Original air date October 27, 2008
Season 2 episode 5
Synopsis
Flashback: San Fernando Valley 1983. Jeff Barnes is crowned as Missile Command World Champion. He is a master of gaming and when asked what’s next for him replies he can’t decide because he has so many tasty options. Jeff is now standing in front of the vending machine in the Buy More, deciding among his many options.
Chuck is awakened by his alarm, gets up and forgets he still has his disguise from the previous night’s mission. While leaving he hastily rips his fake moustache off before anyone sees it. While offering Chuck a protein shake, Ellie notes his late night and Chuck tells her he was playing video games. Devon and Ellie are worried about Chuck’s lack of ambition.
An efficiency expert has been hired for the Buy More. Emmett Milbarge will be evaluating everyone’s performance. As he interviews them he discovers that Chuck Bartowski is who holds everything together, they refer to WWCD as their moto. (What Would Chuck Do?)
When Chuck arrives he flashes on a bald guy who is looking for Jeff. Casey then identifies the man as a terrorist and Chuck is told to be friendly with Jeff to discover the reason Farrokh Bulsara is there. Ellie stops by Orange Orange to talk to Sarah about Chuck and is even more concerned when she finds out Chuck is befriending Jeff.
Evading Emmett, Chuck convinces Jeff to meet him that evening to ‘hang out’ and the Buy More theatre room is chosen. Emmett is discovering the many issues at the Buy More and Jeff shows Chuck his Anna music video. Chuck tries to get Casey to rescue him from Jeff.
Ellie meets with Sarah at the apartment to talk about her worries for Chuck, mentioning he is only 12 units short of graduating but is slipping backward. Sarah defends Chuck by comparing him to a duck, calm on the surface but paddling like crazy underneath. She reassures Ellie that Chuck is mature just as he bursts into the door carrying an unconscious Jeff. When Jeff leaves in the morning, Ellie confronts Chuck again and he assures her he has the same goals.
The team is briefed about the designer of Missile Command, Mr Morimoto, who also designed real missiles and those missiles are in a dormant orbit on a satellite. Chuck plans a viral attack on Atari headquarters so he and Casey can get to Morimoto. After failing themselves, Sarah arrives and distracts the computer nerds while Casey and Chuck run upstairs. Chuck sees Farrokh who locks him up with Morimoto. Chuck sees Morimoto playing Missile Command and tries to get him to stop and escape with him. Morimoto tells him he hid the code to the satellite at the end of the game and he has to get it. Also, it is based on complex math based on the ‘music of the universe’ and Rush’s Tom Sawyer is playing. Casey arrives and they urge Morimoto to go with them but he can’t. The game is rigged and a bomb will explode if he doesn’t reach the kill screen at the end. Casey forces Chuck to leave as the bomb explodes, killing Morimoto.
Beckman’s plan to shoot down the satellite will endanger innocent civilians so Chuck has a different plan. Casey will follow Beckman’s orders while Chuck helps Jeff to defeat Missile Command and get the code to stop the satellite. While preparing for the event that Jeff needs to be able to play, Chuck flashes on a local news station where Farrokh plans to launch the satellite missiles. Sarah goes to the station to stop him while Casey gets ready to shoot down the satellite.
Jeff collapses under the pressure of the game and Chuck decides to step in to try to save the day. He then notices someone wearing a Rush shirt and remembers Morimoto’s statement. They play Tom Sawyer and Chuck plays the game to reach the kill screen and get the code. Sarah defeats the person manning the satellite controls and Chuck tells her the code to save everyone.
As the dust settles, Big Mike announces Emmett will be taking over as assistant manager.
Chuck goes home to find an excited Ellie and Awesome. They congratulate him on his diploma that Sarah told them he had been working to complete. Chuck goes outside to thank Sarah and she tells him it’s real and he earned it with his CIA work. They toast the bright light in the sky that is the satellite burning up.
Jeff revives and plays Missile Command.
Points of Interest
- This episode begins with the evidence of a mission we don’t see in the show. Chuck fell into bed without changing from his mission clothes and disguise.
- Farrokh Bulsara, the bad guy in this episode, is the real name of Queen front man Freddie Mercury.
- Emmett Milbarge is the combined names of the spies in “Spies Like Us”.
- The character of Morimoto is a tribute to the designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo developer.
- Chuck has two plans to infiltrate Atari headquarters. He and Casey pose as nerds to fix the computer. Back up plan- send in the blonde.
- Sarah sides with Chuck and his plan to stop Bulsara- “I trust Chuck.”
- The song “Tom Sawyer” was used because of the complex time signatures of drummer Neil Peart.
- Writer Phil Klemmer has a cameo on this episode- he is the blonde Jeff fan guy.
References
- Welcome Back, Kotter- Chuck calls a co-worker a sweat hog.
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High- Jeff’s award scene.
- Missile Command- The Atari game used to hide the satellite code.
- Zune- The Microsoft version of a music player. Morgan refers to one though he doesn’t own one.
Music
Tom Sawyer-Rush: ‘the music of the universe’ that guides the unlocking of the satellite code.
All Out of Love- Air Supply: Anna’s video made by Jeff.
On Sale Now- Daniel May: Lester and Morgan watch Jeff and Chuck hang out.
Council Estate- Tricky: Sarah heads into Atari headquarters.
At The Checkout Counter- Billy Martin: Chuck asks Morgan for help.
The Touch- Stan Bush: Preparing Jeff for his game.
Sleepdriving- Grand Archives: Chuck and Sarah toast and watch the satellite burn up.
