The Big Bang Theory“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”
Original Air Date: Dec 15, 2008
Theresa – TwoCents Staff Writer
theresa@thetwocentscorp.com
The boys are sitting in the cafeteria debating Superman's dry-cleaning habits when David Underhill, a (subjectively) more attractive award-winning physicist enters and asks to work with Leonard on a project. Leonard's sarcastic “big whoop” quickly turns to delight, and he gets some funny looks from the rest of the group, and even more disapproval when he nonchalantly skips Wii Bowling night.
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[photo: CBS]
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The Big Bang Theory
ReplyDelete“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”
Original Air Date: Dec 15, 2008
Theresa – TwoCents Staff Writer
theresa@thetwocentscorp.com
The boys are sitting in the cafeteria debating Superman's dry-cleaning habits when David Underhill, a (subjectively) more attractive award-winning physicist enters and asks to work with Leonard on a project. Leonard's sarcastic “big whoop” quickly turns to delight, and he gets some funny looks from the rest of the group, and even more disapproval when he nonchalantly skips Wii Bowling night.
Penny stops by to drop off presents for Leonard and Sheldon's tree, and ends up blindsided by another of Sheldon's informational speeches (this one is about the pagan ritual of Saturnalia). When she reveals who the presents are actually for, she gets another talking-to about the horrible obligation she has now saddled Sheldon with of having to buy her an equivalent gift. Raj whispers to Howard, and the boys agree that Sheldon's freak-outs are funny when not directed at them. So good to see the whole ensemble being brought out again here – those scenes are always great, in my opinion.
Penny meets Dave when she helps him bring an injured Leonard up the stairs when Dave's motorcycle falls on his leg. She finds out he's a physicist and tries to talk up her nerd quotient, while Leonard looks on in disbelief. I'm irked that Leonard didn't shove his dates with Penny in Dave's face when he asked - seems like a missed opportunity for him to impress Dave.
While Sheldon, Raj, and Howard are in a bath and beauty shop trying to pick out the appropriate basket for Penny, Leonard runs into the aforementioned neighbor getting all flirty at the university with Dave. Leonard goes home to sleep off his leg pain (which no one cares to ask about) and jealousy, only to be woken up by the guys carrying a menagerie of bath baskets into the apartment. After a comment by Howard, he decides to go confront Penny about dating Dave when she broke up with Leonard for being too smart. Turns out, however, that Dave's married and apparently not smart enough to hide the pictures.
Now for the most awesome scene probably EVER in this show - Penny comes over to give the boys their gifts. For Leonard, motorcycle lessons, while he gifts her with a children's science kit. For Sheldon – a napkin? Oh no wait, it's a napkin used and signed by none other than Leonard freaking Nimoy. Seriously, bravo to the writers and Jim Parsons on both the excellent gift and the fantastic reaction to it. Sheldon shaking with amazement, throwing every bath basket imaginable at Penny to try to reciprocate before finally awkwardly hugging her – so brilliant, I can't even get over it. Excuse me while I fangirl, and leave your own Two Cents down past the quotes.
Best Lines:
Howard: If I was gonna go that way, I'm more of a Zac Efron kind of guy.
Raj: Oh yeah, like you have a shot with Zac Efron.
Sheldon: Penny, I know you think you're being generous, but the foundation of gift-giving is reciprocity. You haven't given me a gift, you've given me an obligation!
Sheldon: Let's say for a moment that I accept your bath item gift hypothesis. I now lay the following conundrum at your feet: which size?
Howard: This one. Let's go.
Sheldon: You put no thought into that.
Howard: I'm sorry. (rubs his chin) Uhhhhh, THIS ONE! Let's go!
Sheldon: If I were to give you this gift basket, based on that action alone and no other data, infer and describe the hypothetical relationship that exists between us.
Saleswoman: Excuse me?
Sheldon: Here. (hands her the basket) Now are we friends, colleagues, lovers? Are you my grandmother?
Saleswoman: I don't understand what you're talking about, and you're making me a little uncomfortable.
Howard: See, sounds just like you and Penny, we'll take it!
Sheldon: (shaking) I possess the DNA of Leonard Nimoy!?
Penny: I guess, but look, he signed it?
Sheldon: (near tears) Do you realize what this means? All I need is a healthy ovum and I can grow my own Leonard Nimoy!
Penny: Ok, all I'm giving you is the napkin, Sheldon.
Man, was this episode made of win and awesome. One question, though...where was Stephanie? And why did it seem that Leonard was all moony over Penny again?
ReplyDeleteRight? A throwaway line explaining where Stephanie was would've been nice, especially since the end of the last episode was so unclear.
ReplyDelete