The Big Bang Theory: The Dumpling Paradox
By fred | November 6, 2007
(S01E07) I’ve said it already, this show might not look good at first. But if you actually sit down & watch it, of course you’ll see that those nerds aren’t exactly like actual nerds, this isn’t a documentary. But they’re way more nerdy than Chuck might be, and look, act and talk much more like actual nerds. And yes, of course, it’s filled with stereotypes and clichés. But (a) that doesn’t mean those doesn’t exists, ever watch Beauty & The Geek ? And (b) it actually is funny.
There are moments where you just find it stupid and too cliché or predictable to be funny, but most of the times the show really is funny. I think pretty much in all episodes I’ve watched, and I watched them all by now, there’s always been a few laughing out loud moments. Some episodes are better than others, like with every other show, and maybe here when it’s bad it gets real ugly real fast, worst than elsewhere.
But when it’s good, it’s as good – if not better – as elsewhere. Would you really pass on that ?
This week I tuned in and once again I did not regret it. Yes, the opening joke was a bit weak, and the whole Halo 3 plot – which the whole episode revolved around – might not be very new, and yes watching those guys playing video games is as unrealistic as it can be, but who cares, because as usual Sheldon is one hilarious character, always behaving and making those killer remarks that most of the times make will make you laugh.
You need to watch it for what it is, a light comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Today playing Halo 3 was the backbone story, and yes having the girl show up and play a video game without trouble and beat those geeks at their own game doesn’t sound good, and was not. What was, as usual with this show, is how Sheldon reacted to this. Like when the idea was formed,
“
- Great idea!
- Uh, nooooo. The wheel was a great idea. Relativity was a great idea, this is notion, and a rather sucky one at that.
”
And if only for lines such as this one, it was worth to have her beat him up on Halo 3 :
“
- Look, it’s raining you!
- You laugh now. You just wait until you need tech support!
”
Sure, it’s cheap and all that, but it also makes you laugh. And guess what, for an half-hour sitcom, that’s a great good thing to do. And because all in all, if you forget those annoying automated laughs and the bad jokes, like by the end of the episode, when a bunch of girls get in and tell the boys they want to have sex with them, but they don’t react to it cause, well, they’re playing Halo 3!
No, that was pure stupid BS that’s not even funny. But because it’s not made mostly of those, but of actually funny lines, and because all in all you have a great time watching the episode and you laugh most of the time, it’s worth it.
Few more things I remember :
- “Oh sure, cut the foreigner in half there’s a billion more where it came from!”
- When Leonard offers Penny to stay with them, how could you not like Sheldon’s reaction :
“
- The couch is good.
- Hold that thought! Leonard , a moment!
”
- Then later on, his social skills are once again wonderful : “First, we don’t have house guest. Frankly if I could afford the rent I’d ask you to leave!”
- Everyone goes to bed, the lights are turned off, and look who’s in the kitchen!! Oh look, it’s Rajesh!
“
- Every Saturday since we’ve lived in this apartment, I’ve awaking at 6.15, poured myself a bowl of cereal, add a quarter of 2% milk, sat in this end of this couch, turned on BBC America and watched “Doctor Who”.
- Penny’s still sleeping.
- Every Saturday since we’ve lived in this apartment, I’ve awaking at 6.15, poured myself a bowl of cereal…
”
- Sure, the whole scene about how to order now that they’re only 3, not 4, was a bit much of a cliché. But Sheldon is good enough to make it work, or at least not be annoyingly stupid, and I’ll admit, this made me laugh:
“
- He’s putting his needs ahead of the collective good. Where he comes from, that’s punishable by death!
- I come from Sacramento.
“
Posted in Reviews
Shows: The Big Bang Theory
