Recap / The Big Bang Theory S 10 E 23 The Gyroscopic Collapse

Plot

Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard are dismayed to learn that the Air Force has taken their newly completed gyroscope and kicked them off the project. Adding to his woes, Sheldon learns that Amy has been offered a summer position in London.

Tropes:

• All for Nothing:
  • With the gyroscope confiscated by the government, any hopes of Howard and his children profiting from it, which was his main reason for taking the project in the first place, are now gone.
  • This applies to Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard all together. They were expecting to become famous for their gyroscope, but with the Air Force shutting them out of the project, they don't even get any recognition.
• Blunt "Yes": The General doesn't hide anything when Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard ask him if the Air Force is really going to take the gyroscope they worked hard on, kick them to the curb, and leave them with nothing.
• Character Development: While Sheldon is shown to be scared of being left alone, he at least tries to be happy for Amy and even tells her to go.
• Dude, Where's My Respect?: After all their hard work on the gyroscope, Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard are naturally despondent that they won't be receiving the fame and recognition they were expecting to get for it.
• Moment Killer: Just after Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard are celebrating the completion of their gyroscope project, the Air Force confiscates it.
• Oblivious Guilt Slinging: Amy spends the episode attempting to tell Sheldon how she's going to spend a few months at Princeton. Sheldon, in a tailspin from loosing the gyroscope project, giving her a spiel about how much he appreciated and relied on her presence in his life didn't help matters.
• Rule of Three: Their exchange with the Colonel
  Sheldon: Where did you move it?
  Col. Williams: I can’t tell you that.
  Leonard: Are you implementing phase two?
  Col. Williams: I can’t tell you that.
  Sheldon: Wait, so you’re just going to take all the work we’ve done for the last year and toss us aside?
  Col: Williams: That one I can tell you, yes.
• Running Gag: Howard anticipating the movie that will ultimately be made about their accomplishment and his comments about how various events in the episode will affect it
• Stealing the Credit: In addition to losing the gyroscope project, the Air Force is denying Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard were involved in it.
• Un-person: Sheldon thinks the Air Force is erasing their lives when he walks into the apartment and finds it empty. Turns out they simply stopped at the wrong floor.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Non-lethal variant. After Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard finish the gyroscope, the government doesn't need them anymore and confiscates the project.