The Big Bang Theory: The Confirmation Polarization (12x13)

This was a pretty good episode. At least in comparison to other episodes of this show.

Cons:

There's something troubling about Amy's characterization here. She's always willing to make these sacrifices for Sheldon's happiness. I know relationships involve sacrifice, and I know that ultimately Sheldon did the right thing in potentially giving up his Nobel Prize for Amy... but it's annoying that Amy is so willing to throw her accomplishments away for Sheldon's sake. She doesn't even really seem to consider it for very long. It's almost like she's used to putting Sheldon's needs ahead of her own...

Pros:

But ultimately, it's great that Sheldon does the right thing. I liked the moment when he doubted himself, and said he hoped he wasn't the sort of person who would sell out his partner for a Nobel Prize. It showed a real self-awareness that I appreciated. Winning a Nobel Prize is something that Sheldon has wanted for a long time, much longer than he's known and loved Amy. But at the end of the day, he won't betray his commitment to her, no matter what.

I also like that this little plot thread is setting up a continued conflict. Amy and Sheldon's paper has actually been a through-line this season, and a fairly satisfying one, at that. As the season progresses, I hope we spend a lot of time actually focusing on this fight between the theoreticians and the experimenters. It could create interesting and substantial plot developments.

Another through-line on this show is Penny's career working in the pharmaceutical industry. Like most things with Penny and Leonard, this element is one that the show likes to forget about for long stretches of time, but here at least we get to check in. Bernadette wants Penny to take on a big task and run a team, and Penny is feeling uncertain about her own qualifications. Bernadette uses reverse psychology, which Penny sees through immediately, but it still works to get Penny to change her mind. We then see that Penny is taking on her role as a project leader with gusto.

There's a lot of stigma about intelligence and education in the world, and in the context of this show, Penny must feel it tremendously. Her husband and all of her friends all have multiple degrees and are successful in their fields, and she never went to college. But we know that Penny is actually quite smart, and always has been. I like seeing her succeed, and I like Bernadette helping her to get there.

Bernadette was pretty funny with all of her manipulations. I like that she thinks she's this master strategist, but it's possible that everyone sees right through her. She's a pretty delightful character.

Finally, in the comedy corner, the best laugh-out-loud moment was Amy and Sheldon's Fun with Flags show at the beginning. I don't know why, but that dumb show always makes me chuckle. Sheldon tells Amy to take her glasses off so nobody can see her password in the reflection, but then of course she can't read anything in her emails at all. Funny stuff.

That's all for the time being... as far as The Big Bang Theory goes, this was actually a pretty solid installment.

8.5/10