Chuck vs the Predator

Original air date: March 23, 2009

Season 2, Episode 17

Synopsis

Chuck, Sarah, and Casey are returning from a mission which required them to be plumbers. Chuck and Sarah agree they don’t want another plumbing mission. Chuck asks Sarah if Beckman has said anything about Orion and he is frustrated not to have any information yet.

In his room, Chuck is awake and reviewing his Orion information on his Tron poster back while running a search on his computer. His computer camera switches on, and there is a person in Hong Kong sitting at a desk watching Chuck through his camera but stops when he hears intruders entering. The unidentified man uses a keypad on a device on his arm and flees before he is found by the intruders. The leader of the group says Fulcrum should be alerted that Orion has escaped. They see a message on the computer screen telling them their day is about to get worse, and an incoming drone explodes at the scene. 

At the Buy More, there is toilet paper everywhere. The Beverly Hills branch employees enter but don’t claim credit for the deed. Big Mike tells them that the attack is because Burbank is getting the new Roark computer first. After the other employees leave, Big Mike tells them there will be no retaliation.

Chuck is cleaning a computer in Buy More and gets a message that says his secret is known. He is the Intersect. It is from Orion, and he requests a meeting and will send Chuck one of his computers. Sarah arrives and Chuck tells her about his secret search, and they all video conference with Beckman. She wants Orion’s computer secured so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Lester then receives a package for Chuck in the Buy More and believes he has the new Roark computer.

Sarah tells Chuck he needs to be honest with her. He didn’t tell her about his search for Orion. He justifies it by saying he isn’t sure the CIA and NSA want the Intersect removed, and she says he should have trusted her.

Morgan and Lester take the delivered computer to a stall in the men’s room. When they get a message on screen to identify themselves, they say they can’t, and the reason is they could be in danger. At that point, a Predator drone is launched. They assume it is a simulation game and target the Buy More. 

Casey alerts Sarah and Chuck that the drone is approaching the Buy More, and they need to evacuate. Morgan, Lester, and Jeff then make the Beverly Hills Buy More the target, and Chuck realizes who is doing this. Chuck calls Morgan and tells them to stop, then finds them in the bathroom and wrestles the laptop away from them. Casey and Sarah burst in, and Chuck reminds her this is the boys’ bathroom, so she leaves. As they leave, Big Mike takes the computer to lock it in the office for safety. They think it is the Roark gaming computer.

The Fulcrum agent meets with the council and tells them the signal from Hong Kong is now identified in Burbank, and he will go on his own to finish the job.

The Buy More is being invaded by two sets of thieves. Lester and Jeff are there to steal the computer. Sarah, Casey, and Chuck are also there to steal the computer. All are dressed in black and are distracting Emmett so that they can get into Big Mike’s office to get the computer. Chuck uses the code to get into the safe. Lester berates Casey, who he thinks is Jeff, while Jeff talks to a masked Sarah that he thinks is Lester. The Fulcrum agent also arrives, also there to take the computer. When Chuck unlocks the safe, the Fulcrum agent is there and has a gun. Chuck flashes on Vincent (the agent) and comments about multiple thieves trying to steal the same computer. Jeff and Lester run when they realize they aren’t alone in the Buy More but run into Emmett and get maced. Emmett is knocked out by Casey, but Vincent comes out with Chuck at gunpoint. Casey shoots Vincent, but before they can try to talk to him, he dies from a suicide pill.

Big Mike is called to the store and brings Morgan.

Chuck wants to open the computer to get some information, but Beckman stops him. She believes it was all a Fulcrum trap, and their analysts will check the computer. She is coming to Burbank herself to oversee things. Chuck is sent back to his apartment as Beckman arrives.

Emmett explains to Big Mike about the burglary, and it is blamed on the Beverly Hills Buy More crew. They now plan their retaliation.

Chuck fell asleep in his room but wakes up when Orion wants to talk to him. He tells Chuck to look at his computer screen, and Chuck flashes on a symbol Orion put there. Orion tells Chuck he knew it would make him flash because he is the one who put it in the Intersect. Chuck is convinced he is dealing with Orion.

Beckman tells Casey and Sarah that she lied to Chuck about the computer; he did what no one else could— find Orion. When Sarah tries to plead Chuck’s case, Beckman cuts her off. Orion tells Chuck not to trust anyone and puts surveillance of the meeting with Beckman on Chuck’s computer, proving his handlers and Beckman can’t be trusted. Beckman doesn’t want Chuck to meet Orion or remove the Intersect from his head. Chuck leaves the apartment after removing his watch at Orion’s request. Chuck gets the computer from Castle and arranges a meeting with Orion, but Vincent comes back to life and captures him. The pill was only mimicking death. 

Sarah tells Beckman that Chuck won’t sit still for this treatment and then realizes he should have tried something already. They check and find him gone. They check the Castle surveillance and see Chuck captured. Chuck knew they would look for him, so he leaves the address of the meeting place where they can see it.

The Beverly Hills Buy More is invaded, and Emmett uses a baseball bat to knock over shelving, and they leave. Chuck and Vincent arrive at the rendezvous point, and Vincent compliments Chuck on getting Orion to come out of hiding. He then threatens Chuck by implying violence against his family if he doesn’t cooperate. When Chuck indicates to Orion that it is safe, the Fulcrum agents grab the man who shows up and take him to a waiting helicopter. Sarah and Casey arrive and save Chuck from Vincent, but he runs to try and help Orion. When Chuck opens the laptop, he sees a Predator drone has been dispatched towards them. He tries to reroute the drone, but it strikes the helicopter, and it’s destroyed. 

Beckman tells them it is better that Fulcrum didn’t capture Orion and admits she doesn’t want Chuck to remove the Intersect. He is their best weapon and needs to become a spy.

The Buy More crew from Beverly Hills arrives to confront Big Mike and issue a threat of store closure.

Chuck finds information under his pillow. Orion tells him to study the material he supplied, and then the disc self-destructs. Sarah comes in through the window as Chuck hides the materials. They discuss what happened, as Chuck insists this is not his life and he will get his real life back. Sarah asks if he trusts her, and he says he does. 

Beckman questions Casey regarding Sarah’s feelings toward Chuck. She asks for all his surveillance on Chuck and Sarah. Chuck, via surveillance, is lying on his bed reading a graphic novel that has all the Intersect information pasted inside, unseen by the camera.

Points of Interest 

• The first time we see Chuck intentionally lie to Sarah. Orion has convinced him he can’t trust her. Chuck doesn’t see when she defends him to Beckman after Chuck watches Sarah agree to deceive him.
• Sarah is upset when Chuck hides from her his search for Orion because he doesn’t trust the CIA. She insists that he can trust HER.
• Beckman sees Chuck and Sarah together for the first time in the real world, not via video. Sarah comes to Chuck’s defense in a personal way; he isn’t just an asset. Beckman questions Casey regarding Sarah’s feelings for Chuck and requests all his files on them. When he asks her about trusting him, she tells him she doesn’t trust anyone. 
• “I can’t lose you, Chuck, I need you. It’s time for you to become a spy.” Beckman now begins the process of turning Chuck into a real spy. She is no longer supporting his desire to get the Intersect removed and be a normal guy.
• Bonita Friedericy makes her first in-person appearance on the show. All her other appearances were by video from another location. The interview done by Chuck vs the Podcast with the actress gives great insight into the character and the portrayal.
• Orion’s laptop is an Alienware computer. Almost all the lighting effects seen are part of the actual computer.
• The Beverly Hills Buy More seen as an aerial shot is a CGI of the Macy’s store at Burbank Town Center.

References

• Shane (1953)- “It was a lawless town….” Emmett patrolling the Buy More.
• Apocalypse Now- “I love the smell of Burbank in the morning.” Also a reference in Chuck vs Santa Claus.
• Mission Impossible- self-destructing disc of Orion’s. We see this again in Chuck vs the Final Exam.
• Battlestar Galactica- Predator drone design.

Music

Making Love Out Of Nothing At All- Air Supply: Big Mike gets called to the Buy More while Morgan listens to bedroom sounds.

Amazing Life- Matt Pond PA: Chuck tells Sarah that he trusts her; Beckman questions Casey about Chuck and Sarah; Chuck reads Ex Machina containing Orion’s notes.