Chuck, 2x06, “Chuck vs. the Ex”

Episode Title: Chuck vs. the Ex
Writer: Zev Borow
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar
Originally Aired: 11/10/2008
Grade: A-

My feelings about this episode are a bit mixed. On the one hand, I’m assuming that Chuck will eventually get some closure re: Jill out of this arc, but on the other hand, it came completely out of the blue. Chuck listening to the “Jill ’03 Mix” at the beginning of the episode felt entirely random and even out-of-character, and it’s quite convenient that Jill happened to show up in his life right after he was wallowing in his misery about her by dragging out those old songs.

As for Jill herself, Jordana Brewster was great physical casting—she’s not stunningly beautiful like Strahovski, but she’s cute enough to look like a great physical match for Levi’s Chuck. I also found it interesting that Jill evades confirming that she slept with Bryce. In the flashback scene that opens the episode, Jill’s rommie tells Chuck, “She’s dating Bryce Larkin now, Chuck.” Jill pops her head out of the window looking annoyed, Chuck asks if it’s true, and Jill simply says, “I’m sorry, Chuck.” It definitely seemed deliberately vague.

I am bothered by the fact that Jill didn't offer Chuck any kind of explanation for her past behavior, and also by the fact that Chuck (and the writers) just dropped it. Because all that stuff he said to her at dinner was well-deserved, and part of what I adore about Chuck is that he's sweet, but he also stands up for himself.

To her credit, though, Jill actually let Chuck into her hotel room and kissed him based on him just being himself. And then he fucked it up by talking out loud when she was having the bugged convo with her old college friend. I'm not saying Jill won me over, either, but she did seem willing to give just regular ol' Chuck a shot.

I loved Sarah betting against Casey about whether or not Chuck could get Jill to give him another chance. Hell, the guy could actually get a date if he tried to, which is part of what Sarah has argued to Roan in vs. the Seduction and to Casey in this episode. Chuck has plenty of skill in the ladies department, he just doesn't realize it, and it doesn't actually come into play unless it's part of a mission, because missions force Chuck to assert himself in ways he wouldn't otherwise.

Minor nitpick—the disease with the perfect and convenient one hour timer was absolutely ridiculous. No one would die before that, and no one would last a bit longer? Exactly 60 minutes go by, and they’re all supposed to drop dead at the same time? I think I even remember a countdown timer, but maybe not. It’s still preposterous. (And don't even get me started on the needle sharing--better hope no one in that room had HIV, or any other diseases that can be passed on through needle sharing!)

On a more positive note, Sarah’s Aussie accent during the presentation was brilliant. It wasn’t a straight Aussie accent, but rather an American doing and Aussie accent, or in real-world terms, and Australian doing an American doing an Australian accent. Strahovski is so awesome.