The Big Bang Theory 5x15: The Friendship Contraction

Original Air Date: 2 February 2012

Storyline: Leonard can't take Sheldon's continued selfishness and agrees to dissolve the Roommate Agreement. Howard wants to have a cool nickname for when he's an astronaut.Trivia: This episode's end titles has Chuck Lorre's Vanity Card #375, a censored card viewable only on the Chuck Lorre Productions website.Best Quote:

Sheldon: You're my girlfriend and you're not going to cater to my every need? Oh, where'd the magic go?
Penny: Sheldon, that's not what girlfriends are for. Although, you don't use them for what they're for, so what do I know?
The Roommate Agreement Clause: Under section 37-B of the Roommate Agreement - "Miscellaneous Duties" - you are obligated to take me to the dentist. It's right here after "providing a confirmation sniff on questionable dairy products."
Clause 209 suspends our friendship, and strips down the Roommate Agreement to its bare essentials. Our responsibilities toward each other would only be rent, utilities and a perfunctory chin jut of recognition as we pass in the hall.

Review: Let's take a moment to enjoy the Roommate Agreement returning to the show. I've missed Sheldon's references to the most absurd clauses one has ever put in a contract, but the best this was finding out that, as any other contract, it has can be revoked at any time. Unfortunately, with its revocation comes also the dissolution of Sheldon and Leonard's friendship, a relationship that is now limited to paying the bills and throwing a "'Sup" in each other's direction when they see each other.

Unfortunately for Leonard though, revoking the Roommate Agreement doesn't rid him of Sheldon's craziness, as he's doing everything in his power to reinstate their friendship. And power is actually the right word here, since this is what he cuts in order to create a crisis and make Leonard realize he needs him in his life. It's actually adorable to see Sheldon try to win his friend back, even if he won't admit it for the world.
Together with the Roommate Agreement, it was great to see the friendship between Sheldon and Leonard be tested. It's been too long since this hasn't happened and I almost forgot how hilarious their banters were. The only thing that would have made this even funnier would be if Sheldon got sick.
My favorite scene was Sheldon trying to get one of the other members of the gang to take him to the dentist, getting new heels put on dress shoes, dermatologist, allergist, podiatrist, Super Cuts and Ikea. It was his idea about what a girlfriend's role in his life would be that got me laughing so hard that I probably even scared my deaf turtle.
And how adorable are Leonard and Penny, right? Their beta test is so funny and so well done, that I am ready to give up my fears regarding the 2.0 not being interesting anymore. Wine and bubble wrap? Sing me in any time.
In a secondary plot, Howard's going into space is once again brought into discussion as he tries to find a cool nickname for him and convince the other astronauts to give it to him. Unfortunately, his mother's involvement in his life goes farther than making him breakfast and taking him to the dentist, so now he's Howard "Fruit Loops" Wolowitz. And isn't that weirdly appropriate?
Some other hilarious moments: the Toy Story references and Raj not knowing who Buzz Aldrin was (though isn't he an astrophysicist?); Sheldon's quarterly emergency drills. taking place, of course, in the middle of the night; Sheldon's continuous inability to understand how a romantic relationship functions ("Wine and a girl in the dark ... he's going to be bored out of his mind."); Leonard's bigger and cooler glowstick (who knew Star Wars props can be used during a power outage?).
The Big Bang Theory 5x14: The Beta Test Initiation Back to Season 5