The Big Bang Theory: The Expedition Approximation (8x06)

Let's do the two plot threads separately, shall we?

Raj and Sheldon learn of a new opportunity to get in on the ground floor of dark matter studies. It would involve them going into a salt mine, and staying there for hours at a time. Raj suggests that they try to simulate the environment to see if they would be able to handle it. They climb into an underground utility tunnel at the university, while Amy stays above to keep in contact with them via walkie-talkie. Sheldon has to battle his claustrophobia, among other fears, in order to stay down in the tunnel. The two of them talk about Hannah Montana, among other things, until Sheldon finally reveals his deepest fear - what if his research into dark matter doesn't lead anywhere? He was a respected member of the field when it came to string theory, and now he has to start all over! Raj commiserates with him, and tells him that fear is normal. He was terrified when he first left India to come to America. When Sheldon sees rats in the tunnel, he runs out, leaving Raj behind. Raj later yells at him for being a coward, and Sheldon doesn't deny it.

This was pretty good! Raj and Sheldon's relationship isn't one that we've seen a lot of, and I liked it a lot. The Hannah Montana conversation was probably my favorite bit of humor. I also liked the fact that they were only able to stay down in the tunnel for about 11 minutes before Sheldon freaked out and escaped. However, along with the humor, we got a surprisingly poignant discussion of Sheldon and Raj's fears. Sheldon's career is unstable right now. He doesn't have a direction, and that's particularly frightening for him. Raj speaks of his fear upon entering a new place, where he wasn't sure he was going to be accepted. Sometimes, a bit of serious conversation in a show like this is just what the doctor ordered.

The other thread is about Penny and Leonard. Penny gets a company car, and decides to sell the car that Leonard got for her. She tries to give him back the money, but Leonard doesn't want to take it. They fight over who will keep the money. Penny is happy to be financially independent and so she doesn't want to keep Leonard's money. Penny suggests that her new job is changing the balance of power in their relationship, and maybe Leonard is insecure now that Penny can take care of herself. The two of them decide to go talk to Howard and Bernadette about how they handle money.

When they get there, they see that Bernadette, who makes much more money than Howard, treats Howard like a kid. Howard has a chore chart and he gets an allowance. Penny and Leonard decide to look at their friends as an example of what not to do, and they decide not to fight about money. So, what do they do? They spread the money out on the bed and decide to have sex on it. That's the most mature solution, after all!

I liked this plot, too, but I thought the ending was weird. See, the setup is actually interesting. There were a lot of good jokes, but at the same time, the plot thread is addressing a more serious concern: Penny and Leonard's future together. I loved the complexities of the issue. Leonard is happy for Penny's successes, but it makes sense that he might feel insecure about Penny's independence. And it makes sense, too, that Penny would be determined to give the money back, to assert her new independence, given all of the humiliation she's had to go through.

But then we end it with having sex on a pile of money. O.... kay? So was anything resolved? No? I felt that this was a bit odd. Maybe I just wanted more of a resolution. They should just put the money in a joint account and start their lives together. Leonard actually suggested that at one point, but then the idea didn't stick. Why not?

I'll leave it there. I can always find things to complain about, but this episode wasn't too bad!

8/10