Hail To The Geek: The Big Bang Theory - Season 2, Episode 26

Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 11.28.2008

"Dr. Sheldon Cooper for the win."

Hey guys, sorry about the delay. Loss of internet service before my holiday trip plus the Four Christmases write-up set me back a little, but here we go with another fantastic episode of The Big Bang Theory as the series reaches it's 26th episode. Hallelujah!

Penny and Sheldon are getting the mail in the lobby. Sheldon is trying to address Penny in street slang and colloquialisms because he’s trying to speak with about some awkward subjects. Sheldon needs to speak with Penny about Leonard’s relationship with Dr. Stephanie Barnett (who Leonard started dating back in episode 25). This relationship is important to Sheldon because he highly approves of Stephanie and Leonard dating. Sheldon: “Of the women Leonard has dated, Stephanie is the only one I have found tolerable.” Penny: “What about me?” Sheldon: “ . . . The statement stands for itself.” You had your chance Penny and you blew it big time. Why do you care if Sheldon even finds you tolerable? Sheldon basically tells Penny to not get in the way of Stephanie and Leonard, and if she’s getting to a point where she’s so hot and bothered that even Leonard looks like a viable sexual partner, she must “suppress her libido.” Penny: “I could think about you [Sheldon].” Sheldon: “Fine, whatever works.”

”The White Asparagus Triangulation”

Leonard is trying to have a dinner date with Stephanie in his apartment, but Sheldon has crashed the date and trying to converse casually with Stephanie. Sheldon in his view is trying to facilitate the relationship between Stephanie and Leonard. Stephanie actually completed her medical internship in Sheldon’s hometown. Sheldon actually spent a lot of time at the same hospital because of radiation burns when he was building his own CAT scanner. Stephanie: “You tried to build your own CAT scanner?” Sheldon: “Oh, I didn’t try. I succeeded. In fact I was able to briefly see into the insides of my sister’s guinea pig, Snowball, before he caught fire.” Leonard takes Sheldon aside, and he’s upset that Sheldon is butting in with Stephanie. Sheldon says he’s helping because if the relationship ends they risk not filling out their Trek landing party. Leonard is Kirk, Sheldon is Spock, Wolowitz is Scottie, Raj is a red shirt (awww), and Stephanie can be their McCoy. They look over to Stephanie, and Sheldon gives her a creepy little wave with his fingers doing the Spock “live long and prosper” sign. That’s why Jim Parsons is awesome, he acts with his entire body.

Stephanie and Leonard are sitting together at the movies while Stephanie is recounting a story at the hospital in which one of her earrings was found in the chest cavity of a patient during an X-ray. Sheldon once again date crashes, upset about the lack of directions in his “invitation”. Sheldon actually mistook Leonard’s note as an invite. Sheldon then starts moving around the seats and shouting syllables in order to find the “acoustic sweet spot” in the auditorium. Leonard is not happy. Turns out Leonard and Stephanie were already sitting in the spot. Sheldon sits back down next to Leonard who is closer to the sweet spot and leans over to get more of it. The THX logo sound comes up and Sheldon is soaking it up, “Oh yeah, this is it!” I love you Sheldon Cooper.

Back at Geek Central, Sheldon’s doing the Sheldon door knock to Leonard’s bedroom. He’s got his laptop which the agitated Leonard not so sarcastically suggests will be the blunt instrument used as evidence in a murder trial. Sheldon found Stephanie’s Facebook page. Her page states her as being single, and earlier she threw a digital sheep at a guy named Mike. Leonard doesn’t care. Sheldon sees much cause for concern and thinks that they are losing Stephanie. Leonard states that he is dating Stephanie and not Sheldon and it’s none of his business. Sheldon says that’s unacceptable and he uses Starfleet rules to relieve Leonard of his command. Leonard says the Starfleet directive does not apply and yells “BECAUSE THIS IS NOT STAR TREK” and slams the door on Sheldon.

Back from the break, and Sheldon’s doing the Sheldon knock to Penny’s apartment. Sheldon has brought Penny tidings of banana bread because he needs a favor. Penny reluctantly lets Sheldon into her messy apartment. Sheldon asks if Penny was robbed. Nope, Penny is just a sloppy, single woman. My apartment looks neater than hers. And after Sheldon went through all the work of cleaning up for her in the first season, she ruins it! Sheldon needs to talk with Penny because Leonard is failing at another relationship. Penny: “He’s having problems with Stephanie?” Sheldon: “She’s sending virtual livestock to random men on the internet.” SWISH! Nothing bet net. So basically Sheldon needs to know what Leonard did to Penny that caused her to “pop an emotional cap in his buttocks”. Sheldon needs the whole “down and the low” and since its confidential Penny can include any shortcomings in the bedroom. Penny clearly isn’t comfortable divulging this to Sheldon, but does admit she and Leonard never had sex. When Sheldon asks why, Penny does not say because she is an insecure, somewhat slutty, blonde ho that doesn’t like good guys that truly like and care about her. That’s being a little harsh on Penny but c’mon. Penny instead makes up a story that’s the same thing as the movie, “The Lake House.” Sheldon: “It’s not enough that you made me watch that movie, but now you mock me with it?”

Cal Tech Cafeteria, Sheldon sits down with Howard and Raj about relationships. Sheldon needs to know how he can keep Stephanie and Leonard together. Geometrically looking at Leonard’s dating history, they both feel that Leonard and Stephanie’s relationship should’ve ended in 20 minutes. Raj suggests circumventing rejection from Stephanie by killing every other male on the planet. Howard says that using lots of AXE body spray doesn’t work either.

Back at Penny’s apartment, Sheldon’s doing the knock again, but Penny opens the door and cuts it off before the third knock, so Sheldon finishes it on the wooden door frame instead. Brilliance. Sheldon’s brought zucchini bread this time, but Penny doesn’t want to let him in. Sheldon apologizes for his earlier inquiry about the relationship between Penny and Leonard. Penny accepts and agrees to be back on a social equilibrium with Penny. Sheldon then proceeds to change the topic by asking where Penny is on her menstrual cycle. According to Sheldon’s research on primates (to which he basically says that Penny is a primate), he’s trying to figure out a time during ovulation and secretion of pheromones where the female will find a male more attractive. Penny couches the conversation by slamming her door on Sheldon. Sheldon: “Clearly I’m 14 days too early.” Even Sheldon joking about PMS is hilarious.

Leonard and Stephanie are having dinner again, and Leonard is being insecure about being a little gassy after having some cheese dip due to his lactose intolerance. Stephanie’s language clearly indicates she wants to stay with Leonard tonight to have some coitus. Sheldon goes to the kitchen and struggles to open a jar. He’s come up with a strategy to make Leonard look strong to Stephanie by having him open the jar, that way Leonard will look really macho. Leonard foolishly agrees to go along with it, but he’s such a girly-man he really can’t open the jar. He ultimately ends up breaking it, and he cuts himself. Turns out Sheldon’s plan achieved the exact opposite result. Leonard freaks out and vomits in the sink where Sheldon was defrosting a steak.

Leonard and Sheldon are waiting in the ER. Sheldon’s impressed by Stephanie’s stitching of Leonard’s cut. Leonard is not happy, but Sheldon notes that his plan was not aided by Leonard bursting into tears. Leonard won’t admit he was crying. Stephanie comes in and teases Leonard for being a big crybaby. Leonard asks Stephanie if she still wants to spend the night, but Stephanie rejects Leonard saying he needs his rest. Sheldon agrees because Leonard’s vomiting causes coitus to be contra-indicated. Stephanie leaves to get Leonard’s discharge papers. Sheldon clicks his tongue, and Leonard wants to know what he’s doing. Sheldon: “You seem like such a pleasant person. I can’t understand why women have such a hard time loving you.”

The guys are having dinner at Greek Central. Raj wants to see Leonard’s stitches, and while Leonard is showing them, Wolowizard sees them and does a dry heave. Raj notes this is why Howard never went to med-school. Penny comes in to congratulate Leonard; his Facebook status is updated as being in a relationship with Stephanie. Leonard is confused because he never updated his page, aha but Sheldon did! Howard and Penny think Leonard updating it first after only two weeks is needy and “bold”. Sheldon feels he had no choice because Leonard cried in front of Stephanie. Leonard is very upset that Sheldon hacked into his Facebook account. Sheldon doesn’t see it as hacking since Leonard uses “Kal-El” as his password for everything. Leonard for probably the first time in the history of the show totally blows up and shouts at Sheldon for hacking into his page and “destroying” his relationship with Stephanie. Leonard’s being totally serious and off the hook right now. He doesn’t want another word out of Sheldon. Raj makes a squeaking sound while looking at Penny’s laptop because he can’t speak in front of Penny. Raj points to Stephanie’s Facebook page. Stephanie has updated her status as being in a relationship with Leonard. Leonard perks up and is happy to see the update. This now makes it official that Stephanie is his girlfriend. Sheldon: “If I am permitted to speak again, Doctor Sheldon Cooper . . . for the w1n.”

The 411: That last bit of dialogue sort of says it all. The Big Bang Theory is officially the best show on television. The series once again broke 10 million viewers and recently surpassed the reality garbage on the other station in the key demos. I definitely like Sarah Rue's presence as Stephanie in this show, and I hope we see more of her together with Leonard even though it is not meant to last. It also shows that there are some pretty nice, normal woman of good intelligence that would be into a nice guy like Leonard. Sheldon's scenes with Penny did really underscore that she really didn't have a legitimate reason for dumping Leonard. Penny just likes being unhappy and prefers macho jerks that cheat on her rather than nice, stable guys that truly like her. Hopefully Penny will get over that at some point so she can be happy with Leonard.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]