What I’m Watching: Chuck

Chuck: Season 4, Episode 2 “Chuck Versus the Suitcase” (B+)

This episode is stronger than last week’s start because it packs in a whole lot of action and character development all around, giving us more of a sense of where this season is heading. The mysterious Bartowski mother wasn’t even featured in this episode, and at this point she’s still enough of an enigma that her eventual appearance in at least one of her children’s lives will be more than anticipated enough given Ellie’s meditation on their time spent together, following Chuck’s own investigation last week. Now, Ellie is beginning to have a bigger role as Awesome prepares a little too much for the arrival of their baby. Ellie is a character who’s never quite been featured prominently, save for the tail end of last season, and I would enjoy seeing her interact a bit more with everyone. Now, of course, Morgan has managed to transform the Buy More back into what it once used to be, bringing back slacker employees Jeff and Morgan to help lighten the load for both the Buy More and the show and give it a comedy edge to balance out the tone of the show. Chuck and Sarah’s relationship is also providing some of that, as their mission this week finds Chuck fighting a naked woman and Sarah yelling at her to put on her clothes. Their relationship certainly doesn’t need another reason for Sarah to think about bolting, but Chuck’s dreams of a perfect union are endearing. We’ll see where it’s all headed soon, and the inevitable reappearance of Chuck’s mom is sure to shake things up in a big way.