Back at Castle, Beckman benches Chuck and orders Sarah and Shaw to Washington to head up the search for the Director.

Chuck and Sarah confront the Director, who reveals that the Ring has developed its own prototype of the Intersect Cipher.

The team debriefs at Castle, and Beckman this time reprimands Shaw for apparently killing the Director, but Chuck comes to his defense for saving their lives.

"[1] The LA Times described the episode as "45 minutes of deeply entertaining television," though also cited the missteps of the season leading up to it.

[2] IF.com praised the inclusion of Morgan in the spy game to take over Chuck's role as the bumbling non-spy on the team.