Sheldon Is a Totally New Guy on The Big Bang Theory , and I'm Here for It
This week's Big Bang Theory featured too little of Amy and Penny, but in return we got to see more of Sheldon choosing his heart over his head. (Read last week's recap in case you need a refresher on that development.)
In the latest episode—titled the "The Meteorite Manifestation"—Howard and Bernadette attempt to have some alone time by hanging out in their hot tub after hours. There's one little problem: Their new neighbor has decided to install motion-detector flood lights that act as a spotlight on the Wolowitzes' hot tub, bedroom, bathroom, you name it. Bernadette and Howard are not amused.
Neither is Raj, who is uninterested when Howard complains about Neighborgate 2019. Sheldon isn't intrigued either, given that he "has a Nobel prize crisis to deal with" (though that Nobel goes unmentioned for the rest of the episode). All that's left is Leonard and his new laser—but by this point, Howard is more interested in seeing Bert's meteorite and I'm more interested in rewatching Friends.
But let's get back to the Wolotwitzes' problem. Bernadette and Howard pay a visit to the zoning office to see if there's anything they can do about the situation. They can, but it's complicated. Howard says the whole thing feels like more trouble than it's worth, and that's how we end that scene. Riveting.
Back to Leonard, who is now at the comic book store sneezing over everything. Characters rarely get sick on shows unless it advances the story, so I'm beginning to think Leonard's dying. Or maybe that's just me hoping something will happen to raise the stakes in this episode.
Anyway, Bert needs something to cut open his meteorite but still doesn't want to use Leonard's laser. Leonard feels left out. Alrighty then.
Moving on, Howard and Bernadette tell the gang they had to spend half their day at the planning office, and Sheldon is jealous. Bernadette says if he likes planning and zoning offices so much, he should come with them. So he does. Leonard, meanwhile, continues to get sicker.
Once alone, Leonard tells Penny it's frustrating that Bert and Raj don't want to use his laser to cut through their meteorite. He knows his way is better, but Raj and Bert don't care. Have I mentioned that I don't either? Penny offers to run out and get Leonard medicine, but he tells her Stuart already gave him stuff at the comic book store and he'll just sleep on the couch tonight.
While Leonard is sleeping (with his head on Sheldon's cushion!!! Is that even allowed?!), Sheldon visits Bernadette and Howard's house to see the neighbor's balcony for himself. "Oh boy, you weren't kidding," he says with the excitement of a five-year-old. He asks Bernadette and Howard about property lines and permits from when they built their deck, but they tell Sheldon they never got a permit for their deck. Sheldon is appalled. He later tells Amy he's going to teach them the lessons of the law. Amy begs him not to, but Sheldon says he must follow the rules.
In the next scene Leonard is still sick. He goes to the lab and sees the meteorite. He can't believe Raj and Bert are going to cut it with a "punk-ass diamond saw." I guess that's supposed to be funny, but I'm not well-versed in meteorite humor.
The following day Sheldon visits the zoning office. He tells the person in charge that he knows someone in violation of the building code but doesn't know if he should turn them in. This goes back and forth for a while; by the end of the scene, we have no answers. How will I go on?
Somehow I do, and next thing I know, Raj and Bert interrupt Leonard slicing the meteorite with his laser. Then, in the blink of an eye, Leonard starts eating Bert. It's full on Santa Clarita Diet, and I'm not even sure what show I'm watching anymore. Then Leonard starts attacking and eating Raj. Should I care? I mean, at least things are getting interesting, right? I feel as conflicted as Sheldon at the zoning commissioner's office.
But don't worry, because it's all a bad dream. Penny wakes Leonard up from his nightmare and says it will all be OK. But wait! Leonard starts eating Penny, and Drew Barrymore's Sheila Hammond has joined him! Well, not exactly, but Penny finally wakes Leonard up from his bad dream's bad dream and everything seems normal again. I think.
In the next scene Sheldon visits Howard and Bernadette and tells them he went to the city code compliance office to turn them in but decided not to. “I filled out the form and then realized the unwritten rules of friendship are more important than the written rules of the city of Altadena city and planning department.” Bernadette is touched. More so, Sheldon tells them he also looked into the zoning of their neighbor’s balcony, and it is encroaching on their property line. Sheldon says he reported their neighbor, who will have to remove the balcony. All may not be fine with Leonard, but things are A-OK for the Wolowitzes.
Once Leonard is back to normal, he apologizes to Bert and Raj for the way he acted. He says he was just jealous because it seems like everyone has something they're working on but him. Apparently Leonard forgot that he's working on donating his sperm to Penny's ex-boyfriend, but then again, don't remind him.
The episode comes to an end when Stuart mentions to Denise that no one has been in the comic book store for hours. They begin to wonder if the meteorite was cut open and unleashed a space plague. They figure that if they are the last two people alive and must rebuild civilization, then it's up to them to repopulate the earth. Denise wants to freshen her breath first, and Stuart puts the closed sign on the bookstore. Sheldon appears and wants to browse, but Stuart won't let him in. Sheldon threatens to write about the early close on Yelp.
Next week: Sheldon continues his self-growth by not writing a bad review of Stuart's comic book store. (I kid, I kid.) Actually, Penny's dad comes for a visit. Will he talk his son-in-law out of donating his sperm to Penny's ex-boyfriend? If not, maybe Sheldon can save the day.
Jessica Radloff is the West Coast editor at Glamour. Follow her on Twitter @JRadloff.
