The episode kicks off with Sheldon playing World of Warcraft with his internet friends. They call it something else, but it’s really World of Warcraft. He pauses the game to see what’s causing the ruckus in the hallway. Penny can’t open since her car key is stuck in the lock. He naturally lets her know what she’s done and why it’s so stuck. He gives her a history of locks. Her groceries go flying. She’s upset at how her life is going. She hasn’t had sex in months among her list of disappointments. She’s not getting any human compassion from Sheldon. After her breakdown, Sheldon invites her over to the apartment to wait for a locksmith. When she enters the apartment, she gets hooked on the Warcraft.
How many times does the actor playing Sheldon have to play through his scenes so he doesn’t come close to cracking a smile? It’s got to be hard to play Spock on a series loaded with so many freakish gags. Does he have a thumbtack embedded in his palm?
The guys do a weird science experiment by having a mixture of cornstarch and water bounce on a woofer. How many kids are going to try to this on their speakers tonight? Penny busts into the apartment with her laptop. She must consult Sheldon on the game. Everyone is shocked that she’s talking to the ubergeek.
Penny barges into Sheldon’s bedroom and wakes him up. He’s shocked at her actions. Leonard stumbles out of his bedroom and hears the wrong things. Penny sneaks out of the bedroom door. It’s way too much confusion. This is not a standard sight. Is this a hint that at some point, Penny will really hook up with Sheldon?
Sheldon drags Sara Gilbert into their department head’s office. He’s ticked that she called him “Dr. Dumbass.” The head wants them to apologize and go back to work. Penny keeps calling him to get Warcraft tips. She even calls the department head’s phone to get her man’s advice. He can’t take this relationship. He begs Leonard to take care of Penny. He promises that if Leonard doesn’t make her back off, he’ll won’t be an easy roommate.
Penny is addicted to the game. She’s forgotten what day it is. She’s got Cheetos in her hair. Ick. It’s up to Leonard to stage an intervention. He enters the game to talk to her in a cyber way. But she’s got people to kill.
There is no sadder moment than when a pal says they can’t come out to drink because they are so close to moving up a level. But I won’t rail against the cyber-life cause otherwise you folks wouldn’t be online reading this article. You could use your iPhone during the intermission at a hockey match. But whatever you do, don’t ask me to call you by your game name.
Sheldon’s a zombie from being kept up by Penny’s quest. Sara says Penny is playing the online game to compensate for her lack of a sex life. Sheldon asks a co-worker if he’s in a sexual relationship and asks for a phone number. He thinks he’s solved the problem instead of actually getting a date. Later he stealthy asks Penny questions about her life so he can put her on a dating network.
A stranger named Tom is in the apartment. Leonard is shocked. Sheldon explains Tom was selected by the online dating service. Leonard thinks this is all wrong. When she arrives on the apartment, she pays no attention to Tom. She needs game help from Sheldon. Tom isn’t impressed at the all by the greasy haired, dirty Penny. She doesn’t look like her picture.
Inside the game Penny’s character runs into Howard. He offers to take her to the tavern for a drink. She accepts. Cut back to Penny on the sofa. She realizes that she has a problem and needs help.
This episode is great because it is true. I’ve seen people who hate computers get way too involved with a cyber game. At first they try it in private, but there’s no hiding it after a while. They will call up work and take a sick day when they realize it’s 8 a.m. and they haven’t gone to bed all weekend. It can overtake your real life. Penny looked appealing when she got all scuzzed up on the sofa with her laptop clicking away. She’s lucky she didn’t get hit with a major acne outbreak. At least they’ll clean her up for next week.
I’m hoping that in a few weeks, we’ll find Penny trying to seduce Sheldon to see if getting him laid will make him more human. Damn shame this series isn’t on Showtime for this “very special episode.”
Joe Corey has worked as local crew on numerous reality shows including Candid Camera, Rescue 911, Battle for Ozzfest and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. He mostly recently worked as Associate Producer on the documentary Moving Midway that should be coming to TV this Spring.
