Chuck Vs. The Helicopter                    

Original air date October 1, 2007

Season 1 episode 2

Synopsis

John Casey is working at the Buy More as a cover. Sarah Walker is a Wienerlicous employee, located in the same mall as the Buy More and pretending to be Chuck’s girlfriend as her cover. Sarah makes a date with Chuck so that they can have a CIA specialist, Dr Zarnow, assess the Intersect in his head to determine if the information can be extracted. While dressing for his date Chuck gets the word from his sister, Ellie, that his old friend Bryce is dead. She also wants Chuck to invite Sarah to dinner so she can meet her.

At the Buy More, Zarnow wants the identity of the Intersect but Sarah and Casey maintain Chuck’s secret identity. Zarnow is shown driving away from the Buy More when his car blows up.  

Meanwhile, Sarah and Casey continue to undermine each other to Chuck, trying to convince him that the other killed Zarnow.  When Sarah arrives for dinner with Ellie, her boyfriend Devon and Morgan, Chuck is late. He is still trying to get away from Casey and his attempt to convince Chuck that Sarah is trying to kill him. When he escapes Casey and arrives at their apartment, Sarah has charmed Ellie, she even brought a chocolate sufffle for dessert. Casey then arrives and convinces Chuck that the dessert is poisoned and Chuck freaks out. While attempting to destroy dinner he alerts Sarah that something is wrong. She takes him to the bathroom for interrogation and realizes that if Casey didn’t kill Zarnow then something is wrong and rushes off. When Casey and Chuck rush after her they see Zarnow tranquilize her and abduct her, he also tranquilizes Casey to prevent him from following.

Chuck figures out how to follow Zarnow and they arrive at the sea port to find Sarah tied up. While Chuck tries to rescue her he is captured by Zarnow and he realizes Chuck is the Intersect.  Zarnow wants to sell him and his secrets to a foreign power. Chuck is taken to a waiting chopper. After the helicopter takes off Casey and Sarah assist Chuck from the ground as Chuck is able to wrestle control of the helicopter from Zarnow and has to fly it to safety.

On the ground, Sarah loses her cool and threatens to send Chuck into CIA detention if he doesn’t start listening to her.

Chuck attends the funeral of Bryce Larkin and sees Sarah there. She is alone and tearful, standing off by herself and does not acknowledge Chuck. We hear Casey and Beckman have a conversation while Casey is surveilling the funeral. Beckman tells Casey the new Intersect will be available in six months and then Casey will “do what he does best”.

The next morning Chuck goes to the Wienerlicious to apologize to Sarah. She forgives him then Ellie, Devon and Morgan show up to eat their delayed meal at the Wienerlicious.

Points of Interest

• Casey tells Chuck he knows how to fly a stealth fighter.
• We discover that Sarah had a previous mission infiltrating an arms deal in France and had to            poison the ‘diplomats’ to prevent her own death. Her cover name was Elana Trufeau.
• Sarah considers Bryce Larkin a traitor but goes to his funeral out of respect for the fact they were once partners. We saw photos of Sarah and Bryce during a 2005 trip to Cabo San Lucas in the pilot. They appeared to be more than just professional partners.
• The role of General Beckman is played by a different actress than in the pilot. 
• The obituary for Bryce said he was killed in a robbery and was the youngest partner in the banks’ history. In the text of the obituary it said he died in a car crash while fishing in Virginia.
• The first time Chuck is told to ’Stay in the Car’. He doesn’t, of course.
• Sarah tells Chuck that isn’t her real name.

References

• Trainspotting- The opening sequence with Chuck chasing Casey, who is chasing a shoplifter.
• Lost- During the Intersect examination Chuck flashes on Oceanic flight 815 being shot down by a missile

Music

Lust for Life- Iggy Pop: Casey chases a shoplifter while Chuck gives a synopsis.

Don’t Make Me A Target- Spoon: Chuck sneaks out of work to see Sarah; the Wienerlicious dinner scene

Gone Daddy Gone- Gnarls Barkley: Dinner at Bartowski/Woodcomb apartment; Sarah is kidnapped

Challengers- The New Pornographers: Bryce’s funeral