Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon
Encyclopedia
"Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon" is the sixteenth episode of the second season
of Chuck
. It originally aired on March 9, 2009. When Cole Barker (Jonathan Cake) escapes after being tortured by Fulcrum
and returns to Castle, Sarah Walker
and John Casey
are assigned to hunt down a scientist (Robert Picardo
) codenamed "Perseus", who is the mastermind behind Fulcrum's plans to build their own Intersect
. Chuck Bartowski
learns that a man codenamed "Orion" is the designer of the Intersect and headed the entire Intersect project. Meanwhile, Sarah wrestles with her feelings for Cole and Chuck, and Morgan tries to talk Anna out of moving in with him after previously agreeing to move in with Chuck.
agents to learn who possessed the Intersect
. Later, John Casey
brings Chuck Bartowski
to Castle and prepare to take him to a secure location to protect his identity. Suddenly, a bloodied and exhausted Cole arrives, having escaped the Fulcrum agents without compromising Chuck's cover.
General Beckman
(Bonita Friedericy
) orders the team to capture a Fulcrum agent codenamed "Perseus", the lead scientist in the development of the Fulcrum Intersect, during an event at a Swiss
consul office. While Sarah and Casey attend the party wearing cameras, Cole and Chuck will monitor them from Castle. Chuck flashes on Dr. Howard Busgang (Robert Picardo
), a DOD
scientist who he suspects is Perseus. Meanwhile, Duncan (Vincent Duvall), who Cole recognizes as one of the Fulcrum agents who tortured him, disables Sarah and Casey's surveillance cameras, worrying Cole. Cole gives Chuck a gun and they leave Castle to assist Sarah and Casey.
Duncan holds Sarah, Casey, and Howard at gunpoint and leads them away from the party, and Howard asserts that he was not aware of Fulcrum's intentions. Outside, Cole starts to climb a balcony to enter through a window, but Chuck notices that he is bleeding. Chuck climbs to window and sees Casey and Sarah, and Cole tells him to attack the agents in a few seconds. Chuck tries to surprise the agents, but, having never used a gun, drops it and accidentally shoots Howard, who manages to escape. Casey and Sarah use the distraction to break free. Sarah grabs a gun and chases after Duncan. Just as Sarah is about to be shot, Cole dives in front of Sarah to save her. Chuck walks out into the hallway and tells Casey that he hurt his ankle, only to sees that Cole has taken a bullet for Sarah.
When Beckman informs the team that Howard was a technician for the Intersect, Chuck realizes that Howard can remove the Intersect from his head. Later, Chuck returns home and shows Ellie Bartowski
and Devon Woodcomb his injured ankle, and they tell him to go to the hospital. At the hospital, Chuck sees Howard being treated for his gunshot wound, and informs, so that they may capture Howard and remove the Intersect. As Chuck follows Howard, a Fulcrum agent spots him and calls his team. Chuck follows Howard into an office, pretending that he is on a Buy More
maintenance call. As Howard takes cash out of his safe, Chuck enters Howard's lab. Howard finds him and points a gun at him, recognizing Chuck as the one who shot him. As Sarah, Casey, and Cole find Howard's receptionist dead, Chuck reveals that he knows about the Intersect. After Chuck flashes on documents titled "Orion", Howard realizes that Chuck is the human Intersect. Chuck asks Howard if he can remove the Intersect, and Howard says that Orion, the chief designer of the Intersect, might. Duncan arrives and shoots Howard and Cole, before being shot by Sarah.
Later, Chuck inquires about Orion, but Beckman have not yet located him. Cole leaves, wishing Chuck good luck for removing the Intersect and advising him to start carrying a gun.
Later, Chuck meets with Sarah in front of his apartment and decides not to move in with her (See "Chuck and Sarah"). He says that once he removes the Intersect, he will live the life that he wants. Chuck walks into the apartment and tells Ellie that he is not moving out (See "Chuck, Morgan, and Anna"). He then takes down his Tron
poster, revealing a chart on the back with all the information he has gathered about the Intersect and Operation Bartowski. He adds Orion to the top of the chart.
When Cole later takes a bullet to save Sarah, she tends to his wounds. Though Sarah tries to remain professional, Cole is hurt that she is not responding to him, judging it unfair that they cannot just take off together. He later reveals that he was ordered to have medical attention 24 hours a day and asks her to take care of him. She declines to remain in her cover relationship with Chuck.
Later, Chuck meets with Sarah in front of his apartment. He tells her that he understands what she sees in Cole. Chuck tells Sarah that he cannot live with her and suppress his feelings. He tells her that when he removes the Intersect, he will live the life that he wants.
prepares to move in with Chuck to avoid his mother's relationship with Big Mike. However, Anna informs him that she has a new apartment for them to move into together. Rather than tell Anna the truth, Morgan decides to annoy her into changing her mind. First, he declines spending time with her to play Wii Tennis
with Jeff Barnes and Lester Patel.
Next, Morgan gives Anna a set of rules that she needs to agree to before they move in together, titled the "Morganuptials", which she happily signs. Morgan sadly cancels his plans to move in with Chuck. Chuck is relieved, as he also had to cancel the arrangement to move in with Sarah, and assures Morgan that he is making the right decision.
gave the episode a B-, concluding, "Look, the show is still a lot of fun to watch (loved Jeff's sweaty almost-embrace of Anna, and Chuck's inadvertent dance when his leg gets caught in the window, among other things), and this new Orion angle—the creator of the Intersect, who might be able to get it out of Chuck's head—shows promise, particularly the fact that Chuck has been conducting his own little research in private (putting his findings on the back of his Tron poster). But please, enough with the repetition.
"
Eric Goldman of IGN
gave the episode an 8.2 out of 10, writing that he was initially disappointed by Chuck's first use of a gun. Goldman enjoyed the reveal of Chuck's chart on the back of his Tron poster, concluding, "This reveal that Chuck is not idly standing by but has actually been actively keeping track of his now-crazy life is a great little twist."
Viewer response was also positive, with an 9/10 user rating at TV.com
. The episode drew 5.796 million viewers.
Chuck (season 2)
The second season of Chuck contains 22 episodes and was originally aired from September 29, 2008 to April 27, 2009. The season continues to focus on Chuck's constant struggle to keep his spy life and real life apart as he becomes more accustomed to being a spy. More background on the Intersect...
of Chuck
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 March 9, 2009. When Cole Barker (Jonathan Cake) escapes after being tortured by Fulcrum
Fulcrum (Chuck)
Fulcrum is the codename of a fictional hostile espionage organization on the television series Chuck. Fulcrum serves as the series' main antagonists up until the end of season two, though their specific goals beyond acquiring the Intersect have not yet been fully revealed.-History:Very little...
and returns to Castle, Sarah Walker
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...
and John 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....
are assigned to hunt down a scientist (Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach, the Emergency Medical Hologram , also known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, The Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years , Ben Wheeler in Wagons East, and as...
) codenamed "Perseus", who is the mastermind behind Fulcrum's plans to build their own Intersect
The Intersect
The Intersect is a fictional secret technology appearing in the television series Chuck. Within the series, it is used to house and analyze large quantities of encoded data...
. Chuck Bartowski
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:...
learns that a man codenamed "Orion" is the designer of the Intersect and headed the entire Intersect project. Meanwhile, Sarah wrestles with her feelings for Cole and Chuck, and Morgan tries to talk Anna out of moving in with him after previously agreeing to move in with Chuck.
Main plot
Cole Barker (Jonathan Cake) is tortured by a group of FulcrumFulcrum (Chuck)
Fulcrum is the codename of a fictional hostile espionage organization on the television series Chuck. Fulcrum serves as the series' main antagonists up until the end of season two, though their specific goals beyond acquiring the Intersect have not yet been fully revealed.-History:Very little...
agents to learn who possessed the Intersect
The Intersect
The Intersect is a fictional secret technology appearing in the television series Chuck. Within the series, it is used to house and analyze large quantities of encoded data...
. Later, John 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....
brings Chuck Bartowski
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:...
to Castle and prepare to take him to a secure location to protect his identity. Suddenly, a bloodied and exhausted Cole arrives, having escaped the Fulcrum agents without compromising Chuck's cover.
General Beckman
Diane Beckman
Brigadier General M. Diane Beckman, USAF is a fictional character in the NBC television series Chuck. Beckman is a senior official of the National Security Agency, working within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She holds her rank of brigadier general in the United States Air...
(Bonita Friedericy
Bonita Friedericy
Bonita Friedericy is an American actress. She currently can be seen in the television series Chuck as NSA Director Diane Beckman. She has also appeared on Malcolm in the Middle, Veronica Mars, Star Trek: Enterprise, Bones, The Nine, The West Wing, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and in the film...
) orders the team to capture a Fulcrum agent codenamed "Perseus", the lead scientist in the development of the Fulcrum Intersect, during an event at a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
consul office. While Sarah and Casey attend the party wearing cameras, Cole and Chuck will monitor them from Castle. Chuck flashes on Dr. Howard Busgang (Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach, the Emergency Medical Hologram , also known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, The Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years , Ben Wheeler in Wagons East, and as...
), a DOD
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
scientist who he suspects is Perseus. Meanwhile, Duncan (Vincent Duvall), who Cole recognizes as one of the Fulcrum agents who tortured him, disables Sarah and Casey's surveillance cameras, worrying Cole. Cole gives Chuck a gun and they leave Castle to assist Sarah and Casey.
Duncan holds Sarah, Casey, and Howard at gunpoint and leads them away from the party, and Howard asserts that he was not aware of Fulcrum's intentions. Outside, Cole starts to climb a balcony to enter through a window, but Chuck notices that he is bleeding. Chuck climbs to window and sees Casey and Sarah, and Cole tells him to attack the agents in a few seconds. Chuck tries to surprise the agents, but, having never used a gun, drops it and accidentally shoots Howard, who manages to escape. Casey and Sarah use the distraction to break free. Sarah grabs a gun and chases after Duncan. Just as Sarah is about to be shot, Cole dives in front of Sarah to save her. Chuck walks out into the hallway and tells Casey that he hurt his ankle, only to sees that Cole has taken a bullet for Sarah.
When Beckman informs the team that Howard was a technician for the Intersect, Chuck realizes that Howard can remove the Intersect from his head. Later, Chuck returns home and shows Ellie Bartowski
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:...
and Devon Woodcomb his injured ankle, and they tell him to go to the hospital. At the hospital, Chuck sees Howard being treated for his gunshot wound, and informs, so that they may capture Howard and remove the Intersect. As Chuck follows Howard, a Fulcrum agent spots him and calls his team. Chuck follows Howard into an office, pretending that he is on a Buy More
Buy More
Buy More is a fictional big box electronics retail chain in NBC's action-comedy series Chuck. The Buy More is a parody of similar chains, particularly Best Buy....
maintenance call. As Howard takes cash out of his safe, Chuck enters Howard's lab. Howard finds him and points a gun at him, recognizing Chuck as the one who shot him. As Sarah, Casey, and Cole find Howard's receptionist dead, Chuck reveals that he knows about the Intersect. After Chuck flashes on documents titled "Orion", Howard realizes that Chuck is the human Intersect. Chuck asks Howard if he can remove the Intersect, and Howard says that Orion, the chief designer of the Intersect, might. Duncan arrives and shoots Howard and Cole, before being shot by Sarah.
Later, Chuck inquires about Orion, but Beckman have not yet located him. Cole leaves, wishing Chuck good luck for removing the Intersect and advising him to start carrying a gun.
Later, Chuck meets with Sarah in front of his apartment and decides not to move in with her (See "Chuck and Sarah"). He says that once he removes the Intersect, he will live the life that he wants. Chuck walks into the apartment and tells Ellie that he is not moving out (See "Chuck, Morgan, and Anna"). He then takes down his Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
poster, revealing a chart on the back with all the information he has gathered about the Intersect and Operation Bartowski. He adds Orion to the top of the chart.
Chuck and Sarah
When Cole is captured, Sarah moves in with Chuck as a precaution. She tells Chuck that when they get an apartment, they can have separate rooms. Chuck tells Sarah that he saw a connection between her and Cole, but she says that it is purely professional. At breakfast, Ellie tells Sarah that she is excited that she and Chuck are moving in together. Meanwhile, Chuck must reveal to Morgan that they cannot be roommates.When Cole later takes a bullet to save Sarah, she tends to his wounds. Though Sarah tries to remain professional, Cole is hurt that she is not responding to him, judging it unfair that they cannot just take off together. He later reveals that he was ordered to have medical attention 24 hours a day and asks her to take care of him. She declines to remain in her cover relationship with Chuck.
Later, Chuck meets with Sarah in front of his apartment. He tells her that he understands what she sees in Cole. Chuck tells Sarah that he cannot live with her and suppress his feelings. He tells her that when he removes the Intersect, he will live the life that he wants.
Chuck, Morgan, and Anna
Morgan GrimesMorgan 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....
prepares to move in with Chuck to avoid his mother's relationship with Big Mike. However, Anna informs him that she has a new apartment for them to move into together. Rather than tell Anna the truth, Morgan decides to annoy her into changing her mind. First, he declines spending time with her to play Wii Tennis
Wii Sports
is a sports game developed and published by Nintendo as a launch title for the Wii video game console , and part of the Touch! Generations. The game was first released in North America along with the Wii on November 19, 2006, and was released in Japan, Australia, and Europe the following month...
with Jeff Barnes and Lester Patel.
Next, Morgan gives Anna a set of rules that she needs to agree to before they move in together, titled the "Morganuptials", which she happily signs. Morgan sadly cancels his plans to move in with Chuck. Chuck is relieved, as he also had to cancel the arrangement to move in with Sarah, and assures Morgan that he is making the right decision.
Production
This episode marked the first appearance of the chart on Chuck's Tron poster and the first reference to Orion, both of which were recurring plot points in the season.Music
- "God & Suicide" by Blitzen TrapperBlitzen TrapperBlitzen Trapper is a Portland, Oregon-based experimental alternative country/folk band signed to Sub Pop Records. Formed in 2000, the band currently operates as a sextet, with Eric Earley , Erik Menteer , Brian Adrian Koch , Michael VanPelt , and Marty Marquis...
- "Walks Like An Egyptian" by The Puppini SistersThe Puppini SistersThe Puppini Sisters are a vocal trio. Arion Berger described them as part of "Retro's futuristic vanguard" and described their sound as "swing-punk". The group has sought to be associated with a burlesque revival....
- "SignsSignsSigns is the plural of sign. See sign .Signs may also refer to:*Signs , a 2002 film by M. Night Shyamalan*Signs , a journal of women's studies...
" by Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
Cultural references
- Cole, when asked what his real name is while being interrogated by the Fulcrum agents, quotes the famous introduction of fictional British superspy James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
. - The title of the episode is taken from Lethal WeaponLethal WeaponLethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary...
. - Morgan says, "Laugh it up, fuzzballs", a slight variation of the line Han SoloHan SoloHan Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
told ChewbaccaChewbaccaChewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. - When told by Cole to "always go for the knee", Chuck asks if he means to "sweep the leg", referencing The Karate Kid, where Sensei John Kreese (Martin KoveMartin KoveMartin Kove is an American actor who has appeared in feature films and television series.-Film appearances:His best-known roles may have been on the 1980s hit CBS television series Cagney & Lacey as Detective Victor Isbecki and in the 1984 hit film The Karate Kid as Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese...
) gives Johnny Lawrence (William ZabkaWilliam ZabkaWilliam Michael "Billy" Zabka is an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is an Academy Award Nominee for Co-Writing and Producing the film, "MOST." Zabka is best known for his villain roles in several iconic 80s films, such as his role of Johnny Lawrence in 1984's The Karate...
) the same advice to defeat Daniel LaRusso (Ralph MacchioRalph MacchioRalph George Macchio is an American actor, best known for his roles as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Bill Gambini in My Cousin Vinny, and Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He is also known to American television audiences for his season five recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the...
).
Critical response
"Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon" received positive reviews from critics. Steve Heisler of The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a B-, concluding, "Look, the show is still a lot of fun to watch (loved Jeff's sweaty almost-embrace of Anna, and Chuck's inadvertent dance when his leg gets caught in the window, among other things), and this new Orion angle—the creator of the Intersect, who might be able to get it out of Chuck's head—shows promise, particularly the fact that Chuck has been conducting his own little research in private (putting his findings on the back of his Tron poster). But please, enough with the repetition.
"
Eric Goldman of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode an 8.2 out of 10, writing that he was initially disappointed by Chuck's first use of a gun. Goldman enjoyed the reveal of Chuck's chart on the back of his Tron poster, concluding, "This reveal that Chuck is not idly standing by but has actually been actively keeping track of his now-crazy life is a great little twist."
Viewer response was also positive, with an 9/10 user rating at TV.com
TV.com
TV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
. The episode drew 5.796 million viewers.