"The Closet Reconfiguration" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on March 14, 2013. Directed by Anthony Rich. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Steve Holland and Eric Kaplan, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds and Maria Ferrari.
When Howard discovers an old letter from his father in his mother's closet, he debates whether or not he should open it. Leonard and Penny host a grown-up cocktail party.
Tropes
- Everybody Knew Already: Eventually, everyone but Howard knows what was in his dad's letter.
- Fiery Cover-Up: Invoked, though there's obviously no crime in the equation. Howard eventually decides he doesn't want to know what is in the letter from his father, setting it on fire to destroy it. Unfortunately, Sheldon had already read it and later told Bernadette, and soon everyone else around Howard does know what was in it.
- Human Shield: Sheldon uses Amy as one when Howard storms into the apartment screaming he's going to kill him after finding out Sheldon told Bernadette what was in the letter. Sheldon continues to hide behind Amy until Howard leaves the room, and claims he panicked because Howard looked taller than usual.
- Manchild: Sheldon at the cocktail party.Penny: Well, this party is delightful.
Raj: As is the company.
Sheldon: This shirt is itchy and I wish I was dead. - Shout-Out:
- Sheldon's version of Howard's father's letter is clearly a nod to The Goonies, which everyone calls him out on.
- In Raj's version, the card had a The Far Side panel on the cover, the one with a frog with its tongue stuck to a plane.
- "Rashomon"-Style: Invoked. The gang decides to make up different accounts of what was in the letter Howard's dad left him, only one of which is true. That way, Howard will get the truth but also be able to choose which scenario to believe.
- The Unreveal: While the gang knows which one of their accounts is the truth, the audience never finds out, apart from a heavy implication that Sheldon's telling isn't it.
