Big Mike has arranged a meeting on the neutral territory of the nearest Subway franchise for Jeff and Lester to meet the new and improved John Casey. Okay, I know Subway's financial support was instrumental in getting a third season of our beloved Chuck, and we are not supposed to balk at the Subway product placements because of such, but OH MY GOD. So after we get a five-second shot of the Subway sign (which doesn't sound like a lot until you count it out and realize that five seconds of staring at nothing but a Subway sign is really boring), Big Mike walks in decked out in his new suit and matching pocket square. Casey follows him in a light grey double-breasted number with a pink shirt, maroon tie, pink pocket square and a freaking tie clasp. He looks like the Miami branch manager of Glen Garry Glen Ross. I don't really understand the point of all this, but I guess he has to have some plotline while a civilian. So Big Mike has arranged a meeting with Jeff and Lester so that they can meet the new and improved and pimped-out Casey and drop the lawsuit they are planning on filing for hostile work environment or assault or whatever. Obviously Jeff and Lester won't make it easy on him, but after 12 minutes of egregious product placement that I am not allowed to complain about, Jeff and Lester announce their terms: Casey has to share some freshly-baked bread with Jeff. Casey takes a big old bite of Jeff's tunaroni (yes, yes, tuna and pepperoni -- check out the AS SEEN ON "CHUCK" menu next time you eat at Subway, which is hopefully, often) sandwich, and their friendship or détente is sealed. There was no point to that scene other than burning through a shit ton of corporate sponsorship in five minutes flat. GO EAT AT SUBWAY OR THE PUPPY GETS IT.
High on his success, Chuck goes to visit Sarah, who is still putting in time at the Fro Yo shop, although they seem to have more Alessi than yogurt. Chuck is gloating, and Sarah is simultaneously barely tolerating and seemingly charmed by his bragging. She invites him to dinner at a restaurant in the train station that night, but I think it was less about reigniting their eternal flame (and BAM! YOU ALL HAVE THE BANGLES IN YOUR HEAD) and more about getting him to shut up. Either way, he is excited. Over at the Buy More, Big Mike is yet again espousing the virtues of Subway when Chuck stops by to pretend to work for a while, but mostly is there to gloat to Casey about passing his solo spy test. Chuck has a present for Casey to thank him for showing him the ropes to espionage. It's a gun or, in Casey's words, "A thoughtful felony." When Chuck tells him that he is meeting Sarah for dinner that night, Casey asks whether he is sure the mission is over. Chuck is sure. Casey, not so much. At CIA HQ, Sarah and Shaw discuss part II of Chuck's mission. Shaw explains that with Anatole dead, the only remaining loose end is the mole. Chuck is going to meet him at the restaurant... and kill him. Sarah is stunned. She doesn't want any part of this so-called Red Test. She doesn't even want Chuck being part of it. He's not ready, he should never be ready. Shaw doesn't really care. He also doesn't blink. Like, maybe Visine should start sponsoring this show, too, and Shaw can take a few minutes to add some Visine to his eyes and blink a bunch. That could take up at least five minutes per episode. Shaw points out the rather obvious fact that as a spy, Chuck will most likely have to kill someone and maybe he should do it now, with Sarah as back up. Sarah's not convinced.













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