Chuck Versus the Balcony

"Chuck Versus the Balcony"
Chuck episode
Sarah retrieves the nano-chip as Chuck prepares to propose
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 11
Directed by	Jay Chandrasekhar
Written by	Max Denby
Original air date	January 17, 2011 (2011-01-17)
Guest stars
Pooja Kumar as Jinsana Braeden Marcott as a wine enthusiast Jean-Christophe Febbrari as Pierre Melville Eddie Davenport as Agent Rosenbaum
Episode chronology
← Previous "Chuck Versus the Leftovers" Next → "Chuck Versus the Gobbler"
List of Chuck episodes

"Chuck Versus the Balcony" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired January 17, 2011. Chuck Bartowski embarks on two secret quests. As he tries to locate a nano-chip in the vineyards of France, he also attempts to stealthily concoct a romantic getaway for Sarah Walker. Meanwhile, Lester Patel pesters Big Mike to help him sort out his troubled love life.

Plot

Main plot

Carrying a briefcase in Loire Valley, France, Agent Rosenbaum (Eddie Davenport) is chased through a vineyard by several terrorists with dogs. Rosenbaum quickly injects a nano-chip into one of the wine bottles. When he is shot by Pierre Melville (Jean-Christophe Febbrari), Rosenbaum slides the automatic syringe under the wine rack.

Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker are on a romantic date at a fancy Italian restaurant, where it is revealed Chuck had intentions of proposing to Sarah at dinner. However, Chuck panics when Sarah mentions her parents' botched engagement at an Italian restaurant that was "the beginning of the end of their relationship" Chuck-already having the plans set in motion-aborts the proposal and leads her out of the restaurant a different way so she could not see any evidence. Sarah gets a call from General Beckman while Chuck is diverting the champagne and music away from their table.

Team Bartowski is assigned to retrieve the nano-chip from the chateau in France, as it contains secret locations and blueprints of CIA blacksites in Europe. After Chuck and Casey leave, Sarah calls Beckman and tells her to inform her if there is anything she can do to bring back Chuck's mother. The team goes undercover at a wine tasting and they track the nano-chip with special equipment. Casey sneaks into the cellar, where Pierre finds the syringe and deduces that the nano-chip is in a specific bottle of 1986 Chateau LeFranc, a "peppery pinot with a stable on the label and a stork on the cork". After tracking the glass the wine has been poured into, Chuck steals it from a wine enthusiast (Braeden Marcott) and flashes to defend it from Pierre.

Chuck and Morgan Grimes plan a sub-mission for Chuck's proposal to Sarah, but Chuck is interrupted during several opportunities to propose and never gets the chance. However, he gets a second chance as they go back to France, this time posing as rogue agents where Pierre will purchase a fake nano-chip and the CIA can track his location. Beckman gives Sarah direct orders to make the exchange rather than Chuck. While preparing for the mission, Sarah overhears Chuck and Morgan planning the proposal sub-mission. Sarah surprises Morgan in his office and tells him that the sub-mission is now under her control, as she does not like surprises. Casey, in turn, discovers the sub-mission and decides to help.

That night in France, Sarah is waiting in the garden to make the exchange while an unknown person spies on her. After Chuck witnesses the exchange and Sarah leaves the site to meet him, he is encountered by Pierre and his men, angry that they tried to deceive him. Chuck flashes to knock them unconscious, in the process dropping Sarah's engagement ring. As Sarah goes to meet Chuck at the eponymous balcony, she reveals to Morgan and Casey that for the first time in her life she is nervous. Morgan manages to calm her and gives her permission to marry Chuck. As Sarah gets to the balcony, Casey and Morgan notice that the ring is on the ground. Sarah gracefully picks it up and places it in Chuck's pocket without him noticing. As Chuck kneels to propose to Sarah, the CIA arrives and arrests Sarah for treason.

Back at Castle, Casey reveals that he proposed to Kathleen in a bus station before being deployed. He explains to Chuck that the only thing that matters is that he has Sarah. Chuck enters a holding cell to to propose to Sarah once more, when she suddenly reveals that she is going undercover in Volkoff Industries, saying that Beckman arranged for her arrest so that she could enter the organization. Sarah believes that the only way to bring his mother back is if she goes inside. They share one more passionate kiss before she leaves.

Lester and the Bride

Lester Patel mentions to Big Mike how stressed he is that his parents have arranged a marriage for him. Big Mike agrees to help Lester sort out his troubled love life. However, when Lester meets his potential bride Jinsana (Pooja Kumar) at the Buy More, he is immediately attracted to her, but does not properly assert his own personality. Jinsana agrees to return in a half-hour for him to make a second impression. Lester attempts to impress her with several elements of their Canadian, Indian, and Jewish culture, but she is overwhelmed. However, when he reveals that he trying to impress her, Jinsana admits that it was "cute". Lester attempts to make a third impression, where he sings Whitesnake's "Is This Love. Lester assumes that he was successful, but she describes it as the most uncomfortable five minutes of her life, before leaving him.

Production

Production details

• Agent Rosenbaum is named after a former series writer, Scott Rosenbaum.
• The Chateau LeFranc references one of the series writers, Lauren LeFranc.

Flashes

• Chuck flashes to fight Pierre and his men without spilling the glass of wine.
• Chuck flashes to incapacitate Pierre and his men.

Cultural references

• Sarah tells Chuck he doesn't need to be like James Bond.
• When referring to the wine, Chuck and Morgan use a similar play on words to that used by Danny Kaye in The Court Jester.
• Morgan's line "Talk to me, Goose" is taken directly from Maverick in Top Gun.

Music

• "Brimful of Asha" by Cornershop
• "When I Go" by Slow Club
• "Is This Love" by Whitesnake

Critical response

Eric Goldman of IGN gave this episode a score of 8 out of 10.^[1]

References

1. ^ Eric Goldman (2010-01-29). "Chuck: "Chuck Versus The Balcony" Review". IGN. http://tv.ign.com/articles/114/1144417p1.html. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 

External links

• "Chuck Versus the Balcony" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Chuck Versus the Balcony" at TV.com