Recap / The Big Bang Theory S 3 E 9 The Vengeance Formulation

"The Vengeance Formulation" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 23, 2009. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Richard Rosenstock, Jim Reynolds and Steve Holland, based on a story by Chuck Lorre and Maria Ferrari.

After their third date, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) asks Howard where this is going, since there's the societal expectation that they will have sex. Bernadette does not want a one-night stand. Howard is unsure how to answer, so Bernadette gives him a little kiss and tells him to call her when he figures it out.

Sheldon has been invited to a phone interview on National Public Radio (NPR) to discuss his recent search for monopoles. Kripke (John Ross Bowie) pipes helium into Sheldon's office just as the interview starts. NPR host Ira Flatow (As Himself) remarks that there is a problem with the phone connection. But Sheldon knows exactly what has happened and who the culprit is.

Back at home, Sheldon considers murdering Kripke with poison. Leonard gets Sheldon to consider something less drastic. So Sheldon rigs Kripke's lab to rain down a large quantity of foam on Kripke. Unfortunately, the prank is triggered when Kripke gets some VIP guests to come by for a visit.

A week goes by without Howard calling Bernadette. Penny confronts Howard about this. Howard is actually holding out for beautiful famous women he realistically has no chance with. In the bathtub he shares with his mother, Howard imagines himself with Katee Sackhoff (As Herself). Sackhoff actually gives Howard a little reality check.

Howard goes to the Cheesecake Factory and makes an ill-advised marriage proposal to Bernadette, who, still angry about being ignored for a week, does not say yes or no to Howard's proposal. Then Howard tries serenading Bernadette, and actually wins her back that way.

Tropes

• Continuity Nod: Sheldon mentions the monopole expedition he led during his radio interview.
• Didn't Think This Through:
  • Sheldon's prank on Kripke was clever, but he overlooked the possibility of an innocent bystander (e.g the president and the board of directors) getting caught in it, and didn't put in a means to stop the prank in such an eventuality.
    Leonard: Abort! Abort!
    Sheldon: There is no "Abort".
    Raj: How could you not put in an "Abort"?!
    Sheldon: I made a boo-boo, alright?!
  • Since Sheldon boasted about uploading the video to Youtube, it would've given Barry video evidence that Sheldon was responsible for the foam prank, which he could've used to report him to HR even if the board of directors hadn't been there.
• Et Tu, Brute?: Sheldon is shocked that Leonard and Raj actually laughed at his humiliation on the radio.
• From Bad to Worse: After Sheldon's prank on Kripke ends up getting the president and board of the university, Leonard and Raj comment that at least they don't know he did it... but then, a pre-recorded message of Sheldon gloating went off. Even worse, in it, he mentioned Leonard and Raj supporting his prank, getting them in the same boat with him.
  Raj: ...Well, I'm going back to India. What's your plan?
• Grand Romantic Gesture: At the end of the episode, to make up for his attitude, Howard plays the piano and sings a rewritten version of "Bernadette" by The Four Tops for Bernadette at the Cheesecake Factory. Unfortunately, he turns out to be a Dreadful Musician. Surprisingly, while Penny feels sorry for her, Bernadette is touched.
• Helium Speech: Kripke afflicts this on Sheldon while he was on NPR by filling his office with helium.
• Instant Humiliation Just Add Youtube: To add to his vengeance, Sheldon had set up a program to record Kripke being caught in his prank followed by uploading it to Youtube. Unfortunately, the president and board ended up on the video clip.
• Masturbation Means Sexual Frustration: Howard intends to pleasure himself in the bath, imagining Battlestar Galactica (2003) actress Katee Sackhoff in the tub with him. Sackhoff asks him why he's doing this when he could be on a date with a real woman (meaning Bernadette).
• Oh, Crap!: Sheldon, Leonard and Raj have this reaction when the board of directors show up in Kripke's office just before Sheldon's prank is triggered.
• Orphaned Punchline: The episode opens with Howard on a date with Bernadette, finishing a joke.
  Howard: Two years later, there's a knock on the door. The guy opens it, and there on the porch is the snail, who says, "What the heck was that all about?"
  Bernadette: [giggles] I don't really get it.
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Leonard's suggestion for Sheldon to think bigger than a whoppee cushion ends up having major repercussions.
• Whoopee Cushion: Sheldon originally wanted to do this to Kripke, but Leonard and Raj told him to think of something better. He ended up getting Leonard with one, though.
  Sheldon: It may be low-tech, but I still maintain that the whoopee cushion has comic validity.