Chuck Episode 2.09 Chuck vs the Sensei

Casey remembers back to his early spy training days and his martial arts instructor. His sensei, Ty Bennett, is a taskmaster who mercilessly defeats Casey time and again, explaining to him that "until you find your calm center, you will never beat me."

Back in the present day, Casey, Sarah, and Chuck are given their next mission: to protect the Global Launch Agency, a company which supports NSA research. General Beckman tells the team that the CIA has received intelligence that someone may try to breach the Global Launch Agency facility. The assignment is to surveil the facility with Chuck and see if he flashes on anyone.

Sarah and Casey go undercover inside the building as Chuck watches the action from the surveillance van. All's quiet until it's not: a masked team of intruders knocks Casey down and runs out of the facility holding a metallic data module. Sarah is caught in a shootout. Casey screams at Chuck via radio to lock down the facility via remote security control, but Chuck is too late and the infiltrators escape. Outside, Casey tackles one of the infiltrators and detains him just long enough to discover that the masked spy is actually his old sensei, Ty Bennett. Casey is stunned by the discovery. As Bennett escapes, Chuck flashes on him: a cop killing, martial arts students in a circle, Casey from younger days.

Back at his apartment, Chuck is startled awake by his sister Ellie. She's freaking out over the imminent visit by her fiancé's parents. Woody and Honey Woodcomb (a.k.a. The Awesomes) arrive filled with ideas about the wedding.

Back in Castle, General Beckman confirms that Casey' s old master is now a full-fledged rogue agent who is recruiting former students to join his worldwide global smuggling operation. Casey is shocked that the man "who taught me everything" is now a traitor. Casey and Sarah are to stop Bennett's plan to sell the guidance system module he's stolen from General Launch Agency. Chuck is told to sit this one out.

Assistant Manager Emmett Milbarge announces a new initiative to boost sales: an Employee of the Month program. The winner will be chosen by how he or she is rated on the comment cards that customers fill out after their visits to the Buy More. Morgan, who makes working as little as possible a personal virtue, is appalled. He declares to Jeff and Lester that he wants to have a side contest: seeing who can get the lowest scores on customer surveys.

At the rendezvous site for Bennett's transfer, Casey and Sarah intercept a limo driver. As they're frisking him outside the car, they notice a briefcase in the back seat -- a bomb! Casey, Sarah, and the driver all jump for cover as the car blows to bits. Bennett is actually at the Buy More, hunting for Casey. He approaches Chuck, then Morgan, both of whom cower at his presence. Chuck calls Casey and Sarah for help, and then tails Bennett to the parking garage of the Large Mart. But Bennett gets the drop on Chuck and stuffs him into the trunk of a car.

The Awesomes have registered Ellie and Devon at Buy More. Honey Awesome accompanies her future daughter-in-law Ellie all around the store, picking out appliances ("You may think you don't need a vacuum sealer, but wait, you'll see").

Sarah and Casey speed to the parking lot to rescue Chuck. Not realizing he's in the trunk, Casey rams Bennett's car. Chuck is uninjured, but Bennett runs off and Casey starts a hot pursuit. Cornered, Bennett tries to recruit Casey to join his team of traitors, but Casey is firm. Bennet distracts his former student and escapes.

Deciding that Casey has let the case become too personal, a disappointed General Beckman pulls the team off the mission. Chuck and Sarah go back to their cover jobs and Casey is relegated to staying in Castle alone. Frustrated, Casey tries to gain access to his case files, but is denied. He tries breaking into the system, but still can't crack it. In desperation he calls Chuck for help and convinces him to come to Castle.

Emmett assembles Jeff, Morgan, and Lester to review their "lowest customer evaluation scores in corporate history." They're excited, wondering who was rated the worst. Emmett announces that the person with the lowest score will be forced to work the late shift and close the store every Saturday for an entire month. He gives the miscreants one day to raise their scores. They bolt to the floor and start "super-serving" customers, offering discounts, and berating customers who don't give them high marks.

Chuck flashes on surveillance footage, placing Bennett's dojo on Mulholland Drive. Casey arms himself, uses Chuck face to scan himself past the security doors, and locks Chuck to the counter of the Orange Orange. He threatens to kill Chuck if he tells anyone where he's going; Major Casey has an old score to settle with his former sensei.

Captain Awesome's parents have arranged an elaborate "tasting dinner" at Ellie's house to evaluate all the food choices for her wedding. Monopolizing the decisions about food, dessert, and even what the bride and groom will wear on their wedding day, Ellie's future in-laws are driving her nuts. She apologizes and excuses herself, Devon in tow

Chuck manages to call Sarah and explains that's he's locked up. She asks where Casey is going -- and lets Chuck know that she's not coming down to unlock him. Chuck ingeniously breaks the chain that's trapping him and heads off to the dojo to help Casey.

Inside the dojo, Casey and Sarah try to find Bennett, but instead find that Chuck has arrived, only to be captured. They're all taken at gunpoint to meet Bennett on the training floor.

Casey challenges his former master to a fight. The sensei drops Casey early and often. Chuck approaches Casey and incenses him by telling him that underneath, he knows Casey is warm and sensitive. The tactic works and Casey resurges to exact vengeance on his one-time master. He prevails and Bennett is captured.

Back at Buy More, Emmett announces that the Employee of the Month is Skip Johnson. Skip's picture will go up on the wall -- and he'll get a gift of a 65" flat screen TV.

Chuck returns home where he apologizes to Ellie about missing the tasting dinner. Ellie confides in Chuck that she's feeling emotional about the upcoming wedding, especially because she had always hoped that their dad would walk her down the aisle. They're both sad, since their father walked out on the family abruptly when they were young. Chuck digs through an old memento box and finds an old birthday card from their father with a phone number. The number is out of service, but Chuck vows to find their father and guarantees Ellie that their dad will walk her down the aisle.