Original air date January 11. 2010 (third episode to air within 24 hours to begin season 3)

Season 3 episode 3

Synopsis

A cadaver toe tag is shown. UCLA Medical Center, 2000. The instructor asks for volunteers to begin the dissection of the femoral artery. He asks for both Devon Woodcombe, who isn’t there, and Eleanor Bartowski, also not there. Cut to a supply closet in the hospital where Ellie and Devon are making out. 

Nine years later, Ellie and Devon are reminiscing about their wedding while trying to connect their tv in their new apartment. Ellie is annoyed that Chuck did not show up to help. Devon suggests they take a break and watch their wedding video. They hear a helicopter overhead, and Ellie complains that there have been a lot of helicopters recently.

Chuck enters his room dressed for a mission and is surprised by Devon, who is waiting for him. He reminds Chuck about helping them and tells him that Ellie is upset. He asks about Chuck’s mission, “same ole, same ole.”

Chuck hooks up their tv and flashes when he sees Premier Alejandro Goya on the news, the Costa Gravas dictator. He collapsed and is being taken to the hospital. Chuck receives a text to report to Castle, and Devon receives a page to report to the hospital. They both rush out, leaving Ellie missing her wedding night re-creation.

At Castle, Beckman tells the team that the Premier has to be guarded; he is opening up his country to democratic elections and is a target. Casey doesn’t understand protecting the Premier when he was ordered to kill him on three different occasions. The CIA wants his medical record, and Chuck immediately realizes that his family will be used for this mission. Devon is told that he will be responsible if anything happens to the Premier. 

Devon has a press conference to update Goya’s status and answers questions in Spanish, which has Sarah asking Chuck if there is anything his brother-in-law can’t do.“Hence the nickname.”  Casey wants to use pressure to extract information from Devon, but Chuck volunteers to talk to him.

Chuck waits for Devon in the courtyard and easily gets the medical information they need: the premier was poisoned. Devon volunteers to help the CIA, and Chuck refuses, citing that his sister will kill him. 

It’s also the job of Team Bartowski to protect the Goya at the gala being given at the consulate. Casey attempts to recuse himself because he is a wanted man in Costa Gravas, and the consulate is part of the country. The CIA can’t acknowledge their mission since it is on foreign soil. Casey tells them he is known as ‘Angel De La Muerte (Angel of Death)’ because of all the blood he has spilled. As they speak, the courtyard of the apartment is filled with uniformed men, and Goya enters. Casey thinks they are after him, but they go to Devon and Ellie’s door. Goya is there to thank Devon for saving his life and invites him and Ellie’s guests to the gala. Chuck rushes over, asking what’s going on, and he is also invited.

At the gala, Chuck tells Sarah he is more worried about Devon than Goya. Sarah tells him to calm down so the Intersect will work. They split up to watch for threats, and Devon asks Chuck about the mission. Chuck tells him to focus on protecting Ellie. They see Goya flirting with Ellie; he wants her with him for the gala. Devon is concerned because he knows Goya is a target. Chuck tells him to relax; the professional is handling it, as Sarah swoops in and pulls Ellie away for girl talk.

Ellie sees Sarah glance at Chuck and realizes Sarah is struggling with their relationship. Sarah says they are just friends, but Ellie sees through her words and reads her face, noticing the looks being exchanged between Chuck and Sarah. She tells Sarah that she thinks Sarah still has feelings for Chuck. At the same time, Devon is questioning Chuck about his relationship with Sarah. He also says they are just friends. Casey interrupts and tells them to get back to the mission.

The Premier starts a speech and asks Ellie to dance to symbolize the meeting between the two nations. The floor becomes crowded quickly while Chuck searches for the threat. Casey identifies someone from the guest list and sends the photo to Chuck. He sees the man across the room, flashes to use some dance moves, and leads Sarah to where the threat is moving across the floor. He uses an elbow to take the man out, but he is just a political protestor carrying an egg. Chuck and Sarah are thrown out for being drunk. Chuck flashes on the actual threat as they are being dragged out. Jack Artman is an assassin specializing in chemical engineering. Casey then has to enter in disguise, but Devon tackles him, thinking he is the threat. Casey is then recognized as Angel De La Muerte and drug away. Devon has saved Goya again.

Chuck and Sarah brief Beckman at Castle and are told they have to wait. Casey will be freed through diplomatic channels. Casey is questioned by Goya and tries to tell him he is there to protect him. Goya dismisses him, and Artman enters the room as one of Goya’s men, poisoning and then presenting Goya a cigar.  Casey is gagged and can’t warn Goya. He kicks the cigar from the Premier’s mouth and tries to warn him while gagged, but Goya ignores him and takes a few puffs. He collapses immediately.

Devon and Ellie arrive back at their apartment, but Devon has to rush to the consulate to help Goya. He tells Chuck he can get him into the consulate. Chuck takes Devon to Castle, much to Sarah’s annoyance. She immediately takes over when she hears what Chuck has to say.

Artman talks to Casey and admits he works for the Ring. They want Costa Gravas to remain as it is, and that means the Premier must die. Chuck, Devon, and Sarah enter as a medical team to work on Goya. Sarah takes out the guards, then tells Chuck and Devon they need to leave. Devon tells Chuck, ‘That is some woman, bro’. Chuck replies, ‘You have no idea.’

Casey has also knocked Artman out but is shot by another guard but is then rescued by Sarah, who has come looking for him. Devon is refusing to leave Goya, who needs treatment, or he’ll die. While discussing what to do, they are apprehended by more guards. Casey passes out from his injury. The guards force Chuck to operate on Casey to remove the bullet while Devon works on Goya. Chuck flashes and is able to help Casey. Devon tells them Goya needs a blood transfusion of rare AB negative blood. Chuck sees that Casey has that blood type. Chuck knocks Casey out with anesthetic when he refuses to donate blood to Goya, and they take his blood.

Casey wakes up in Castle to find out what has happened after they are told Goya will make a full recovery. Goya sent Casey a box of prized pre-revolution cigars to thank him. 

Devon goes to see Chuck at Orange Orange and tells him the spy life is not for him. Sarah comes in as Devon leaves, and Chuck asks about their cover going forward. She tells him they will be friends and asks what should friends do. She rejects his description of a normal night for him and Morgan.

Devon has one more patient before going home, but it is Artman, and he has a needle for Devon.

Chuck answers the door to see Sarah, and she whispers in his ear, then hugs him. Ellie calls from across the courtyard if they have seen Devon. They look at each other but don’t speak.

Points of Interest 

• There is no Buy More story in this episode. The first episode in which this happens.
• Sarah’s statement that Devon would have made a great spy seems to be an inside joke about the original plan for Devon to be a bad guy and to be killed off early in the show. The plan changed when Ryan McPartlin was a huge hit.
• The Costa Gravas flag is very similar to the flag of Columbia.
• The helicopter heard at the beginning of the episode is noted by Ellie as being one of many heard lately. Chuck has been going on lots of missions since he started his formal training. Devon knows it is Chuck coming home and meets him in his room.
• Sarah’s habit of breaking eye contact when she is uncomfortable in a conversation is noted by Ellie while they are talking about Chuck. She also glances at him while he is also looking at her. Their nonverbal communication is read well by Ellie.
• ‘Just friends’ is the fallback Chuck and Sarah use to explain still seeing each other after ending their (fake) romantic relationship. Sarah uses it again when Chuck asks what their status is going forward. She is not willing to go back to the ‘romantic’ relationship they had before he hurt her.
• This episode was opposite the season premier of “House” on CBS. It was the highest rated Monday episode of the show since Third Dimension.

References

Terms of Endearment- Casey knows the Premier’s favorite film.

James Bond- Chuck calls Devon 007.

Spies Like Us- Director Costa-Gavras was in the film. The Premier is from Costa Gravas, a tribute to the director and actor.

Music

Bohemian Like You- The Dandy Warhols: Ellie and Devon’s first day of medical school.

El Yerbero- Jesus Alejando: Sarah tells Chuck to concentrate on the mission.

Cafecito- Jesus Alejandro: Ellie introduces Sarah to the Premier.

Songozon- The Latin Mambo Orchestra: Ellie dances with Goya; Chuck and Sarah dance to intercept the threat.

Living A Lie- Daniel Zott: Chuck and Sarah agree to be friends.