Chuck Versus the Coup D'Etat is the fourth episode of Chuck's fourth season.
Chuck and Sarah work on their communication skills relationship
Ellie and Devon go to their babymoon in Costa Gravas at Alejandro Goya's invitation, unaware they're getting caught in a coup.
Morgan embarks on a romance with Alex that may put him at odds with her father Casey.
- Banana Republic: The fictional Costa Gravas returns, with Alejandro Goya inviting Devon and Ellie there for their babymoon as a way to pay back Devon for saving his life.
- Beach Episode: Downplayed, While they never go to the beach, Costa Gravas is home to some beaches and Sarah tries on some bikinis.
- Behind Every Great Man: Hotencia was this to Alejandro at the start of their relationship, but he began to take her less seriously over time, which caused her to turn on him.
- Big Damn Kiss: Between Alejandro and Hortencia after they reconcile.
- Callback: Premier Alejandro Goya (Armand Assante) invites the gang to Costa Gravas to pay back Devon for saving his life in "Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte".
- The Coup: Premier Alejandro Goya is overthrown by his wife Hortencia in cahoots Number Two, supposedly because Alejandro has forgotten his revolutionary (i.e. communist) ideals and has become a typical decadent dictator. It later turns out that Hortencia was merely upset that her husband does not take her seriously (yes, a marriage squabble that results in a coup).
- Dirty Communists: Commandante Turrini and Hortencia pull The Coup against Alejandro after their "Socialist dream was been taken apart by Capitalist swine". Subverted when we find out Hortencia is actually more sour about her marriage to Alejandro falling apart and Turrini just wanted to sleep with her for years.
- Finishing Each Other's Sentences: Alejandro remembers back when he was Happily Married to Hortencia they used to finish each other's sentences.
- Gratuitous Spanish: Almost every character gets at least one Gratuitous Spanish line this episode.
- Handicapped Badass: Due to his injury last episode, Casey is bound to a wheelchair for most of the episode. It doesn't stop him from being a badass.Turrini: Don't make me shoot a man in a wheelchair.
Casey: [stands] Better? - Happily Married: Hortencia and Alejandro were this when they first married, but their marriage fell apart over the years. With Chuck's help, Hortencia and Alejandro actually settle their differences, and he makes her his Number Two as his new Secretary of State.
- Ignored Enamored Underling: Turrini has been this to Hortencia for years according to Casey, and became The Dragon for her just to get a chance to sleep with her.
- Immediate Sequel: Played With. The episode begins immediately following Chuck's Accidental Proposal in the last episode, with Chuck trying to assure Sarah that he's not proposing and them parting awkwardly in opposite directions. Then the picture freezes and it is revealed that Chuck and Morgan were actually reviewing the video in the security room.
- Inside a Wall: Casey lived inside a wall of Alejandro's palace in the 80's as part of an assassination plot, and consequently has a wealth of information about him and Hortencia.
- Kicking Ass in All Her Finery: Since The Coup happens during a fancy party, Sarah is forced to fight off soldiers in her fancy dress. Hortencia, who actually planned The Coup, also takes part in it while wearing her elegant red dress, mostly by Firing in the Air a Lot.
- Kill Him Already!: When Chuck is acting as the mediator to Hortencia and Alejandro about their marriage issues, Turrini is constantly shouting about someone just shooting Chuck.
- Lady in Red: Hortencia wears a seductive red dress during her first few appearances.
- Love Ruins the Realm: The real reason for The Coup of Costa Gravas was Hortencia and Alejandro relationships squabbles. Even Commandante Turrini just betrayed Alejandro just so he could get a chance to sleep with his Hortencia.
- Lust Object: Casey reveals to Hortencia she has been this to Commandante Turrini for years and the actual reason for supporting her coup was to get her in bed.Casey: FYI, lady, this guy used to watch you sleep. Trust me. I lived in these walls for two weeks.
- Memorial Statue: Alejandro has built one of Devon in his Palace, for having saved his life.
- The Mole: Alejandro's Number Two Commandante Turrini pretends not to be part of The Coup and escapes with Alejandro so he can get the key to access the nuclear
- Ms. Fanservice: Hortencia Goya (played by Tia Texada) is a gorgeous Spicy Latina that wears an elegant red dress that prominently displays her cleavage and legs. Even in her later appearance she still looks good while wearing military fatigues.
- Nuke 'em: Costa Gravas has been supplied nuclear weapons by Volkoff Industries, and Hortencia threatens to use them if anyone interferes with her coup.
- Parental Marriage Veto: Casey is pissed when he sees Morgan may be getting romantically involved with Alex.
- Pistol-Whipping: When Chuck and Sarah have to fight off two soldiers in close quarters, the soldiers just keep swinging their guns at them, making no attempt to fire.
- Poor Communication Kills:
- Morgan chides Chuck on how awful he and Sarah are about talking about their relationship issues and Chuck and Sarah spend most of the episode trying to improve their communication.Morgan: You are both, without a doubt, crap communicators. No, no, no — precious looks and whimsical little make-ups after big misunderstandings... you guys are fantastic, sure. But actual, real-life day-to-day communication?
Chuck: Fine, I get it. - It turns out Hortencia and Alejandro also had awful communication during their marriage, and Hortencia's part in The Coup is fueled by her dissatisfaction in their marriage.
- Morgan chides Chuck on how awful he and Sarah are about talking about their relationship issues and Chuck and Sarah spend most of the episode trying to improve their communication.
- Primal Scene: Chuck is horrified when he bumps into Devon and Ellie getting it on in Alejandro's Palace.Chuck: Sorry. Really sorry. For me, mostly.
- Shout-Out: The name "Yakov Smirnoff" is seen, in one of Chuck's flashes, in Russian.
- "Shut Up" Kiss: Alex gives one to Morgan when he starts talking about the relationship advice book he's reading.
- Single-Episode Handicap: Casey is bound to a wheelchair for most of the episode after being shot in the last one, but he goes together with Sarah and Chuck back to Costa Gravas to rescue Alejandro and stop The Coup.
- Spicy Latina: Hortencia is the fiery Hot Consort of Costa Gravas's dictator who starts planning to overthrow him when she feels he has stopped listening to her.
- Spy Cam: Sarah uses her hidden mini camera to take photos of military equipment Volkoff supplied to Costa Gravas.
- Two-Keyed Lock: The panel that controls the nukes in Costa Gravas has two keys, one with Alejandro, the other with Hortencia.
- Villain of the Week: Hortencia Goya who plan the eponymous coup against Alejandro in Costa Gravas, with Commandante Juan Pablo Turrini playing as The Mole.
- Woman Scorned: Hortencia's coup is actually fueled by Alejandro undermining her for years.
