Episode 21 - The Vegas Renormalization
3 September 2009
Review
Synopsis: Leslie ends her friends with benefits relationship with Howard. Sheldon suggests the guys go to Vegas to help Howard get over the pain. They do and end up hiring a prostitute to cheer him up. Meanwhile Sheldon locks himself out of his apartment and ends up spending the night with Penny.
The Good: It’s no surprise to see Sheldon well characterised and bringing the funny out of everyday interactions. “Imagine you maintained a friendship with someone you had sex with, but you were free to date whoever you wanted” Leonard asks. “I’m sorry, I can’t imagine any of that” says the literal minded Sheldon. He underlines his disinterest in sex later when he refers to sexual desires as something someone might be “afflicted” with. His Cornish rhyme was beautifully delivered and he of course followed a genuine thank you to Penny with a dismissive “Ok, I’m sleepy now, get out.” The final line of the episode was pretty amusing too, if predictable.
Meanwhile the guys head to Vegas to be losers which always has its moments. Raj tries to be smooth with a prostitute without much luck. “Maybe I can save her?” he reaches as Leonard points out what she is really looking for. Mikayla (better known to some as Gretchen on Prison Break) plays her role well, she is subtle throughout, even when Jewing it up to please Howard. It was nice to see that Howard was no fool and knew she was a pro; he already looks bad enough without being needlessly gullible. I enjoyed seeing his bag of goodies and Raj’s assessment of his huge stack of condoms – “Yes we can.”
The use of the Soft Kitty song was nice continuity (111) too.
The Bad: I don’t live in the United States but I am led to believe that this show is on at 8pm. Correct? I know that moral standards have changed so much that Two and a Half Men, a show more steeped in sex than perhaps any other sit com ever made, is a big family hit. But still, seeing prostitution, still illegal in most states and most countries around the world so brazenly encouraged was kind of worrying. A lot of people who don’t watch The Big Bang Theory think it’s childish. It certainly draws in a smaller 18-49 demographic than How I Met Your Mother (which follows it) but usually draws a higher rating. That means there are plenty of under-18s watching and what message are they getting from this? Essentially that prostitution is a fun way to get over your sex buddy! The most worrying part was the tone, which was so accepting of this illegal behaviour.
I don’t know if anyone noticed that this was exactly the same story as last episode? The guys all hit the bar and fail while Sheldon annoys Penny. It just reminds you of the lack of ambition of the writers when they recycle their formula again and again.
Comic Highlight: The long confused pause after Leonard and Raj had established that Mikayla was a prostitute was fun. But I also liked Raj looking at her and commenting “She’s exactly his type...a hooker.”
In Conclusion: Typically funny and consistent. Typically unambitious and unchanging. Surprisingly immoral.
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