Well, it’s good to know that if the spy plot flops, there’s always a crunchy center of Chuck/Ellie goodness awaiting us. That was definitely the case in this week’s episode, “Chuck versus the Sizzling Shrimp,” in which the “help rescue the Chinese diplomat” bored me to tears while the interaction between Chuck and Ellie nearly moved me to tears.

The reveal on “Mother’s Day” was slightly, if not totally, unexpected: I’d banked on it being the anniversary of their mom’s death, but to have it be the day their mom left the family lent both a gravitas to their relationship as well as a good explanation for the tight bond between them. This was the week Ellie finally called “douche” on Chuck, with her finally reaching the breaking point with his unexpected disappearances. And I must admit, between Chuck and Reaper, I’m already kinda sick of nerdy guys hiding secrets from people who could potentially handle it. So props to Ellie for finally calling him out.

As for the spy stuff, well, aside from a well-placed “Private Eyes” lightening up the plot, I just couldn’t have cared less. Not good when I’m looking at the clock, Chuck. Maybe it’s because I don’t like Chinese food. Maybe that’s why I was bored. Nope, it was just a lame plot without an iota of real threat at any given time. (I spent it thinking up my own stake-out mix…I got as far as Madonna’s “Secret” and Gary Numan’s “Cars” before mentally returning to the show.)

As for “An Evening with Morgan”, well, I will say it was nice to see him act like an actual human being, and with Ellie of all people. They needed to give him that level of normalcy, lest he be a Kramer-esque figure that existed in a different reality than the rest of the characters on the show.

And since you’re wondering…my favorite four words? “Free side of fries.” What are your favorite four words?