Episode 14 - The Financial Permeability
4 February 2009
Review
Synopsis: Penny is short on her rent money and so Sheldon lends her some of his spare cash. She feels guilty about not paying it back and still can’t pay her electricity bills. Leonard tries to help and discovers that she paid her ex-boyfriend Kurt’s police fine. Leonard confronts Kurt and eventually he gives the money back. But he doesn’t tell Penny why and she ends up on a date with him while Leonard is left only with Sheldon’s admiration.
The Good: There is a lot to like about The Big Bang Theory. From its strong ratings I imagine it will be a fixture on CBS for a long time to come. I am guessing that the producers know this and are planning for the long haul by keeping the relationships of the characters very much at the same state for as long as they can. Penny doesn’t yet see Leonard as her boyfriend, even mocking him with the idea of them hooking up. He still longs for her and although he is a good guy, he doesn’t yet have the courage to make her see that. And Sheldon still doesn’t understand sarcasm. Despite many examples to learn from its just funnier if he doesn’t.
Within this big status quo festival though there is a lot to like. Leonard is eminently likeable as he tries to help Penny out and stand up to a guy who has bullied him before. His decision not to tell her is a nice moment, largely because it wins Sheldon’s admiration. The writing sometimes comes close to making Leonard not like Sheldon and vice versa. So for Sheldon to see the honour in what Leonard did is a nice moment for their relationship. Leonard’s intimidated reaction to Kurt is fun.
Sheldon too has a good episode. He is consistent and logical as ever and his decision to lend Penny money is a surprising but well explained turn of events. His complete lack of interest in when she pays him back is endearingly logical and as ever much of the humour rolls off his unusual reactions to what is going on. His slavish logic means he is almost happy that the others go to the movies without him because “it was the only option.” Then he helpfully points out “You could solve all your problems by obtaining more money.” Soon he is discussing his other stash of money which is hidden in “the hollowed out buttocks of a super hero action figure, who shall remain nameless for his own protection.” Even funnier is his complete lack of empathy over Penny’s guilt at not paying him back. Penny gets defensive about eating take out “I’ve been having leftovers at the restaurant for like four days and I wanted something different. So sue me.” Sheldon doesn’t get it and states matter-of-factly “Forgive me Penny but that would be the very definition of a frivolous lawsuit.”
Penny’s character remains consistent, though not very thoroughly explored. She wants to be an actress but is stuck being a waitress. She still falls for the jerks with the muscles but her decision to pay Kurt’s fine does mark her out as a good person. And she does get out the best line of the episode (see Comic Highlight).
The jokes are generally simple but even for unchallenging comedy it is consistently amusing. As the guys arrive at Kurt’s apartment Leonard asks if they all know the plan. Howard steps up “Yes Kuthrapali’s going to wet himself, I’m going to throw up, Sheldon’s going to run away and you’re going to die!” As they drive home Leonard has “I OWE PENNY $1800” KURT written on his head. Which Sheldon, again impressed, comments “Congratulations, you may not have succeeded in getting cash but you did secure a formal acknowledgement of the debt.”
Using Kurt and referencing the series pilot episode is a nice nod to long term fans.
The Bad: The show is clearly not interested in developing the characters beyond what they are at present so it seems foolish to complain about it. However even within the well crafted dialogue, the story could still have been told better. Penny leaps into paranoia about paying Sheldon back the very scene after he lends it to her. Then instead of exploring further Leonard’s attempts to reason with Kurt or some other angle which could have made the story more interesting, we just get more and more silly dialogue amongst the guys. The Lord of the Rings references and toilet humour can be fun but they limit the story being told. Instead of getting wrapped up in the quest and wondering how the story will turn out, it gets bogged down in joke after joke which don’t service the plot. The problem with those jokes is not that they aren’t funny but that they make you start to remember that these guys are standing in a studio cracking jokes to make the live audience laugh. If the story were the focus then its much easier to get wrapped up in it and forget that it isn’t real.
Comic Highlight: Penny suggests she might have to move to a cheaper apartment which Leonard is naturally horrified by.
L: “Why don’t you just get a roommate and live here.”
P: “Well do you know anybody.”
L: “Well I’m sure the guy living with Sheldon wouldn’t mind moving in with you.”
P: “Oh Leonard, honey. If we started living together I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
L: “Really?”
P: “And you thought my acting lessons were a waste of money.”
In Conclusion: The Big Bang Theory feels like a show totally happy with who it is and where it is. The dialogue is crisp and silly in equal measure. Everything flows from the well established geeky world which the guys live in and well performed. The show is reliably funny, usually enjoyable and clearly capable of so much more.
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