Analysis Project Part 1

Katrina Bech

Whitworth University, EDG 551

I reviewed season eight of the television series, The Big Bang Theory and focused on the

character of Dr. Sheldon Cooper. The series centers on the lives of 4 scientists who are all

depicted as socially awkward. Sheldon and Leonard are roommates and Sheldon is dating Amy.

Sheldon struggles with change which can be seen when Sheldon tells Leonard, “I am

overwhelmed. Everything is changing and it’s simply too much.” (Reynolds, Ferrari, &

Hernandez, 2014). Sheldon goes on a solo trip across the country to figure out where he fits in

this new world.

Sheldon has a vivid imagination. When he and Leonard visit Skywalker Ranch, Sheldon

describes the security guard as the monster guarding the gate and tells Leonard, “I think what

really needs to be rescued is your sense of whimsy, but one quest at a time” (Reynolds,

Hernandez, & Howe, 2015). Sheldon’s imagination often leaves him in his own world because

his friends are not able to imagine like he does. Sheldon invents ways to entertain and protect

himself, such as his idea to pretend to be aliens in order to enjoy the prom, calling it “a valuable

coping mechanism I’ve used many times” (Reynolds, Holland, & Howe, 2014).

Sheldon often misses social cues. He will ask if he is correctly interpreting a situation,

such as, “I’m sensing awkwardness. Am I right?” (Molaro, Kaplan, & Holland, 2014). He tells

Penny, “I often misinterpret how others are feeling. Like, I can’t always tell if someone is only

joking or laughing at me, if they’re mad at something I’ve done or in a bad mood. It’s incredibly

stressful” (Goetsch, Kaplan, & Hernandez, 2015). Sheldon wishes could read minds. He wants

to fit in and understand how to interact with the world.

 Sheldon displays commitment to his field of study. In one example, Sheldon works

constantly without sleeping and eating. Bernadette asks the group, “Don’t you think we should

make him stop all this?” and Amy tells Sheldon, “You need to get some sleep and take care of

yourself” (Kaplan, Ferrari, & Faberman, 2015). He is worried about not reaching his own

expectations, “I was a prodigy. I rose to a position of respect and I assumed my career would

continue on that upward trajectory. Now, here I am in my thirties, back at square one and

frankly it’s frightening” (Molaro, Goetsch, & Hernandez, 2014).

Sheldon expresses feelings of loneliness. When he does not get invited to a science

retreat, he asks Amy, “Do you think there comes a point in life when it stops feeling bad being

left out of things?...It reminds me of when my stupid brother and sister would build forts…and

wouldn’t let me in. I hated that so much” (Reynolds, Patterson, & Hernandez, 2015).

Sheldon’s confidence in his knowledge puts him in conflict with others, such as when

Sheldon says, “Leonard, lots of people could have had that idea but very few people could have

worked out the math the way I did” (Molaro, Ferrari, & Howe, 2015) or when Howard takes

Sheldon’s class and Sheldon makes it his mission to demonstrate his superior knowledge

(Molaro, Kaplan, & Holland, 2014).

Sheldon has good friends, but they acknowledge he can be difficult. Leonard tells

Sheldon, “You have no idea how much you inconvenience the lives of everyone around you. It’s

exhausting” (Prady, Kaplan, & Reynolds, 2015). Sheldon is aware of his differences, telling

Leonard, “I want you to know I’m aware of how difficult I can be so I just want to say thank you

for putting up with me” (Prady, Kaplan, & Reynolds, 2015). However, he also expressed the

pain of being different, telling Leonard, “you’re mean to me a lot. You think I don’t notice all

those sarcastic comments and those eye rolls, but I do” (Prady, Kaplan, & Reynolds, 2015).
 I reviewed Holes, the movie, and focused on the character of Hector Zeroni, also known

as Zero. The movie is about a camp for juvenile delinquents. Stanley and Hector are tentmates.

Each day the boys must dig a hole as part of their rehabilitation. The story revolves around

Hector and Stanley’s friendship and the discovery of a buried treasure.

Hector is not valued. Dr. Pendanski, refers to the boys by their given names, except for

Hector, whom he always calls Zero. Stanley starts at the back of the water line but soon X-Ray

pulls Hector to the back of the line. Many scenes show Hector walking by himself. Hector has

had to learn to live with being an outsider and he has found protection in isolation. For most of

the movie, Hector does not interact with anyone other than Stanley. Asking Stanley to teach him

how to read is a way that Hector shows that he does want to fit in and be like everyone else.

Reading is an expected skill in adolescents.

Hector is resilient. He grew up with unstable housing and was separated from his mom.

He gets teased and harassed at the camp by the boys and by Dr. Pendanski. During a group

therapy session, Dr. Pendanski says, “Even Zero here isn’t completely worthless” and “He’s so

stupid he doesn’t even know he’s stupid” (Davis, 2003). While Hector is helping Stanley dig his

hole, one of the boys addresses Hector as, “What’s up, stupid” and on Stanley’s first day digging,

one of the boys comments about Hector, “He’s a weird dude” (Davis, 2003). Despite these

challenges, Hector still has a positive outlook. He wants to find his mom, he digs his hole

without complaining, and he asks Stanley to teach him how to read.

Hector is intense which can be seen in how protective he is of Stanley. When Stanley

bumps into Lump in the rec room, Hector instantly grabs a pool ball. The incident resolves

before he needs to intervene, but it is clear by his body language that he would have. Hector’s

fixation with Stanley causes conflict culminating when Hector jumps on Zig Zag and chokes
him. Hector is emotionally gifted in that he responds to injustices against those he cares about

vigorously. This is true about his responses to Stanley’s potential danger, but also when he hits

Dr. Pendanski for calling him stupid again. Hector has gained a friend and is valued so he

responds to injustices against himself.

Hector is aware of what other people think of him, telling Stanley during one of their

reading lessons, “I’m not stupid. I know everyone thinks I am. I just don’t like answering stupid

questions” (Davis, 2003). Hector uses his talents when they suit him. He digs his holes very

fast, he digs out a space under an overturned boat to find shelter, he climbs up on the shovel shed

to get it open, and he demonstrates his reading skills when the warden tries to take the treasure

away from Stanley, “It has his name on it…See, Stanley Yelnats” (Davis, 2003). Hector needed

a friend in order to set himself free. He knows that Stanley values him and this gives him

confidence and strength to run away from camp and believe that he will survive.

Both Sheldon and Hector are shown to be different and called weird by those around

them. However, Sheldon is viewed by others as extremely intelligent and Hector is viewed as

extremely stupid. Sheldon came from a supportive, middle-class family whereas Hector was

raised by a single mom and lived on the streets. Both Sheldon and Hector rely on their friends to

overcome obstacles. Hector needs Stanley to get away and Sheldon needs his friends to help him

interpret the world around him. Both characters are aware of their differences. Sheldon views

his intelligence as a gift and sees it as his life’s purpose to further human understanding of

science. Hector knows that he is not stupid, but he does not indicate that he believes that he is

smarter than others. Hector’s differences seem to fade once he is accepted by Stanley.

Sheldon’s differences are a focus of how his social circle interacts with him. In both portrayals,

the characters are likeable and kind.

References:

Davis, A. (Director). (2003). Holes [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.

Ferrari, M., & Hernandez, T., & Howe, J. (Writers)., & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2014,

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February 26). The intimacy acceleration (Season 8, Episode 16). [TV series episode]. In

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Kaplan, E., Ferrari, M., & Faberman, A. (Writers)., & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2015, January

29). The anxiety optimization (Season 8, Episode 13). [TV series episode]. In C. Loore,

B. Prady, & S. Molaro (Executive Producers), The big bang theory. Warner Bros.

Entertainment.

Lorre, C., Prady, B, & Molaro, S. (Executive Producers). (2007-2019). The big bang theory [TV

series]. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Molaro, S., Ferrari, M., & Howe, J. (Writers)., & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2015, March 12).

The leftover thermalization (Season 8, Episode 18). [TV series episode]. In C. Loore, B.

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Molaro, S., Goetsch, D., & Hernandez, T. (Writers)., & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2014,
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Molaro, S., Kaplan, E., & Holland, S. (Writers)., & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2014,

September 22). The junior professor solution (Season 8, Episode 2). [TV series episode].

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Reynolds, J., Ferrari, M., & Hernandez, T. (Writers), & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2014,

September 22). The locomotion interruption (Season 8, Episode 1). [TV series episode].

In C. Loore, B. Prady, & S. Molaro (Executive Producers), The big bang theory. Warner

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Reynolds, J., Hernandez, T., & Howe, J. (Writers)., & Cendrowski, M. (Director). (2015, April

2). The skywalker incursion (Season 8, Episode 19). [TV series episode]. In C. Loore, B.

Prady, & S. Molaro (Executive Producers), The big bang theory. Warner Bros.

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6). The prom equivalency (Season 8, Episode 8). [TV series episode]. In C. Loore, B.

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 Holes (Movie) Observation Notes
Hector Zeroni aka Zero
Asynchronous development
Intense emotions
Outsider
“Do you want to know why they call him Zero? Cause there’s nothing going on in his stupid
little head.” (12:04)
Zero is the only one Dr. P uses the nickname for. He is the only Dr. P. doesn’t use real name for
when introducing Stanley to the tent.
Zero is on the bed by himself. He rolls his eyes when Theodore (Armpit) is announced Stanley’s
mentor.
Zero asks, “did they have red x’s on them?” during the lunch scene. Everyone is shocked that he
spoke.
“Guys, zero talked.”
“Yo, what else can you do Zero?”
Zero walking at the front of the group on the way to holes on first day.
“Don’t you know man. He’s like the fastest digger in the camp.” (23:27)
“He’s a mole. I think he eats the dirt.”
“He’s a weird dude.”
Zero walks off by himself. Doesn’t talk to anyone or interact with anyone.
Zero is faster than all of the other boys at digger his hole. Is this an indication of a psychomotor
overexcitability?
Conversation between the tentmates about the lizards. Zero rolls his eyes. (26:13)
Zero observes Stanley putting letter to his parents in the mailbox.
Dr. P. forcefully puts the water jug in Zero’s arms after filling it. (28:17)
Fight in the rec room. Zero interested as soon as it starts. When the kid comes after Stanley,
Zero grabs a pool ball. He doesn’t let go of the ball until the fight has dissipated. (32:33)
Zero is invested in Stanley. Is this him tapping into his emotional overexcitability?
Stanley and Zero walk out of rec room together. “So, I’m Caveman?” “Better than Barf bag.”
Lining up for water. X-Ray pulls Zero to the back of the line. “You here now Caveman alright.”
(33:15). Zero doesn’t fight it, but he does look hurt.
Zero is an outsider. This is repeated throughout the film.
Zero listening and engaged in group therapy session.
Dr. P, “You would be surprised what you can accomplish once you set your mind to it. Even
Zero here isn’t completely worthless. What about you Zero? What do you like to do? You just
won’t talk with me, will you?”
“Man, he only talks to Caveman, yo.” Armpit
Dr. P, “You think you’re better than all this?”
Dr. P thinking that Zero is better. This seems to be a stereotypical media portrayal in that gifted
people are above others. The only boy that Dr. P seems to be antagonistic or hostile towards is
Zero.
Zero, “I like digging holes.”
Dr. P. “Then you’re in the right place for it. Buddy boy.”
As soon as Dr. P confronts Zero his demeanor becomes defiant in his stance (while sitting.) He
responds after looking at Stanley and Stanley nods that he should answer.
Stanley is reading letter from his mom. Zero walks into tent. Stanley laughs about the note
about the old lady who lived in a shoe.
Zero walks over and asks, “what are you laughing at?”
Stanley, “Just something my mom wrote.” Proceeds to tell Zero the line about the lady in the
shoe.
Zero gives him a blank stare. Stanley, says you know, the nursery rhyme. Zero gives nothing.
Zero continues to look over Stanley’s shoulder at the letter. Stanley says, “I feel really awkward
with you reading over my shoulder like that so.”
Zero, “I can’t read. Can you teach me?”
Zero is perfectly intelligent but wasn’t taught how to read or struggled learning to read in school.
This is along the multiple intelligences argument or the asynchronous development we read
about. Zero has developed his logical thinking, physical, etc., but hasn’t developed the reading
skills yet.
Stanley says that he is not a good teacher and that he gets tired from digging all day.
Stanley is now a real part of the group. Zero is just sitting on his bunk by himself.
When Stanley finds the lipstick, Zero does not join in on the group looking at it, but does stop his
digging to pay attention to the interaction. Same thing when X-Ray turns it in.
Zero still last in line getting water. Goes back to digging hole first. (54:50)
Magnet steals seeds. Zero just observes. Seeds fall in Stanley’s hole. Mr. Sir returns for them.
Stanley takes the blame and goes to talk with warden. Stanley returns to find his hole dug. Says,
“thank you guys.”
“Don’t look at us.”
“Yeah, it was Zero. Boy likes to dig holes.”
“Dig a hole to China.”
Zero continues digging own hole.
Stanley goes over to Zero.
“Hey Zero. Why’d you dig my hole, man?
“You didn’t steal the sunflower seeds.”
“Yeah, but neither did you.”
“You didn’t steal the shoes.”
“Still want to learn to read?”
Zero shakes head yes.
“Alright man.” They shake hands.
Zero smiles. 1:00:25
Zero’s sense of morality in helping out Stanley because he helped out Magnet. Zero wasn’t told
to dig Stanley’s hole. He could be making up for being the reason that Stanley is at camp, but he
could have done that earlier. He found a way to help when it was possible.
Zero in line next to Stanley for dinner. Zero does look at Stanly a few times.
Zero watches as Mr. Sir pours Stanley’s water into the dirt.
Zero offers Stanly some of his water. Stanley tells Zero about his idea that the lipstick belongs
to Kate Barlow.
Stanley starts teaching Zero to read.
Zero says, “I can’t help you dig you hole so that you won’t be so tired to teach me.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Look, you’re a slow digger….This way we’ll be done at the same time.”
Writes Zero. Zero tells Stanley, “You know Zero’s not my real name.”
“It’s not? But even P calls you Zero.”
“My name’s Hector, Hector Zeroni.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Zero, “26 letters. So we can do 5 letters a day for 4 days and then 6 letters on the 5th day.”
“That’s good math.”
“I’m not stupid. I know everyone things I am. I just don’t like answering stupid questions.”
Zero knows that he is not stupid. I can’t remember what article this was in, but there was
something about gifted students not wanting to waste time on things that they didn’t see as
necessary, like the kid who only would do every other math problem because he already
understood the material.
X-Ray says something like, Yo Caveman must be nice having your own personal slave and all.
Then addresses Zero, “What’s up, stupid.”
Zero gets upset.
“We weren’t always homeless. I remember we used to live in a lot of different places. And
then, we didn’t live anywhere.”
“Must have been hard.”
“Yeah. My mom had problems. But she would try so hard to make a better life for us. She
always used to say, ‘I love you more than air.’ She couldn’t take me everywhere she went. I
used to have to wait like on a porch or a playground. Then one day she didn’t come back.”
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know. That’s what bothers me the most. If I could, I would hire a whole team of private
investigators just to find her. To find out what happened to her. I used to wait at Lainey park.”
Zero is not angry at his mom. He wants to help her and understand. Also, he has overcome a lot
just to be the person that he is now. He is resilient.
“Lainey Park?”
“Yeah.”
“I used to go to Lainey Park all the time.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
“I used to sleep in the tunnel next to the swinging bridge. But no biggie.” (1:06:55)
Dr. P comes to deliver lunch. Zig Zag gives Stanley a hard time about Zero helping him dig his
hole. Dr. P encourages the fight. Zig Zag knocks out Stanley. Zero jumps on Zig Zag’s back
and chokes him to the ground. Continues choking him like he is going to kill him until Dr. P
shoots his gun. Zero lets go and pulls Stanley up. “Come on Stanley.”
“Zero’s crazy.”
Warden comes out to see what is going on.
Dr. P. “Basically, Zero almost killed Ricky.”
The kids explain that Zero is digging Stanley’s hole.
Stanley says that he is teaching Zero how to read. “He’s a smart kid.”
Dr. P. “Smart! Oh yeah. Hey Zero, what does C A T spell? Huh? What’s it spell? Yeah, he is
a real genius. He’s so stupid he doesn’t even know he’s stupid.”
Warden forbids Stanley from teaching Zero to read.
Dr. P, “We know you mean well Stanley, but the mental stress just causes his brain to much of a
challenge. That’s what made his blood boil, not the hot sun.”
Zero, “I’m not digging any more holes.”
Dr. P. “I mean, you might as well teach this shovel to read. Go ahead Zero, take it. It’s all you’ll
ever be good for. D I G. What’s that spell?”
Zero whacks Dr. P in the face with the shovel. Looks down at him and says, “Dig,” then runs
away.
Zero showed that he could “read” when it suited him.
Mr. Sir, “Are we sure that he had no family?”
Dr. P, “He’s a ward of the state. He was living on the streets when he was arrested.”
Warden, “Is there some prissy caseworker who might ask questions?”
Dr. P, “He had nobody. He was nobody.”
Warden, “I want you to destroy his records. He was never here. Can you get into the state files
from our computer?
Dr. P. “I can do anything. But I’m telling you no one is going to come looking for him. No one
cares about Hector Zeroni.”
Stanley comes in, “I do.”
Tent kids talk about how Zero is dead either way if he returns or if he stays out there. Buzzard
food, etc.
Stanley calls out for Zero, looks out over the land for him. Steals and then crashes water truck in
attempt to help. Runs away.
Stanley finds Zero. Zero is happy to see him.
“Zero we got to get back to camp”
“I’m not going back. Want some sploosh?”
Zero has made his own shelter underneath the boat. Dug it out. Eating the jars of peaches.
“I’m not going back…What’s Marylou?” Zero has read the name of the boat. They see God’s
thumb and start walking toward it.
In the scene back at camp, the boys reminisce about Caveman, but not about Zero.
Talk to each other as they climb up. Friends now. Stanley is the better climber. Zero cuts his
hands helping Stanley climb up. Stanley puts a wrap on Zero’s hands. Stanley gives Zero letters
to spell, Zero gets sick. Zero says that he has to tell Stanley something. Stanley carries him up
the mountain. They find water. Celebrate. Stanley calls him Hector. Find onions. Stanley
sings the song. They sleep.
“Stanley, I got to tell you something.”
“What?”
“It’s my fault you were sent to Camp Greenlake. I stole the shoes. I didn’t know they were
Sweet Feets. I mean a lot people donated their own stuff to the homeless shelter. I saw the shoes
and I liked them. I didn’t know they were famous. Next thing I know, everyone’s bugging out,
‘the shoes are gone, the shoes are gone, where are the shoes?’ Walking down the street and I
heard the sirens coming after me. I got scared. Ended up getting busted the next day, lifting a
pair of shoes from a Payless.”
“It’s destiny.”
Stanley says that he is glad that Hector stole the shoes. Uses Hector instead of Zero. Both say
that they have a good feeling.
“Hector, I feel lucky.”
Stanley and Zero run back to camp to find the hole where the lipstick was found. Zero runs to
get another shovel. He has to climb to get the shovel shed open. They find the treasure but then
Warden and Mr. Sir find them. Lizards all over the box and they wait until the lizards bite the
boys. That doesn’t happen.
Zero, “Stanley, is your last name your first name spelled backwards?”
Warden tries to take the chest from Zero. He doesn’t let her.
“Stanley didn’t steal anything.”
“What are you doing? It’s Stanley’s, what are you doing? Let go….It has his name on it…Let
go. See, Stanley Yelnats.”
Dr. P, “He, he can’t read.”
“I can’t leave without Hector.”
“I’ll be okay.”
Dr. P. “Don’t worry we’ll take good care of Hector.”
Rains, Hector smiles. Celebrates with camp.
Stanley says that his best friend Hector should get half of what is in the box.
Hector uses the money to get his team of investigators to find his mom.
He could have kept the money, but his moral maturity made him find his mom with his new
money.
Stanley’s dad discovers foot odor cure, Hector and Stanley are neighbors, happily ever after.
 Big Bang Theory Season 8 Observation Notes
- Dr. Sheldon Cooper
- Struggles with change.
- Can be doing multiple things at the same time.
- Imagination
- Socially awkward
- Sheldon’s self-awareness
- Commitment/focus/intelligence
- How does this affect Sheldon?

1. The Locomotion Interruption

• Previously…“Leonard, I am overwhelmed. Everything is changing and it’s simply too
much. I need to get away and think.”
• Leonard says that he will miss Sheldon. Sheldon says, “Of course you are.”
• Penny doesn’t want to go to pick up Sheldon because he is going to be upset about the
change in her hair.
• Sheldon tells the officer about Sherlock Holmes. Suggests he try that method. Talks
about using cocaine to increase focus.
• Asks Amy, “why did you come?”
• “I never left the train station.” “Why would I? That’s where all the cool trains are.”
• Didn’t notice that Amy was mad at him. She points it out directly. Wants moment of
privacy with Leonard.
• “The reason I called you was because I didn’t want Amy to know I couldn’t make it on
my own…Of course it’s no big deal to you. You idolize me and nothing could knock me
off that pedestal you put me on.”
• “I called Leonard because I failed and I didn’t want you to think less of me.”
• “Sheldon, it’s okay with me if you’re not perfect.”
• “Amy just hurt my feelings. I want to break up with her.”
• Leonard points out that if Sheldon had told people that he was going on a train trip across
the country by himself that people would have said, “That I couldn’t do it.” Amy points
out that he did do it. Compares himself to Gandolf the Grey.
• “I was the world’s smartest caterpillar and after pupating in the nations railways I burst
forth as the world’s smartest butterfly. I feel renewed. I’m ready to deal with any
changes that come my way.” Sees Penny’s hair. “Your hair is different. You changed
your hair. I can’t take this. I’m out.” Leaves.
• Showing pictures of his trip. Pictures of the seats. Talking about taking Imodium so that
he wouldn’t have to use the train bathroom.
2. The Junior Professor Solution
• “The answer is cuddly soldiers with big flat noses. Move on.”
• “I’m sensing awkwardness. Am I right?”
 • “It’s like the rest of the classes wanted Ms. McDonald to forget the quiz”
• Repetitive knocking routine
• “Wow. Pouting and running away actually worked. Ya, I must say that may not be a
lesson you want to reinforce with me.”
• University solution to allowing Sheldon to change his field of study: make him a junior
professor. He will get promoted, get a raise, and have to teach a class to impart
knowledge to the next generation of scientist. “You people are sick.” Complains to his
friends.
• “Waste my time babysitting a bunch of grad students.”
• Friends go to visit Sheldon after his first class. No students signed up. Sheldon is upset
about it. “Apparently I have a reputation for being obnoxious.”
• Howard says he will take Sheldon’s class. “I don’t think you’d understand a single thing
I was talking about.” Starts quizzing Howard on random facts. Howard gets them all
right. Sheldon still says no.
• “Engineers are just as smart as physicists.” “Huhhh!! You take that back!”
• “I am trying to figure out a way to intellectually emasculate a dear friend of mine.”
• It’s a pleasure for Sheldon to prove he is smarter than Howard.
• The idea that someone is smarter than you scares you.
• “You’re suggesting that I have emotional issues below my consciousness which drive my
behavior. Thus causing me to lash out at anything or anyone that threatens my
intellectual superiority.” Sheldon then immediately goes back to normal.
• Howard doesn’t know something in the class. “Ha. I knew it. We have a lot of ground
to cover before your first test, which by the way is in eight minutes.”
• Howard is torturing Sheldon.
• “You are not going to do that.”
• Sheldon’s entire reaction to the spit ball. It is uncomfortable for him. He must wash his
mouth out a lot. He has Leonard check his throat. He coughs it up and is excited because
he doesn’t have to keep checking his stool.
3. The First Pitch Insufficiency
• Sheldon lectures waiter on the history of Cornwall.
• Relationship agreement.
• Sheldon says that his relationship with Amy is superior to Leonard and Penny’s.
“Leonard, I assumed you knew.” Leonard says, “Can you believe this guy? Has to be
the best at everything.”
• “Everything is quantifiable.”
• Perfectly takes the romance out of relationships.
• Makes sure that Leonard knows he could score a one.
• “We got an 8.2. Trust me you’re happy.”
• Wants to go to Disneyland to see the parade. Agrees to stay at the game when Amy says
she will buy him a bobblehead.
4. The Hook-Up Reverberation
 • Sheldon frequently brings up studies about random things. The relationship study and the
one he brings up when Raj starts his relationship with Emily. Also, Sheldon deems the
social sciences low, he reads them when he goes to the bathroom.
• Sheldon mentions the ER and the lollipop he gets. Childlike.
• Leonard calls Sheldon an “eighty-year-old man in a 15 year old tee-shirt.”
• “If there’s one thing that gets my goat, it’s those dag-gum insurance companies.”
• Doesn’t catch the sarcasm from Howard about using an angora rabbit instead of TP.
• “On the bright side, that Oxford study was right. One friend down. I wonder who you
are going to lose next.”
• “No, you’re crazy about me.”
• Told Amy that her hair reminded him of a duck caught in an oil spill. “I know that if I
had a wife or a fiancée I would ask her first before spending money investing in a comic
book store.” He’s right. “Of course I am”
• Interaction with Amy when he tells her that he is considering investing in Stuart’s comic
book store. Doesn’t see what Amy is referring to about wasting financial and intellectual
resources.
5. The Focus Attenuation
• Can remember the exact date that Leonard thought of an idea. Day before Penny moved
in.
• Complains that Amy texting him 2 days ago. “Hi. Hope you’re having a good day.”
• Particular about where they meet for their science retreat. No to cabin in the woods, no
to hotel, no to lake house, no to beach house.
6. The Expedition Approximation
• “It’s the most exciting time in the history of the field…I started doing it.”
• “Are they making fun of us?” “I miss the old days when I couldn’t tell.”
• Raj visits Sheldon at his office, asks if he is busy. Sheldon says that he is always busy
and then lists several things that he is thinking about at the same time.
• “This brushes up against my well known aversions to heat, small places, going below
floor level, dampness, hatches, ladders, darkness, echoes, and eliminating in Home Depot
buckets.”
• “statement of the obvious is already getting on my nerves.”
• Doesn’t know who Miley Cyrus is, unaware of popular culture.
• “I told you to use the walky-talky.” “Please keep this channel clear for emergencies.”
• Sheldon and Raj in the steam tunnels
▪ “My major focus at the moment is keeping my claustrophobia at bay.”
▪ “We’re not stopping…I’m plagued by an internal struggle…My struggle is emotional.
It’s dark matter. When I entered the field of string theory, I was a prodigy. I rose to a
position of respect and I assumed my career would continue on that upward trajectory.
Now, here I am in my thirties, back at square one and frankly it’s frightening.”
• Sheldon sees the rat and runs out of the tunnel, shutting the door on Raj. He was in the
tunnel for 11 minutes.
 • Sheldon wants Amy to transcribe his notes from the tunnel. “You’re not doing it for me.
You’re doing it for future generations who will benefit from my struggle.”
• Raj comes in – “You’re a completely selfish human being and a physical and a moral
coward.” Sheldon – “His statements of the obvious continue to annoy.”
7. The Misinterpretation Agitation
• Sheldon and the doctor walk up the stairs together. He mentions that he tracked this
woman down on the internet and is showing up at her door unannounced. Sheldon says,
“Making the extra effort. Good for you.”
• Sheldon stops the doctor from leaving. “Leonard, where are your social skills? This man
is clearly upset. We should invite him in for a hot beverage.”
• Leonard – “Uh, guys. We’re locked in here.” Sheldon – “Oh, this day just keeps getting
better and better.”
8. The Prom Equivalency
• Sheldon always sits in the same spot on the couch.
• Did you go to your prom? “No. I had a date with a proper education. Instead of a
tuxedo I dressed myself in good habits. Instead of spiked punch I drank the intoxicating
flavor of knowledge. Instead of dancing in a gym I shook my boody to the seductive
rhythm of AP Calculus.”
• Must knock 3 times.
• “I think I’ve come up with the perfect way for us to enjoy it…We pretend we’re
aliens…I’m not the best at reading facial cues but I’m going to say that you love it and
want to hear more…my point is, pretending to be an alien is a valuable coping
mechanism I’ve used many times.”
• Sheldon gets stressed out when Leonard talks about people losing virginity on prom
night. He was excited for prom before, but when he sees Amy he goes back to his
apartment. Has a panic attack.
• “What’s going on is we’re about to go to a prom and there’s a great deal of pressure on
young couples like us to engage in what Mr. Bob Eubanks calls making whoopie.” And
Leonard and Penny make comments about it too.
• “I really did think you looked pretty…so much so that I started to panic.” “I love you
too.” “Just because I love you doesn’t mean girls are allowed in my room.”
9. The Septum Deviation
• Amy and Sheldon playing the game with words on the head that you try to get the other
person to guess. Amy – “This is an easy one. You love this guy.” Sheldon – “Me.”
“He’s an underappreciated genius” “Still think it’s me” “There’s a car named after him.”
“Of course there is. Mini-cooper cause it’s me.”
• Sheldon is upset that Leonard is going to get nose surgery. He is concerned that Leonard
may die. Researches stats, sits on Leonard’s bed. Keeps pushing his agenda about not
doing the surgery. Brings up one unlikely disaster scenario after another.
• “I’m smart and scrappy I think I’ll find a way.”
 • The friends don’t tell Sheldon that Leonard is getting the surgery to protect him. Sheldon
figures it out.
• “Take me to Leonard...Amy, he’s my best friend and if you don’t take me I’m going there
anyway…And I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to him and I
wasn’t at his bedside to say I told you so.”
• Sheldon and Amy go the hospital. Sheldon keeps talking about Leonard dying.
• Penny tells Sheldon not to give Leonard a hard time. Amy explicitly explains what that
means. Just keep it to yourself and gives him an example of that guy at the grocery store.
• “The reason I was being a pain in the b is because I was worried about him and no one
else was.”
• Sheldon stresses way more than Penny and Amy when the earthquake strikes. Needs to
see Leonard and gets up to do that. Runs into the door.
• Sheldon even bought an urn for Leonard.
10. The Champagne Reflection
• Hosts an internet show about flags
• Held onto grudge about Amy not recording one episode
• Cries at the end of the final episode
• “It’s not the same thing. I don’t think you know how I feel at all.” “Sad.” “Mm. You do
get me.”
• After someone leaves a comment (I kind of liked it) on the flag show. “Leonard, did you
hear that? Oh, the people are heartbroken. I can’t take this away from the world. Fun
with flags is back.”
• Tracks down Lavar Burton again. “How do you feel about dressing up like a swastika?”
11. The Clean Room Infiltration
• Sheldon comments on something Raj says about divorce attorneys. I would not hire she-
hulk. Penny says, “You know that was almost on topic. I’m going to say, good job
Sheldon.”
• Bernadette talking with Sheldon about the holidays and Amy. Sheldon, “And she’s not
taking my feelings into account at all.”
• “Santa think’s dating you may be punishment enough.” Sheldon – “There’s an argument
for that but I want to make sure.”
12. The Space Probe Disintegration
• Sheldon is always green when playing Lord of the Rings Risk.
• “I’m sorry Leonard. I’m a problem solver. That’s what I do.”
• Sheldon – “You should point out the hypocrisy of that.”
• Complains when there is not wifi at the store. Is going to call the corporate office the
complain.
• The entire conversation between Leonard and Sheldon while waiting on Penny and Amy.
Talking about compromises.
▪ “Driving me to work is one of the things that gives your life purpose. I can’t take that
away from you so what do I do…”
 ▪ Leonard – “Because of you, I’m not allowed to adjust the temperature in my own home.
I’m not allowed to whistle. I don’t wear shoes that might squeak…Sheldon, do you
realize that I don’t live with the woman I love because of you. No other reason, just
you.” Sheldon – “Is that true?” Leonard – “Yes. The last time I brought it up you had
an emotional break down and got on a train and ran away…You have no idea how
much you inconvenience the lives of everyone around you. It’s exhausting.” Sheldon
– “You know what? You think you’re so tolerant, but the truth is, you’re mean to me a
lot. You think I don’t notice all those sarcastic comments and those eye rolls but I do.
I have excellent peripheral vision.” Leonard – “Sheldon, I’m sorry if I hurt your
feelings. I’ve been holding a lot of this in for a while.” Sheldon – “Well, I’m sorry too.
And if you want to live with Penny, then I think you should…I’m not upset. I’m just
imagining a world without my best friend in it” (Sheldon gets a tissue and is crying.)
Sheldon – “I want you to know I’m aware of how difficult I can be so I just want to say
thank you for putting up with me.”
• Penny – “Sheldon, we know this is a sensitive subject and Leonard’s not going to move
out until you’re ready.” Sheldon – “What if you did it gradually.”
13. The Anxiety Optimization
• Sheldon staring at a blank whiteboard repeating, “proton decay” got nothing done.
• Stays home from work because he didn’t get accomplish anything with dark matter and
now he’s afraid he made a huge mistake.
• “I’m not nearly as mysterious as I think I am.”
• Wants to find an environment so that he can be in a state of productive anxiety in order to
focus more on dark matter.
• The sound of Amy touching a balloon bother’s Sheldon.
• Amy – “Sheldon, you’re a remarkable scientist. Just be patient. I’m sure you will find
the breakthrough you’ve been looking for.” Sheldon is insulted when Amy says that it
would be okay if all Sheldon did was conduct solid research.
• “By keeping my mind engaged, I’ll be more focused.” Asks friends to be intellectual
sparring partners.
• Works with the sounds of evil characters in the background to keep his anxiety levels up.
• Continues working during date night with Amy. “I can do both. My brain is working at
optimal capacity. I can have a conversation with you and solve the dark matter proton
decay problem at the same time.”
• Amy – “Sheldon, I’m worried about you. You’re not eating. You haven’t slept in days.”
• Bernadette – “Don’t you think we should make him stop all this?” …Howard – “He is
getting a lot of work done. He had a pretty interesting take on proton decay.” Raj –
“Wow. If he cracks that it will be a game changer. It will completely redefine our
understanding of the physical universe.”
• Amy is upset that Sheldon is still working on work during date night.
▪ “But after months of struggling, I’m finally making progress.” “You don’t need to
drive yourself crazy in order to be productive.” “Or do I…I have been hallucinating
lately.” Amy – “Sheldon, this has to stop. You need to get some sleep and take care of
 yourself.” Sheldon – “Amy, I’ve gotten more done in the last few days than I have
since I made the switch to dark matter. What if I stop doing this and it all goes away?”
Amy – “It’s one thing to make yourself miserable. It’s another thing to make everyone
else around you miserable.” Sheldon – “And then she threw me out.” Sheldon is on
the bus home and talking to a man about it, but he sees an armadillo on the face of the
man.
• Leonard and Penny put Sheldon to bed. He is loopy.
14. The Troll Manifestation
• Leonard brings his idea to Sheldon to see what he thinks of it. Leonard – “Is this good or
not?” Sheldon gives Leonard a sticker.
• Sheldon stays up all night writing the paper about the idea.
• “The lightbulb in this oven is ridiculously bright.” “My name is right up there with
yours. That’s a surefire mark of quality.”
• Sheldon wants to write a response to the negative review. Sheldon says that he will meet
the reviewer any time, anywhere. When the reviewer calls, Sheldon doesn’t answer and
shuts the computer. They do call him back. It’s Stephen Hawking.
15. The Comic Book Store Regeneration
16. The Intimacy Acceleration
• Fun facts about pontificate. Always has a random fact to share.
• “The person I’d most like to have dinner with is myself.”
• Penny describes her perfect day. Shelton notes that Leonard is not included in her day.
• Sheldon is much more imaginative than Penny.
• “You posses an intelligence which I envy which leads me to my answer. I would choose
the ability to read people’s minds…I often misinterpret how others are feeling. Like, I
can’t always tell if someone is only joking or laughing at me, if they’re mad at something
I’ve done or in a bad mood. It’s incredibly stressful…If I could read people’s minds, life
would be so much simpler.”
• No one knows when Sheldon’s birthday is. He doesn’t like presents…
• Penny and Sheldon stare into each other’s eyes for 4 minutes. Penny – “Do you want to
stop. I know you have trouble with eye contact.” Sheldon – “It’s easier around people
I’m comfortable with.” Penny – I’m comfortable around you too. Sheldon – “Of course
you are. I’m warm and soothing. I’m like a human bowl of tomato soup.”
• “I have an identic memory.”
17. The Colonization Application
• Amy and Sheldon are getting a turtle together. “Sarcasm…That was tricky because when
it comes to alcohol she generally means business.”
• Sheldon stressed out having to walk past the puppies.
• Applied to be a colonist on Mars without telling Amy; talked to all the other friends but
not Amy
• “I was playing, Got Your Nose. That’s how you get children to like you.”
 • “I’m exceedingly smart. I graduated college at 14…My hygiene is impeccable. In fact,
animals don’t trust me because I smell like nothing…Literally nothing…I believe, as a
scientist, it’s my duty the push the boundaries of human knowledge forward.”
• “I really don’t understand what’s happening here.” Sheldon asks Amy to go to Mars with
him.
18. The Leftover Thermalization
• Sheldon recites pi to 1000 places.
• Leonard is not mentioned in the article about Sheldon and Leonard’s theory. Amy tries
to help Sheldon understand how Leonard will feel. Sheldon doesn’t make the connection
between his feeling about being called a member of Leonard’s team and how Leonard
will feel about being called a member of Sheldon’s team. Amy explicitly tells him,
“Leonard will feel bad.” Sheldon eventually gets there after Amy talks about not getting
chosen to pull the sword at Disney.
• “I have ideas all day long…Is it my fault that I have a much bigger reputation than he
does?...Is it my fault that my name came first on the paper alphabetically?...Is it my fault
that when the reporter cited me as the lead scientist, I didn’t correct him?”
• Leonard talking about how Sheldon always needs all of the attention and that he’s a baby.
• Explains what a salon is to Penny.
• “Leonard, lots of people could have had that idea but very few people could have worked
out the math the way I did.”
19. The Skywalker Incursion
• Sheldon has a public restroom kit.
• Sheldon is a sore loser about the physics car game he invented to play with Leonard.
• Sheldon dissects “Play that funky music” lyrics. Compares to paradox. I hate it, music
should just be fun.
• “Confidence is key in these situations.” Then Sheldon freaks out. “We want to meet
George Lucas and become his friends and play with him.”
• “I think what really needs to be rescued is your sense of whimsy, but one quest at a time.”
• Sheldon runs out of the car at the Skywalker gate. “I’m shedding the yoke of my
oppressors you sad sad little man.”
• Doesn’t catch the sarcasm when Leonard talks about stormtrooper’s taking them to a
holding cell.
• “Not only did we go to Skywalker ranch, we got in. And, for all the times that you find
me irritating, today, you got to see someone shoot me with a tazer.”
• Sheldon dresses up and acts like Doctor Who when Amy gets the Tartus.
20. The Fortification Implementation
• “I’ll give you three guesses to find out why I’m irritated.” Howard – “Something
happened different from the way you wanted it.”
• Sheldon not invited to a science retreat. The friends say it is not because he is not an elite
scientist, it is because he is a pain in the ass.
• Sheldon pouts during date night. Has a picture of his smiling face as a substitute.
 • “Do you think there comes a point in life when it stops feeling bad being left out of
things?...“It reminds me of when my stupid brother and sister would build forts in the
living room and wouldn’t let me in. I hated that so much.”
• “Not there, that’s my spot.”
21. The Communication Deterioration
• Leonard – “When I encountered alien life, I discovered the key thing was not to sit in it’s
spot.”
• “I’ll tell you exactly what you should do.” Gives his idea before allowing Raj to explain
his thoughts.
• Talking with Penny. “Earlier today it was pointed out to me that I tend to force my ideas
on people.”
• “Clearly, good things happen when I’m in charge. Now, why don’t you boys step aside
and let me knock this project out.”
22. The Graduation Transmission
• Sheldon warns Leonard about being blinded by the throwing of the graduation hats.
• “They’re still getting at least one angry letter.” Doesn’t like that there is the ambiguity in
the number of times to flip the toggle.
23. The Maternal Combustion
• “One of them is brilliant. One of them is sweet and simple. Sound familiar.” Sheldon
talking to Leonard about their moms.
• “Everyone loves stories about Sheldon Cooper, boy genius.”
• “I didn’t have any friends…I was a handful.”
• Mary – “Shelly does not like change.”
• “Did I misspeak about the ring?”
• “As a bit of an elephant buff…”
• Beverly talking with Mary – “How can someone as enlightened as Sheldon come from
someone like you?”
• “It is not my fault that your mother likes me better than she likes you.”
24. The Commitment Determination
• Sheldon talks about TV shows while kissing Amy. He says it’s one of the things.
• “Irony is not really my strong suit. But I have been getting better with sarcasm if you
want to give that a try.” Doesn’t recognize Amy’s response as sarcastic.
• “Amy’s mad at me and I’m not clear why.” “Were you talking before she got upset?”
“Yes.” “That’s probably it.”
• “I’m confused. It’s been 24 hours. Amy should have figured out she’s wrong by now.”
• “Even when I’m causing problems I make the world a better place.”
• “Now get out of my spot.” Right after Penny and Leonard decide to get married.
• Amy – “Being your girlfriend is so challenging, emotionally, physically. I’ve been
incredibly patient for years.” Sheldon – “Strongly disagree. Go on.” Amy – “Okay.
Well. This isn’t easy to say because I love you but I need some time to take a step back
and reevaluate our situation.” Sheldon is disappointed and now doesn’t know what to do
with the ring he bought.