"The Adhesive Duck Deficiency" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 16, 2009. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Eric Kaplan and Maria Ferrari, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and David Goetsch.
Leonard, Howard, and Raj watch the meteor shower. Meanwhile, Sheldon's night alone is interrupted when Penny slips in the shower and dislocates her shoulder.
Tropes
- Accidental Pervert: Sheldon, who ends up grabbing Penny's breasts when helping her put her clothes on with his eyes closed.
- Brick Joke: A twofer: Raj makes fun of Howard's accent and his big revelation.
- Brief Accent Imitation: Raj makes fun of Howard's American accent.
- Camping Episode: Leonard, Howard and Raj camp out in the desert to observe the Leonid meteor shower.
- Chivalrous Pervert: To quote Sheldon, "The hero always peeks." which is how (and why, given his usual lack of interest) he caught a glimpse of Penny's "soup" tattoo while acting the role of her hero.
- Damsel in Distress: Sheldon refers to Penny as this.
- Embarrassing Tattoo: Sheldon asks Penny why she has the Chinese character for "soup" tattooed on her buttock.
- Intoxication Ensues: The guys after eating the drugged cookies. Also Penny on painkillers.
- Kissing Cousins: Howard reveals while intoxicated that he lost his virginity to his cousin.Howard: You’re a real douche.
Raj: Who cares? You slept with your cousin. - Missing the Good Stuff: Leonard, Howard and Raj are so stoned they completely miss the meteor shower.
- Modesty Towel: Penny miraculously has one on after having fallen down in the shower and gotten a dislocated shoulder. She couldn't get up or turn off the water without Sheldon's assistance, but somehow she was able to wrap a towel around herself before he arrived. This is a network show, after all.
- New-Age Retro Hippie: During the camping trip, Howard meets a couple of "nice old ladies" that drive a Hippie Van, wear tie-dye Grateful Dead t-shirts, and gave him some cookies that (after already sharing them with Leonard and Raj) turn out to be laced with drugs.
- "No Peeking!" Request: After Penny hurts her arm falling in the shower, Sheldon has to help her get dressed and to the hospital, and she only accepts his help by demanding him not to look. Later, however, it is revealed he did sneak a peek, as, to quote him, "The Hero always peeks".Penny: [relunctantly accepts his help in getting dressed] All right. But don't look!
Sheldon: Don't look?
Penny: I don't want you to see me naked.
Sheldon: Oh. Well, that's understandable. You may be interested to know that a prohibition against looking is well established in heroic mythology. Lot and his wife, Perseus and Medusa, Orpheus and Eurydice.
Penny: Great.
Sheldon: They always look. It never ends well. - One-Track-Minded Hunger: After the initial psychedelic effect of the drugged cookies wears off, the trio of campers end up eating everything they brought in a cooler (except for some gelled cooling packs, though Raj is tempted), and miss out on the the meteor shower while tearing into a secret brisket from Howard's mom with their bare hands.
- Out-of-Character Moment: When Sheldon tries to comfort Penny. It's very disturbing.
- Personality Swap: When Sheldon has to take care of Penny (as usually she mothers him), including pestering him to sing "Soft Kitty" to her.
- Puppy-Dog Eyes: Penny uses hers to get Sheldon to sing to her.
- Skewed Priorities: Several from Sheldon and Penny, while Sheldon is taking Penny to the hospital:
- Sheldon describes the adhesive ducks he has in his shower while helping Penny get up.
- Sheldon is concerned about Penny's lack of organization system in her dresser drawer.
- Penny seems more concerned about whether articles of clothing look good together than getting said clothes on in time
- Sheldon is overly careful while driving to the hospital.
- Thanks for the Mammary: When Sheldon is helping Penny get dressed while keeping his eyes closed. Currently provides the page quote.Penny: ...Is that my arm?
Sheldon: ...It doesn't feel like an arm.
Penny: Then maybe you should let it go. - Toplessness from the Back: Penny, while Sheldon is helping her get dressed.
