget all about real life. She reminds him of their first night at medical school, and says this place has very nice closets. His phone rings and he pulls it out to turn it off, but it's the Consulate. He tells her the premier needs him; it's an emergency. He asks her to hold onto the feeling; he'll be right back. Awesome finds Chuck in the courtyard and says he can help get Casey back, since he was invited into the Consulate to help the premier, who asked for him as his doctor before he lost consciousness. Awesome swears he'll leave the spy stuff to the pros after getting them inside. thing you know, they're at Castle and Awesome's like, "I knew you guys had a secret base! This is badass!" Chuck tells him not to touch anything. Chuck's pulling up the schematics for the Consulate to get Casey back. Sarah comes in and scolds Chuck for bringing a civilian in here. She's going by herself, thank you, until Chuck tells Sarah that the premier's invited Awesome to be his own personal physician. Awesome says here's the plan, but Sarah's way ahead of him... Awesome, Chuck, and Sarah show up at the Consulate, all dressed in scrubs, and are let right in. [Well, the guys are in scrubs. Sarah is, of course, a sexy nurse. - Z] Commercials.
Costa Gravan cell. Casey's still gagged and the assassin guy comes in to taunt him. Bad guys always have to do that. He greets him as "John Casey, NSA assassin," and when Casey asks who he is, he replies, "The man who's going to kill you." Casey: "Obviously. Who do you work for?" Turns out he works for the Ring. Awesome and his "medical team" show up to a room in the Consulate where the premier's unconscious. Awesome wants him in a hospital, but his guys aren't having it; they want to keep him off North American soil and alive, thankyouverymuch. [Although unannounced visits to doctors' apartments is A-okay. - Z] Back in the cell, the Ring guy's not giving Casey much information other than to say the Ring wants to preserve Costa Gravan status quo, so the premier must die. He also admires Casey's work in the '90s, but calls him an aging agent. Awesome asks Chuck the plan, and he says they're going to get Casey while he looks after the premier. Awesome asks him and which Army will get them past the guards, and Chuck says, "That would be Sarah, and her fists." And you know she kicks their asses, and looks hot all the while in her nurse uniform. Casey tells the Ring guy he's getting out of there, but the Ring guy says there's enough poison in his syringe to kill an Army platoon. Casey: "Lucky for me, I'm a Marine," then he bashes the guy's head with his own and the fight starts. Sarah finishes beating up the bad guys and holds a machine gun and beckons Chuck to go with her. Awesome says she's some woman, and Chuck agrees. Casey ends up gouged in the leg with the needle, but the guy never gets to plunge it before Casey knocks him out. Casey pulls the needle out, but then a real Costa Gravan guard comes in and shoots him in the leg. By that time, though Sarah and Chuck are there, and they rescue him before he gets shot anywhere else. They go to get Awesome...
But Awesome's not willing to leave and save himself and leave his patient, so he tells them to go, but this is his mission. The premier's guards come in and want to kill Casey, but Chuck wants to save everyone -- Casey and the premier. The guy says if Chuck wishes to prove he's not an assassin, he should prove he's a doctor and save Casey. Casey and Sarah sit down to "operate," and Chuck gets nervous and hot. Finally, right before a guard shoots him, Awesome talks Chuck through it (while keeping the premier alive), saying he has the hands of a surgeon and can do this. Chuck flashes and then asks Sarah for: suction, scalpel, tweezers, gauze, iodine, forceps. He says, "Just like Operation... you know, the game." Then pulls the bullet out of Casey's leg. Sarah and Awesome are so proud. The premier's machines start beeping, and Awesome says he tried to tell them there was nothing he could do for him here, without a blood transfusion, and he doesn't even know the premier's blood type. Casey knows it's AB-negative. He says, "You learn a lot about a guy when you're trying to kill him." He also knows his favorite movie is Terms of Endearment and always showers after lovemaking. Awesome says that's not going to save him, and they need someone else with AB-negative. He asks in English and Spanish, but no one speaks up, so when Chuck notices Casey's shifty eyes, he checks Casey's dog tag. It says "AB-negative," of course. Casey's not having it, so Chuck gives him anesthesia.
Casey comes to in Castle and says he feels like death. He asks what happened. General Redhead pops on the screen and congratulations them, though she doesn't endorse their methods. She thanks Casey for his extraordinary sacrifice. All he remembers its getting shot, but then it comes to him. He looks at Chuck: "You stole my blood and you put it in a stinking Commie despot." Chuck says "former." They present Casey with a thank-you gift from the premier. It's cigars and a card that thanks him and calls him "the Angel of Life."
Orange Orange. Awesome shows up and asks how things went. Chuck says there's no new mission for Awesome, who says he scratched his espionage itch. He says it was all killer, but it's not worth it if you have to give up half your real life. Sarah comes in and Awesome says he has to run to the hospital, finish up some stuff, and get home to his wife. Sarah tells Chuck that Awesome would have made an awesome spy. Of course. He's awesome at everything. Chuck tells her it runs in the family, and she smiles. He asks her what she thinks their cover should be moving forward, and she suggests keeping it simple: friends. He thinks that could work, that he could fake being friends with her. She agrees she doesn't find him completely repulsive. It's a deal. They even shake on it. She asks what friends do, and he says he and Morgan would gorge themselves on processed food and play video games. She says they're not quite there yet, so he suggests they come up with other options.
Awesome calls Ellie from the hospital to tell Ellie he's had a crazy night, and just has to see one more patient before he can come home. She asks him to hurry home, since she has a surprise for him. It looks like the surprise is that she unpacked. He says he'll be there, since he owes her a dance. They say they love each other. Awesome greets his last patient, the Ring assassin who Casey knocked out in the cell. Awesome tells him it looks like his face hurts, and he says Awesome has no idea. He pulls out his syringe of poison. Cut to Sarah knocking on Chuck's door. He asks what's up, and she whispers in his ear. All we can hear is "Devon," but they both look very sad and serious, and she hugs him. Ellie comes out and asks if they've seen her husband and they look at her seriously, and then at each other. She starts to look worried. The end.
Thank goodness for previews, though, since week: Awesome's being held by Angie Harmon. Chuck thinks this is his fault. And then Chuck has to rescue Awesome, and impresses him with the things the Intersect can do.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then give our list of the Most Badass Women on TV read!
DeAnn, a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon, loves Operation. You can contact her at twopmodmars@gmail.com.