Big Bang Theory recap: Season 10, Episode 8

If asked the question, “Will Dr. Sheldon Cooper ever choose to procreate?” my knee-jerk reaction would be “No.” However, the writers of The Big Bang Theory use the wonders of science to not only have Sheldon consider the option, but to downright demand Amy drop her drawers in the lab so he can do this the old-fashioned way. Ironically, this entire scenario started with a little prick.

Amy takes a skin sample from Sheldon’s arm so she can mix it with her own. Her goal? To combine the skin cells to make brain cells. Let’s just assume we all understand the biology behind this plan. What we do know is the experiment is going well. Brain cells have been achieved! Sheldon compares the moment to hatching sea monkeys, or in this case, “me monkeys,” and wastes no time showing off beloved pictures of his creation to Bernadette. This annoys our mother-to-be: Who compares a human baby to some cells in a petri dish? Sheldon Cooper, that’s who.

Back in the lab, Amy rejoices in the science of it all. She’s never seen cells react the way they are in this particular experiment. It turns out Sheldon and Amy’s DNA is quality stuff! Sheldon is eager to move on to the next steps. For Amy, that means conducting a second experiment to hopefully achieve the same results. For Sheldon, that means dropping trou and getting busy. He wants to make a baby and he wants to make one now.

Being a parent is the last thing on Amy’s mind, even if her offspring has a good chance of having superhero genetics. Sheldon is bewildered his girlfriend is rebuffing his offer, so he naturally assumes she’s playing hard to get. No problem. He drops a pen and bends over to pick it up, perfectly displaying his hind quarters for Amy’s viewing pleasure. Sadly, he’s denied a second time.

Later that day, an emotionally exhausted Amy discovers a string of rose petals leading to her apartment. Inside she finds a perfectly coiffed Sheldon, complete with a snifter of brandy, ready to lure his woman into submission. Amy manages to not be mesmerized by the docile soft jazz, instead escaping to Leonard and Penny’s apartment. Sheldon will have to figure out how to open the oysters himself.

Sheldon follows her across the hall with one arrow left in his quiver of seduction: Flamenco dancing. Jim Parsons owns the moment. He snaps, flails, flourishes, and stares ominously at his prey. Amy still isn’t having it. She retreats to the safety of the hallway, where she admits this was a close call. Apparently, the Flamenco gets her motor running.

Call me crazy, but am I the only one who would love to see a little Shamy baby?

While Sheldon greases his hair and practices his moves, Raj falls for a woman he meets at work. Her name is Isabella and she’s the cleaning lady. When he orders broccoli for dinner, Penny hones in on this small detail and correctly guesses he’s trying to look good topless. There must be a girl in the picture.

Raj admits he has something brewing, but he offers no details other than the fact he met her in the telescope room. His friends assume she’s a fellow astronomer. Raj simply smiles, unwilling to tell the truth.

The next day, he helps Isabella clean the men’s room. He’s having so much fun scrubbing the toilet, he asks her out on a date — but Isabella declines the offer. Blaming the fumes from the urinal cakes, Raj tries again, only to be rejected a second time. Isabella works two jobs and doesn’t have time to date.

Ever the romantic, Raj cooks a microwave dinner for Isabella in his office. He explains he’s cleaned the entire floor, so she can no longer blame a lack of time for her decision to turn down his offer. Isabella is charmed and agrees to share a meal. Unfortunately, Howard walks in at that moment, steals a roll of toilet paper from Isabella’s cart, and introduces himself. He’s heard so much about Raj’s lady astronomer friend. Ouch. Raj can’t take that one back.

Isn’t this great? The entire gang is happy! Penny and Leonard are blissfully married. Howard and Bernie are having a baby. Sheldon and Amy are growing intellectually superior brain cells in a dish. And Raj finally has a love interest who appears halfway normal. I imagine Chuck Lorre will probably throw a wrench into this euphoria in the upcoming months, so let’s enjoy this while we can.

Theoretical Laughter

Sheldon: “I track your cycle. For the next 36 hours, you’re as fertile as a manure-covered wheat field.”

Amy: “Wow. I can actually feel the egg crawling its way back up.”