photo: cbs
The Beta Test Initiation
Original Air Date: Jan 26, 2012
Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com
Sheldon Cooper presents “Fun With Flags”. Yes, Sheldon and Amy are filming the first episode of the 52 week podcast on vexillogy (which I admittedly had to check the spelling on), the study of flags. It would have the potential of being interesting to some, if Sheldon and Amy weren’t so wooden with their delivery. Although Amy does add a little fun when she draws a face on her little white flag and names it “Ferdinand”, to bring in the “younger viewers”, during take two – having been interrupted by Leonard walking through the shot. Sheldon’s flag trivia and filming sessions scattered throughout the episode keep the humor level high.
Leonard, looking spiffy, was actually on his way out for a date with Penny. That’s right, he did actually ask her out last week, and she did accept. Let’s see where this goes.
But first, let’s talk about Raj and his “relationship” with the personal assistant on his new phone. First, he “shares” the honor of peeling off the plastic protector with Howard, which is one of the coolest aspects of getting a new phone. Second, “Siri” turns out to be the only woman he can talk to and who agrees to call him “Sexy”. He gets kudos for this from Sheldon who thinks it’s very progressive of him to give up human interaction and “bond” with a soulless machine. But when Howard and Bernadette come for dinner and discover that he’s gotten way too serious about the whole thing – although the Peking Duck smells wonderful – they aren’t sure if it’s “cute or creepy”. Especially after he even selects which of her cases she’s going to wear for dinner. It’s actually rather sad that he’s found his soul mate in a phone. In the end, Raj has a horrible nightmare of coming face to face with in “Siri” and discovering that he still can’t talk to her. Even when she says that if he’d like to make love, he should just tell her. Interestingly in this episode, Barry comes in and complains about how lousy his “Siri’s” voice recognition is. Is he truly that oblivious to his speech impediment?
Meanwhile, Leonard and Penny are indeed trying the dating game again, in beta, making bug report lists and promising not to get mad at each other over the items they mention. Yes, Penny does get credit for knowing what beta testing is. Leonard is too pedantic. It starts out fairly well, with a mention here and there of a “bug report” that’s taken well by the other. Until Leonard, at his nerdy best presents Penny with a color coded list of bugs. Red ones need to be dealt with right away, yellow ones can be addressed over time and green ones he could “probably learn to live with”. You can tell by Penny’s face that even though she’s trying to be pleasant, she’s fighting being angry. Amy is also boggled by what Leonard could have put on his list, she sees Penny as perfect in every way. Penny’s still upset when Leonard shows up for their next date, and makes him wait while she finishes the chapter she’s reading, since his list said they would have more to talk about if she “read more”. He tries to remind her that they’re not supposed to get mad, after which she presents her list, double-sided even. He’s not angry, but you can tell he’s a little hurt. I wish he had expounded further on why she thinks his eyebrows are stupid – they look fine to me. The date he’s planned, after her “report” that he should plan more than a night watching TV, is pretty spot on. He even consulted with her Dad. He shouldn’t have assumed that Grand Theft Auto was practice for handling a real gun though. She leans in to kiss him and he shoots himself in the foot. Well, in the sneaker and pinky toe apparently. In their final interaction that evening, after the ER and everything, Penny tells Leonard that “things are looking good” with the beta test, so maybe Penny and Leonard will be back on. A little slower, a little more mature and maybe, just maybe, things could work out. They really are cute together.
So, do you think Raj will snap out of this illusion that he’s having a meaningful relationship with his phone? Do you think Sheldon’s podcast has any viewers? And, most importantly, do you think Penny and Leonard have a chance at the second try? We shall have to see.
I thought the only parts of this episode that were funny were the Leonard/Penny moments. The Fun with Flags was so stiff, it was only funny in the first few minutes. When it continued through the show, it got old fast. The Raj/Siri thing was just creepy. Why can’t the writers find something better for Raj? I understand he can’t talk to women…we get it. But a phone that he want a relationship with?? That’s just weird. You would think that with all the intelligence amongst Sheldon, Leonard, & Howard- not to mention the more reasonable intelligence of Amy & Bernadette, and the loving heart of Penny- that SOMEONE would mention a counselor to help Raj get over his infernal shyness!!
This should have been the BIG episode. I loved it! From Leonard/Penny’s actual date, the hilarity of Sheldon/Amy’s web series and Raj having a relationship with Siri (a black case, just like Coco Chanel would suggest! HAHA)…it was fabulously BBT. AND KRIPKE!!!! I mean, it doesn’t get better than that. Perfect episode.
This was awful. It was completely tone-deaf to previous characterization and condescending to geeks.
* Leonard knows not to do stupid stuff like that with Penny
* Raj isn’t actually insane
AWFUL. I’m done with this show.