The Big Bang Theory: “The Vengeance Formulation” – Review

After their third date, Howard balks when Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), the microbiologist-slash-Cheesecake Factory waitress, invites him in for sex. Meanwhile, Sheldon plots revenge on Kripke (John Ross Bowie) after Barry pipes helium into Sheldon’s office during a live phone interview with NPR.

When Bernadette was introduced in this season’s “The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary,” I liked how eager Howard was to genuinely get to know her. I also hoped Howard and Bernadette would go on a few dates, and I’m glad the writers followed up. I was surprised to learn Howard didn’t know about traditional third-date sex, but this believably implied he had never been on three dates with the same woman.

After Howard apparently blew off Bernadette, not calling her for a week, Penny and his friends assumed he was being his usual callous self. He didn’t deny this aloud, but I don’t think he was scared of sex with Bernadette or of commitment (one of the ways he tried to make up with her was to propose marriage right in The Cheesecake Factory). I got the sense that he didn’t want to treat Bernadette as he has every other woman he’s known (including his mental image of Katee Sackhoff)—a subtle yet real step up for Howard.

Howard’s budding relationship also provided the first real exploration of Leonard and Penny’s relationship since they became a couple. Not only was it well written and well played by Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, it also played well as a topic of discussion among Howard, Raj, Sheldon, Penny, and Leonard. That’s Big Bang at its best. For those thinking Leonard and Penny’s relationship has moved too fast, Leonard reminds us that they went on three dates in two years. Later, Penny starts to say that she appreciates Leonard for who he is inside. All of this was delivered wryly, not too “on the nose” as to be sappy.

The B-plot of Kripke embarrassing Sheldon also delivered on its potential. As sinister and smarmy as Sheldon sometimes seems, he never hits below the belt. He’s believably at a loss dealing with meaner, more sarcastic people like Kripke or Leslie Winkle. Sheldon can be so earnest, in fact, that I want to tell anyone who really hurts him to lay off. This range of feelings was explored through Leonard and Raj. Leonard laughed when Sheldon was first humiliated, but later he tries to stop Raj from mocking Sheldon when he’s down. Raj, meanwhile, mocks Sheldon a while longer before helping him plot revenge.

“The Vengeance Formulation” is easily my favorite episode of the season so far.