The Big Bang Theory – Recap & Review – The Guitarist Amplification

photo: cbs

The Big Bang Theory
The Guitarist Amplification

Original Air Date: Nov 9, 2009

Theresa – Staff Writer
Theresa@thetwocentscorp.com

You wouldn’t expect a fight to break out during a board game as serious as “Research Lab”, but you would be wrong. Research Lab, by the way, is a game Sheldon created, with the insanely brilliant tagline “The research is theoretical, but the fun is real” – try not to land on nuclear death.

The fight is between Penny and Leonard, after Penny reveals that a musician friend named Justin will be crashing on her couch when he comes to town. Apparently they used to date “a little bit” and this does NOT sit well with Leonard, who immediately becomes a possessive jerk. Though I can see his side of things. Penny can’t, though, and is not going to tolerate Leonard telling her who can sleep on HER couch in HER apartment. Sheldon starts running the blender to drown them out because he has a big problem with people fighting.

Sucks to be Sheldon, because that’s all anyone does in this episode. Except for creepy Stuart, who’s still desperately sniffing around Penny. Anyway, after Penny and Leonard get in a fight, and then Leonard gets in a mock fight with his Penny voice, Raj and Howard start fighting. At first it’s about whose side they’re on – Raj agrees with Penny, and Howard agrees with Leonard, but still thinks he should cave and keep his hot girlfriend) – but then it turns into an argument about a cooking class Howard bailed on. Sheldon can’t take it and acts out the way his parents used to fight about his father’s drinking and his less-than-masculine name.

Sheldon goes to the Cheesecake Factory and demands that Penny apologize to Leonard so he doesn’t have to be around the arguing. Penny tells him, validly, that not everything is about him (which is maybe something the show should learn), which leads Sheldon to rattle off a list of her supposed transgressions, such as her bad driving and creepy staring stuffed animal collection. After that, unsurprisingly, Penny is still not willing to be the apologizer, and instead reams out Leonard. Sheldon runs away, but only finds Raj fighting with his parents about being set up with a girl in India, and Howard fighting with his mom about who’s going to answer the door.

Leonard and Penny end up tracking Sheldon to the comic book store, where he’s integrated himself into the graphic novels section. Every time they start to argue again, he regresses and drowns them out with robots. In response, they become parental, and decide to make everything better by being quiet and buying Sheldon a toy. And Justin ends up sleeping on Leonard and Sheldon’s couch – stopping just short of Sheldon’s spot, of course.

So many great lines in this episode, and LOVED Raj’s scenes. I like how he can be the most subdued and yet the most emotional of the group, given the right catalyst, like when he was working with Sheldon. And how great were his parents bringing up his “ersatz homosexual marriage” to Howard (who, by the way, was in a bad outfit even for him!). I’m beginning to wonder if the writers will end off this show with Howard finally getting a girl or spending life with Raj! Still, you all know Sheldon is one of my favorite characters ever, but did the story immediately have to become about his issues with fighting? It certainly fits his character to make it all about him, but I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Johnny Galecki. Though not too sorry; he still gets to TV-date Kaley Cuoco. And for what it’s worth, I wasn’t on anyone’s side in the fight. How about you? Let me know what you thought about this episode!

BEST LINES
Leonard: (mocking Penny) Well, Leonard, it doesn’t matter if you’re cool or not, because I’m Penny and I’m pretty and I can do whatever the hell I waaant!

Sheldon: Leonard, when that woman moved in three years ago, I told you not to talk to her, and now look, we’re going to be late for the movies!

Stuart: I was thinking of closing early and going home, but let’s face it, that’s just a slightly smaller lonely room filled with comic books.

Howard: If she dumps you, she’ll have a new boyfriend by tomorrow morning, and you’ll have a new girlfriend when you figure out how to build one.

Howard: I didn’t know you were upset about that!
Raj: Really? Did you miss all the subtle indicators, like me saying “Howard, I am upset”? Maybe it means something different in this country, but back in India it means you’re upset with a guy named Howard!
Howard: I said I’m sorry!
Raj: Sorry doesn’t make up for the fact that I had to make chicken and rice with this vegan guy. Do you know what vegan chicken and rice is? RICE!