Chuck Versus the Honeymooners
Encyclopedia
"Chuck Versus the Honeymooners" is the 14th episode of the third season of Chuck
. It originally aired on April 26, 2010. When Chuck
and Sarah
go AWOL after the death of Daniel Shaw
, Beckman sends the newly-reinstated Casey
and Morgan
to bring them back. Meanwhile, Ellie
is upset that her brother may miss her going away party before she and Devon leave to join Doctors without Borders in Africa.
terrorist Juan Diego Arnaldo (Carlos Lacamara
). Separately, Chuck and Sarah investigate before they confess what they've learned and the couple agrees to complete this one final mission before retiring. They hastily assemble a plan to neutralize Arnaldo's bodyguards, which goes well until they are confronted by Casey, who has managed to track them down. Arnaldo flees, but is eventually subdued with the assistance of Morgan, who has accompanied Casey. However, the men accompanying Arnaldo that Chuck and Sarah drugged were not members of ETA
at all, but Interpol
operatives assigned to bring him into protective custody to end the two years he spent on the run. Another passenger, a woman named Elia (Lela Loren), overhears them and places a call to her associates and vanishes into the crowd and is revealed as a member of ETA assigned to make sure Arnaldo doesn't talk.
Beckman berates Chuck and Sarah over their poor judgment, and arranges for a new Interpol team to collect Arnaldo. The five wait at a nearby café while Arnaldo listens in as Chuck and Sarah each explains their desire to be together with Morgan and Casey, respectively. Each admits that they don't want to quit their jobs, but are willing to do so because they believe the other wishes to leave the spy life. Casey is sympathetic because of his own experience
with the decision Sarah now has to make, so allows Chuck and Sarah to escape again. However as they do so, they are confronted and handcuffed by the Interpol agents from the train who reveal their replacement team was found dead. Chuck and Sarah escape and return to the café, where they find Casey, Morgan and Arnaldo have been captured by Elia and her team. Chuck and Sarah break into the café and work together to defeat the terrorists. Casey again offers them the chance to escape, but Arnaldo steps in and warns them against not being honest and being true to themselves. Having listened to both of them express their feelings, he suggests they don't have to choose between each other and their careers. Chuck and Sarah decide they want to "have it all," and return to Burbank.
Back at Castle, Beckman debriefs Chuck and Sarah on their actions in Europe but attempts to stop them when the couple openly discloses their relationship. Although she is displeased and warns them of the risks involved with allowing their personal lives to interfere with their professional one, Beckman notes off the record that "it's about damn time."
They board the train and split up to search for Chuck and Sarah. Casey corners the pair in the dining car, while Morgan tries to chat up Elia, who is riding in another compartment. Morgan foils Arnaldo's attempt to escape, and is stunned when Casey deduces Chuck and Sarah intend to quit. While waiting for the replacement Interpol agents at the café, Casey and Morgan both attempt to talk Chuck and Sarah out of running, but eventually give them their support. When the new Interpol team arrives, Morgan casually starts to chat them up about Lake Como
, which he studied extensively in his travel guide on the flight to Europe, and realizes they are not from Interpol when one of the agents makes a mistake by identifying an annual boating festival as "palaces" instead. The two are captured by Elia and her team but are subsequently rescued by Chuck and Sarah, who returned when they learned the real Interpol agents were found dead.
At Castle, Beckman debriefs the team and congratulates Casey on the mission. Casey admits that Morgan's assistance was instrumental in locating Chuck and Sarah and praises his resourcefulness and quick action during the mission, of which Beckman takes note.
invite themselves to the party to perform, where they accidentally blow out their amp and admit that they need Chuck in order to repair it; Ellie loses her temper, and demands they fix it themselves, angrily stating "We DON'T need Chuck." To appease Ellie, Lester decides to perform "unplugged
." However, at the party, Ellie gets drunk and, in a speech, vents her frustration over Chuck's absence.
When Chuck finally returns home, he finds the video of the party and is distraught over having missed saying goodbye to Ellie. Ellie then walks in, having forgotten her phone, and admits that she wasn't upset with Chuck, but herself for leaving her little brother. Chuck notes he's not so little anymore, and that he won't be alone as Sarah walks in. Ellie happily realizes that Chuck and Sarah are "back together" again.
Steve Heisler of The AV Club gave the episode a B rating.
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
. It originally aired on April 26, 2010. When Chuck
Chuck Bartowski
Charles Irving "Chuck" Bartowski is the main and titular character of the American fiction television show Chuck on NBC. He is portrayed by Zachary Levi.-Character profile:...
and Sarah
Sarah Walker (Chuck)
Sarah Lisa Bartowski is the alias of one of the main characters of the fictional television show Chuck on NBC. She is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski and is one of two agents assigned by the NSA and CIA to protect Chuck Bartowski after he unwittingly downloads the secret government computer known...
go AWOL after the death of Daniel Shaw
Daniel Shaw
Daniel Shaw is a fictional government agent on the television series Chuck. Shaw is introduced in the third season episode "Chuck Versus Operation Awesome" as a government agent specializing in the terrorist organization known as the Ring, and who becomes a mentor to Chuck Bartowski and ultimately...
, Beckman sends the newly-reinstated Casey
John Casey (Chuck)
Colonel John Casey is portrayed by actor Adam Baldwin on the television show Chuck on NBC. Prior to the episode "Chuck Versus the Tic Tac," he was partnered with CIA agent Sarah Walker to protect Chuck Bartowski....
and Morgan
Morgan Grimes
Morgan Guillermo Grimes is a major character on the television series Chuck. He is portrayed by actor Joshua Gomez, and is the best friend of Chuck Bartowski....
to bring them back. Meanwhile, Ellie
Ellie Bartowski
Eleanor Faye "Ellie" Bartowski Woodcomb, M.D., Ph.D., is the older sister of title character Chuck Bartowski on the television series Chuck. She is portrayed by actress Sarah Lancaster.-Biography:...
is upset that her brother may miss her going away party before she and Devon leave to join Doctors without Borders in Africa.
Chuck and Sarah
The episode begins with Chuck and Sarah on a train outside of Paris, airing the sexual tension that has built up over the course of their working together and disobeying an order by Beckman to return to Burbank. Fearing what would happen if the General were to learn about their relationship and not wanting to give each other up after finally being together, they decide to run away and leave the spy life behind, at which point Sarah throws Chuck's phone out the train window. However, while discussing plans about their new life together, Sarah and Chuck each independently recognize a fellow passenger as the BasqueBasque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
terrorist Juan Diego Arnaldo (Carlos Lacamara
Carlos Lacamara
Carlos Lacámara , sometimes credited as Carlos Lacamara or Carlos LaCamara, is a Cuban-born American actor and playwright who has had a long career on American television, making his first appearance in 1983 on the sitcom Family Ties...
). Separately, Chuck and Sarah investigate before they confess what they've learned and the couple agrees to complete this one final mission before retiring. They hastily assemble a plan to neutralize Arnaldo's bodyguards, which goes well until they are confronted by Casey, who has managed to track them down. Arnaldo flees, but is eventually subdued with the assistance of Morgan, who has accompanied Casey. However, the men accompanying Arnaldo that Chuck and Sarah drugged were not members of ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
at all, but Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
operatives assigned to bring him into protective custody to end the two years he spent on the run. Another passenger, a woman named Elia (Lela Loren), overhears them and places a call to her associates and vanishes into the crowd and is revealed as a member of ETA assigned to make sure Arnaldo doesn't talk.
Beckman berates Chuck and Sarah over their poor judgment, and arranges for a new Interpol team to collect Arnaldo. The five wait at a nearby café while Arnaldo listens in as Chuck and Sarah each explains their desire to be together with Morgan and Casey, respectively. Each admits that they don't want to quit their jobs, but are willing to do so because they believe the other wishes to leave the spy life. Casey is sympathetic because of his own experience
Chuck Versus the Tic Tac
"Chuck Versus the Tic Tac" is the tenth episode of the third season of the television series Chuck, airing on March 15, 2010. When Casey's former commanding officer returns, Chuck and Sarah take it upon themselves to clear his name when he is arrested for treason...
with the decision Sarah now has to make, so allows Chuck and Sarah to escape again. However as they do so, they are confronted and handcuffed by the Interpol agents from the train who reveal their replacement team was found dead. Chuck and Sarah escape and return to the café, where they find Casey, Morgan and Arnaldo have been captured by Elia and her team. Chuck and Sarah break into the café and work together to defeat the terrorists. Casey again offers them the chance to escape, but Arnaldo steps in and warns them against not being honest and being true to themselves. Having listened to both of them express their feelings, he suggests they don't have to choose between each other and their careers. Chuck and Sarah decide they want to "have it all," and return to Burbank.
Back at Castle, Beckman debriefs Chuck and Sarah on their actions in Europe but attempts to stop them when the couple openly discloses their relationship. Although she is displeased and warns them of the risks involved with allowing their personal lives to interfere with their professional one, Beckman notes off the record that "it's about damn time."
Casey and Morgan
When Chuck and Sarah fail to return to Burbank as scheduled, the government declares them AWOL. Beckman orders Casey to track them down by utilizing Morgan's close relationship with Chuck. Casey is initially reluctant to accept Morgan's assistance, but Morgan is quickly able to determine the couple's whereabouts on a train to Zürich using his extensive knowledge of Chuck's life. Casey orders Morgan to pack for the trip as the two set off on a flight to Europe to intercept them.They board the train and split up to search for Chuck and Sarah. Casey corners the pair in the dining car, while Morgan tries to chat up Elia, who is riding in another compartment. Morgan foils Arnaldo's attempt to escape, and is stunned when Casey deduces Chuck and Sarah intend to quit. While waiting for the replacement Interpol agents at the café, Casey and Morgan both attempt to talk Chuck and Sarah out of running, but eventually give them their support. When the new Interpol team arrives, Morgan casually starts to chat them up about Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
, which he studied extensively in his travel guide on the flight to Europe, and realizes they are not from Interpol when one of the agents makes a mistake by identifying an annual boating festival as "palaces" instead. The two are captured by Elia and her team but are subsequently rescued by Chuck and Sarah, who returned when they learned the real Interpol agents were found dead.
At Castle, Beckman debriefs the team and congratulates Casey on the mission. Casey admits that Morgan's assistance was instrumental in locating Chuck and Sarah and praises his resourcefulness and quick action during the mission, of which Beckman takes note.
Ellie and Chuck
Ellie and Devon are preparing to leave for their trip to Africa, and Ellie is upset because she has not heard from Chuck about their going away party. Devon attempts to get information on Chuck's whereabouts from Morgan, who only promises he's in the process of tracking them down. Meanwhile, Jeff and LesterJeffster!
Jeffster! is a fictional cover band on the television series Chuck. Its principal members are Jeff Barnes and Lester Patel , both of whom work in the Nerd Herd division of the Buy More...
invite themselves to the party to perform, where they accidentally blow out their amp and admit that they need Chuck in order to repair it; Ellie loses her temper, and demands they fix it themselves, angrily stating "We DON'T need Chuck." To appease Ellie, Lester decides to perform "unplugged
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
." However, at the party, Ellie gets drunk and, in a speech, vents her frustration over Chuck's absence.
When Chuck finally returns home, he finds the video of the party and is distraught over having missed saying goodbye to Ellie. Ellie then walks in, having forgotten her phone, and admits that she wasn't upset with Chuck, but herself for leaving her little brother. Chuck notes he's not so little anymore, and that he won't be alone as Sarah walks in. Ellie happily realizes that Chuck and Sarah are "back together" again.
Production Details
- When Chuck and Sarah fight while handcuffed, many of the moves in which Chuck lifts or spins Sarah are in fact taken from swing dancing. Chuck's flash prior to the fight focuses solely on martial arts.
- In the beginning of the episode, Chuck comments on Sarah's admission of not actually having a favorite band or song, in reference to the pilotChuck Versus the Intersect"Chuck Versus the Intersect" is the pilot episode of the American action-comedy television series Chuck. The episode was directed by McG and written by series co-creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak...
. - Morgan stating that he is the Intersect on Chuck is a callback to "Chuck Versus the Wookie" when Sarah described Morgan in the same fashion following a game of "Know-Ya!"
- Morgan and Casey being tied up is a callback to "Chuck Versus the Undercover LoverChuck Versus the Undercover Lover"Chuck Versus the Undercover Lover" aired on January 24, 2008. It is the 12th episode of the first season of Chuck, and aired alongside "Chuck Versus the Marlin" to close out the season. Casey is forced to revisit his past when his presumed-dead girlfriend resurfaces...
" when Chuck and Casey are tied up and Casey uses Chuck to kick an enemy as he does with Morgan. - The ending is a callback to Chuck's "wicked vinyl collection" as mentioned by Morgan in "Chuck Versus the SandwormChuck Versus the Sandworm"Chuck Versus the Sandworm" aired on October 29, 2007, and is the sixth episode of Chuck's first season. Chuck Bartowski meets a kindred spirit in Laszlo Mahnovski, a genius who designs technology for the government, but finds himself questioning how much he trusts his handlers...
". - During dialogue with the musician Yvonne StrahovskiYvonne StrahovskiYvonne Strahovski is an Australian actress. Born in Australia to Polish immigrant parents, Strahovski speaks Polish and English...
uses Polish languagePolish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
for a third time in the series. - This is the second time Morgan exposes the main villain, the first time was in the previous episode
- When Diego is running towards him, Morgan uses "the Morgan" for protection. It is used and referenced by Chuck in Chuck Versus the First KillChuck Versus the First Kill"Chuck Versus the First Kill" aired on April 13, 2009, the 20th episode of the second season, and 33rd overall. Chuck strikes a deal with his ex-girlfriend Jill to have her released from prison if she cooperates with his search for his father...
- When Chuck uses the phone booth to talk to General Beckman, the operator requests him to insert two euros before disconnecting them. Switzerland is not part of the EU and does not have the euro. The correct currency would be swiss francs.
Flashes
- Chuck identifies Arnaldo as a member of the Basque terrorist group ETA with a flash.
- While fleeing Arnaldo's compartment on the train, Chuck uses a flash on gymnastics to re-enter his own compartment from the roof of the speeding vehicle.
- Chuck flashes on French to address another passenger while preparing to capture Arnaldo.
- Chuck flashes on martial arts and swing dancing moves to prepare for the fight in the café.
Music
- Holiday - Vampire WeekendVampire WeekendVampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
(Chuck and Sarah in the train, enjoying their time) - Feeling GoodFeeling Good"Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song...
- Nina SimoneNina SimoneEunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
(Chuck puts it on to begin Sarah’s musical education) - Leaving on a Jet PlaneLeaving on a Jet Plane"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written by John Denver in 1966 and most famously recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. The original title of the song was "Oh Babe I Hate to Go" but Denver's then producer, Milt Okun, convinced him to change the title....
- John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
(JEFFSTER performed at Ellie & Devon's party) - Reach for the Sun - The Polyphonic SpreeThe Polyphonic SpreeThe Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
(Chuck and Sarah vow to NOT quit being spies) - Four by Four - Shout Out LoudsShout Out LoudsShout Out Louds are an indie rock band from Stockholm, Sweden.The group has toured with bands such as The Strokes, Kings of Leon, The Magic Numbers, The Rosebuds, The Essex Green, and Johnossi...
(played while Chuck & Sarah explained why they were quitting being spies)
Reception
Chuck Versus the Honeymooners was watched by 6 million viewers, for a 2.1 18-49 rating.Steve Heisler of The AV Club gave the episode a B rating.