In case you missed it,
here's Part 1 of Chuck Versus the Helicopter ;]
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Chuck Versus the Helicopter: Part 2
We come back right where we let off. Chuck is determined to save Sarah but Casey is more concerned with Chuck pulling the tranq dart out of his arm. Chuck nervously tells Casey about his aversion to needles and my heart swells (I, too, have a very strong aversion to needles, as a lot of people do). But Casey yells at him to do it. They get Casey to his feet as Chuck asks if that was Zarnow and that he’s not dead. Casey sarcastically tells him he’s right (c’mon, Casey, Chuck never met Zarnow. He’s just making sure! Oh, wait, I forgot. Casey’s only mood is “angry”).
Casey then shares with him that Zarnow plans to torture Sarah until she tells him all about Chuck. They hop into Chuck’s car and Casey tells him that he laced his quiches with microbots. Chuck asks him if he’s kidding (well, more like states that Casey isn’t kidding with some surprise) but Casey doesn’t kid about quiche. And I chuckle. Casey begins to press some buttons on the car’s sound system and says they can trace the quiche with the car’s built-in tracker. Chuck quips that that only comes in the sport package. But Casey tells Chuck they made some enhancements to his car while it was in the shop. Yay for explaining how Chuck’s car was fixed and he didn’t get in trouble with his boss! The NSA/CIA took care of it. Props, writers, props. Also, Chuck’s reaction is priceless.
They have a signal! They hastily make their way to the location. The Buy More. Sur-effin-prise. But wait. Why would he bring Sarah to the Buy More? And I burst out laughing as Chuck echoes my question out loud. ‘Glad I’m not the only one thinkin’ it. Casey doesn’t know but he needs Chuck to wait there. And then he trips over his own feet. Damn tranq dart. And I laugh again as he shakes it off. But my laughter is interrupted by the Wilhelm scream. For a split second, I roll my eyes and groan - I mean, c’mon, I know Sarah’s scream before was fake as all hell, but this? But then it hits me and I immediately know where this is going. It isn’t too much better, but it is better.
Sure enough. They track down the screams to the Home Theater Center to find Morgan parked on the couch, eating his doggy bag from dinner. And he’s watching an old scary, sci-fi movie; hence the crappy screams. That means they’re on the wrong trail. ‘Looks like Sarah didn’t get the chance to eat any quiche before Chuck’s magic trick. Just as I’m about to complain that Morgan must be deaf, he turns around a second after the Wonder Twins of Height leave.
Well, now Casey’s got nothing. So he gives up. Is that the NSA way? One try and then give up? ‘Explains a lot, doesn’t it? But Chuck refuses. They didn’t believe her so now they have to save her. He then asks Casey what he would do if he were Zarnow. Casey tells him he’d use a chopper with a small airfield near the water - the closest he could find. Poor Casey, he is trying so hard to stay conscious during all of this. I wonder how many tranq darts it would take to actually bring him down. So Chuck tells him to do a satellite search on the car’s computer using those very parameters. Which is a good idea to Casey. But, ya’ know, Chuck was just kinda’ spitballin’ off the top of his head. Another little moment that shows that Chuck is more cut out for the spy world than he and his handlers think; he is smart and capable of thinking fast under pressure. Lucky for the team, only one location fits that description - Port of Los Angeles.
They arrive and Casey tells Chuck he’s gonna’ go rescue Sarah, capture Zarnow, and shoot anyone that gets in his way. And Chuck is gonna’ stay in the car. So, in the plan, Chuck basically does nothing. Casey confirms with a “Yup.” To which Chuck responds, with a steely expression and tone, “Let’s do this.”
God, I love them.
Also, ‘looks like the tranq has finally worn off. Go, Casey. He exits the car and heads off to find Sarah. Chuck, however, sees Zarnow exit a warehouse of some kind and immediately tells himself to stay in the car. And I can’t help but think how much Zac Levi looks like a Who from the side.
Fa-Who Forays! Da-Who Dorays! Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer!
Chuck struggles for a moment with the decision to the leave the car or not. Casey went in the complete opposite direction, so what are the odds of him making it to Sarah in time? But Chuck isn’t a spy so what are the odds of him actually being able to help and not getting killed? None of what I just said is actually said, mind you, it’s just what I’m thinking must be going through Chuck’s mind. Chuck decides to be proactive and he gets out of the car.
Inside, Sarah is tied up and chained do-no wait, chained up too. And we get a nice, awkwardly sped-up, pan up shot of her as she hears Chuck coming. He asks if she’s okay and she responds with some gurgles, since her mouth is duct taped shut. But we can clearly understand her, as can Chuck, “What are you doing here?” That’s a good question but Chuck is more concerned with getting her untaped (*coughs* it’s a word) and unchained. Sarah tells him to get out but he insists he’s there to save her. But he shouldn’t be there; he’s too valuable. Besides, Sarah has the situation well in hand. Chuck snarks back that it looks well in hand but Sarah ignores that comment and tells him to get her something to pick the lock with. He does but just as the door bursts open (good thing the door is far away from where Sarah’s chained up, huh?) so Chuck re-tapes Sarah’s mouth and hides.
Zarnow makes his way to Sarah and tells her that the helicopter is ready (and, again, he says her name like it’s spelled “Hhhwalker”) and this is her last chance. I guess he’s taking her somewhere to be tortured instead of just doing it there, saving him both time and money? He really doesn’t like getting his hands all that dirty, does he? Why am I asking these questions when we all know he’s just a poorly written villain who just does whatever the plot calls for to make it seem more exciting and dangerous? He answers my question: yup, they’re taking her to a special facility where she’ll be tortured. Really tortured. As opposed to the brutal torture that she’s just endured of being handcuffed. What a fiend.
Zarnow pulls out a needle to knock Sarah out and Chuck says - completely out loud as though he just suddenly forgot he’s supposed to be, oh, I don’t know, hiding - “Oh, crap.” Little does he know that he’s voicing my feelings about this episode as well. I know he’s afraid of needles, I get it, I do, I am too, but really? Out loud like that? He didn’t even whisper it; it was just “Oh, crap.” I guess the writers have given up on trying to make these characters smart because Sarah immediately shrieks, “RUN!” through the duct tape. Zarnow had just turned around. Chuck might have been able to hide somewhere else or, hell, even punch the guy or something. But, again, that would inconvenience the plot by making it, oh, I don’t know, intelligent.
So, Chuck runs and Zarnow throws the tranq-needle-thing but it just misses our titular Nerd. Instead of running, Chuck freezes to the spot and turns and stares at Zarnow. When he looks at him, it triggers the Intersect (and, again, no awesome face! Me thinks it was a fluke now) and Chuck tells Zarnow that he knows his secret; he’s been feeding American science to North Korea for years. Zarnow brilliantly deduces that Chuck is Patient X and tells him it’s an honor to meet him. But, screw honor; he’s there for the impressive dollar figure the human Intersect will fetch. As he wonders out loud whom he’ll try to sell Chuck to first, he tranqs him, right in the heart Nerd Herd badge. Chuck’s reaction is so much better than Sarah’s; it has to be said. He actually sounds like he just got shot and is pretty freaked out by it. Just before he passes out, he feebly calls for Sarah.
D:
Zarnow takes Chuck and doesn’t bother tranqing Sarah. Maybe he ran out of darts? But then, why wouldn’t he bash her in the head with his gun, knocking her out that way? He really must not like tranqing people, despite being so trigger-happy at random moments. Sarah picks the lock as Zarnow drags Chuck into the chopper (and I resist the urge to shout “GET TO ZEE CHOPPA!” … Aw, man!) through the use of split sceen
Da daaa
Casey bursts in as the chopper takes off. They get outside just as it leaves the ground and Sarah tells her partner that they have Chuck. Zarnow gives the pilot the proper coordinates as Chuck comes to. Turns out the dart never made it through his shirt; it got stuck in his Nerd Herd badge. Poor Chuck really scares easily, that or his passing out was psychosomatic. They still haven’t made it very far away from the dock while Sarah and Casey just watch. No phone calls to headquarters are made; no backup is requested; hell, not even some kind of intercept team (they have their current coordinates, they have the chopper in sight, with its number blatantly painted on the side for the world to see, they see the direction its flying in). Nope, they just watch, mouths hanging open.
From inside the chopper, Chuck spies Zarnow’s tranq gun and grabs it, threatening Zarnow. Zarnow just sort of reacts like Chuck is the world’s most annoying five-year old. Chuck threatens Zarnow to land the helicopter. And Zarnow’s response makes me slam my head into my desk, “It’s heavier than you thought!” Chuck just shouts back, “What?” and I laugh as I continue to slam my head. The pilot even looks like he can’t believe the shit he’s hearing.
Zarnow repeats himself, “The gun - it’s heavy!” and he and Chuck have the most awkward staring contest the world has ever seen for about ten seconds before Zarnow leans over his seat. Well, writers, if your goal was to write the most pathetic, half-assed attempt at a villain, congratulations - you’ve succeeded. I mean…”It’s heavy”? Seriously?
So, Chuck and Zarnow fight over the gun and, oooops! It goes off, shooting the pilot. Zarnow goes flying out of his seat as the helicopter spirals out of control. And, in case someone in the audience is a moron, he tells Chuck he shot the pilot. Casey and Sarah keep watching from the ground, like the useful agents they are. Zarnow and Chuck tumble all around as Zarnow grabs Chuck by the neck and tells him that Chuck is going to kill them both. By…trying to get away? Sarah quietly cheers Chuck on as she sees the out of control chopper. The helicopter slams into a tower, throwing Chuck and Zarnow into the roof. Zarnow immediately passes out but Chuck manages to come out of the little crash completely unscathed.
He immediately hops into the co-pilot chair. Sarah must have ESP because she tells Casey that Chuck is flying the chopper. No wait, we get a POV shot from where they’re standing and you can clearly see Chuck. My bad, writers. Casey calls his asset and Chuck picks up his as a hair makes its way into the gate
He grabs a Bluetooth headset and talks to Casey. Well, more like asks Casey to tell him how to fly the damn thing after Casey barks at him, “I told you to stay in the car!” Casey gets all technical, impatient, and bitchy, so, naturally, it doesn’t remote help Chuck. Poor Chuck, he looks absolutely terrified and Casey is yelling at him like he’s an imbecile for not understanding how to “level off.” As I think yet, Chuck cries out that he doesn’t know how to level off. He looks so scared. Zac Levi is making this scene feel so real just by how good he is at acting petrified. Adam Baldwin is perfect at playing Casey’s douche side - he calls Chuck a moron as he asks him if he wants to die.
Chuck’s fear subsides at being insulted; he demands that Casey put Sarah on the phone. Sarah demands that Casey give her phone at the exact same time and Casey’s confused/surprised reaction is priceless. I like to think it’s a small meta moment but it might not be. So, Sarah gets on the phone and is, of course, the exact opposite of Casey. She’s reassuring and calm, telling Chuck he’s going to okay. She asks if he’s ever played any flying games before, tapping into his nerdy side. Chuck has. Conveniently, he’s played a helicopter flight simulator. Sarah assures him to just think of it as a game. He’s in his bedroom, playing a game, and none of it is real.
Chuck takes her advice and begins to fly a little more smoothly. As I roll my eyes (of course, now he’s gonna’ be a great pilot), Chuck sees that he’s heading into the water and asks if it’s the kind of chopper that can turn into a boat. So, he’s still crap at flying the real thing. Sarah tells him it’s not but that they base the games off the real thing, again trying to make him feel that he can do this. He makes a very, very, shaky landing, as he assures himself that it’s all a big, scary game. And, once again, Zac plays “relieved to be alive” like no one’s business. Chuck thanks God as he laughs and tells the pilot that he was wonderful. And I die laughing.
Chuck practically dances out of the helicopter, “And that is how I do that!” Casey rushes past him to apprehend Zarnow as Sarah approaches him, looking as those she’s about to spit in his face. Chuck amends his exclamation to “that’s how we do that” and offers her a high-five. Sarah yells at him and he sheepishly lowers his hand, making a witty quip to deflect the situation (and I begin writing my marriage proposal). She tells him that he compromised everything when he stopped trusting her. Casey adds in, “And when you got outta’ the car.” Chuck apologizes but Sarah is not having it. At all. Seriously, she is pissed off. My heart breaks at Chuck’s reaction to hearing her say that it is not okay.
Sarah is shocked at how Chuck could think she was a double agent; she is not Bryce. Bryce betrayed everything she believes in and if Chuck ever accuses her of that again then she’s walking away and they will all go back to Washington. And Sarah assures Chuck that he does not want that to happen; that he should trust her on. Before Chuck can even blink at her, she storms off, leaving Casey to be the biggest douche bag ever to walk the planet, “Way to go, Ace.”
Um, excuse me, Casey, but weren’t YOU the one who told Chuck not to trust Sarah? And when he still did, weren’t YOU the one who convinced him not to? And weren’t YOU the one who just gave up on saving her? Seriously, Casey you’re an asshole in that moment, plain and simple.
Where to begin on that sequence. Well, it continued to showcase the personalities the characters were given in the pilot so, kudos there, writers. Chuck, again, proved that he’s more capable of being in the spy world than initially he seems. Sarah is the calm nurturer and Casey is the aggressive ass but they can both have moments where they’re more three-dimensional, even if they’re fleeting. Zarnow is one of the most pathetic villains ever to grace the small (or silver) screen and it really brought the episode down. But at least his incompetence… well, no, actually. Nothing good came of that, aside from Chuck not dying. But that was due to himself and Sarah. Moving on!
The alternative ballad fills the air (it seems to be their thing for the almost-end of an episode) as Chuck gets ready in front of the mirror. Ellie comes in, “Dad’s suit.” Chuck smiles, albeit a bit pained, and tells Ellie it’s the only one he has. I guess his dad was a giant too, then? Ellie’s sure he wouldn’t mind Chuck wearing it. I really do love the family dynamic of the show. Even this early on, it seems to be an important aspect and, being a girl who believes family (both biological and found) is the most important thing in the world, that makes me so, so happy to see.
We find out why Chuck is wearing a suit as Ellie tells Chuck that he doesn’t have to go to Bryce’s funeral if he doesn’t want to. The scene is then intercut with the funeral itself, as Chuck tells Ellie that they had a lot of history, even if he did get Chuck kicked out of exposition land and yada yada. After an awkward joke, Ellie tells Chuck that she really likes Sarah and she hopes that they can work things out. Her voiceover plays over Chuck and Sarah, both viewing the funeral from afar, sharing pained looks. But Chuck isn’t so sure; he really blew it. But his sister promises that apologizing goes a long way.
Chuck tries to wave to Sarah at the funeral but she glares at him before focusing on the ceremony. And I have to point out how well Yvonne Strahovski plays this scene. Sarah is clearly devastated but she's trying to keep her professional demeanor intact and Yvonne plays that balance perfectly. Back in the recent past, Ellie tells Chuck that Sarah is special; she’s different from Chuck’s Stanford friends. Oh, if only Ellie knew. As they put the casket in the ground, it becomes too much for Sarah to bear; she leaves. Chuck watches but stays put, knowing it’s not the best time to chase after her.
In the background, we see Casey hiding behind a tree. He’s on the phone with Beckman; she is outraged to hear that Chuck flew a helicopter, among other terrifying things found in Casey’s report. She questions whether or not Chuck should be brought to Washington but Casey says that they’re in control, for now, despite how he feels. Casey, I like you less and less but strangely I like the storyline your character could bring out. He’s not a double agent in the traditional sense, but he is sort of a double agent to Chuck. Chuck feels that Casey is there for the same reasons as Sarah - to protect him. Of course, Casey is, but clearly he feels that Chuck could be more useful to them if he were stashed in a bunker. I can’t fully explain it but Casey is definitely not looking out for Chuck.
Beckman decides that Chuck will remain where he is (I guess she really trusts Casey). But. Casey shouldn’t get too comfortable. The new Intersect will be up and running in six months. And when that’s done, what will happen to Chuck, Casey questions. Beckman tells Casey that he’ll do what he does best. Casey hangs up his phone and walks away as the camera cuts to the current Intersect. And I get a chill up my spine. I knew Chuck couldn’t fully trust Casey.
I love that they didn’t explicitly say exactly what Casey does best. It sounds odd to point out but, the way the episode had explained certain things, I was expecting it. It makes it more realistic and dark, even. Chuck thinks that Casey is there to protect him and he is, of course, but he’s also there to kill him when his usefulness has run out. Ooooh, that moment just saved this episode’s ass.
Back in the mall, Chuck heads into the Wienerlicious. As I suspect a double use of the shot from earlier in the episode, it’s 100% confirmed. When Chuck is outside, his shirt is tucked. When he’s inside, it’s un-tucked. Nice. Anyway. Sarah is cleaning tables when Chuck approaches her. She seems okay; she had to go to the funeral. Even after everything Bryce did, he was still her partner. It’s interesting that she’s lying about her relationship with Bryce. It adds tension, of course, but it also shows that she might have more feelings for Chuck than even she would care to. Why else wouldn’t she tell him? Chuck apologizes for everything that happened in a very adorable way, “Instead of not trusting you, I should’ve been thanking you for saving my life and protecting the country and-and… and making really tasty, gourmet wieners.” Even Sarah can’t resist that apology.
D’awww
She apologizes for yelling at him but he tells her it was their first fight (HA! SEE, WRITERS! THAT WAS THEIR FIRST… first time watching it… *grumbles and bites lip*), which would be a big step if their relationship were remotely real (he likes saying “if our relationship were remotely real” in this episode). They share an awkward moment - again - before Sarah tells Chuck that with Zarnow gone, the secrets in his head aren’t going anywhere. Which means more missions, more danger, and more secrets that he can’t tell his sister or his friends. But Chuck knows that. And then Sarah delivers the brilliant line that was my lj cut.
“Some people want to be heroes and others have to be asked - so, Chuck, are you ready?”
He gives the least heroic “yes” I’ve ever heard but it makes me smile. And then that DAMN SPOON SONG PLAYS AGAIN. Christ, why are they using that song OVER AND OVER? Ellie, Devon, and Morgan come in, as if on cue (from that damn song) and Chuck tells Sarah that he thought they could give that dinner another shot. At the Wienerlicious. And Morgan puts his arm around Ellie XD
Sarah laughs nervously and tells the group that now they have to eat her cooking. As they all approach the counter, Chuck shoots Sarah the most amazing expression I think I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
XD!
And Sarah tries to stifle a laugh (and I think that somehow a little blooper just made it into the episode) as Devon asks what Chuck recommends. He, in turn, asks Sarah. She hands him a blackened corn dog and, again, his reaction is just amazing, “Ho, you’re s - okay.” He stares at it for a moment before apprehensively taking a bite. Judging from his reaction, it tastes as horrible as it looks.
And that concludes Chuck Versus the Helicopter. It wasn’t a very strong episode. The villain was laughably pathetic, making the danger Chuck and his handlers were in much less great than it should have been. Most of the jokes worked but some fell pretty flat (mainly those coming from Morgan) and all of the characters, save Chuck (but just barely), are two-dimensional. But, that’s not to say it was a complete and total failure. The reveal that Casey has a secret mission to kill Chuck is a brilliant addition to ongoing plot and the dinner sequence did have some great laughs and tension. Also, the opening was a clever and fun way to introduce new viewers to the show. Sadly, those were the brightest of bright spots.
Overall, Helicopter receives a 6.5/10.
Now, I just wanna' say... This episode was still better than most shows on TV. Judging it against any other episode of any other show, it would've scored much, much higher but I'm scoring it against the Pilot, which set the standard (and it set it pretty damn high). I'm also thinking about having a poll with each episode, to see what everyone else thought of it. Yay or nay? Anyways, if you love this episode, don't freak out; a 6.5/10 isn't too bad ;]