The Itchy Brain Simulation

• Title: The Big Bang Theory – The Itchy Brain Simulation
• wiki: link

To try and stop Sheldon (Jim Parsons) from getting upset over the discovery of a rented DVD his roommate never returned, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) agrees to walk a mile in Sheldon’s shoes by agreeing to wear an uncomfortable and itchy sweater which constantly itches and bothers him (without acting crazy or complaining) while attempting to return the DVD. The fact that the store went out of the business years ago and the owner has died, however, make his quest a bit harder than he expected.

Despite the rash the sweater is giving him and his complete inability to find anyone to return the DVD to, Leonard’s real issue is Sheldon’s calm demeanor. When he finally discovers the reason behind Sheldon not flipping out of something that would normally driving the scientist crazy, it’s all Leonard can do not to murder him on the spot.

In the episode’s B-story Penny (Kaley Cuoco) verbally attacks Raj‘s (Kunal Nayyar) ex-girlfriend Lucy (Kate Micucci) who comes into the Cheesecake Factory for lunch causing Lucy to call the “pathetic mess” Raj has become. The back-up story ends with Raj once again desperate and alone after he blows both coffee with Lucy and a set-up with one of Penny’s co-workers. The back-up story has a couple of nice moments, but most of the fun comes from Leonard slowly loosing his sanity while Sheldon watches idly by knowing the DVD was paid for long ago and this, in his words, is nothing more than a “teachable moment.”