TV Review: The Big Bang Theory 8×14, “The Troll Manifestation”

On last night’s episode, trolls lurked in every corner, waiting to be discovered. Leonard potentially makes a breakthrough revelation in the world of science, which leads to a very special guest star trolling on his work via the Internet. However, more importantly, we discover something from Bernadette’s past that she would rather keep under wraps, and a side of Amy that writes fan fiction, a fan fiction that is surprisingly addicting. Let’s begin!

While Leonard and Penny are having a quiet dinner at her place, Penny asks how his work is going. He’s building a particle detector using super fluid helium. It’s all very scientific and dull, so he suggests changing the topic, but Penny will have none of that. She didn’t write superfluid helium on her napkin to not talk about it! A happy Leonard then continues talking about his day and his work. Like Penny, I didn’t exactly catch his science jargon, but whatever. He has a revelation! However, he needs to go to the person who will tell him if what he’s thinking is actually worthy, and not just nonsense. Of course, Sheldon is this person.

The science jargon continues. I can’t tell you for certain what it means. Apparently, the universe may be the surface of a multidimensional supercooled liquid. After a lot of “hmmming,” Sheldon finally reveals what he thinks… He likes it! So much so that he even rewards Leonard with a sticker, and not just any sticker. This one is of a kitty saying, “Me-wow!” so you know Sheldon’s serious about thinking the idea is good.

Sheldon stays up all night working out the math, and even writing a paper on it. For a moment, I thought season 1 Sheldon was going to resurface, and try to claim all the glory for himself, but fortunately, no such incident happens. Sheldon is actually sharing the credit. He wants to share this with Leonard, and to prove it, he has them click the mouse button together, submitting their thesis onto the Internet as one.

The next day they relish in all the praise their findings are bringing them. They even get mentioned in the Quantum Diaries physics blog, where individuals are calling their work “insightful and innovative” as well as “out of the box thinking.” All is well until one troll decides to rain on their parade. This anonymous user calls their work meaningless and false. Of course, they fixate on the negative comments, especially Sheldon. He decides to respond and defend their work scientist to scientist. If that doesn’t work, he’s ready to lash out “your momma” insults.

Sheldon is impatiently waiting for a response because he has something in his arsenal that will destroy the troll: an epic meme of a bored cat saying, “Oh, really?” (Think grumpy cat). The troll finally responds back, but with more insults, calling them engineers. Frankly, he sounds a lot like Sheldon, and Sheldon has had enough. He demands to meet with him face to face. A video call ensues, and me-wow! It’s Stephen Hawking! Turns out Stephen Hawking thinks their work is promising. He just wanted to have a little fun, and mess with his old pals.

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As the boys are catching up with their old friend, the girls are having a movie night, and letting out their own trolls out of the bag. Bernadette and Amy want to watch Penny’s ape movie that she filmed a couple of months ago with Will Wheaton. It’s all fun and games for Amy and Bernadette, but not Penny, so she decides to find some embarrassing footage of Bernadette on the Internet. And she finds the jackpot. Bernadette used to compete in beauty pageants, and her talent seems to have been reworking the lyrics to Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” To get the spotlight off of her, Bernadette then lets out that Amy writes Little House on the Prairie” fan fiction about herself and posts it on the Internet. Amy quickly defends herself. It’s not about her per se, but about a young woman in the 1800s named Amelia and the time traveling physicist, Cooper, she falls in love with.

Yes, the fan fanfiction is definitely about her and Sheldon. The other two start reading the story aloud. They’re laughing, and Amy eventually gets fed up, so she takes it away, but wait! The girls actually want to know what happens in the end. Do Amelia and Cooper kiss? Does he take her with him to the future? So many questions! Penny and Bernadette seem genuinely interested in the story, so Amy puts on her best reading voice, and begins to read. Her solemn voice completely sucks you into the story. We’re all at the edge of our seats, waiting for the ending when Leonard rudely interrupts the moment with his Stephen Hawking news. Sigh. We’ll never know the rest of the story.

Fortunately, Amy’s fan-fiction comes to life in the last minute of the show. Amelia is washing Cooper in the bathtub while they discuss the puzzling future. Like how the spider in Cooper’s shirt symbolizes Spider-Man. He can do whatever a spider can. Also, Amelia notices the fact that there’s a lot of rhyming in the future. Finally, things get steamy when she asks him about the ways of physical love in the future as she towels off his wet body…and CUT!

Sadly, that’s all we get from Amy’s fanfic, but overall this was one of the season’s best episodes. We see Sheldon and Leonard working together in science and against an Internet troll. We also get to see Sheldon spewing formal insults that sound more like compliments. Finally, we got a surprise appearance by Stephen Hawking himself! Along with all of this, we get the most momentous scene of all. This lovely gem:

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Best Bazingas!

“You’re giving me a sticker?”—Leonard

“Not just a sticker. That is a sticker of a kitty saying, “Me-wow!”—Sheldon

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“When did my idea become our idea?”—Leonard

“When I mixed it with Sheldony goodness and cooked it in the easy bake oven of my mind.”—Sheldon

 

“You’re sure its good?”—Leonard

“My name is right on there with yours. That is a surefire mark of quality. That might as well say “Directed by Joss Whedon.”—Sheldon

 

“You mess with the bull, you get the horns. I’m about to show this guy just how horny I can be.”—Sheldon

 

“Sorry, I had to get the spotlight off me, and tearing down other women is part of my pageant training.”—Bernadette

 

 “You know there was a time when I was alone and had no friends. I’m starting to miss that.”—Amy

 

“Wow, even in your fantasy, Sheldon is kind of exhausting.”—Bernadette

 

EPISODE RATING: 9/10

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