The Big Bang Theory: The Military Miniaturization (10x02)

I actually found this episode to be leaps and bounds better than the first episode of the season. However, given that this is The Big Bang Theory, my expectations are always super low.

Cons:

As is often the case with this show, I felt that in some cases they didn't go quite far enough. There are two principal plots here, one with the girls and one with the guys. In Penny and Bernadette's plot, some actual tension broke out, and Bernadette was seemingly facing discrimination in the work place. However, instead of capitalizing on this, the whole thing was brushed aside too quickly. This could have been a chance for the show to actually take a stance!

Similarly, the boys meet with Colonel Williams this week about their invention. They seem to be nervous about its military applications, but the Colonel shuts them down. The rest of the plot thread ends up being about Sheldon's big mouth, and how they have to work super quickly to make their design much smaller. Not a bad concept, but not as interesting as wrestling with the moral implications of using science to help people kill each other more efficiently.

Pros:

But that being said, I was actually pleasantly surprised with the gravity that these two plot threads managed to maintain.

The Girls: Penny accidentally lets slip at work that Bernadette is pregnant. Penny lies about it, because Bernadette is pissed. She's worried she will be treated differently because she's pregnant. Penny comes clean, and Bernadette is indeed livid. However, the two are able to make up by the end. Bernadette solves her work problem by threatening to sue if she's treated differently because of her pregnancy. I liked the fact that Bernadette was actually mad at Penny, and it wasn't just treated as a joke. Amy's role here was mostly comic relief. I particularly liked the part where she brings Bernadette a Happy Meal, but Bernadette gets pissed when she learns that Amy chose apple slices instead of french fries. Who does that?!

The Guys: The comedic highlight of the episode came when Colonel Williams came to talk to the guys. Sheldon has been instructed to keep his mouth shut, which he does, getting increasingly agitated as Colonel Williams posits that MIT is a great school, that engineers are better than physicists, and that the Death Star is from Star Trek. When the dam finally bursts, he corrects Williams on basically everything he's said since he walked in the door, but then also thanks him for his service. That was hilarious! Also, I loved the scene at the end where Howard, Sheldon, and Leonard go to work in the classified wing of campus. They have a great time playing with the retinal scanner. It's really refreshing to see the guys actually working on something together. I feel like there has never been enough of a focus on workplace collaboration. There are a lot of comedic possibilities here!

So that's that. A much better episode than last week's. Still, I just wish this show could push itself to higher levels once in a while. I am enjoying the A-plot with Howard, Leonard, and Sheldon's invention, though!

8/10