- Title: The Big Bang Theory – The Deception Verification
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Breaking up into teams of two the gang race to be the first to complete Raj‘s (Kunal Nayyar) scavenger hunt. Where Howard (Simon Helberg) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) work well together, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) is put off by Bernadette‘s (Melissa Rauch) hyper-competitive nature, and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) laments his luck at being stuck with the group’s liability – Penny (Kaley Cuoco) (although it’s the scientist’s over-analyzing that costs his team precious time).
Things get a little out of hand during the competition and two of the team’s aren’t pleased with Raj’s final twist to the scavenger hunt (that nearly gets the scientist attacked by Penny). Although the single joke of Bernadette’s over-bearing nature and belittlement of Leonard gets old, the choice to show Penny as an equal member of her team (surprising everyone) is a nice touch.
Mixing up the couples works to the episode’s advantage, and the cameo by Stuart (Kevin Sussman) being left-out again is a nice touch. Although the scavenger hunt presents plenty of drama, the best of the three stories belongs to Howard and Amy who haven’t spent any time alone together on the show and eventually abandon the scavenger hunt altogether to embrace their shared love of Neil Diamond.