It’s Christmas time in Pasadena, and that would usually mean one of Raj’s spectacular themed parties is on the horizon. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. With his parents’ divorce getting more serious, Raj’s father is staying over at his place for the time being, which means he can’t host Christmas dinner this year. Hearing this, Amy jumps at the opportunity to play hostess. She’s always wanted to throw a traditional Victorian Christmas with parlor games, goose, and even figgy pudding (don’t get too excited about the pudding, though. It’s only cake with raisins in it.) Raj wishes her luck getting everyone excited about a themed dinner party. After all, they paid no heed to his Tom Hanks-giving. If that doesn’t get them excited, nothing will, but Amy’s dinner plans actually sound like a fun idea to the group. Raj proclaims they all suck. I agree, Raj. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to attend Tom Hanks-giving?!
On the day of the festivities, Leonard and Howard are working in the university’s “Clean Room” in order to detect cosmic particles. They’re reveling in all the oxygen, and are just about to finish up and head over to Amy’s when a pigeon flies into the room. They literally just let “a flying crap machine” into a room where there’s supposed to be no dust. Naturally, they’re freaking out. However, instead of calling for help and revealing that they were the ones who compromised all the equipment, they opt to shut their mouths and just try to lure the bird out.
Howard suggests turning off all the lights, except one so as to attract the bird, but Leonard points out that the bird isn’t a moth, so that plan is quickly rejected. They eventually call Raj for backup. While they wait for him, Howard suggests another plan involving a Slim Jim and a garbage bag: food in bag will lead to bird in bag. Again, Leonard refuses, and they end up bickering how this kind of stuff always happens to Howard, so there’s no doubt that this incident was also Howard’s fault. When Raj gets there, he also agrees. Howard has quite the past. He has lost Raj’s dog, flipped over the Mars Rover, and almost drove off with a baby. It was an all out fight against poor Howard, who always ends up getting picked on for not being the “smartest.” The man has gone to space, and yet his friends will never cease to think of him as being the least accomplished.
They finally decide to use a fire extinguisher to push the bird out. The bird is seriously hurt, and Howard is traumatized. There’s a delicious-smelling bluejay incident in his past that still haunts him, so he needs to be the one to give the bird CPR. He does, the bird lives, and of course, another bird flies in. The equipment is definitely compromised now. Now they really have to get some help, until Penny’s mischievous spirit intervenes and suggests that the boys just take their names off the sign-in sheet, and ditch that joint. They can’t do that. How could they possibly do that? But they do! And they merrily sing all the way to Amy’s Victorian Christmas.
Meanwhile, Sheldon is riding with Bernadette to Amy’s shindig. He’s venting about how horrible Amy is for making him celebrate Christmas in the worst possible way (with raisins and mistletoes). They’d promised each other not to get each other gifts, so in order to ruin her Christmas too, he’s going to buy her the best, most thoughtful Christmas gift ever. His plan is to make her feel terrible about not getting him anything, so in the end, they’ll both be sad. During his vent session, Bernadette is knowingly smirking because even though his logic on the notion of gift-giving is skewed, Sheldon is about to make Amy the happiest girlfriend.
While shopping, we also get a sweet moment from Sheldon that shows just how much he cares for Amy. Bernadette tells him the best presents she’s gotten from Howard are the ones that show how well he knows her. Sheldon then thinks aloud everything he knows about Amy. He knows that she loves medieval literature; Chaucer’s her favorite. And her eyes sparkle when she watches old French movies. He also enjoys how harp music causes her fingers to dance as if she’s playing along. He says this all with a glint in his eye, and we know for certain that Sheldon indeed loves Amy. His soliloquy will surely get your heart melting.
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Back at Amy’s place, she, Penny, and Raj’s father are waiting for everyone to arrive. Penny is as charming as ever in this episode, especially with Raj’s father. While she entertains him, Amy tries to entertain both of them while they all wait for the others. She excitedly explains the premise of the parlor game, “Ball of Wool.” It’s just as it sounds. It involves a ball of wool, where two people aim to blow said ball of wool off the table. Fun!
However, the real entertainment comes when everyone finally arrives, and Sheldon brings out his perfect gift that will make Amy sad. As expected, it doesn’t make her unhappy, but thoroughly delighted. She loves her musical picture frame of Sheldon sitting on Santa’s lap. Sheldon is waiting for Amy’s sadness to overcome her, when surprise! She’s gotten Sheldon a Christmas gift too: his Meemaw’s home-baked cookies. She got the recipe, and decided to bake them for him. He’s speechless, and he can smell his Meemaw’s hugs. Amy got him the perfect Christmas gift as well, and Sheldon realizes that both of them could simultaneously be happy together.
Best Bazingas!
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EPISODE RATING: 8/10
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