The Big Bang Theory – Recap & Review – The Large Hadron Collision

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The Big Bang Theory
The Large Hadron Collision

Original Air Date: Feb 8, 2010

Theresa – Staff Writer
theresa@thetwocentscorp.com

This week, Leonard has to decide who to take to Switzerland to see the Large Hadron Collider over Valentine’s Day – Sheldon or Penny. Ah, the eternal conundrum: best friend or significant other? Well, when your best friend is Sheldon, perhaps it’s not exactly a conundrum.

So we start off in the cafeteria, where Howard is having a “schmoopy”-like phone conversation with Bernadette in front of a very annoyed Raj. When Raj complains, Sheldon discusses a theory called “positional good”, where something’s value increases based on the fact that others don’t have it – a fancy way of saying “neener neener”.

Then the boys get to talking about their Valentine’s day plans. While Howard is going with all-you-can-eat Chinese food, Raj will be all alone eating rotisserie chicken like an animal, and Sheldon will be … being Sheldon, Leonard announces that he’s been chosen as a last-minute replacement to go visit the LHC. AND he gets to bring a guest! Sheldon is so happy, he runs home to pack without waiting to hear that Leonard is actually taking Penny. When Leonard breaks the news, a shocked and disappointed Sheldon simply cannot understand how a romantic vacation with Penny trumps him seeing subatomic particles. He tries to change his mind, but Leonard won’t budge.

Leonard decides to creatively surprise Penny by laying out a Swiss-themed tray of Swiss cheese, fondue, and other things. After Penny guesses that he will eat everything so that his lactose intolerance will launch them into space, and then the less gross idea that they’re going to Disneyland, Leonard tells her the news. Unfortunately, the happiness is busted up when Sheldon invokes their roommate agreement (Friendship Rider, Appendix C, Future Commitments No. 37) that states Leonard must take him to the LHC if he gets to go. (They also put in clauses about superpowers and zombies, but not girlfriends, because that seemed implausible.) Sheldon argues that since he’s held up his agreements of pointlessly asking how Leonard’s day was, not running late-night biohazard drills, and not practicing his throat singing, Leonard should take him on the trip. Leonard still refuses to cave, so Sheldon starts throat-singing.

Sheldon keeps calling Leonard a traitor, giving him 30 pieces of silver(ware). Finally, he decides to go with honey over vinegar, and makes Leonard Frodo-shaped pancakes for breakfast in bed, among other friendly gestures. He cheerfully apologizes and says he realizes that friendship is more than just contractual agreement. Then he gives up when Leonard tells him he’s still not going.

Sheldon’s last effort to circumvent this is to prepare a Powerpoint presentation for Penny (say that three times fast) about why he should go. Penny doesn’t go for it until she sees how sincerely disappointed Sheldon is, and agrees to talk to Leonard, which causes Sheldon to lunge at her with an awkward hug.B UT Leonard McStubbornPants tells Sheldon he STILL can’t go because he was manipulative about it. Sheldon declares their friendship over, which, among other things, means Leonard can’t ever swim in Bill Gates’ pool if Sheldon does.

Unfortunately, the night before their flight, Penny gets the flu, so Leonard finally agrees to let Sheldon come. Too bad Sheldon also has the flu. In a gritty CSI-style germ flashback, we see how he horrifically contracted it from the villainous Penny. So who gets to give up his “me” day and go to Switzerland? RAJ!

So I LOVED this episode, as you can see from my many words dedicated to it – sorry! Every little detail was fantastic and enjoyable. Even though it was a far cry from the “Penny and Sheldon get sick and spend Valentine’s Day together” spoilers I’d seen, it’s hard to be disappointed in something so wonderfully presented. I like the repeated in-joke about the Roommate Agreement, as long as they don’t start to fall back on it as a catch-all explanatory prop. But here’s the big issue: WHO should have gone to Switzerland?! I have to say, I was so sad seeing Leonard crush Sheldon’s dream like that. But he would have a better Valentine’s Day with Penny. Who do you think he should have chosen? Give me your Two Cents!

Best Lines:
Sheldon: Given that St. Valentine was a third-century Roman priest who was stoned and beheaded, wouldn’t a more appropriate celebration of the evening be taking one’s steady gal to witness a brutal murder?
Howard: I understand your point, but given the choice, Jews always go with Chinese food.

Sheldon: I’ve been dreaming about going to the Large Hadron Collider since I was 9 years old.
Leonard: Yeah, well, I’ve been dreaming about spending Valentine’s Day with a girl since I was 6.
Sheldon: Shame on you, that’s no dream for a scientist!

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