Captain Awesome

Dr. Devon Woodcomb
Chuck character
Ryan McPartlin as Devon Woodcomb
First appearance	"Chuck Versus the Intersect"
Portrayed by	Ryan McPartlin
Information
Nickname(s)	Captain Awesome
Gender	Male
Occupation	Cardiovascular Surgeon
Title	Doctor Woodcomb
Family	Dr. "Woody" Woodcomb (father) Dr. "Honey" Woodcomb (mother) Two younger brothers [1] Chuck Bartowski (brother in law) Stephen Bartowski (father in law), Mrs. Bartowski (mother in law)
Spouse(s)	Dr. Eleanor Fay "Ellie" Woodcomb
Address	Echo Park, Los Angeles, California

Devon^[2] Christian^[3] "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb, M.D., is a character on the TV series Chuck, and is portrayed by the actor Ryan McPartlin. The character's nickname comes from Chuck's assertion that "everything he does is awesome," and his frequent use of the word "awesome" in conversation. A surgeon, he is Ellie Bartowski's significant other, and they marry in the Season 2 finale.

Character profile

Devon Woodcomb is the son of Woody (Bruce Boxleitner) and Honey (Morgan Fairchild) Woodcomb,^[4][5] and has two younger brothers.^[1] He played football for UCLA,^[6] where he met Ellie. He gave her his lucky sweater because it matched her eyes.^[7] Devon graduated from medical school, specializing in cardiothoracic medicine,^[8] and is now a cardiovascular surgeon at Westside Medical Center with Ellie.^[9] Devon and Ellie live together in a two-bedroom apartment in Echo Park in Los Angeles with Ellie's brother, Chuck.

Character development

When originally cast, Devon was only planned to have appeared in a handful of episodes before being revealed as an enemy spy by the end of Season 1. However, because of the popularity of the character, this plan was dropped and Ryan McPartlin was added to the credits as a regular member of the cast for Season 2.^[10] Devon has appeared as a recurring major character throughout the first and second seasons, and began figuring more prominently toward the end of Season 2 as his suspicions grew, he discovered Chuck's spy life, and began to provide cover for Chuck. He primarily appears in plots involving Chuck's home life, although he has been indirectly involved with the spy plots.^[1] For example, during a hostage crisis at the Buy More, Devon formulates a plan with Big Mike, Morgan, Jeff and Lester to take down their captor, Ned, who Chuck learns is part of a Fulcrum plot.^[6]

His nickname comes from Chuck's belief that "everything he does is awesome," including rock climbing, hang-gliding and flossing.^[11][12] He also frequently uses the word "awesome," to the point that, when under the effects of truth serum, Ellie angrily tells him that if everything is 'awesome,' then awesome becomes mediocre.^[7] All the other characters frequently use the nickname behind his back, except for Ellie; once, she does refer to his parents as the "Very Awesomes."^[13] Chuck has only called Devon "Awesome" or "Captain Awesome" to his face very few times on the show.^a[›] Devon is very fit and active. In addition to extreme sports he's also an avid biker and frequently works out.^[1] Devon maintains a close relationship with his UCLA frat brothers, and prefers to watch UCLA's football team face perceived worthy opponents like USC rather than Stanford.^[14]

Devon is portrayed as very laid-back, and has only rarely been shown angry.^[15] Chuck's father describes him as a "straight arrow";^[16] his and Ellie's mistaken belief that while drunk he may have gone too far with an exotic dancer at his bachelor party horrifies and shames him.^[16]

Devon is very much in love with Ellie, although they have fought in a few episodes. He wanted to buy a washer and dryer for their anniversary because he saw it as a chance for them to be able to spend more time together, which upset Ellie because when she left him to decide what to get he automatically chose what he wanted, rather than considering her feelings. He proposed to Ellie in the Season 1 finale with his great-grandmother's ring, and has since been involved in helping plan the wedding.^[1]

Devon sees Chuck as a surrogate brother and the man of Ellie's family in the absence of their father; he feels it is important that he have Chuck's permission before proposing marriage to her.^[1] On several occasions in the series, Devon has advised Chuck on his relationship with Sarah.^[7] He personally singled out several "candidates" for Chuck to date at the birthday party he and Ellie held for him, and when Ellie followed up on how Chuck was doing he noted "not awesome."^[11] He also teaches Chuck to tango when, unbeknownst to Devon, Chuck prepares for his first mission; Devon inadvertently taught Chuck the "women's part" of the dance.^[17][18] He coaches Morgan on his appearance, including tucking in his shirt and a focus on hair care products,^[19] and is impressed with Casey's physique.^[20]

Devon also mentors certain characters and makes an effort to get along with Chuck's friends. Although he's well aware of Morgan's crush on Ellie,^[21] Devon is not at all threatened by him, and when he finds Morgan on the bed with and comforting Ellie after she and Devon have a fight, Devon doesn't even suspect that she slept with Morgan.^[22] Devon shows signs of considering Morgan as something of a friend. He offers him advice on the finer points of being a man when Chuck is upset with Morgan's immaturity,^[19] and turns to Morgan for advice on how to woo Ellie. Devon also loans Morgan money for an apartment, but is later angered to find Morgan impulsively used the money to buy a used, barely functioning DeLorean.^[15] Devon allows Morgan to stay on the couch for a few days to escape Big Mike's relationship with his mother.^[23] He attempted to outsource some of his wedding-preparation responsibilities to Chuck by asking him to find a band. Jeff and Lester offered their services, and after a miserable audition, Jeff convinces Devon to give them a second chance. Although Jeffster! is still less than impressive, Devon tells Ellie that he can still let them live their dream for five minutes.^[24]

Devon has difficulty empathizing with other characters due to his awesome nature; when Jeff asks, "Have you ever had a dream that's never come true?" Devon has to think for a moment before admitting, "No." When trying to comfort Casey about his life, believing at the time that John is merely a Buy More employee, Devon tells about a time when his life was disappointing and unfulfilled, then confesses that such a time never actually happened.

Devon is confident about his appearance and masculinity. He frequently wears form-fitting sports attire or little to no clothing at all, a practice which bothers both Ellie^[7] and Chuck. He teaches Chuck to tango while wearing only underwear and his bathrobe (which he discards at one point) and has Chuck put his hands on his butt. For Halloween, he dresses up as Adam while wearing only flesh-colored underwear fitted with a fake fig leaf.^[19] This comfort level also extends towards sex in general, as he frequently makes suggestive remarks about Chuck and Sarah's sex life^[7][25] and his and Ellie's relationship.

Devon is intelligent and observant. Although he's unaware that Chuck and Sarah's relationship is just a cover, he accurately recognizes that Sarah's feelings for Chuck are still genuine.^[8] He may have observed more than is good for him when going under due to a tranq and later a glimpse of General Beckman on Chuck's computer monitor.^[9] When he later learns of Chuck's secret life^[26] he is highly impressed with his brother-in-law as Chuck is not "just a loser who worked at the Buy More." Due to this knowledge he lets Morgan stall his wedding upon learning Chuck asked for it.^[3]

Josh Schwartz has confirmed that Devon's knowledge of Chuck's secret life will lead to his becoming increasingly involved in Team Bartowski's spy operations as Season Three develops.^[27]

Major plots

When Sarah is injured in an explosion and Bryce Larkin shows up to visit her, Devon takes it on himself to run interference and chase him off.^[8] Their ensuing conversation convinces Bryce that Sarah is no longer in love with him and that her feelings for Chuck are genuine.^[8]

Chuck and the male Buy More employees kidnap Devon for a bachelor party, though Chuck only participated because of its implications in a mission to steal Devon's hospital access card. Devon seemed pleased with the event, calling it "awesome," and explained to Ellie that Chuck and the boys kidnapped him into participation. He reaffirmed his love for Ellie during the bachelor party, declining to compromise his relationship with inappropriate behavior. However, posing as a lady cop-themed stripper, Agent Alex Forrest lured him into the home theater room, where she attempted to remove the access card from him under the guise of a strip-search. When he refused, she tranquilized him. While in a state of momentary confusion before passing out, he overheard Chuck talk of the CIA.^[9] These glimpses did not seem to have a lasting impression, however. He later got a brief glance of General Beckman on Chuck's TV when he inadvertently triggered a video conference by uttering Chuck's CIA alias, Charles Carmichael. Ellie later viewed some photos taken of him with Agent Forrest, somewhat damaging Ellie and Devon's relationship.

Devon, while trying to find Chuck, learns of John Casey's extensive surveillance of Chuck from Lester and Jeff and uses keys from his locker to enter Casey's apartment. While attempting to access Casey's computer, Devon unwittingly triggers a lockdown, with metal bars blocking the windows and doors of the apartment. When Casey arrives and begins to put a silencer on his pistol, a major confrontation ensues between Devon, Casey, Sarah, and Chuck during which Chuck admits to being a high-level CIA asset with Casey and Sarah as his handlers. Devon considers it "awesome" and agrees to cover for Chuck with Ellie.^[26]

Devon allows Morgan to stall his first wedding with Ellie when he tells Devon the order comes from Chuck. The second ceremony takes place later on the beach.^[3]

Notes

• ^ a: In the pilot, Chuck calls him "Captain"; in "Chuck vs the Tango" he calls Devon "Captain Awesome" when Devon, after a shower and in the nude, offers to teach Chuck the tango.
  

References