The Big Bang Theory – The Collaboration Fluctuation

By: Jennifer Vintzileos 

Our favorite group of lovable nerds are back with new episodes! We finally get to see how Raj (Kunal Nayyar) is adjusting to life with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki). Also, how Howard (Simon Helberg) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) are adjusting to life with little Halley, Mrs.Wolowitz-esque cries and all. And also how Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) continue to adjust to living together. 

Raj continues to settle into the Hofstadter residence and finds a camaraderie of sorts with Penny. At the beginning of the episode they’re doing yoga together and when Leonard comes in to remind Penny they were going to breakfast that morning, he is instead roped into taking care of Raj’s dog Cinnamon. Unfortunately, Leonard doesn’t make it past the stairs before Cinnamon pees on him.  

When Sheldon discusses his current breakthroughs to Amy on the gyroscope or at least what isn’t classified that he can share, Amy confides in Sheldon how she is trying to figure out the correlation of decision-making and when awareness takes place in living things. Intrigued with her experiment, Sheldon uses Amy’s neurobiology research to try and find answers in the Copenhagen Interpretation. Enlisting Amy’s help, this prompts a collaboration of sorts between our favorite odd couple. Drawing up a fairly peaceful contract of rules to work together, they argue and laugh their way through trying to find a cohesive, clean equation.  

With Penny and Raj continuing to bond and gossip, Leonard begins to feel like the third wheel in not only the apartment but in his life. Leonard accompanies Penny and Raj on a shopping excursion where he is found to be holding Penny’s purse and being outvoted in clothing choices. It reaches a peak when Penny and Raj emerge from the dressing room wearing the same flowered blouse. Instead of continuing to hang out with Penny and Raj, Leonard decides to go and spend time with Howard and Bernadette on a fairly routine excursion to Target.  

While bonding with the Wolowitz family, Leonard becomes just as gossipy and talkative as Penny and Raj. Both Bernadette and Howard believe that it is a good thing that Raj is around to do the things with Penny that Leonard doesn’t like doing. But if it truly bothers him as much as it does then Leonard should address the issue head on. Later that day Leonard sits down with both Penny and Raj to discuss his feelings, with them in their matching blouses. Leonard doesn’t seem to get a word in edgewise as both Raj and Penny speak for him, but they both understand how Leonard must be feeling at this point. 

As the arguments ensue over their collaboration both Sheldon and Amy have to decide whether their relationship is worth this scientific collaboration or not. Amy is more hesitant to fight while Sheldon is ready with marker in hand and insults on the tongue. Ultimately, the rules change in their collaboration as Sheldon pushes for more competition and mud-slinging while they work. 

Join me next time as Sheldon and Amy continue on their collaboration. But how will this affect his own work on the gyroscope with Leonard and Howard? And with Bernadette’s maternity leave coming to an end what happens with her job? We’ll find out on the next The Big Bang Theory!