Big Bang Theory Season 3, Episodes 20 to 23: A First-Time Watcher's Verdict

Watching Big Bang Theory season 3, episodes 20 through 23 for the first time, my overall verdict is simple: this stretch made my face hurt from smiling and laughing, and I think the show keeps getting stronger. "I love the show so much. It really made my face hurt and it just made my day," sums up where I landed by the end of the four episodes.

The strongest moment for me was the flashback episode showing how Sheldon and Leonard first met and became roommates, including the elevator backstory. I have always wondered why the elevator in their building stays broken, and getting an actual explanation, that Sheldon and Leonard blew it up trying to recreate rocket fuel with a girl Leonard was seeing, delighted me. "I think this last one is one of my favorite episodes so far just because we got to go back into time and see how their friendship started," and I especially liked learning that Leonard is the reason Howard and Raj became part of the friend group in the first place.

The Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton storyline caught me completely off guard. I did not expect the visiting physicist to turn out to be, in my words, "a little hoochie hoochie," propositioning Howard and Raj for rent and sleeping with Leonard. I said flat out, "there's no way you could have paid me enough money to get that one correct at all."

I also enjoyed the co-parenting dynamic between Penny and Leonard over Sheldon after their breakup, from splitting Disneyland duty to Leonard painting Penny's toenails after a fight. I called Sheldon "a little manchild, but better than a manchild because he has his together and he's very smart, has his own money, but also loves all the little things that life has to bring," and I said I do feel bad for Leonard because, as I put it, he loves Penny so much, and Penny loves him too, she just doesn't know it yet.

By the moon-laser episode with Zack and the introduction of the online dating storyline that leads to Amy Farrah Fowler, I was fully hooked, saying "I am here for it. I can't wait to see more." I am ready to move into season 4 next.