"The Boyfriend Complexity" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 18, 2010. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Bill Prady, Steven Molaro and David Goetsch, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Lee Aronsohn and Jim Reynolds.
Penny tells Leonard that her father, Wyatt, is at her place and asks him to pretend that they are back together as he is the only boyfriend she had that her father ever endorsed.
Meanwhile, Bernadette and Howard keep Raj company in the astrophysics lab as he monitors a telescope. Raj gets very drunk and almost kisses Bernadette, but Howard intervenes and winds up getting kissed by Raj.
Tropes
- All for Nothing: As a result of thinking the Fake Relationship is legit, Sheldon spent an entire night reworking the section of the Roommate Agreement it would apply to. When Leonard says he and Penny broke up again, Sheldon throws the papers in the air and expresses his frustration before storming out.
- Bad Liar: According to Wyatt, Penny came up with some real doozies growing up, such as claiming the pee stick in the bathroom was just to check for diabetes. She's clearly embarrassed by these being brought up, especially that last one.
- Call-Back: Raj makes a reference to Leonard's line from the pilot: "Our babies will be smart and beautiful".
- "Cavemen vs. Astronauts" Debate: The guys debate who the bravest person in the Marvel Universe is. Candidates include Captain America's undocumented Mexican gardener, the doctor who gives Wolverine his prostate exam, and whoever uses the bathroom after the Thing.
- Disappointed in You: After learning the truth, Wyatt berates Penny for all this. He can certainly accept an adult making her own decisions about her love life, but he considers the Fake Relationship lie to be childish behavior.
- Fake Relationship: Although they're broken up at this point in the show, Penny asks Leonard to pretend they're still dating for her father's sake. However, she refuses to display any bonding time between her and Leonard other than passionate kisses. Even Wyatt starts to question why won't Penny allow Leonard to tag along with them anywhere but Penny (having broken up with Leonard recently) keeps trying to lie that Leonard's too busy with his work only for Leonard to shoot her down that he isn't.
- Insane Troll Logic: While on the phone ordering pizza, Sheldon asks the delivery boy climb the stairs to their apartment room's door because their elevator is broken but the pizzeria calls his request outlandish. Sheldon then states that pizza originated in the 16th century as to while elevators came out in 1852 and hence pizza delivery men always climbed upstairs. Given that the first modern car came out in 1886 (even after the elevator), pizza delivery was not around and hence people had to go to the pizzerias themselves. On top of this pizza delivery was not made common in the United States until 1960. Sheldon also dismisses the notion that he should be the one climbing the stairs to retrieve the pizza. Leonard then states he expects the pizzeria to spit on Sheldon's pizza.
- Jerkass Ball: Penny immediately grabbing Leonard and kissing him passionately then immediately slamming the door in front of him. Leonard lampshades on how rude this is.
- Reverse Psychology: After privately urging Leonard to keep trying with Penny, Wyatt makes a show of screaming at him and throwing him out. He knows this will get Leonard farther along with Penny than admitting he still likes the guy ever would. Leonard lampshades this.
- Russian Reversal: After Sheldon says the bravest person in the Marvel Universe is the doctor who gives Wolverine his prostate exam, Howard jokingly counters that it's actually the guy who gets a prostate exam from Wolverine.
- Shipper on Deck: Wyatt is definitely keen with Leonard dating his daughter, because he's far better than the idiots Penny usually dates.
- Shipper with an Agenda: Wyatt likes Leonard quite a bit and thinks he'd be good for Penny, but he also notes he can't go back to the parade of morons she previously dated.Wyatt: I want grandkids before I die, and I want 'em to grow up in a house without wheels.
- Wham Line: "Please, please, please don't give up on her."
