Although Sheldon is clearly the breakout star of The Big Bang Theory, last week I complained that "The Einstein Approximation" was a little too much Sheldon.  This week's installment, however, focuses first on Leonard and Penny's relationship, giving Sheldon a chance to shine as an obnoxious supporting character.

During "The Large Hadron Collision," Leonard was given a plus one for his trip to Switzerland to see the CERN Super Collider on February 14th, and for obvious reasons, he choose to make it a romantic getaway with his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.  Sheldon, of course, during his lifelong dream to see a super collider, decided it was his right as a roommate and friend to go.

While any sane friend would never feel it was their place on the trip, the entire premise was well within Sheldon's crazy belief system and, heck, already recorded in their roomate agreement from years earlier.  Sheldon's antics that followed were, of course, as hilarious as could be expected.

Our only gripe with this episode was do you really think Leonard would have gotten away with going on the trip, leaving behind his flu-ridden girlfriend to spend Valentine's Day with Sheldon?  Sure, the Raj bit was hilarious at the end, and we always love to see this under-utlized member involved in the plot line, but we'd have to think there'd be long-term reprecussions for Leonard.

Of course in sitcom land, all will be good when the show returns on March 1st.  Who care as long as the show continues to make us laugh with The Big Bang Theory quotes as good as these:

Leonard: This tray contains clues as to what you and I are going to be doing on Valentine's Day.
Penny: Wow okay, let's see. We got milk chocolate, Swiss cheese, fondue... my lactose intolerant boyfriend is going to eat all this and I'm going to climb on your back and rocket to the moon? | permalink

Sheldon: Do you recognize this?
Leonard: Not the roommate agreement!
Sheldon: Indeed, the roommate agreement. I call your attention to the friendship rider in Appendix C: Future Commitments, Number 37. In the event one friend is ever invited to visit the Large Haldron Collider, now under construction in Switzerland, he shall invite the other friend to accompany him.
Leonard: For god's sake!
Penny: You actually put that in an agreement?
Leonard: We also put in what happens if one of us gets a MacArthur grant, or if one of us gets super powers, or if one of us turns into a zombie.
Sheldon: He can't kill me, even if I turned.
Penny: Ts there anything in there if one of you gets a girlfriend?
Sheldon: No, that seemed a little far fetched. | permalink

Sheldon: Given that St. Valentine was a 3rd century Roman priest who was stoned and beheaded, wouldn't a more appropriate celebration of the evening be taking one's steady gal to witness a brutal murder? | permalink

Sheldon: I believe you know why I'm here.
Penny: I always figured it was to study us, discover our weaknesses, and report back to your alien overlords. | permalink

Eric Hochberger is the programmer of TV Fanatic, so please forgive his mediocre writing. His programming is far better. Follow him on Twitter and/or email him. Just don't request threaded comments. They're coming.