The Big Bang Theory (TV Series) The Wiggly Finger Catalyst (2011) User Reviews

A good Raj episode and a clever Sheldon subplot

[Doctor_vanNostrand · 8/10 · 1 June 2012]

Raj is feeling lonely being the only one of the four guys without a girlfriend-- of course, Sheldon doesn't dispute that notion, possibly because the viewers and his cohorts get the idea. Penny, of course, has the same idea Raj had in "Desperation Emanation", introducing Raj to Emily, who is deaf. Coincidentally, Katie LeClerc (who is hearing impaired rather than deaf) plays a deaf character on the ABC Family drama "Switched at Birth". The result is some fun moments between Howard and Raj, serving notice that dynamic may still be reminiscent of Joey and Chandler on "Friends" even after Howard ties the knot. And again some hints of the "old Howard" are still evident when he's ogling women at the gym. We may also see why Priya worries that her parents would not approve of Leonard when they cut off Raj, leading Emily to lose interest. The Sheldon subplot, where he leaves trivial decisions to a roll of the dice was the most cleverly conceived since he sought menial employment while stuck on a physics problem. I will (rolls the dice) stop right here.

I Don't Hear You!

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 13 October 2021]

Penny feels sorry for Raj, so she sets her up with a girl she knows. She is beautiful and happens to be deaf. Raj is smitten immediately. We know his parents are super rich and she finds this out. Soon he is buying her very expensive gifts, including paying off her credit cards. Is she indeed a gold digger. Howard acts as the sign language interpreter and this creates some funny scenes.

Raj gets a girl on "The Wiggly Finger Catalyst" ep of "The Big Bang Theory"

[tavm · 8/10 · 19 November 2011]

On one of this season's eps of "The Big Bang Theory": Raj feels very lonely because of his being the only one not to have a girlfriend. So Penny sets him up with Emily who's deaf so Raj only has to use sign language and not open his mouth constantly though initially Howard has to make sure he filters out the the more bizarre words from his friend to her in order to make the date work. Things seem to be going well for them...until it's discovered-after she finds out how wealthy his family is-how much expensive merchandise she can get from him. It also results in the rest of the gang to stiff him at The Cheesecake Factory...Another pretty funny ep of "The Big Bang Theory" especially when Sheldon uses his Dungeons & Dragons dice to help him make trivial decisions concerning picking foods in a subplot. So on that note, "The Wiggly Finger Catalyst" is another funny ep of "The Big Bang Theory".

The Wiggly Finger Catalyst

[studioAT · 3/10 · 5 April 2024]

I didn't much care for this episode if I'm being honest.

I thought the representation of deaf people wasn't great, and the Sheldon subplot not overly interesting.

It's of course nice that they used the episode to flesh out the character of Raj, I have no problems with that, and I like how their 'night together' has strengthened the dynamic between him and Penny, but other than that this wasn't great.

I'm going off Howard a bit too, he was quite annoying here.

The majority of Series 4 and the start of 5 showed signs of progression and development for 'The Big Bang Theory' in general, but this episode didn't reflect this.