Chuck vs the Beefcake

They take Barker to the roof for a helicopter. He tells Chuck he is MI 6 working undercover, while Sarah exchanges fire with a helicopter that is not theirs and is shooting at them. Chuck releases Barker, and he helps Sarah by shooting down the helicopter. Casey shows up and knocks Barker out.

Back in Castle, Beckman apologizes to Barker, and he tells them they need a playback device to find out what is on the chip. Beckman instructs Barker that he needs to stay in Castle, with Sarah protecting him, until she can make a plan. Chuck offers his apartment instead; he is worried about Sarah staying with Barker, but she assures him she is fine. Barker asks Chuck if he and Sarah are a thing, and Chuck denies it. Barker tells him that he is going to pursue her. 

Next morning, Chuck asks about Morgan and his first night in the apartment. They reply that he sleeps in the nude and that they had a ‘meeting’ in the kitchen during the night. Chuck tells them that he and Sarah have agreed to be friends. Ellie and Devon tell him that Sarah will be taken quickly if he lets her go; it was a mistake.

Sarah reviews Barker’s record and discovers that he is a decorated hero in MI 6. He comes out of his morning shower in a towel and comes on to her. She refuses him. 

Chuck enters the Orange Orange and brings up surveillance to see Cole’s advances to Sarah. The interview process proceeds in the Buy More with Lester and Jeff, alienating all the applicants, who are all beautiful models. 

Barker sets up a plan to contact the person he was supposed to meet. Sarah tries to stop him, but he is determined to see if his cover is intact. Chuck wants to hack the chip, but Sarah tells him to go back to the Buy More, and they’ll call him when the mission is done. Chuck finds out from Morgan that Jeff and Lester took over the interview process when he is slapped by one of the models on her way out.

Barker sets up the exchange, but Chuck tampers with the chip back in the Buy More and activates the GPS. Fulcrum agents realize the chip isn’t there but somewhere in Burbank. Sarah intercedes when she sees a gun, and both she and Barker are taken. Casey overhears that the chip was hacked and knows it was Chuck. When Chuck gets into the chip, he sees the video of himself and the Intersect download in the basement of the Fulcrum house in the suburbs. When he flashes on the Fulcrum agent, Alexis White, that comes into the Buy More, he destroys the chip. She realizes he destroyed the chip, and they take him. 

Chuck, Sarah, and Barker are chained in a warehouse, and they discuss the torture they will have to endure. Chuck tells them the chip was about him. Barker tells Alexis that he is the Intersect so that they will torture him and not Chuck; Sarah backs him up. Chuck passes out when he is threatened, so she then threatens to kill Sarah. 

Casey finds out who took Chuck from Jeff and Lester and breaks in just in time. When Alexis is caught, she kills herself. Sarah takes care of Barker while Chuck tells Casey what happened. 

Back at Castle, Sarah tells Chuck he was brave and that enduring their fake relationship was plenty of torture. She also says she will miss their relationship. Cole thanks Chuck for offering to endure torture and then makes another play for Sarah while she tells him goodbye. Chuck again watches from Orange Orange and sees Cole kiss her. Sarah responds but then says goodbye.

Morgan and Chuck decide to move in together and tell Devon and Ellie. Fulcrum intercepts the vehicle carrying Cole, and Sarah interrupts Chuck’s announcement to tell Chuck that he has to be put into protective custody. Chuck and Sarah ‘make up’ and have to move in together. 

Points of Interest

• “Everyone talks” is repeated multiple times. The point appears to be that no one can resist torture, they will always spill the beans. Chuck is at risk because Cole Barker knows he is the intersect and Fulcrum has captured Cole. Chuck and Sarah’s public breakup is short lived because of the danger he is in. Privately, he has told her that he can’t deal with their fake relationship. Seeing her with someone else seems to be making him rethink his position.
• This episode would have been the week after Suburbs except for the change in airing dates.
• Casey gives Cole Barker the name Beefcake- he is played by actor Jonathon Cake.
• Along with Suburbs, this episode continues the back and forth with Chuck and Sarah conflicted about their real relationship versus their fake relationship. Chuck realizes a little too late that he will be miserable seeing Sarah with another guy.
• Sarah has a weak spot for bad ass spies. Chuck being an everyday good guy while also being brave and smart is a huge attraction for her. Cole Barker is basically Bryce Larkin but with an accent. I don’t think it is a coincidence she kisses both of them.
• In an interesting footnote, WonderCon 2009 took place the day before this episode aired. Josh Schwartz asked the fans what action they would take to campaign for a third season. That question gave birth to the Subway sandwich campaign of 2009.
• In the review noted above it becomes clear the tv critics were tiring of the ‘will they, won’t they’ storyline with Chuck and Sarah. 
• The same review has comments that reflect the fans at the time sharing that frustration.
• Another interesting note was that the models used for the casting couch were promoted in Chuck commercials. They were Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.

References

• Tron- Morgan also has a Tron poster.
• The Terminator– “Come with me if you want to live”- same line said to Sarah Connor in the film.
• The Princess Bride- “As You Wish”- not the only time it is used in Chuck.

Music

Tigers In the Fire- Love Grenades: Team waits for Barker to arrive.

Wake Up- Macintosh Brown: Sarah flirts with Barker.

Airplanes- Local Natives: Chuck says goodbye to Cole.

The Brightest of the Head- Starflyer 59: Chuck and Morgan announce they’re moving in together.