The Big Bang Theory – Recap & Review – The Pirate Solution

photo: cbs

The Big Bang Theory
The Pirate Solution

Original Air Date: Oct 12, 2009

Theresa – Staff Writer
Theresa@thetwocentscorp.com

Poor Raj. His research is at a dead end, and no work means no work visa. And no sharing Howard’s mom’s “turbriskafil” for Thanksgiving. Turbriskafil, for those of you with a strong stomach, is turkey stuffed with brisket stuffed with gefilte fish. Ok, maybe Raj won’t miss that.

The boys try to brainstorm a solution to keep Raj in the country, but the best they can come up with is that he be a nation-less pirate, which is perfect because he’d almost never have to interact with women. Penny, who had to leave the room so Raj could talk, suggests from outside the apartment that he just find another job. Raj would’ve agreed, but, uh, he doesn’t know if he can talk now. That may be my favorite Raj moment ever.

Raj lucks out and gets an interview with the university’s stellar evolution research team – but one of the interviewers is a woman. He uses some available alcohol to calm down, but apparently one drink makes him confident, and two drinks make him a sex offender. So that doesn’t work out so well.

Sheldon swoops in to save the day by asking Raj to work with – excuse me – FOR him. Raj is hesitant, but desperate, so asks that Sheldon 1) treat him as an equal, 2) give him credit, and 3) not lecture him on Indians or Hinduism. Sheldon rejects all these conditions; Raj accepts the job. Sheldon stuns him by saying that he has to actually interview for the position first, a new low even for him.

Bazinga! We’ve all fallen for one of Sheldon’s classic pranks! They begin their collaboration, determined to focus. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where you will find the most inspired “Eye of the Tiger” montage you have ever seen. If you missed it, I sincerely urge you to track down a video, because triumphant 80s music set against the least athletic activity I can think of is just laugh-out-loud funny.

Finally, they crack because Raj can’t deal with Sheldon thinking he is infallible, and Sheldon can’t do that thing where your middle fingers are wiggling on top of each other. Eventually, he concedes that Raj’s ideas were right, and they reconcile for the sake of physics.

Meanwhile, without Raj, Howard is left with no best buddy. He decides to hang out with Penny and Leonard, who were finally getting some alone time, and quickly becomes annoying. They try to let him know diplomatically, but he sulks away and they feel too guilty, so they invite him back in – for the breakfast he made for them. I guess making out in Sheldon’s spot will have to wait.

Nothing against Raj or Kunal Nayyar, but I usually don’t care for the Raj episodes. This one definitely turned that around – I think it’s best when Raj is being himself and not when they center the story on him being an inebriated ladies’ man. What did you all think of this episode? Leave your Two Cents after the best lines of the episode!

Quotes:
Raj: I’m gonna be deported. Sent home in disgrace. Exposed to the sardonic barbs of my cousin Sanjay. Or as you may know him, Dave from AT&T customer service.

Sheldon: I got some extra money from the head of the department, and Raj can come work for me.
Raj: You want me to work with you?
Sheldon: For me. You’re going have to listen more carefully when you’re on the job.
Raj: Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d rather swim buck naked across the Ganges with a paper cut on my nipple and die a slow agonizing death from a viral infection than work with you.
Sheldon: …For me.

Sheldon: Who are you to tell me about outer space?
Raj: I’m the astrophysicist! “Astro” means “space”!
Sheldon: “Astro” means “star”.
Raj: Let me just tell you, if we were having this argument in my native language, I’d be kicking your butt!
Sheldon: English IS your native language!