The Big Bang Theory examines "The Skank Reflex Analysis"

     When last CBS's The Big Bang Theory aired, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) slept with Raj (Kunal Nayyar). It is appropriate, then, that the season premiere, the first of two new episodes to air this week, is called "The Skank Reflex Analysis." The tone of the gang has been completely disrupted, and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) isn't even sure he can get along with Raj anymore. So Leonard spills Raj's secret love of Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), angering Howard (Simon Helberg), too. Sheldon (Jim Parsons) just doesn't want anything to change, and Penny tries to let down a lovesick Raj.

     Having Penny sleep with Raj angered me. It really felt like the series had jumped the shark, as the action seemed unforgivable. Both characters were detestable. But "The Skank Reflex Analysis" fixed all of that in half an hour. Penny did it because she was drunk and lonely. Raj was, too, considering he can't even talk to a girl unless he has alcohol. He also has been the perpetually single one in the cast. Well, so is Sheldon, but he wants to be. Also, Raj falls for Penny because of it, and it's clear that she considers him a dear friends. This delicate handling, and examining the emotions involved, including guilty, save the plot from ruining the show. The writers of The Big Bang Theory certainly deserve viewer's trust by now.

     Believe it or not, Sheldon might be the one must effected by the event. Though he could care less if Raj and Penny sleep together, he does not like his habits disrupted. To throw off the group dynamic, Raj and Penny threaten Sheldon's way of life. It's not certain that he cares about them, or about Leonard being hurt, but he doesn't want things to get weird. So Sheldon goes out of his way to do what he can to fix the problem, calling Leonard's mother (Christine Baranski, The Good Wife), and psyching the boys up for a paintball match. When this doesn't work, he uncharacteristically does a noble deed, self-sacrificing themselves to bring the camaraderie back to the group, bonding as they seek revenge for Sheldon's paintball "death." It isn't a complete, permanent fix, but it helps.

     Leonard likely gets more devoted to Priya (Aarti Mann) because of this. His lingering feelings for Penny are, at least for now, replaced by anger. So in the second new episode, "The Infestation Hypothesis," he tries to spice things up with some sexy internet chat. Unfortunately, long distance is not easy, and soon Leonard will likely be dwelling on Penny again.

     Amy (Mayim Bialik) proves her worth to the group by helping in both episodes. Her loyalties to Sheldon and Penny often don't conflict, but they do in "The Infestation Hypothesis." Penny feels betrayed when Amy tries to help Sheldon get rid of Penny's chair found on the street. But in the earlier episode, Amy begs Penny not to leave town when she's considering giving up on acting. Their unlikely friendship will likely survive any bumps in the road, and grow even stronger.

     The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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The Big Bang Theory accomodates "The Roommate Transmogrification"

     For the season finale of CBS's The Big Bang Theory, the writers went for shakeups. Tired of listening to Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and his sister, Priya's (Aarti Mann), sounds of lovemaking, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) goes to stay in Leonard's apartment with Sheldon (Jim Parsons). When Leonard and Raj agree that they should make the arrangement semi-permanent, Sheldon naturally makes Raj sign a complicated roommate agreement. But everyone is happy with the arrangement, including Sheldon, who considers Raj a much more accommodating roommate than Leonard. Then Leonard and Priya have a fight, and Leonard returns home to discover a drunken Raj and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) have slept together. Meanwhile, Howard (Simon Helberg) feels inadequate after Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) gets her PhD and is offered a lucrative job.


     Though it can be seen coming from a mile away, having Penny and Raj sleep together is a huge mistake. Penny is not done with Leonard, as she confesses to Raj before the dirty deed. Things are not going so well between Leonard and Priya because she refuses to tell her family about him. Ergo, a Leonard / Penny reunion is imminent. Or it was. Until Penny sleeps with Raj, and Leonard immediately finds out about it. At least the writers get props for not keeping the sex a secret for half a dozen episodes.

     Leonard will not soon get over this. He is insecure and jealous, and his ex sleeping with one of his best friends is a severe betrayal. Obviously, Penny would never have done it without alcohol, but that won't make Leonard feel any better. Yes, TV series must put obstacles in the way of couples who are destined to end up together. But this is a big one, on the level of Ross sleeping with the copy girl when he and Rachel were "on a break." It took that pair of Friends years to heal, and Leonard and Penny appear to be heading for the same type of extended separation.

     Raj and Penny will not be seriously pursued as a couple. Even after sleeping with her, Raj still cannot talk to Penny without alcohol. That is not the foundation for a solid relationship. Besides, Penny is not interested in Raj. She has been dissatisfied with stupid guys after dating Leonard, and lonely because it's harder to find smart guys. Raj is simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, and the consequences of their actions will be far reaching for the entire group, more so than the two of them together.

     Leonard and Priya were never going to last long-term, as evidenced by her unwillingness to be open about their relationship. It always felt like she is using him for fun, not interested in anything too serious. Leonard is willing to be with her, but she doesn't return his feelings. Because of that, Leonard likely still thinks fondly of his time with Penny, and misses their relationship, which will lead to deeply hurt feelings at the Raj revelation. Moving forward, why would Priya want to stay with a guy who is preoccupied with his ex? They are likely over.

     The Raj / Penny hookup is just a step too far. It is believable, but barely, and only because of the reasons mentioned above. Had circumstances been slightly different, it would not have happened. The event has no positive impact on the series, and is a huge downer to end on a season on. It should not have been done.

     Raj moving in with Sheldon is a delightful side trip. It is too bad it looks like things will return to status quo by season premiere. Leonard is used to Sheldon, so Sheldon must go to extremes for there to be any interesting plot between the two of them. By contrast, while things at first appear rosy between Sheldon and Raj, there will surely be any number of obstacles the two will have to overcome to work out a truly peaceful living arrangement. As such, plot wise, it is much richer if Raj stays with Sheldon. Sadly, the chances of that are low.

     Poor Howard doesn't need to be dumped on anymore. Granted, he has had a good year, as he grows closer to Bernadette, and they even get engaged. Not only that, Howard's surly mother (Carol Ann Susi) actually likes Bernadette a lot, and approves of their relationship. This may lead to the conclusion that Howard has finally achieved a perfect life. That would be faulty reasoning, as everyone has problems, and nothing is ever perfect.

     Howard's main source of contention right now is how Bernadette overshadows him. He has always been arguably the weakest member of his group of friends. He is the only one, after all, who is not a doctor. Sheldon puts down Howard's research, and berates his chosen profession. With Bernadette, Howard thinks he has found a true partner on even footing, as Sheldon is equally skeptical of her work. But now Bernadette gets her PhD. Howard tries very hard to be supportive, but with his friends teasing him, it isn't easy.

     Even worse for Howard, Bernadette's accomplishment leads to her getting a very lucrative job. All of the sudden, her career is more important and profitable than Howard's. Her buying him a Rolex watch only humiliates him more, feeling like he isn't providing for his lady, something he wants to do. It is no wonder they soon have a fight, and Howard has to seek comfort in his friends.

     In all likelihood, Howard and Bernadette will be able to move past these developments. They have a deep affection for each other, and while Howard can be insecure, he tries really hard not to be, and usually eventually overcomes those insecurities. This is a rough patch, to be sure, but not an insurmountable one. Perhaps some positive will even come of it, if it spurs Howard to get his own PhD. This will not stop the wedding by any means.

     Is there any way Howard and Bernadette can have a wedding and Howard's mother will still not be shown on screen? Sure, the director can get creative with camera angles and objects blocking her, but why go to the trouble? It may finally be time for a Mrs. Wolowitz reveal.


     The Big Bang Theory has been renewed, and will return to CBS in the fall.

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Article first published as TV Review: The Big Bang Theory - "The Roommate Transmogrification" on Blogcritics.

The Big Bang Theory Figures Out "The Toast Derivation"

     Now that the women are firmly in place on CBS's The Big Bang Theory, it's time to take a look at the new chemistry combinations. For years, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) has been the only female among the four lead guys. But last spring, two others were tested, and they were liked so well that by this winter they were added to the main cast. Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) is a smart scientist who happens to be Penny's co-worker, and a love interest for Howard (Simon Helberg). Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) is proving that a female version of Sheldon (Jim Parsons) can be just as good as the original. I'm not saying that the guys have gotten stale, but adding the girls ensures plenty of fresh material to mine for years to come.

     The situation reminds me of when Alvin and the Chipmunks added the Chipettes. There were female counterparts for each of the three main characters. Similarly, Bernadette is like Howard, Amy is like Sheldon, and Penny goes with, even though she's not that much like, Leonard (Johnny Galecki). Which leaves only poor Raj (Kunal Nayyar) out in the cold. Though, it could be argued that Raj's sister, Priya (Aarti Mann), who does not star on the series, but is currently doing an arc, is his counterpart. But Priya is here as a love interest for Leonard, shaking things up with Penny, so no matter which way you look at it, Raj is still left out.

     Which is all right. It would be hard to add yet another new full-time character so soon. The new women are just getting settled in. Eventually, someone may come along for Raj, but I'm not in a hurry, as I actually like watching Raj play the odd one out. After so long of Leonard being the oddball for actually dating, while the other guys stuck to their boys' club, it's fun to see the dynamics totally shift as three of them move on, and Raj is left behind. Plus, before Raj can even entertain a love interest, he has to get over his phobia of speaking to women. I am hoping that his constant exposure to three females will gradually help him. His shyness has been a fun element for awhile, but it's time to move on from it. Then, once he is mostly cured, the series can bring someone in for him.

     Something I think the show is doing really well is giving the women screen time apart from the men, having ladies' nights and sleepovers. Penny has always been one of the stars, but we really only saw her interacting with her geeky neighbors. These new characters give us a chance to explore her, seeing other sides of her life. I find it interesting that Amy Farrah Fowler seems to be the advocate for the trio's activities, as she is introduced as a loner, but is really embracing having a social circle. Of course, she is such a delight, and it has been handled in a way that seems realistic, so I'm not pointing that out as a flaw. On the contrary.

     I love Amy and Sheldon's relationship, a term I use in the loosest sense of the word. While they have thus far avoided a romantic entanglement, I have to think that one will be coming, likely at Amy's aggression. Their frequent interaction, often though video, is perfect for the two modern, anti-social geniuses. But more important, Amy understands Sheldon, and knows how to talk to him in a way that others don't. In this week's episode, Sheldon is missing his friends, who have deserted him. Amy gets to the heart of the problem, and helps Sheldon understand the group's dynamics, namely, that they are Leonard-centric, not Sheldon-centric as Sheldon has long believed. She, more than anyone else, is tethering Sheldon to the real world. I understand the argument against that notion, as Sheldon's male friends are his most obvious connection, but without Amy, I'm not sure he can make his way back to them as he does.

     Which brings us to this week's episode, a memorable gem. Leonard is getting serious with Priya, so he, Raj, and Howard are hanging out over at Raj's place with her. Amy and Bernadette cheer Penny up, who has, of course, been left out. But that still leaves Sheldon, who stubbornly refuses to change his habits. In true Sheldon fashion, he finds it easier to construct a new social group, rather than adapt in the slightest way. In the end, Sheldon realizes that it is not as easy as he thought to replace his friends, and he ends up making some concessions, which is something the character probably wouldn't have done a couple of seasons ago.

     The group Sheldon puts together, thankfully, is not made up of new guest stars, but returning, recurring favorites. He chooses comic book store owner, Stuart (Kevin Sussman, Ugly Betty), rival co-worker with a funny speech impediment, Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie, Childrens' Hospital), and a dumb, former love interest for Penny (who strangely likes her nerdy neighbors), Zack (Brian Smith). Sheldon wants them to follow the schedule he prepares, but they'd rather drink and sing karoke, so they do, ignoring their host.

      While not working out as a good group for Sheldon, the three of them seem to bond fairly well. Plus, it's a welcome sight to see those three again, as each are wonderful character actors, who have been in on many good jokes in the series's past. I'd like to see them return as a rival group, a la Wil Wheaton, who plays a somewhat dickish version of himself on the show. Maybe they could even be Wil's new group, as the guys Wil brings around haven't made an impression. I'm not even sure he has appeared with the same friends twice.

     Watch The Big Bang Theory Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. on CBS.

Article first published as TV Review: The Big Bang Theory Figured Out "The Toast Derivation" on Blogcritics.

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