In the life of every sitcom there comes an episode where the main characters sit around and talk about things that have happened in the past, usually interspersed with previously aired pieces of video. I've always considered this a bit of a cop out and an excuse for the writers to have an easy day, as a large portion of the show is taken up with old footage. The show needs to have run for a few years and have reason to tell the old stories, so TBBT has reached that time and this is that episode. But in keeping with the writers doing things a little different, the flash backs are imaginings, brought about by Amy's question "Where would we all be without Sheldon?" Each of the main characters has a story to tell, sometimes interrupted by, or corrected by another character, but all off them involving life without Sheldon. Most of them are very funny, self depreciating and insightful. Stuart takes the but of a few jokes, and seems to be becoming the loser of the group. Which is a bit ironic, as when the show started the premise was that the four boys were themselves the outsiders of the community, and for the writers to cast someone as a loser in a bunch of losers seems a tad strange, but it does seem to work. Overall a very funny episode that gives the viewers a better insight into the characters personality.
6 Reviews
Finally back to early quality
kevinmorice16 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is the best episode for several years.
It does blatantly take it's premise from 'It's a Wonderful Life'. What would life be like without Sheldon?
Some hilarious options then follow. Most of them are believable, the rest are jaundiced by the storytellers, but in ways that are inkeeping with the original characterisations.
The writers finally seem to have cottoned on to their recent mistake though. They draft Stuart in as the butt of the abusive jokes rather than picking on Sheldon. This has been long overdue. Making fun of Sheldon, or unravelling core elements of his character is unfair on the original core audience. Hopefully they get enough credit for this episode that they keep that thread going and give back the original characterisation that made this show great.
It does blatantly take it's premise from 'It's a Wonderful Life'. What would life be like without Sheldon?
Some hilarious options then follow. Most of them are believable, the rest are jaundiced by the storytellers, but in ways that are inkeeping with the original characterisations.
The writers finally seem to have cottoned on to their recent mistake though. They draft Stuart in as the butt of the abusive jokes rather than picking on Sheldon. This has been long overdue. Making fun of Sheldon, or unravelling core elements of his character is unfair on the original core audience. Hopefully they get enough credit for this episode that they keep that thread going and give back the original characterisation that made this show great.
She wants to live in stone age but a cave isn't available..
tombombadil113 December 2013
This just might be the funniest episode of Big Bang Theory ever..
Whats life without Sheldon?
Go find out. Because its certainly doesn't get easy as his friends think. The humor in this episode matches the levels of panty piñata polarization, electric can opener fluctuation and scavanger vortex which are my most favourite episodes of the series. Sheldon's dialogues from this episode will be remembered for a long time. All the characters have gotten some really hilarious dialogues. But obviously that's just my thought.
What do you think? What do you think? What do you think?
Whats life without Sheldon?
Go find out. Because its certainly doesn't get easy as his friends think. The humor in this episode matches the levels of panty piñata polarization, electric can opener fluctuation and scavanger vortex which are my most favourite episodes of the series. Sheldon's dialogues from this episode will be remembered for a long time. All the characters have gotten some really hilarious dialogues. But obviously that's just my thought.
What do you think? What do you think? What do you think?
"The Cooper Extraction" was a hilarious holiday ep of "The Big Bang Theory"
tavm1 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
In this Christmas ep of "The Big Bang Theory": Sheldon has to leave to go to his Texas hometown to help in his sister's birth since her hubby was just in an accident. So that means that Star Wars and "Star Trek" ornaments can go together for the first time! Oh, and Stuart's in the party as well! Anyway, Amy has brought It's a Wonderful Life (my favorite movie) for viewing which has the gang wondering how different their lives would be without Sheldon or at least if they didn't know him so well as they do. Some possible scenes-like Bernadette not approaching Howard at the Cheesecake Factory after seeing the way Raj feeds him-are believable enough while others-like Penny approaching Sheldon at the laundry-are not. (And why would Amy think that about her boyfriend and Penny, anyway?) The results are very hilarious-whether believable or not-with some touching revelations concerning Sheldon and Amy. So on that note, "The Cooper Extraction" was another great ep of "The Big Bang Theory".
Interconnectedness
Hitchcoc29 October 2021
Sheldon has gone to Texas for the birth of his first niece/nephew. So the rest of the gang are at the apartment, decorating for Christmas. Penny mentions that she has brought a video of "It's a Wonderful Life." This leads to a discussion about how the loss of a person could affect their lives. They then speculate what it would be like if they had never met Sheldon. This leads to a series of speculative tidbits where Sheldon is not in the picture. For instance, the only reason Leonard is around is his moving into Sheldon's apartment. So then where is Penny in all this. Anyway, it is highly creative and fun. Stuart, who has become the most depressed outsider, is one of my favorite characters. I like that he is more and more a part of events.
The 4 star rating for this episode is bcuz of Stuart Bloom.
nlk8714 October 2022
In this episode he gets upset that they didn't wait for him to decorate for Christmas & gets upset & rudely adds himself in their stories.
The character of Stuart Bloom is a fake & fictional character that TRULY gets under my skin. It's baffling how I can hate some 1 so much that doesn't exist.
I have decided to write a review each episode I just CAN'T STAND bcuz of of Kevin Sussman's character, "Stuart." I really really can't watch how he mooch's off of every single main character, the things he says truly annoys me. Some feel "sorry" for his character, but me no way. I just don't understand why the writers wrote his character this way. Throughout the series he claims to be so broke, but he still can afford to keep the comic book store open, & can afford hospital bills, pills, & therapy... Instead of abusing his customers hospitality, sell the store & get a job.. Stuart's character isn't funny at all. I just really can't stand him so much I fast forward the scenes he's mooching & just plain talking at all...
The character of Stuart Bloom is a fake & fictional character that TRULY gets under my skin. It's baffling how I can hate some 1 so much that doesn't exist.
I have decided to write a review each episode I just CAN'T STAND bcuz of of Kevin Sussman's character, "Stuart." I really really can't watch how he mooch's off of every single main character, the things he says truly annoys me. Some feel "sorry" for his character, but me no way. I just don't understand why the writers wrote his character this way. Throughout the series he claims to be so broke, but he still can afford to keep the comic book store open, & can afford hospital bills, pills, & therapy... Instead of abusing his customers hospitality, sell the store & get a job.. Stuart's character isn't funny at all. I just really can't stand him so much I fast forward the scenes he's mooching & just plain talking at all...
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
