Chuck vs the Aisle of Terror

Original air date October 25, 2010

Season 4, episode 6

Synopsis

A guard approaches a man walking down a corridor at Volkoff Industries and demands identification when the man says he is just looking for the fitness center. The guard is sprayed in the face with an inhaler-looking device and the man shows the security camera that his nerve gas, Atroxium, is working and the guard is experiencing a terrifying nightmare-like vision. The person observing the experiment, Mary Bartowski, steps out and relays that she has a buyer in Los Angeles.

When Mary called Chuck and asked to meet him (the event seen at the end of Chuck vs the Couch Lock),we see Chuck waiting for his mother at a table in Griffith Park.

Mary appears and tells Chuck to meet her at the playground. Sarah is in hiding at the playground but Mary gets the drop on her and they hold each other at gunpoint. Chuck arrives and convinces them not to shoot each other so they can talk.

Mary tells them she is deep undercover at Volkoff Industries but she can’t prove it because her CIA record was expunged. She tells them about Atroxium and the scientist, Dr Wheelwright, and instructs Chuck to take it to General Beckman with the explanation that he flashed on Wheelwright. When he is shocked that she knows about the Intersect she tells him she knows everything about Charles Carmichael.

The Buy More is preparing for Halloween and decorating the store. Casey enlists Morgan to help with their mission. Chuck asks Sarah to protect his blind spot where his mother is concerned. He tells Morgan and Casey he found his mom.

Ellie and Devon are hosting Devon’s mom for the week. Morgan talks to Big Mike about managing the Buy More and delegating the work. He gives the job of decorating to Jeff and Lester.

Chuck will pose as a trusted buyer for Volkoff and then Wheelwright can be arrested when he shows up. Morgan, Casey, Sarah and Chuck set up the meeting and watch as Mary shows up, confronts Chuck as a CIA agent and shoots him. When Sarah tries to help, Mary shoots at her and shoots out the security camera that Casey and Morgan are watching on. She then escapes with Wheelwright.

Chuck was wearing a vest and is devastated because his mother betrayed him. Mary shows up at the Buy More after it closes and takes Chuck at gunpoint. While driving, she explains that her ‘betrayal’ was to protect him and Ellie, she has been undercover in Volkoff’s operation since she left them and she has to finish the job. She knew he was wearing a vest when she shot him. Chuck activated his tracking device when she grabbed him and he tells her. She responds, “good boy.”

Now that Carmichael is dead, he and Ellie are safer and she will still hand over Wheelwright. She takes Chuck to a portable container where Wheelwright is held, along with the Atroxium. Chuck tells her as she leaves that she is going to be a grandmother. Sarah and Casey arrive to find Chuck and Wheelwright with the Atroxium.

Casey-”Chuck, how did you get here?” Chuck- “My mom dropped me off.”

Casey and Sarah don’t trust Mary Bartowski. Casey is going to check into her story. Chuck and Morgan see the decor in the store, including the “Aisle of Terror’ room that is supposed to induce fear and terror  in crazy people seeing the images.

Ellie is shopping with Devon and his mom while Mary observes them. She overhears Ellie tell Devon that his mom is involved, which is more than her mom is doing.

While Sarah and Chuck are examining the Atroxium container, a counter starts. They confront Wheelwright and he says he can disarm it with his thumbprint. When he touches his thumb to the device, gas is released and exposes Chuck. He shuts down Castle and protects Sarah. Wheelwright divulges that he was the main test subject for his experiments and has given into his own insanity.

Chuck agrees to take Wheelwright to the Buy More in exchange for the anit-toxin. Chuck locks down the store when Wheelwright vows to kill Frost. He hits Chuck with another toxin dose, terrorizing him. Chuck has hallucinations of Mary killing Sarah and shooting him.

Casey is picking up info on Mary with Morgan while Sarah tries to get out of Castle.

Wheelwright takes Chuck into the “Aisle of Terror” in the store. Chuck displays the images to Wheelwright and it breaks through his resistance. He immediately succumbs to his fear, running out and taken down by Sarah. Chuck keeps his eyes closedlosed until Wheelwright gives up the antidote.

Mary calls Chuck and leaves a message she wants to see Ellie. Sarah wants to go with him but he refuses.

Chuck tells Ellie about Mary and arranges the meeting. Casey shows Mary’s file to Sarah, it shows that Mary went rogue 20 years ago and is a double agent, working for Volkoff. Sarah tells Casey about the meeting.

Ellie and Chuck are waiting for Mary but when Chuck notices she is delayed and goes outside to check on her, he sees Casey and Sarah kidnap Mary and drive away. When he tries to stop them, Sarah tells him she was just protecting his blind spot. Chuck has to go back and tell Ellie their mom isn’t coming because she is a spy.

Points of Interest

• No one seems to remember the “No secrets, no lies” vow that was made when they agreed to be a couple and be spies.
• Why don’t these spies use their containment devices that they obviously have?
• The extension to the season was announced before this episode aired, expanding to 24 episodes.
• Morgan is no longer Cobra, now he is just a magnet.

References

• Batman Begins- Scarecrow’s toxin: Atrium
• Pulp Fiction- Chuck and Mary in the car.
• Friends- Morgan’s Ross and Rachel reference.

Music

Evacuate the Dance Floor- Cascada: Jeff and Lester dancing around in the Buy More.

Boogie Monster- Gnarls Barkley: Introduction of the Aisle of Terror.

One Life Stand- Hot Chip: Chuck gets shot by his mom at the restaurant.

Dead Hearts- Stars: Chuck and Ellie wait for Mary; Chuck tells Ellie their mom is a spy.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies- Tchaikovsky: The images in the Aisle of Terror are shown.