# Big Bang Theory, November 21, 2013 -- "The Thanksgiving Decoupling" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441 "2013-11-21T16:51:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/1 "2013-11-21T16:51:23Z")
I’m starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/2 "2013-11-21T17:20:08Z")
The episode title fills me with dread. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/3 "2013-11-21T17:26:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The episode title fills me with dread. I’m hoping that it won’t be a “turkey”, myself. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/4 "2013-11-21T17:28:26Z")
Sneak preview clips here: [The Big Bang Theory: The Thanksgiving Decoupling](http://comicbook.com/blog/2013/11/21/the-big-bang-theory-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/) ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/5 "2013-11-21T21:37:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The episode title fills me with dread. You don’t think Amy will be better off? j/k - I’ve no idea what it’ll be about… ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/6 "2013-11-21T21:44:42Z")
Bernadette really amuses me. She’s all kinds of sweet and comforting until she gets irritated enough to flip her switch and then she barks out stuff. And she seems to be able to hold her own against Howard’s Mom. Oh, if Howard’s Mom keeps a Kosher kitchen, there probably won’t be any Crisco. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/7 "2013-11-22T02:53:01Z")
I’ve still got a few minutes left, but I had to stop in to the thread to say this is probably one of the funniest episodes I’ve ever seen. Zack being a moron, drunk Sheldon, LOLs all over the place. After Sheldon apologized I thought he might suggest that him and Amy go have sex, but slapping her on the ass was pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/8 "2013-11-22T02:54:29Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Oh, if Howard’s Mom keeps a Kosher kitchen, there probably won’t be any Crisco. Did you say pigskins? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/9 "2013-11-22T03:33:23Z")
I have mixed feelings aboiut this one – some stuff worked, and some was extremely annoying. But I LOVED how Mayim Bialik managed with her twisted grin to convey both annoyance at the condescension of drunken Sheldon and joy that he actually touched her bottom when he swatted her on the rear. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/10 "2013-11-22T03:34:56Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Oh, if Howard’s Mom keeps a Kosher kitchen, there probably won’t be any Crisco. Vegetable shortening isn’t kosher? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/11 "2013-11-22T04:26:42Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Oh, if Howard’s Mom keeps a Kosher kitchen, there probably won’t be any Crisco. A) Crisco IS Kosher (it’s got the little U on it) B) Crisco isn’t lard, it’s not made from animals. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/12 "2013-11-22T04:44:04Z")
Meh. Funniest episode this season, and it still was inferior _Big Bang_. It didn’t hang together at all. When the funniest part was Bernadette and a marshmallow, the show has problems. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/13 "2013-11-22T05:01:31Z")
At least Sheldon seemed human so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/14 "2013-11-22T05:33:25Z")
I loved Bernadette’s father bonding with football-fan Sheldon (who knew?). And of course Amy’s expression after the swat. But I honestly can’t think of anything else memorable. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/15 "2013-11-22T05:43:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I loved Bernadette’s father bonding with football-fan Sheldon (who knew?). The fact that Sheldon is very knowledgeable about football was played up in one of the previous episodes. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/16 "2013-11-22T11:16:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Meh. Funniest episode this season, and it still was inferior _Big Bang_. It didn’t hang together at all. When the funniest part was Bernadette and a marshmallow, the show has problems. I thought it was pretty funny this week, but was soured a bit by Leonard and Howard’s humongous selfishness. Leonard made the fact that Penny was married all about _him_, and nagged her incessantly to fix the problem _within a matter of hours_! Until this ep, her reasons for not marrying him were spurious, but this week? Who would want a lifetime of dealing with such epic selfishness and insecurity? And Howard: this is the second time we’ve seen him whining to Bernie or his mom to stick up for him (he did it with NASA as well) when he’s not immediately liked; someone needs to call him out for this cry-baby behavior. How’s Mike supposed to respect a guy hiding behind a 90-lb pixie’s skirts? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/17 "2013-11-22T11:34:31Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I thought it was pretty funny this week, but was soured a bit by Leonard and Howard’s humongous selfishness. Leonard made the fact that Penny was married all about _him_, and nagged her incessantly to fix the problem _within a matter of hours_! Until this ep, her reasons for not marrying him were spurious, but this week? Who would want a lifetime of dealing with such epic selfishness and insecurity? > > And Howard: this is the second time we’ve seen him whining to Bernie or his mom to stick up for him (he did it with NASA as well) when he’s not immediately liked; someone needs to call him out for this cry-baby behavior. How’s Mike supposed to respect a guy hiding behind a 90-lb pixie’s skirts? :rolleyes: That’s funny, I started wondering why Leonard puts up with stupid, alcoholic Penny. Sometimes the writers write her with some intelligence and ability to learn, but this episode played up her stupidity and lack of insight. She also lacked the people smarts that she sometimes has. But mostly, she doesn’t have them, either, just sloppy drunk friendliness. ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/18 "2013-11-22T12:15:40Z")
The problem with Leonard is, he’s still insecure about his relationship with Penny. This whiny bitchiness (“I’m the victim!”) goes back to the episode when she wouldn’t say “I love you” back. Any kind of affront to his feelings or his place in their relationship and it’s completely off the reasonable rails for Leonard. Why couldn’t he let it go once he knew? Solve it on Monday. Loved how Penny called him on that later, when he got all bitchy because she told Zack to come over. She invited him because you would not shut the fuck up about it, Leonard. Other than that relationship, which I’m really souring on, I loved the episode. I called the Mike/Sheldon bonding, though I thought perhaps at the end it would be Mike, Sheldon and Penny all sitting and bonding over football. The “I just threw up over a bunch of clowns” was a good alternative, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/19 "2013-11-22T12:32:26Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I thought it was pretty funny this week, but was soured a bit by Leonard and Howard’s humongous selfishness. Wha huh? I thought Leonard took finding out his girlfriend, who reacts to his asking to marry her as if he’s offering her a serving of plague dog soup, is married to someone else very well. And Penny was a big fucking bitch about it. Penny does have a very bad habit of taking things out on Leonard when she’s not happy. Remember when she borrowed money from Sheldon and when she saw her ex-boyfriend proposing to her ex-friend on Valentine’s Day? I thought this episode was the funniest this season. No wait, wasn’t the scavanger hunt this season too? It’s a tie, then. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/20 "2013-11-22T12:44:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > A) Crisco IS Kosher (it’s got the little U on it) > B) Crisco isn’t lard, it’s not made from animals. Ah, I sit corrected. I apologize. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441.md?page=2)