The Big Bang Theory: The Application Deterioration (9x18)

Why does this show have to pull crap like this? This episode had a serious problem, but the main plot was actually really good, and it annoys me that I have to be so critical. Grumble grumble. Let's get started.

Cons:

Raj had a subplot in this episode about Emily and Claire, the two women who, for some inexplicable reason, both seem interested in a self-obsessed jerk who has one of the most horrible cases of Nice Guy syndrome I've ever seen. Basically, Emily drops off a Valentine's Day gift that she was going to give to Raj before they broke up. She then calls and talks to him, asking if maybe he could come over, since she's really upset. Penny, Amy, and Bernadette all warn him that it's a trap to get back together with him, but Raj decides to go over anyway. On his way, he gets a call from Claire, who lets him know that she's single again. Raj continually changes his mind over whether to go out with Claire or go comfort Emily. He continually calls each of them, changing his mind over and over, as Claire tells him Emily is just manipulating him. In the end, Raj goes over to Emily's house and the two fall back into bed together.

Okay... where to even start with the grossness of this? Like I mentioned before, Raj has turned into a fundamentally unlikable character. Since he's the only main character without a steady, committed relationship, they're trying to do something fun with his multiple love interests. Let me tell you - Raj comes across as a total dick, here. And hey, what happened to the hilariously dark and creepy Emily that we had from the beginning? I thought she was supposed to have a morbid sense of humor that scared Raj? All of that character work is thrown out the window here, and she is portrayed instead as a whiny and desperate woman. I get the feeling that we're supposed to think Emily is being duplicitous and wrong in trying to get Raj back, but I'm sitting over here thinking that Raj is definitely the jerk in this situation. And why is Claire interested in him in the first place? What the hell is appealing about Raj? Ugh.

Pros:

Over in the main plot, Howard, Sheldon, and Leonard go to try and register a patent for their new GPS idea. They find out that the university will get 75% ownership of the patent, and 75% of the profits if the idea comes to fruition. Howard, as a federal employee of NASA on reserve, actually won't be able to get any money from the idea. The guys are upset about this, but they decide that they have to go through the university anyway, since they have no choice. Sheldon makes up a separate contract for the three of them to sign, agreeing to split the profits three ways: even if Howard can't get the money officially, the other two promise to divide it evenly.

Just as they're about to sign, the girls come in. Bernadette is nervous about Howard signing the contract, and she pulls Howard into the hall to talk it over. After some solid arguments, Howard goes back inside and tells Sheldon that he's nervous about entering into a binding contract with him, because of the way Sheldon treats him. Penny has the idea that Sheldon write in a clause in the contract forbidding him from belittling or disrespecting Howard when it comes to this project. Sheldon does so, and he also adds that 25% of whatever profits he himself makes will go towards a scholarship fund for Howard and Bernadette's child. Aww!

There were a lot of things to love about this plot thread. I'm glad to see they're carrying through the patent idea from the episode a few weeks back. It'll be interesting to see how this recurring plot unfolds. The idea was Howard's, but the math was Sheldon and Leonard's, and the three of them are of course willing to split the credit. I was worried when Bernadette came in that everybody was about to get into a big fight, but the episode side-stepped that predictable outcome and kept the peace between everybody instead.

Bernadette and Howard's conversation out in the hall was one of the highlights of the episode. Howard had a couple of hilarious lines: "If you're going to calmly make excellent points then I don't know if I want to talk to you," and later "Here we go with the iron-clad logic again!" That was pretty great.

And what a surprisingly touching resolution! I loved that it was Penny's idea to add an addendum to the contract, because for the most part she was on the sidelines in this plot thread. And then, Sheldon's additions to the contract were both funny and really touching. He hopes, by setting aside some of his own money for Howard and Bernadette's child, to save the poor thing from the menial life of an engineer like his father. When the others protest that he's already breaking the rules by mocking Howard, he declares that he hasn't signed the contract yet! Ha! Sheldon also says that the very fact that Howard felt the need to put this in writing proves that Sheldon needs to make some adjustments in his behavior. That was a very big moment of character growth for him, and I loved seeing it.

Now, let's just hope that future episodes about this plot thread can maintain the lovely dynamic that's been set up so far. And let's also hope that Raj's romantic struggles stop making me sick to my stomach. Ugh. This score is all Raj's fault - if that subplot hadn't been in here, this would have gotten a 9.5.

7/10