# Chuck (12/01): "Chuck vs the Sensei" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305 "2008-12-02T05:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/1 "2008-12-02T05:19:08Z")
Casey takes front and center as his former sensei turns out to be a rogue agent. (Really, is there any agent other than Sarah and Casey that doesn’t turn out to be rogue?) There was a distinct lack of Casey fanservice, however. The producers perhaps don’t realize an entire audience demographic that also watches the show. The final battle was also less than satisfying. With an entire dojo of rogue recruits, I was expecting Casey to have to go through each minion _Game of Death_-style before the big boss. Because, you know, Casey is just that bad-ass. Still, I liked how Chuck got into Casey’s head at the end. I look forward to seeing more of Mr. and Mrs. Awesome. Bruce Boxleitner and Morgan Fairchild are suitably awesome casting for the parents of Captain Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/2 "2008-12-02T05:36:26Z")
Considering the Chuck and Casey kiss from a couple weeks ago, I doubt they’re unaware. I thought this episode was only okay. Enjoyable, but not great. Does anyone know what’s happened to Anna? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/3 "2008-12-02T05:43:32Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > I thought this episode was only okay. Enjoyable, but not great. Does anyone know what’s happened to Anna? I think Morgan said she was away somewhere. Maybe visiting her parents. For an episode all about John Casey, it really lacked some good John Casey moments. Except for his discussion with Emmett at the start of the episode. And I can’t wait for Elle and Chuck’s dad. Hopefully he’s not a spy too. (But I bet he is). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/4 "2008-12-02T06:40:56Z")
Holy moley I didn’t even recognize Bruce Boxleitner. I’m getting kind of tired of the BuyMore subplots that have nothing to do with the main plot. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/5 "2008-12-02T14:44:35Z")
I like the BuyMore subplots. Guess they can’t please everyone always… Is it me, or did Boxleitner look a lot like former President Clinton? Forced me to do a double-take (could just be that I never just watch TV and tend to miss stuff - thank Og for DVRs). ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/6 "2008-12-02T17:52:44Z")
The Awesomes were awesome. 😃 Poor Ellie. But I’d always assumed Chuck would walk her down the aisle, instead of some AWOL dad… ---
**Author:** ![satoridt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@satoridt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satoridt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/7 "2008-12-02T21:15:38Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Holy moley I didn’t even recognize Bruce Boxleitner. > > I’m getting kind of tired of the BuyMore subplots that have nothing to do with the main plot. The BuyMore subplots are the best part of the show! IMO of course ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/8 "2008-12-02T21:31:27Z")
Another fan of the BuyMore subplots here (also a fan of the Work Bench subplots on Reaper). Chuck’s cheerleading was brill. From the initial ‘Eye of the tiger, buddy! - Shut up, Chuck.’ exchange to ‘Go on, say it: You love me, John Casey.’ ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/9 "2008-12-02T22:36:27Z")
For a standard type-A, not moving the arc forward episode, it was OK. Baldwin is always best when he plays Baldwin with a deadpan sense of humor, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the material in this episode. Chuch vs. the Crown Victoria was much better in highlighting the awesomeness that is Casey. At 47, I shouldn’t be lusting for Strahovski, but she does stir my hormones like few pretty young things do nowadays. Boxleitner’s got some really good genes. It’s obvious that Fairchild’s had some work done, but following Boxleitner since the seventies, it just seems as if he got the winning ticket early on. He’s almost 60 and one of the few guys of that age I can imagine dating a 35 year old without looking like a pathetic loser with a trophy wife. Great casting anyway. Why didn’t Anna win the 65". She’d be perfect to win EotM. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/10 "2008-12-03T02:38:51Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > For a standard type-A, not moving the arc forward episode, it was OK. Baldwin is always best when he plays Baldwin with a deadpan sense of humor, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the material in this episode. Chuch vs. the Crown Victoria was much better in highlighting the awesomeness that is Casey. Yeah, they really should have Casey get a new car. The best Casey moment last night was actually Chuck imitating Casey. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/11 "2008-12-04T03:24:37Z")
Every since the first episode of this show, I’ve been dreaming of this one moment. It finally happened. Casey said “you are damaging my calm.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/12 "2008-12-04T06:52:28Z")
Casey considered Anna for recruitment. I’m still wondering if maybe she’s off getting spy training. Oh, please don’t let Chuck & Elle’s dad be a spy. Chuck should walk Elle down the aisle. “Casey doesn’t have a calm center, it’s more of an angry center.” 😃 I liked Sarah immediately in one guess knowing exactly how Casey tricked Chuck into helping him out of The Castle (or whatever it’s called). ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/13 "2008-12-04T15:43:13Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Holy moley I didn’t even recognize Bruce Boxleitner. Did you notice the Tron poster in Chuck’s room, right before we met Papa Awesome? This show really knows its demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/14 "2008-12-05T03:15:13Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Oh, please don’t let Chuck & Elle’s dad be a spy. I suspect Chuck inherited his intersect absorbing ability from dad. I think it will turn out that when Brice got Chuck kicked out of Stanford he was following Chuck’s dad’s orders in order to protect Chuck. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/15 "2008-12-05T22:14:27Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > I suspect Chuck inherited his intersect absorbing ability from dad. I think it will turn out that when Brice got Chuck kicked out of Stanford he was following Chuck’s dad’s orders in order to protect Chuck. I hope not ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/16 "2008-12-06T05:52:06Z")
I feel Chuck is beginning to channel John Dorian from _Scrubs_, at least in this episode. That is not a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/17 "2008-12-06T15:21:14Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Did you notice the Tron poster in Chuck’s room, right before we met Papa Awesome? This show really knows its demographic. :smack: My husband and I both noticed the poster but totally didn’t get the significance. I love this show. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/18 "2008-12-06T20:21:07Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > I feel Chuck is beginning to channel John Dorian from _Scrubs_, at least in this episode. That is not a good thing. I don’t watch Scrubs much (it’s on my list) so what does channeling J. D. mean? They’re both nerdy goof-balls, but Chuck doesn’t seem to be the main nerdy good-ball. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/19 "2008-12-06T22:34:30Z")
> [@Geobabe](#): > > :smack: My husband and I both noticed the poster but totally didn’t get the significance. I love this show. Err, what significance? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305/20 "2008-12-06T22:49:05Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Err, what significance? TRON was played by Bruce Boxleitner. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-12-01-chuck-vs-the-sensei/475305.md?page=2)