# The Big Bang Theory, Season 9, Episode 4 (October 12, 2015) -- "The 2003 Approximation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459 "2015-10-12T18:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/61 "2015-10-14T22:21:14Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Since most Americans don’t go to ren-faires or wherever flik is played they needed a way to explain it to the audience. Then they could have used Bernadette as the audience standin character. It’s completely unbelievable that a comic book store owner had never heard of filk before. (its mostly unbelievable that a comic book store owner hasn’t been subjected to multiple hours filk while friends told them - “no, _this song_ is good. It’s not like the rest. It’s _really funny!_”) I know that they had to explain it to the audience, but Stuart was not the right person to ask the question. (Still, I did like the “something I shouldn’t pay for” joke. No one should have to pay for filk. People playing it should preemptively pay their audiences.) ---
**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:** [October 14, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/62 "2015-10-14T23:48:38Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > I was rather surprised to think of Stuart as being a comic shop owner and general geek … who doesn’t know what Filk is. In fact, I’m a little surprised that a comic book store owner isn’t selling filk CDs along with the comic books (and related paraphernalia). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/63 "2015-10-14T23:52:44Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > In fact, I’m a little surprised that a comic book store owner isn’t selling filk CDs along with the comic books (and related paraphernalia). Yeah, I’m sure the crowd was lining up at the merch table after _Thor and Dr. Jones_. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/64 "2015-10-15T13:10:13Z")
The _Thor and Dr. Jones_ song was supposed to be bad enough to be funny. Instead it was just bad. And the reconcilation between Raj and Howard was forced, and they didn’t riff off it enough to do the secretly gay for each other thing. Raj is a good dancer - that would have had comic possibilities. They should have made the whole episode about their filk performance, with better songs. But it seems like the writers have run out of any ideas for Sheldon beside the stock sitcom one of he behaves like an asshole, stuff happens because he is behaving like an asshole, then the other characters forgive him and everyone is reconciled. And whenever Sheldon doesn’t behave like an asshole, it feels out of character for him. and when he is acting in character, it feels like it has been done to death. And so these moments when he reveals his True Feelings just don’t work for me. The series feels played out. Up to now, I would LOL at least once per episode. Last night, not even once. I seem to be transitioning from ‘big fan of the series’ to ‘used to be a big fan of the series’. I don’t know if I am tired of it, or the writers are tired of it, or the actors are tired of it. But the series feels tired. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/65 "2015-10-15T14:06:18Z")
True dat. The show needs a shakeup… and apparently, they’d rather let it die slow than risk a shakeup. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/66 "2015-10-15T14:30:37Z")
They’ve made starts but have fallen back almost every time - the comic book store burning, Leonard moving out, Sheldon going walkabout, many others. The only exception still in place is the Shamy breakup, and that isn’t final yet either. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/67 "2015-10-15T15:04:07Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > True dat. The show needs a shakeup… and apparently, they’d rather let it die slow than risk a shakeup. The show is still getting ratings. They don’t think it’s dying. What the heck do the TV executives care what I think? I am almost sixty - not their target demographic. Plus, the longer the series runs, the more episodes they can sell in a syndication package. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/68 "2015-10-15T15:50:51Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The only exception still in place is the Shamy breakup, and that isn’t final yet either. I don’t know…that seems to be sticking. Amy doesn’t have any more tolerance for Sheldon. I’m hoping she catches Stuart in a good moment (they did have one date, which Sheldon invaded) and I think they’d be good together. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/69 "2015-10-15T17:04:17Z")
I don’t know if the break up IS sticking. Amy defended him when Bernadette called him a weirdo. I think that plot thread will continue to be tugged. Only Sheldon and his mom know about his plan to propose, right? But he still has the ring. I think penny will find out and talk to Amy and/or his mom about it. They might not get back together but the plot will continue to drag out the Shamy. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/70 "2015-10-15T17:58:16Z")
I thought filking was more rewriting the lyrics to existing songs to make them sci fi/fantasy friendly rather than writing original songs… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/71 "2015-10-15T18:05:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I thought filking was more rewriting the lyrics to existing songs to make them sci fi/fantasy friendly rather than writing original songs… Correct- mostly. That was a bad filk. But some is original music. [http://ovff.org/pegasus/winners/index.html](http://ovff.org/pegasus/winners/index.html) [http://www.interfilk.org/interfilk/filk.htm](http://www.interfilk.org/interfilk/filk.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/72 "2015-10-15T18:07:06Z")
Not necessarily. Filk ranges from using an existing melody for a new song all the way to development of a completely new tune, lyrics and all. And not all filk is intended to be funny; “Rich Fantasy Lives,” for example, is actually kind of touching. …but most filk is intended humorously. I don’t think I like Stuart’s new comic shop. It doesn’t look like a comic shop. It looks like some sort of lounge. Although I have to admit, I’d shop there if they had live music and free coffee. I might not BUY anything, but I’d certainly SHOP there… ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/73 "2015-10-15T18:12:49Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > Not necessarily. Filk ranges from using an existing melody for a new song all the way to development of a completely new tune, lyrics and all. And not all filk is intended to be funny; “Rich Fantasy Lives,” for example, is actually kind of touching. > > …but most filk is intended humorously. > > I don’t think I like Stuart’s new comic shop. It doesn’t look like a comic shop. It looks like some sort of lounge. Although I have to admit, I’d shop there if they had live music and free coffee. I might not BUY anything, but I’d certainly SHOP there… Hmmm… come to think of it, I don’t think that “free coffee” would mix well with valuable old collectible comics. Think of the spillage factor! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/74 "2015-10-15T19:05:02Z")
Collectible comics like “Archie vs. Predator”? ---
**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:** [October 15, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/75 "2015-10-15T19:16:26Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I thought filking was more rewriting the lyrics to existing songs to make them sci fi/fantasy friendly rather than writing original songs… That kind is like this song, to “Norwegian Wood:” - I once had a sword, or shall I say it once had me? Oh what a sword, a beautiful sword, it was plus three! It’s ego was twelve, a fact of which I wasn’t aware. I wanted to leave and the sword oh it just didn’t care!.. …And, when I awoke, I was alone, my sword had flown. Now, I use a club, isn’t it good… No Ego Wood! \* ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/76 "2015-10-15T19:45:51Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > I don’t think I like Stuart’s new comic shop. It doesn’t look like a comic shop. It looks like some sort of lounge. Although I have to admit, I’d shop there if they had live music and free coffee. I might not BUY anything, but I’d certainly SHOP there… I think the object was to modernize to compete with the other comic shop they featured when Bernadette destroyed one of Howard’s comics. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/77 "2015-10-15T22:01:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Collectible comics like “Archie vs. Predator”? In case you didn’t know, [that’s a real comic.](http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/Archie_vs._Predator) Not sure if that automatically makes it a collectable, though. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/78 "2015-10-15T22:12:49Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > Hmmm… come to think of it, I don’t think that “free coffee” would mix well with valuable old collectible comics. Think of the spillage factor! Well, that’s kind of another nitpick I have with the show. For a show that revolves around nerd culture, the actors and showrunners seem to have very little acquaintance with it. Comic shops are popular nerd gathering spots, sure… but if I owned a comic shop, the LAST thing I’d want to do is encourage people to have a seat on my nice leather couch and read the fraggin’ comics. You want to read them? Buy them. And I have known many nerd stores that sold drinks and snacks, but it seems to me that if you offer reading material, a place to sit and read it, and free coffee to drink, you do not have a comic shop; you have a library. And libraries are well and good, certainly, but they are not known for their profitability. Stuart’s last shop looked like the kind of little comic shop you’d find tucked into a strip mall somewhere. His new one… well, frankly, looks like he bought out the one he was competing with. And it doesn’t look like a comic shop. It looks like a boutique. But, still, if he can show a profit… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/79 "2015-10-15T23:07:41Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > I was rather surprised to think of Stuart as being a comic shop owner and general geek … who doesn’t know what Filk is. I consider myself a pretty huge nerd and I had never heard of filk before this episode. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/80 "2015-10-16T00:57:28Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Since most Americans don’t go to ren-faires or wherever flik is played they needed a way to explain it to the audience. Exactly. I walked away from the episode thinking, “Oh, so _that’s_ what ‘filk’ is.” Kinda like when I learned about dubstep from a Key & Peele skit. I thought the song was ridiculous, just like I was supposed to, but a half-hour later as I was cleaning up the kitchen, I found myself singing “One plays with hammers, the other plays with bonesssss…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459.md?page=5)