# The Big Bang Theory, Season 12, Episode 21 (May 2, 2019) -- "The Plagiarism Schism" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366 "2019-05-02T13:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366/1 "2019-05-02T13:20:26Z")
I am starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366/2 "2019-05-03T14:24:51Z")
I was quite baffled for this episode. How is this even a question? If there’s proof he plagiarized his doctoral thesis, turn him in. Yeesh. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366/3 "2019-05-03T14:35:49Z")
I realize it’s a sitcom but those two guys from Fermilab are presented as such idiots and buffoons, I wonder if this annoys people at the real Fermilab. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366/4 "2019-05-03T16:05:04Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I was quite baffled for this episode. How is this even a question? If there’s proof he plagiarized his doctoral thesis, turn him in. Yeesh. This. And at least Anu wasn’t in this episode. And Leonard’s mom will be back next week. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366/5 "2019-05-03T16:10:48Z")
The whole thing felt contrived, especially the bit about the ex-wife, and it was a bit too convenient a way to dispatch with Sheldon and Amy’s competition. On the other hand, Kal Penn managed to pull some good laughs out of the material; Sheldon and Amy’s bedtime conversation made me chuckle; the B plot about the mystery Cheesecake waitress, while inconsequential, was classic Wolowitz. So as comedy, the episode mostly worked for me, regardless of real-world logic. Also, ten-years-ago Sheldon surely would have gleefully outed the plagiarist without a second thought. This was a nice display of his growth as a character. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-21-may-2-2019-the-plagiarism-schism/833366/6 "2019-05-05T13:53:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I was quite baffled for this episode. How is this even a question? If there’s proof he plagiarized his doctoral thesis, turn him in. Yeesh. > [@Wheelz](#): > > Also, ten-years-ago Sheldon surely would have gleefully outed the plagiarist without a second thought. This was a nice display of his growth as a character. And in that case, he would have been right. I think it was Leonard that pointed out that he was taking up a slot that an actually qualified PhD could have been in.