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- Neil Middlemiss
There is a part of me that feels the trio of male nerds – and the ladies that engorge their lives – spent the fourth season of CBS’s popular sit-com merely treading water. The introduction of girlfriends for the most absurdly pedantic Sheldon and the creepy ‘un-ladies’ man Wolowitz along with the change in girlfriends from the sweet girl next door (Penny) to the forthright and highly intelligent sister of Koothrappali (the third nerd) – seemed to be in response to the inevitable “where do we go from here” that popular situation comedies happen upon at the height of their ratings popularity. Perhaps it was a little too much change in a given season that allowed the show to feel strayed from its loveable formula. But upon reflection, it was perhaps the environment The Big Bang Theory was playing in last year that changed – stiff competition from the very best comedy on television right now (the still underappreciated Community with its bold and daring storylines) – that shaded the perfectly fine season of CBS’s scientists
Big Bang Theory
Complete Season Four
Studio: Warner Bros.
Year: 2010-2011
US Rating: Not Rated
Film Length: 501 Minutes
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 1080P High Definition
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Review Date: September 22, 2011
Penny: Hey Look, it's Shamy.
Amy Farrah Fowler: Shamy?
Sheldon Cooper: Juvenile amalgamation of our names. Sheldon, Amy. Shamy.
Amy Farrah Fowler: Oh. I don't like that. Don't do that.
Penny: [laughing nervously] All righty. What's new?
Amy Farrah Fowler: Well, just recently I learned that you refer to us as Shamy, and I don't like that.
Penny: I got that. What I was going for was, you know, how is your life?
Amy Farrah Fowler: Just like everyone else's. Subject to entropy, decay, and eventual death. Thank you for asking
.
The Film
3.5/ 5
The core of The Big Bang Theory is still the dynamic foursome. They are smart, socially inadequate, and constantly in the midst of intellectual jostling and jovial prodding and poking each other as they navigate the world of science and girls. Their actress wannabe neighbor, Penny – former girlfriend of one of the boys – is the dose of social normality among the four preoccupied with quantum physics, string theory, and the banality of science-fiction minutia. Without question the smartest of the four is Sheldon (Jim Parsons), who lives in a world where pure logic can be applied to any situation (from an evaluation of string theory to the algorithm for making new friends). A pompous but lovable soul, happily entangled in the complexities of obsessive compulsive tendencies, rigid routines, and robust rules that trap and guide his three friends that tolerate his idiosyncrasies, and accept his peculiar mode of navigating the world. Sheldon surprisingly finds a female version of himself in Amy (played by Blossom’s Mayim Bialik)
Sheldon’s long-suffering roommate Leonard (Johnny Galecki) is perhaps the most relatable, socially experienced of the four high-IQ friends. He still holds a candle for their beautiful neighbor, Penny, though he is now in a relationship with Priya. Priya’s brother is Rajesh Koothrappali, another PhD holding individual, whose smarts immeasurably outweigh his ability to even talk to pretty women - a task that renders him a mute and terrified schoolboy. Finally we have Howard Wolowitz, the only non-PhD in the four (he is a lowly engineer, though he works on NASA projects). Wolowitz lives with his mother, smolders with inappropriate confidence in wooing the ladies, and suffers from a wildly gaudy sense of dress and woefully overzealous sexual charm. He enjoys a relationship with the shy but lovely Bernadette who is perhaps the only girl on the West Coast who finds Wolowitz’ hammy charms enticing.
Three physicists, an engineer, and a gorgeous blond waitress-cum-actress wannabe, the beautiful sister, the socially awkard girlfriend of Wolwitz, and the female version of Sheldon as Sheldon’s girlfriend make up the geeky, gooey center of this still very funny sit-com. A show that exists within the trappings of the age-old sit-com, but defies expectations with deliciously nerd-like forays into the world of Star Trek, Star Wars, and all manner of sci-fi goodness. The ‘nerdiness’ appeals on face value to a broad audience as they giggle at the geeks, and for the geeks, there is an abundance of winks, nods and deliriously generous high-fives to the world of comic-books and Comic-Con, tips of the hat that many of us every-day nerds (as in, non-genius) can embrace with knowing grins. The show continues to embrace that appreciation with guest stars from the world of science and science-fiction such as when stars of two popular franchises (Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek) made appearances:
Katee Sackhoff: George, let me ask you something: how did you deal with being typecast as a science fiction icon?
George Takei: It's difficult. You try and stretch as an actor, do Strinberg, O'Neill, but all they want is "Course laid in, Captain."
Katee Sackhoff: Tell me about it. It's frakking frustrating.
With plenty of real-life science concepts, theories, explorations, and discoveries making up plot and conversation points throughout the episodes, casual fans of astrophysics; people like me who love to read about dark matter, dark energy, string theory, quantum mechanics, and a host of other ideas I can barely wrap my brain around, The Big Bang Theory is still a goldmine.
To be honest, the edges in season four are a tad frayed, but the effort and energy of the main cast keeps the heart beating healthily. Even when the plotting veers toward the rote, there is enough honest-to-goodness smarts hanging around in the script to raise it above the norm.
The Episodes
Disc One
Episode 1 - The Robotic Manipulation
Episode 2 - The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification
Episode 3 - The Zazzy Substitution
Episode 4 - The Hot Troll Deviation
Episode 5 - The Desperation Emanation
Episode 6 - The Irish Pub Formulation
Episode 7 - The Apology Insufficiency
Episode 8 - The 21-Second Excitation
Episode 9 - The Boyfriend Complexity
Episode 10 - The Alien Parasite Hypothesis
Episode 11 - The Justice League Recombination
Episode 12 - The Bus Pants Utilization
Disc Two
Episode 13 - The Love Car Displacement
Episode 14 - The Thespian Catalyst
Episode 15 - The Benefactor Factor
Episode 16 - The Cohabitation Formulation
Episode 17 - The Toast Derivation
Episode 18 - The Prestidigitation Approximation
Episode 19 - The Zarnecki Incursion
Episode 20 - The Herb Garden Germination
Episode 21 - The Agreement Dissection
Episode 22 - The Wildebeest Implementation
Episode 23 - The Engagement Reaction
Episode 24 - The Roommate Transmogrification
The Video
4/5
Watching The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season in blu-ray is a real pleasure. Presented by Warner Bros. in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, matching how it can be seen on CBS’ HD broadcast, it closely matches the detail and crisp quality of that HD broadcast (though I do give a slight edge to this blu-ray). The colors have always been striking and bold, but the blu-ray lets the pop even brighter and bolder. There are a few minor issues – mostly some noise in the image – but these are quite fleeting.
Warner Bros. have provided all 24 episodes of this second season over two discs, and the image is good. Clean, bright, good level of details and just a little north of natural – blu-ray is the way to go.
The Sound
4.5/5
One of the distinct audio elements of the show when I watch this on TV is the transition effect used between scenes. Particles buzzing and zipping around fly from front, to rear, enveloping the surround speakers. I have always liked that trademark of the show and it sounds great in this DTS HD-Master Audio presentation. The sound is clean and free of issues throughout, no problems from the dialogue in the center and front speakers, and the laughter from the crowd nicely presented as well.
The Extras
3.5/ 5
The Big Bang's Theory of Relativity: Actor on Actor: Split into three sections, the actors ask each other questions (describe the feel of the show in the 4th season vs. the premier episode, etc).
1) Simon, Meliss and Kunal (8:15)
2) Jim and Mayim (8:24)
3) Kaley and Johnny (6:29)
Gag Reel (10:03): Delightful fluffs and multiple occasions where the actors fail to keep straight faces.
The Big Bang Theory Live (1:31): Behind the scenes at a live taping of the show – this is a good special feature that I would like to see on other sitcoms.
Barenaked Ladies on The Big Bang Theory (3:23): The band that sings the catchy theme tune visits the set to make their music video (the full video is presented as a separate extra).
Music Video (2:00)
BD-Live Functionality
Final Thoughts
Jim Parson’s portrayal of Sheldon earned him yet another Emmy Award at the 2011 show. I can see why. His job is tough; memorizing long bouts of dialogue filled with scientific concepts and theories mixed with his trademark socially unaware belittling of those around him. But he is supported by a good cast, each of whom play well in the universe created for them and who add nicely to the comedy enjoyed by millions week after week.
I still recommend this show. Although I would choose Community over this show (when they are stupidly scheduled against each other), as I know that I can always find this show in reruns or snap it up when the season is released.
Fans – go forth, pick it up, and be merry!
Overall (Not an average)
4/5
Neil Middlemiss
Kernersville, NC
