Cole: It's not about wanting to be a hero, Chuck. It's about needing to be.
The episode opens on Cole Barker, chained up and being brutally beaten for information. Among the questions he's being asked are, "Do [Team Chuck] know about Perseus?" and the expected "Who is the Intersect?"
Chuck meanwhile is struggling with for-real moving in with his not-real girlfriend who he has for-real feelings for. The pair make painfully awkward banter about the situation, but on arriving at the Buy More Chuck is hauled into Castle for his own protection: Cole has been missing for twelve hours now, has almost certainly talked, and Chuck is going into protective custody. As they head for the door, however, alarms go off: Castle is being breached! Casey and Sarah arm themselves and take up defensive positions, as the door opens to reveal... Cole.
Cole is debriefed on his escape, reporting that he took out nine guys on the way out. He also reports the questions about Perseus, which turns out to be codename for one of the original Intersect architects who Fulcrum have presumably recruited to build their Intersect. Chuck's interest is piqued: who better to get the Intersect out of his head than one of the original architects?
With Chuck and Cole ordered to stay out of sight, Sarah and Casey go undercover at an event at the Italian Consulate where Perseus is expected to attend. Chuck and Cole provide support from Castle, watching video feeds in the hope of identifying Perseus. Chuck successfully flashes on a man, Dr Howard Busgang, identifying him as Perseus. However, Cole recognises another man, Duncan, as one of his torturers... seconds before the video feed dies.
With Sarah and Casey taken prisoner, Cole drags Chuck along on a rescue mission. A frightened Dr Busgang protests that he works for the CIA, and is informed that Fulcrum are a splinter group of terrorists. Chuck and Cole mount their rescue, but are hampered when an injured Cole can't climb a fire escape ladder, forcing Chuck to take up a gun for the first time and go in through the window while Cole takes the door.
The rescue operation ensues, with Chuck getting caught in the windowsill and accidentally shooting Dr Busgang in the shoulder while Cole gets shot protecting Sarah. Sarah and Casey are rescued, but the Fulcrum agents and Dr Busgang all escape.
At an all-time low, Chuck goes home where Ellie spots him limping, goes into protective mode and drags him to the hospital for a just-in-case X-ray and a cast. At the hospital, he hears the patient next to him protest that he wants to leave and recognises Dr Busgang's voice. He calls Casey, who tells him to stay put, but ignores that and follows Dr Busgang to a lab where the doctor confronts him, but sees Chuck flash on a file marked "ORION" and realises he's the human Intersect he's heard about. Chuck begs for the doctor's help getting the Intersect out, but is told that Orion - another original architect of the Intersect - is the only one who might know how.
The conversation is broken up by Fulcrum agent Duncan, who has also followed Dr Busgang from the hospital. He shoots Dr Busgang and is about to shoot Chuck when he's flying-tackled by Cole. Cole gets shot again, but as Duncan takes aim to kill him properly this time Cole yells "Sweep the leg!" at Chuck, who knocks Duncan over from behind with his cast.
Pausing only to make another unsuccessful play for Sarah and give Chuck some parting wisdom about being a Determinator, Cole takes his leave, presumably making it to the airport this time. Chuck goes home and runs into Sarah, who has something to tell him, but first Chuck has something to tell her: they can't move in together, because Chuck is in love with Sarah and can't handle a fake relationship with her of that intensity. Sarah is turned away as he speaks, but her expression is deeply hurt, suggesting that she was about to confess her feelings to him.
Chuck leaves Sarah and goes inside, telling Ellie the move is off without breaking stride. Alone in his room, Chuck takes down his TRON poster to reveal a whiteboard on the back, full of information Chuck has compiled in his efforts to get rid of the Intersect. In the space marked "Designer," he adds one word: "Orion."
Trope Flash:
- Anguished Declaration of Love: Chuck makes one to Sarah, explaining why he can't handle moving in with her. From her expression - which Chuck can't see - Sarah had planned to follow Cole's advice and declare her love for Chuck. She remains perfectly calm and courteous throughout.Chuck: Sarah, I'm not going to move in with you. Because I can't. And you know why I can't. I'm crazy about you. And I always have been. Having a fake relationship, that's one thing. But living together is... I mean, everyday being around each other and -and that's why I can't do it. I hope you understand.
- Big Damn Heroes: Cole again, twice. First when he leads Chuck on a rescue mission at the Italian Consulate, and again when he saves Chuck from a Fulcrum agent.
- Big Sister Instinct: Ellie sees Chuck limping and goes into Doctor Mode. She drags him along to the hospital for an X-ray, insisting on a cast because it could be a hairline fracture. Chuck probably sees more medical attention for his probably-sprained ankle than Cole does for his bullet wound.
- Black-Tie Infiltration: Sarah and Casey go undercover at a formal event at the Italian Consulate to find Perseus.
- Dare to Be Badass: Cole, when he drags Chuck along on the rescue (see page quote). Although giving Chuck a gun turns out to be a less-than-stellar plan. He also has this parting advice for Chuck:Cole: I've got some not-so secrets for you. If you want something bad enough, don't ever take "No" for an answer. And for godsakes, man, carry a gun! Maybe two.
- Epic Fail: When Chuck goes to the rescue at the Consulate, he manages to get his ankle caught in a windowsill and (nonfatally) shoot Perseus by accident while an already-injured Cole fights his way in and Takes The Bullet for Sarah.Cole: Just doing my job, General. Actually, Chuck showed great courage on this mission. He got injured in the line of duty.
Casey: He got clipped by a window sill. It's as pathetic as it sounds. - Foreshadowing:
- Chuck misses General Beckman's expression when he speculates that Perseus could get the Intersect out of his head, but Casey doesn't. Chuck Versus the Predator reveals that the General doesn't want Chuck de-Intersected.
- Early on, Ellie mentions Chuck and Sarah's imminent move-in, suggesting to her that Chuck's TRON poster doesn't have to survive the move. This poster is revealed as the hiding place of Chuck's notes on the Intersect.
- Made of Iron: After being flogged and run off the road in the last episode, Cole is beaten bloody and shot twice in this one. It doesn't seem to slow him down much.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: The episode opens on Cole being subjected to this kind of torture, with an iron bar. He doesn't tell them anything.
- Not in the Face!: Cole mentions this trope during the torture, sounding almost bored. His request is ignored.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: After somehow getting free of his chains, Cole took out nine Fulcrum agents and escaped. There's some scepticism about that, but in fact...Casey: Let me ask you something. When you escaped from Fulcrum did you really take out nine guys?
Cole: The truth?
Casey: Professional courtesy.
Cole: It was more like twelve. I don't like to boast. - Shout-Out:
- While being tortured, Cole is asked his real name. He quips, "Bond, James Bond." This earns him another whack in the face.
- Cole advises Chuck to "Sweep the leg" in fights.
- Spies In a Van: Variation: Chuck and Cole provide support from Castle rather than a van, but it's the same idea.
- Wait Here: Chuck and Cole are ordered to stay in Castle for security reasons, but come to the rescue when Sarah and Casey are captured.Chuck: Wow. At least no one's telling us to...
Casey: You heard the General, stay in the bunker!
Chuck: ... And there it is.
