TV Review: The Big Bang Theory 9×08, “The Mystery Date Observation”

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This week was all about Sheldon and Amy’s dating life. So far, we know that Amy’s been talking to a couple of guys, and most recently, she smooched a fella outside her apartment building, but we’ve been pretty much left in the dark. Sheldon, on the other hand, has been sulking around, trying to deny his feelings. He’s been in such a mood that even Leonard decides to make him breakfast. After Amy, the DVR cutting the last minute of Doctor Who, and that crow that followed him home the other night, it’s clear Sheldon isn’t having any good luck, and is in need of some French Toast and oatmeal.

But no need for the extra carbs. Sheldon wakes up a new man in a good mood. Instead of wallowing over Amy, he’s going to find himself a new female companion (He’s been watching too much Doctor Who). He’s realized that in the past, he was hyper focused on his work and ignored Amy, and so he wants a new woman. Not to better his ways, but to once again be hyper focused on his work while he ignores his new girlfriend. If you may remember, Sheldon and Amy didn’t meet by chance; They met through an online dating site thanks to Sheldon’s very own cupids: Raj and Howard. They did such a good job that he enlists them for help again. And  Sheldon isn’t asking for much either. All he wants is an educated, intelligent woman who shares his interests while retaining her own unique point of view. She should also be kind, patient, and most importantly, she should be unable to imagine life without him by 10 o’ clock that night.

According to Howard, the quickest way for Sheldon to meet someone is to get him on all the dating sites out there, but Sheldon doesn’t want that. He’s envisioning a kind of Hunger Games scenario where women compete for him, and the victor arrives at his doorstep flush with victory ready to watch Daredevil with him. People compete for jobs and trophies. Why not him? Obviously that’s not going to happen, so instead, Howard suggests putting an ad on Craigslist that reads: “World-class Caltech physicist seeking girlfriend. If interested, solve the following puzzles for a chance to meet him.” They can make it like a scavenger hunt where the last clue gives the girls Sheldon’s contact information. It’s actually a cool social experiment that would get Sheldon his perfect woman; A woman that is intelligent, tenacious, and so socially awkward she has nothing better to do on a Saturday night.

The Sheldon Cooper Girlfriend Challenge officially launches, and somewhere a girl is taking her first step towards a lifetime of laughter, love, and best of all, rules. Plus, at the end, we get to see the woman who solved all the puzzles that apparently lead to Sheldon’s heart. At the end of the night, the scavenger hunt proves a success. The countdown runs out, which disappoints the boys a bit,  but after 15 seconds, there’s a knock on the door. Guest star Analeigh Tipton is the pretty, quirky, and smart blonde named Vanessa Bennett, who is literally the perfect match for our Sheldon. She’s a scientist who speaks Klingon and another alien language I can’t tell you, and it’s thrilling to see Sheldon light up at the sight of her. And just when we think he’s happy that he’s found his match, Sheldon informs her that she missed the deadline and shuts the door on her. I hope he gets over this and actually considers the possibility of dating her. For one, it’ll be nice to finally see Sheldon with someone else, and see how he grows emotionally in a new relationship. Second, Analeigh Tipton would be a nice addition to the cast. Her soft-spoken, awkward mannerisms would fit nicely with the cast. And I’m still not over Manhattan Love Story being cancelled.

Meanwhile, across the hall, the other half of “shamy” is getting ready for her third date with the mystery man they’ve been teasing us about. So far the other girls only know his name, and their dying for more details. Amy finally reveals that he’s tall. Squeals! He’s British. Squeals!! And she kissed him. SQUEALS!  She even reveals the location of their date that night, which naturally means Bernadette and Penny have to spy on her now. They want to actually see this guy for themselves. Penny brings along Leonard and the trio look in on Amy’s mystery man date, which is…

Stephen Merchant! Another lovely guest star. He hasn’t dated much since his divorce—he wanted kids and she wanted a pastry chef named Jean Philippe—but he’s smart, funny, and seems perfect until he reveals that he’s Sheldon Cooper’s number one fan. When he finds out who Amy’s ex is, he can’t stop raving about him. He’s been following his work for years. He wants to know everything, including how long it took Sheldon to write out his paper on super singular prime numbers. Answer: an hour and a half. This obviously isn’t good, so Amy cuts the date short, and as they’re heading out, they run into a panicked Penny and Bernadette. Inter rush to leave the scene, they rammed their car into Amy’s date’s car. Nothing to worry about though. Turns out, he’s a huge fan of Leonard’s too.

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So it seems as if neither Amy nor Sheldon are moving forward in dating other people, but here’s to hoping that the writers find a way to bring back Analeigh Tipton. She literally proved to be Sheldon’s perfect match by completing the puzzles and there was an undeniable spark between the two. Till next week.

Best Bazingas!

“I think of my time with Amy as a stick of Fruit Stripe gum: sweet and enjoyable at first, but ultimately a flavorless lump of sadness.”—Sheldon

“No one ever bought me drinks at a bar because my brain just popped out of my shirt.”—Penny

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“No one does a better job pretending to be a person than I do. Siri comes pretty close, but I know more jokes.”—Sheldon

“It’s why I left England. It reminded me too much of her. Cold, gloomy, and easily accessed by a Frenchman through a tunnel.”—Amy’s guy on his ex-wife

“You guys make being a crappy friend look fun”—Leonard

EPISODE RATING: 9/10

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