All in all this was a really funny episode. The pre-opening scene was one of the best in recent memory (not that this show has ever gotten bad in my opinion) and interesting new dynamics were created when we saw Amy and Bernadette siding with their significant others over the parking lot dispute. It's possibly the first girl character vs. girl character real fight we have seen so far. Usually they are on the same page but here we saw them make some brutally honest comments about the other's boyfriend. All in all, that was really funny and I hope to see the relationship between the girls get as layered as the relationship between the boys are in this show.
Not much development on the Penny-Leonard front which is good if like me, you find the two characters the least funny and interesting in all the cast. Generally I think Leonard and Penny are no longer front and center in this show, with Howard and Sheldon developing relationships and also with the girls becoming more prominent in the series (which is definitely welcome in my book).
Now to the uncharacteristic Sheldon (and here is where you may see spoilers): In the end of the episode there's a scene where Howard finally gives up fighting Sheldon for the spot and goes to his office for the apology. Here we see Sheldon not accept the apology and go on to give the parking spot because he needs to be the bigger man, and even makes Howard say "Sheldon, you are the bigger man." This is completely out of character for Sheldon in my view. Sheldon is definitely self-centered, stubborn and not above petty argument and fights, but he has never been a megalomaniac and has never had the classic male ego that he's been written to portray in this episode in my opinion. I think this is to allow for a more macro story arc that sees Sheldon become more and more aware of his career's lack of development, but I just find it out of character for Sheldon to be jealous of Howard because he has been in space, and it's very out of character for Sheldon to make Howard apologize because he has always shown to have such low regard for social niceties.
Not much development on the Penny-Leonard front which is good if like me, you find the two characters the least funny and interesting in all the cast. Generally I think Leonard and Penny are no longer front and center in this show, with Howard and Sheldon developing relationships and also with the girls becoming more prominent in the series (which is definitely welcome in my book).
Now to the uncharacteristic Sheldon (and here is where you may see spoilers): In the end of the episode there's a scene where Howard finally gives up fighting Sheldon for the spot and goes to his office for the apology. Here we see Sheldon not accept the apology and go on to give the parking spot because he needs to be the bigger man, and even makes Howard say "Sheldon, you are the bigger man." This is completely out of character for Sheldon in my view. Sheldon is definitely self-centered, stubborn and not above petty argument and fights, but he has never been a megalomaniac and has never had the classic male ego that he's been written to portray in this episode in my opinion. I think this is to allow for a more macro story arc that sees Sheldon become more and more aware of his career's lack of development, but I just find it out of character for Sheldon to be jealous of Howard because he has been in space, and it's very out of character for Sheldon to make Howard apologize because he has always shown to have such low regard for social niceties.
