Chuck vs the Pilot (aka Chuck vs the Intersect)

Original air date September 24, 2007

Season 1 episode 1

Synopsis

Chuck Bartowski, a computer tech expert, and former Stanford student, receives an email from former college roommate Bryce Larkin. After opening the email by solving a riddle, Chuck receives, into his brain, a massive amount of encoded information that Larkin sent right after being shot at point blank range by NSA agent John Casey. 

While at his big box electronic store job (Buy More) the next day, a beautiful woman comes into the store for phone assistance. What Chuck doesn’t know is that both Sarah Walker, the beautiful CIA agent, and John Casey have been sent by their respective agencies to find out why Larkin sent that email to him.

While Sarah uses the friendly approach, Casey is under orders to capture and return Chuck to DC. During a date that Sarah directly asks for, Casey makes his move with his men and Sarah is forced to use her spy skills to get Chuck away. Up until that point it was obvious that not only was Chuck smitten by Sarah, but Sarah appeared to be quite charmed by Chuck as well.  “I like you, Chuck,” Sarah says.

During his day, Chuck has had visual “flashes” of information regarding a military General and a plot against him. Fleeing to the roof of a building to unsuccessfully avoid Casey, Chuck informs them both that there is a bomb that will go off soon. The three of them rush to the event and find the bomb. Chuck uses his computer tech smarts to defuse it using a computer virus that has been wreaking havoc at the store, the Irene Demova virus.

After saving the day, Chuck informs the two agents they have no power over him, they need him. As he leaves, Sarah follows him to a beach, and they sit together as the sun comes up. Sarah tells Chuck he has to keep all this to himself for the safety of his family and friends.  The agents will protect him while he helps them with the information in his head. The one thing Sarah asks of Chuck after assuring him they will keep him and his loved ones safe: “Trust me, Chuck.”

Points of Interest (Links to origin of trivia and pop culture references cited)

• • It appears Chuck was always Larkin’s backup plan. He had to have programmed the riddle into the email in case he had to send it to Chuck.

• • The pilot was filmed on location and the site for the Bartowski/Woodcomb apartment is the legendary El Cabrillo Courtyard complex in Hollywood. 

• • After Chuck was picked up by NBC, the set was built on the Warner Bros lot as a facsimile.

• • The first date between Chuck and Sarah was filmed at the famous El Compadre restaurant on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. Also, the site for the restaurant scene in the finale.

• • The Zork response would have been incorrect for a normal person knowing the Zork video game because Bryce and Chuck had their own version where the Elvish sword was replaced by the Nasty knife.

• • North by Northwest poster in Chuck’s bedroom is in reference to the Cary Grant film where an accidental spy, pursued by an evil organization, is protected by a blond female spy.

• • The pilot premiered at San Diego Comic Con in July of 2007. When it aired on September 24^th of 2007 it earned a 9.2 million audience via Nielsen. Highest of the entire series.

• • At the end of the episode Chuck is assigned the task of training the new employee, NSA agent John Casey, who is now undercover in the Buy More. 

• •  Sarah Walker strolls past him in the store, wearing a turquoise ring prominently displayed. Chuck flashes on the ring and sees Sarah taking out a group of men while wearing the ring.

• • The pictures used to represent the Intersect information are random and selected by the writers of the show. Notable is the frequent use of apple pie pictures as well as a hummingbird that appears to represent Sarah.

• • We see the first use of a few Chuck staples. Ellie says “Aces, Charles” for the first time. “Don’t Freak Out” is used for the first time. “Sweep the Leg” occurs for the first time, though the term is not used. The Ninja (obviously not Yvonne Strahovski, but a male stunt person) uses the move to disable Chuck.

References

Throughout the whole series the pop culture references used in the show were notable. Many will be noted but there is no doubt there are many more.

• • Batman- Prince’s Batdance lyric: Stop the presses, who is that? Vicki Vale. 

• • The often emotional and always important Chuck fountain discussions in the apartment courtyard were taken from writer/producer Josh Schwartz’s other pop culture laden show, The OC.

• • CHIPS tv show- Thanks, Ponch (Morgan to Chuck as they are preparing to drive to the Buy More in the Nerd Herder car). 

Music

Every Chuck fan knows the music used in the show is often a big part of the story and frequently either comments on or advances the character or storyline. Any discussion of the show would not be complete without noting the great music.

Many of the online music lists include a song never seen in the show. See The World by Gomez was originally included in the pilot but edited out before being shown on tv. It occurred during the scene in El Compadre when Chuck and Sarah discuss their past relationships. Although not actually heard, it is a fan favorite, and it is included for that reason.

• • Cobrastyle- Teddybears: Chuck’s party, Morgan fights the Ninja, after the bomb is defused.

• • Cellphone’s Dead – Beck: Chuck tells the Buy More staff about the Demova virus.

• • Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is- Jet: Chuck and Sarah dress for their date

• • Into Your Dream – Foreign Born: Played live at the club where Chuck and Sarah dance.

• • Any Way You Want It – Journey: Chuck’s ringtone for Morgan; plays as Chuckis trying to defuse the bomb.

• • A Comet Appears- The Shins: Chuck and Sarah talk on the beach.