CHUCK Recap: Chuck vs. The Sandworm

Episode: “Chuck vs. The Sandworm”
Original Airdate: 10.29.07
GMMR Recapper: SB

Yay! (And HoYay!*) I loved this episode. We had the glorious return of Captain Awesome, a good Buy More subplot, proper usage of Morgan, and geek references galore. Way to go, people!

Before I get too far into this recap, I have a shout out that has to happen. My former roommate and all-around awesome friend Amity (who taught me how to put the sparkle into my life) had a great catch last night with the Ronald Reagan picture in Casey’s house and made a point of texting me to see if I noticed. Well, let me just tell you that when Adam Baldwin and Ronald Reagan are both on my TV screen, Ronald Reagan has about as much chance of being noticed as an ant on my leg in the middle of a nuclear explosion. Nonetheless, that is a hilarious little detail and if this show is going to keep throwing in background jokes like that, I am going to have to pay better attention. And get DVR. (Seriously, why am I so slow to join the year 2007?)

I was way more into the Buy More story this week than the spy plot, which was that Chuck saw a guy in a video arcade who was a government-owned weapons designer and who convinced Chuck that he just wanted his freedom and a normal life, but of course he actually wanted revenge and was going to blow up the pier where he was discovered playing video games. He wired a bomb into a Nerd Herd car, which he commandeered from Chuck before ejecting him, and blah blah James Bondcakes, Chuck dismantles it.

Meanwhile, back at the Buy More, interviews are FINALLY scheduled for the stupid assistant manager job. We find out that Big Mike is not so much into his job as he is into the benefits, which seemed like a nice, realistic contrast to Tang, because I know a lot of people who are at their jobs for the benefits (like, oh I don’t know … ME). Big Mike warns Chuck not to let Morgan ruin it for him, since he is performing an abundance of stupid shenanigans in this episode, among them eating expired crap out of the employee refrigerator and filming a girl’s thong showing and displaying it on all of the big TVs on the wall. Sidenote: a guy I used to date was telling me about how his brother and his roommate would eat rotten vegetables and stuff out of their refrigerator while watching Fear Factor, I guess to have a play-at-home game. Following the thong incident, Chuck yells at Morgan in the middle of the store, basically calling him an immature loser in front of everyone. Morgan gets lessons on how to be a man from Captain Awesome, gives a big speech about why Chuck should be promoted to Assistant Manager when he skips his interview, and then they make up at the Halloween party, where Chuck lets Morgan be the front of the worm this year.

The C-plot is almost not worth recounting because once again, Chuck isn’t sure if he can trust Sarah and Casey. I wish they’d move on from this angle because, like the beating over the head that is “Sarah likes Chuck for real”, we get it. However, I did enjoy the Princess Leia costume (you guys know how I love my Star Wars) and I was really, REALLY entertained by Casey’s role in the whole thing. In case you missed it, he was the one that listened in on Chuck’s intimate moments with himself, as well as four-hour conversations on which sandwich Chuck and Morgan would bring with them to a deserted island. His disgusted look at the end when Chuck brought it up again was priceless, and there was also a really funny Morgan comment about how a sandwich is technically anything between two pieces of bread, so he could bring a Jessica Alba sandwich. Is it wrong to say that I totally identify with having those kinds of ridiculous conversations?

I don’t have too many other grievances this week. I could always use more Casey, but I thought it was great that every time he was on the screen, it was maximized, like him telling Chuck that he didn’t want to be the little fat kid that got picked last every time on Team Chuck. I also like a little more Ellie, but Captain Awesome pretty much made up for that, especially with his advice that maybe tucking in your shirt and having your junk out there for the world to see was maybe the point, and then his little Adam costume. Boy, was that special. I like how Lester and Jeff are a little pair of friends at the Buy More (and LOVED the American Gothic costumes—of COURSE Lester was the woman) and how they tried to suck up to Chuck when it looked like he’d get promoted.

I also liked how Chuck DIDN’T get the promotion. This is one of the mysteries to me of this show—it’s so outlandish and crazy most of the time, but then they manage to pull in these really realistic moments and it doesn’t seem weird. Who would hire a guy who didn’t show up to an interview? And yet you still kind of expected it to happen. And I loved that Captain Awesome’s advice to Morgan on how to be a man (speaking his mind, being direct, open, and honest) didn’t work, but that it still served a good purpose and kind of DID make him more of a man.

The details in this episode were so fun, too. I loved seeing The Morgan Door in action, and all the costumes. Big Mike’s zen garden was a nice touch, and did anyone else expect Cowboy Harry Tang (still the grossest name ever, by the way) to announce to Chuck that there was a new sheriff in town? My favorite joke of the episode, though, goes to Girl Nerd Herder, for watching Morgan play Mystery Crisper and dreamily saying that, “He can eat ANYTHING!” Dirty! I am now shipping** Morgan and Girl Nerd Herder.

Next week looks to be another awesome week, with the return of Bryce (in flashback form, it appears), to further our insight into that whole thing. And Chuck flashes on himself! Hee!

*Note: If you do not know what “HoYay” means, I would tell you to go look it up if you are going to continue watching this show. However, I am feeling charitable today and will do your dirty work for you. It’s short for Homoeroticism: Yay!

**It’s an educational day for you, if you aren’t down with the lingo. “To ship” is a verb that comes from “relationship” as best as I can tell, and basically means that you are rooting for a couple. So usages include: I am shipping them (want them to get together), or I am a shipper (love their relationship).

SB has many interests, including photography, her pets, entertainment, traveling and writing. She does have a day job, but that mostly amounts to her being a sarcastic young woman with a lot of time on her hands, which is why she appreciates the opportunity to recap.