# Big Bang Theory, February 6, 2014 -- "The Locomotion Manipulation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684 "2014-02-06T19:21:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/61 "2014-02-08T23:01:55Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > If it bothers you that people have largely negative opinions about certain shows, then perhaps you might consider posting in a different forum. Or, perhaps you might enjoy an activity where you don’t have to read anyone else’s opinions at all. I think you misread my post somewhat; I have no problem with your particular criticisms, they seem as well reasoned as anybody else’s. But as you currently dislike almost _half_ of the main characters, it seems to me that it might be time for you to move on. I, for one, have abandoned a series or three in the past for less. When a TV show I used to enjoy starts making me angry at their stupidity, I leave. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/62 "2014-02-09T03:31:52Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > My guess is that he had all the problems with women that he would ever need stemming from the time he worked with Roseanne. > > I read a few items that suggested it would probably be easier to live through combat than it would working for Roseanne. > > I can certainly understand why he would feel that way about women after working for Roseanne. If that wasn’t bad enough, his next show was Grace Under Fire, starring Brett Butler. My understanding is that the nightmare of the Butler trainwreck made Roseanne a joy by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/63 "2014-02-09T04:19:04Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Yeah, I wouldn’t mind seeing Howard do something like that (loved the fighting robot) again. He’s not pathetic anymore, and can get a girl, so no need to fight wobots. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/64 "2014-02-09T16:10:12Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Was trying to figure out where I’d seen Yvette the Vet before. She was Alex, Ben Linus’s daughter in _Lost_. Cool. She was a bit of an awkward looking teen but she has grown into herself. Thanks for pointing this out! ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/65 "2014-02-09T16:23:38Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Was trying to figure out where I’d seen Yvette the Vet before. She was Alex, Ben Linus’s daughter in _Lost_. I remember her as Cynthia from Malcolm in the Middle. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/66 "2014-02-09T16:26:05Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Was trying to figure out where I’d seen Yvette the Vet before. She was Alex, Ben Linus’s daughter in _Lost_. And Malcolm’s friend Cynthia in “Malcolm in the Middle” Who played the railfan, by the way? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/67 "2014-02-09T17:14:17Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > And Malcolm’s friend Cynthia in “Malcolm in the Middle” > > Who played the railfan, by the way? Eric Petersen. I’ve only seen one episode but he’s on _Kirstie_. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/68 "2014-02-09T17:38:32Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Eric Petersen. I’ve only seen one episode but he’s on _Kirstie_. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/69 "2014-02-09T20:36:26Z")
I’ll disagree with some (most?) of the board re: Howard and Bernadette. I think they have the most healthy of relationships in the whole show. As it was pointed out Sheldon (whom I hate as a character more than I’ve hated any television character ever) is just emotionally abusing his girlfriend and she’s too weak to do anything about it. Leonard is just cowtowing to a girlfriend out of abject fear of her leaving him (Although he and Pennys relationship isn’t horrible) Raj is the only remaining single person, so they need that angle. Bernie and Howard are just more sarcastic/comedic in their relationship than lovey-dovey. I could write a dissertation on how terrible Sheldon is, but the short story is he’s so reviled by literally everybody but one person…yet somehow is still considered a good person/friend? Suspension of disbelief only goes so far with me. And he would be banned within a day if he were on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/70 "2014-02-10T17:22:22Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’ll disagree with some (most?) of the board re: Howard and Bernadette. I think they have the most healthy of relationships in the whole show. > > As it was pointed out Sheldon (whom I hate as a character more than I’ve hated any television character ever) is just emotionally abusing his girlfriend and she’s too weak to do anything about it. > > Leonard is just cowtowing to a girlfriend out of abject fear of her leaving him (Although he and Pennys relationship isn’t horrible) > > Raj is the only remaining single person, so they need that angle. > > Bernie and Howard are just more sarcastic/comedic in their relationship than lovey-dovey. > > I could write a dissertation on how terrible Sheldon is, but the short story is he’s so reviled by literally everybody but one person…yet somehow is still considered a good person/friend? Suspension of disbelief only goes so far with me. > > And he would be banned within a day if he were on this board. It might make for an interesting story line if AFF finally has enough of him and dumps him. But she’d never do that in her present state because she could never get any other bf. So she would have to undergo a makeover and be presented as an attractive desirable woman. Then after dumping Sheldon, she could have several men chasing after her. The writers would then have a few viable options. They could force S to smarten up and go back to her. Or maybe they could dump the Raj character and replace him with AFFs new bf. Any of that would certainly work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/71 "2014-02-10T17:25:54Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > If that wasn’t bad enough, his next show was Grace Under Fire, starring Brett Butler. My understanding is that the nightmare of the Butler trainwreck made Roseanne a joy by comparison. Chuck Lorre is my idol. The sitcom-writing part of him, of course. Not the bleeding-hear lefty part. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/72 "2014-02-10T17:28:46Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I could write a dissertation on how terrible Sheldon is, but the short story is he’s so reviled by literally everybody but one person…yet somehow is still considered a good person/friend? Suspension of disbelief only goes so far with me. I don’t think he is reviled. Pitied sometimes, and tolerated a lot, but liked quite a bit as well. Remember when the bunch went out of their way (all the way to TX) to bring him back. You don’t do that for a “reviled” person. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/73 "2014-02-10T17:34:55Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > It might make for an interesting story line if AFF finally has enough of him and dumps him. But she’d never do that in her present state because she could never get any other bf. So she would have to undergo a makeover and be presented as an attractive desirable woman. In sitcom world, maybe but in real life I’d rather date AFF as is than Penny. ---
**Author:** ![Raskolnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@Raskolnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raskolnikov)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/74 "2014-02-10T17:48:30Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I am sorry to say that this was the second episode in a row that I didn’t care for very much. > > What I didn’t care for were the sudden reversals that just seemed to happen because that’s the way the writers wanted. Bernadette is a hateful, demeaning shrew who denigrates her husband openly, and then suddenly they are kissing because it’s Valentine’s Day. Sheldon is an insufferable jerk, and then suddenly kisses Amy just because it moves the story arc forward. And Sheldon seems to know that he is being a selfish jerk, and doesn’t care. It’s one thing when he is clueless about romantic interactions, and another when he is aware of Amy’s feelings and then goes off and is selfish anyway. > > The guy who had the box fall on his head was funny, and the parts with Leonard and Penny, and Raj and the vet were OK. But it is hard to laugh when Bernadette and Sheldon are being hateful bitches. > > **And again, an episode where I didn’t laugh out loud once.** I know that’s a high standard, but the show used to hit it every week consistently. > > The show needs a fresh schtick, and it can’t be “Sheldon and Amy have sex” unless it is a lot better written. > > Regards, > Shodan this is pretty much it for me, I realized while watching that I wasn’t laughing, seems like many of the characters have become parodies of themselves. > [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’ll disagree with some (most?) of the board re: Howard and Bernadette. I think they have the most healthy of relationships in the whole show. > > Bernie and Howard are just more sarcastic/comedic in their relationship than lovey-dovey. > > . this may be true, they may have, overall, a pretty healthy relationship but my point is that this is a sit-com, I come to be entertained, and this constant whining and yelling is getting old. It seems she’s either nice or yelling. And it seems she spends far more time yelling than she used to. show was better when it was just funny, now it seems like adult problems and character development and serious issue time when I prefer my sit-coms to be about laughs. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/75 "2014-02-10T19:30:49Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > It might make for an interesting story line if AFF finally has enough of him and dumps him. But she’d never do that in her present state because she could never get any other bf. Amy can get laid any time she wants. That geologist dude would jump on that in a second if Amy gave the go-ahead. > [@pancakes3](#): > > In sitcom world, maybe but in real life I’d rather date AFF as is than Penny. Not me. I find Penny’s personality infinitely more attractive than Amy’s. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/76 "2014-02-10T19:54:09Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I want to see more of the train guy. > > “Did I tell you what happened when I worked at UPS?” The actor, Eric Petersen, also plays the long lost son of Kirstie on the TVLand show ‘Kirstie’. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/77 "2014-02-10T20:01:46Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > If that wasn’t bad enough, his next show was Grace Under Fire, starring Brett Butler. My understanding is that the nightmare of the Butler trainwreck made Roseanne a joy by comparison. And now Brett Butler is on _Anger Management_ with Charlie Sheen. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/78 "2014-02-10T21:31:20Z")
The spouse and I have been binge-watching this show for the first time since the beginning of the year (started with Season 1 and worked our way forward–we’re almost through Season 6 now and have been watching the new Season 7 episodes as they’re aired). So, I’ve gotten a pretty good quick overview of the whole story arc. I must say, I (and the spouse, too) enjoyed the earlier seasons more than the later ones. Back then, it was more about the guys and their friendship, and their nerdy pursuits. Penny as the only “normal” one in the bunch provided a nice counterpoint (the show reminded me of an older sitcom called “Dweebs,” which had a similar premise but only lasted a few episodes). But ever since Penny and Leonard started dating and Bernadette and AFF showed up, the show has become more about their relationship drama and less about the nerd stuff. It’s like “Friends” with high IQs. I don’t really like sitcoms that are all about the relationships, so I kind of latch onto the nerdy stuff in BBT where I can get it. I think what they need in this show is a _real_ nerd girl. I thought AFF was going to be it for a while, but she’d rather hang out with the girls dishing gossip and painting her nails than do nerdy stuff with the guys. Leslie Winkel was great–I wish they’d bring her back. She could hold her own with the guys, nerd-wise, and didn’t take any crap from them. What I wish is that they’d get rid of one of the characters (probably either AFF or Raj) and replace them with a genuine nerd girl who likes to hang out with the guys and doesn’t want a romantic relationship with any of them. Who knows–maybe she and Sheldon could end up together eventually, or not. But in any case, move away from making the whole show about the romance. That’s getting old. And for Og’s sake, do _not_ have Bernadette and Howard spawn. That will be the death knell for the series, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/79 "2014-02-10T21:53:18Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I think what they need in this show is a _real_ nerd girl. I thought AFF was going to be it for a while, but she’d rather hang out with the girls dishing gossip and painting her nails than do nerdy stuff with the guys. Leslie Winkel was great–I wish they’d bring her back. She could hold her own with the guys, nerd-wise, and didn’t take any crap from them. Leslie Winkel SO needs to be back on the show. Problem is, she’s a bit of a misanthrope, so how to get her to actually hang out with the guys is a big writers’ problem. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684/80 "2014-02-10T22:56:37Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Not me. I find Penny’s personality infinitely more attractive than Amy’s. The jobless woman who sponges off her friends without offering any thanks, has a drinking problem and laughs at elderly disabled people when they have accidents and are knocked unconscious? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-february-6-2014-the-locomotion-manipulation/680684.md?page=5)