Original air date November 29, 2010

Season 4, episode 10

Synopsis

Alexei Volkoff knows that Charles Carmichael survived the explosion that was supposed to have killed him. He tells Frost to take three of his best men, find Carmichael, and then kill him.

Morgan and Chuck are engaged in training for spy work. They have a strip kick class using a pole for moves. Morgan asks Chuck about his proposal plan.

Chuck and Sarah walk home and discuss Chuck’s training. They missed Thanksgiving because Ellie and Awesome had to work.

Mary quickly kills the three men before they have the chance to find Chuck while helping Chuck and Sarah when the men attack them on their walk home.

Chuck and Sarah take Mary to Castle and try to interrogate her about what she really is doing.

The Buy More is preparing for Black Friday. Big Mike and Morgan make plans for their Black Friday sale but Jeff and Lester are scamming some phones for their own profit.

Stephen’s laptop computer gives Ellie a memory problem that she solves by having an MRI done on her brain. She realizes that the problem Stephen was trying to solve was not possible for him as he worked through his engineering training. As a doctor, she knows how the brain stores information. Ellie uploads the data from the MRI into the computer, and it prompts her to solve the “1 or 11” problem. She does not know the answer.

Volkoff has tracked them down and comes into the Buy More. Morgan sees him enter and hides in the air vents, then calls Chuck to warn him. Volkoff then shuts down all functions in the building. Volkoff tells them he will use a bomb to destroy everyone if Mary isn’t brought to him. They realize he is obsessed and in love with Frost. Mary explains to them her mission was to take down the network and not the man. Volkoff threatens the all with annihilation if they don’t surrender Frost.

Casey tries to capture Volkoff’s men but fails and is captured by Volkoff, which forces Chuck and Sarah to surrender. Morgan is in the duct system to try to save Jeff and Lester.

When Mary is brought to him, Volkoff punches Chuck and is going to kill him. Mary confesses to Volkoff that Chuck is her son. Then Ellie Bartowski calls and reveals that they are family by asking him to come for the family Leftovers dinner.

Volkoff then decides to prove to Mary that he can get along with her family by deciding they should all go for dinner at Ellie’s house. “Kids love me.”

He then threatens Chuck, saying that he will take revenge on everyone if Chuck and Sarah try anything during the dinner.

Ellie and Devon are impressed by Volkoff, especially when he tells them he is responsible for convincing the CIA that Mary isn’t a traitor. 

Casey, Jeff and Lester are held captive by Volkoff’s agents in the Buy More and Morgan decides to use the duct system to sneak up on the agents and set Casey free.

While they play charades after dinner, Chuck tells Devon the truth about Volkoff and their evening.

Chuck convinces Devon to go to his apartment and smuggle a gun, activate their emergency alarm and then get Ellie out of there with a fake hospital call. 

After the ruse works and the Woodcomb’s leave, Volkoff realizes Chuck’s move. When Volkoff holds a gun on them, Mary pulls a gun on him and tells him she can’t love a man who is threatening her family. 

He backs down, agreeing to leave without harming them. Chuck tells him mom he trusts her.

Morgan tries to free Casey but taped the gun to his back where he can’t reach it. Volkoff told his agent to release the prisoners, and they set Jeff and Lester up, so Big Mike will find them with the phones they were planning on scamming.

The next day, Chuck tells Sarah he should have trusted his mother. Devon then finds Chuck and is angry about putting Ellie at risk, he gives him Stephen’s laptop because of the danger it could cause to Ellie. 

Chuck opens the laptop, answers the puzzle prompt that Ellie didn’t know – Aces, Charles- and then sees the Intersect images flash onto the screen. The computer shuts down when completed and Chuck smiles at Sarah and Casey while standing. He then collapses, just like the previous Intersect uploads. While on the floor, Chuck looks at his fists and flashes. He kicks back up to his feet and tells Casey and Sarah- “Guys, I know Kung Fu …. again.”

Points of Interest

• We learn Jeff’s full name is Thomas Jefferson Barnes. At least, that’s what Lester says.
• Chuck’s Intersect is klitchy, and he is supposedly getting spy training. 
• Mary was determined to keep her family a secret from Volkoff; he shows why very quickly.
• Mary Bartowski did not leave in 1990 per previous episodes. In season 4, episode 1 the departure is 1993. In season 3, episode 19 the date is 1991.
• This is the second episode that pays a lengthy homage to “Die Hard.” Chuck vs the Santa Claus also has references to the film.
• The last episode of the year. The show returned with Chuck vs the Balcony on January 17, 2011.
• The end of the Chuck-without-the-Intersect arc. Chuck and Sarah show their passion for and dedication to each other, with or without the computer in his brain.
• Is it just me, or is Timothy Dalton the best Chuck villain? Menacing, psycho, but also funny and intense. So many layers to his performance.

References

• “Come with me if you want to live.” Mary Bartowski as Sarah Connor in The Terminator.
• Let It Snow plays in the background as Chuck and Sarah walk down the street together. Vaughn Monroe’s version played at the end of ‘Die Hard and ‘Die Hard 2.’
• Other Die Hard references – Morgan with the gun taped to his back; barefoot in the air ducts; says ‘Yippeekiyay’ when he tries to pull the gun.
• Batman Forever and Bourne Identity are both mentioned during charades.
• The Matrix- “I know Kung Fu.”

Music

Requiem Mass in Dm: Mozart’s Die Irae– Volkoff asks Mary about Carmichael surviving the explosion.

Bad Romance-Lady Gaga – Chuck and Morgan in strip kick class.

Let It Snow: Vaughn Monroe – Chuck and Sarah are ambushed as they walk home.

Jingle Bell Rock: Bobby Helms– Volkoff talks to Ellie about Mary leaving them; Ellie and Mary reminisce about the last family Thanksgiving.

Peer Gynt- In The Hall of the Mountain: Edward Grieg (arranged by Tim Jones)- Volkoff plays charades at the Bartowski apartment.

Turn It Around: Miss Eighty 6- Morgan and Chuck arrive at their strip kick class.