The Perspiration Implementation

"The Perspiration Implementation" is the fifth episode of the ninth season of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on Monday, October 19, 2015.

Summary
As the guys decide to become more active, they take up fencing, Amy and Sheldon start to consider dating other people. The girls are helping Stuart get more interest in his business. Amy gets asked out by both Stuart and Kripke, but she turns them both down.

Extended Plot
Howard is working in his lab; the other guys come in and ask if he's ready for lunch; he tells them he's working on something first. Sheldon asks if he is working the prototype drive system for the high-G rover. Instead Howard has built a gadget that adds mileage to his Fitbit and makes it appear that he has been jogging since Bernadette wants him to exercise more. The last exercise he got was when she tried to put it on him and he ran away. Sheldon tells them that according to a study, even thinking about exercise could have physical benefits. They don't know if he is thinking about it right now. Is he? No he is going to do it tomorrow. Leonard admits that it wouldn't hurt if they all did get more exercise. Howard agrees, so he turns up his gadget to work harder.

Sitting in Sheldon's apartment, Leonard browses the various sports clubs available at the university: archery, rock climbing, flag football.... Sheldon comments that he had him at flags, but lost him at football. Penny agrees that they should get more active, but wonders if getting into a sport is the right choice. Leonard twisted his ankle while playing Scrabble. Barry Kripke is starting a fencing club. Sheldon sees a certain elegant appeal to sword fighting. It's indoors, no running, no throwing, no catching and no gym shorts that get pulled down or up. Ouch!. And they get to use the word "Touché" in a non-metaphorical sense.

The girls are invited to the comic book store by Stuart. More women are now interested in comic books and he wants to get more women into his store. He has been stocking more female-oriented titles, he added a triangle on the end of the toilet paper roll also added a nursing mother's area where they were sitting. For extra security, he has an overhead camera to keep an eye on them for their protection to keep the pervs away; however, this has the exact opposite effect, making him look like a perv. Penny looks uncomfortable and closes her blouse and legs. Amy thinks that he should change some of his artwork, like the woman in a dog collar on a leash. Stuart defends himself that she doesn't know her back story. Maybe she was jumping upon the couch too much.

In the university gym, the guys are flexing their rapiers. Raj feels like Puss 'n' Boots while Leonard has always wanted to be a swash buckler. Kripke joins them and welcomes them to the fencing club, but explains that fencing is a serious sport and not Star Wars. Howard and Raj identify more with Game of Thrones and "The Princess Bride". First they practice the "en garde" using their dominant leg. Sheldon doesn't think that he has a dominant leg and that they both are submissive. Howard tells him to use the one he flushes the public toilet with. Then they practice their advance and retreat. Sheldon wants to know when he can stab one of his friends. The fencing term is touch. Sheldon replies that if he says that he is going to touch one of his friends, he'll get sent to Human Resources again. Next they are paired up practicing the advance and retreat. When Kripke takes a phone call, they go crazy dueling until Kripke is done.

Amy suggests that he advertise directly to females. Stuart then wants to put a sign in his window that says: Women come in. Don't be afraid. Penny then checks the reviews of his store online. Stuart thinks the Internet is just all negative. All of the women reviews are negative, but not about the store. Rather, all of the negative reviews are about Stuart himself. Among the reviews from females claims that Stuart stares at them without blinking, he asked one out and took it back before she could turn him down, and an even worse one said that she liked his shirt and he took it off and gave it to her.

Now their lesson involves thrusting forward all together. Raj thinks that they look like the Rockettes. When Sheldon jousts with Leonard, he tells him to prepare for a vigorous touching. Raj and Howard fight with both wanting to be Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride though Raj was supposed to be Puss 'n' Boots. Sheldon wants to learn how to slap someone so he can challenge them to a duel. Kripke then learns about the Shamy breakup and shows interest in Amy which upsets Sheldon. Leonard says that she is bound to date at some point at that she deserves to be happy. Sheldon then slaps Leonard with his glove exclaiming, "How dare you!" Leonard suggest to Barry that it wouldn't be a good idea to ask Amy out. Sheldon then approaches Barry and challenges him to a duel over Amy three years from now after Barry had been finished teaching him the sport. He forewarns him that if he is a good instructor, that Sheldon will give him a thorough thrashing and will touch him all over.

Finally Stuart and the girls admit that the problem isn't the store, but Stuart himself. He gets nervous around women, though he doesn't nervous around his friend's girls. He uses the trick that he visualizes his audience as all naked; however, this is yet another uncomfortable moment. Amy asks him if he knows how creepy that sounds. Stuart defends himself that it was a joke. Bernadette squeaks in asking if that is really true and Stuart replies that it isn't. Penny wants to know what went wrong with him. Stuart confesses that at this point in his life, he thought he would be married, or in a relationship or had a pet that didn't want to kill himself. There was this rabbit. The longer he is alone, the more desperate he gets. Amy tries to explain to Stuart that she was alone for a long time and had to hide he insecurities after she met Penny and Bernadette. Stuart tells them that they all feel it, and yes he'll go out with her. Amy now identifies with his rabbit.

The guys have gone to a sports bar since are now athletes and Sheldon is having female problems. Not that kind. Howard urges him to forget about Amy and move on by starting to date. Sheldon thinks that that is ridiculous since both Penny and Bernadette are married and Raj's girlfriend with her red hair and white complexion reminds him too much of a clown which is one of his phobias. Leonard asks him if he might try a woman who is not in a serious relationship with one of his friends. Sheldon notices a blond woman walk by and decides to ask her out. He is completely drunk after having three sips of beer; a lot even for Sheldon. He walks up to three women at a table and tells the attractive blonde that he is recovering from a recent breakup and has been told that asking out another would make him feel better. As Ash Ketchum said to Pikachu, "I choose you." The blonde doesn't understand Sheldon, so he asks the next woman who is the first woman's grandmother and married. The third woman looks like Emily, which reminds Sheldon of a clown, so he tells her to give her regards to Barnum and Bailey.

Back at Leonard and Penny's, Penny compliments Stuart for taking Amy's rejection, though he was on the breast cam. Amy finds it hard turning some guy down. Bernadette replies that some guys you just have to keep turning down. Penny adds that sometimes you end up marrying them. Amy then receives a drink invitation from Barry Kripke. Penny and Bernadette are shocked that Amy has had two date invitations in one day! Amy thinks that it is happening so fast. Bernadette says that maybe she should move on to someone who is not like Sheldon. Not a scientist? Not a weirdo. Is she attracted to him? Penny tells her to imagine him naked. She doesn't have to imagine, because Kripke sent her a picture of himself naked. Ewww.

Coming up the stairs, Sheldon complains of smelling funny and tasting salty. He has been sweating for once. Sheldon also wonders how many licks it would get to the center of him. (Like a Tootsie Pop). They run into Bernadette and Amy coming down the stairs. Leonard and Bernadette leave so they can talk. After saying that they are well, Sheldon mentions that he took up fencing. Sheldon continues that Barry Kripke was his instructor and that he was interested in taking her out. Amy replies that he did and she turned him down. Sheldon found that interesting since he also asks two ladies out and they both turned him down. Amy was surprised and said that she didn't know that he was interested in dating. His friends had told him that is was a good way to move on. Visibly shaken, Amy replies "Oh, Okay." She then tells Sheldon it was good to see him and he looks good; Sheldon quips "I taste good too" and walks up the stairs. Amy remains standing in the hallway looking hurt and upset.

Finally, Bernadette is checking her computer and wonders how Howard could run 174 miles in one day. Howard is caught the deer in headlights while finishing the batter spoon.

Critics

 * Jesse Schedeen at IGN - This episode didn't start off so great thanks to some stereotypical "nerds can't play sports" humor, but it eventually found its stride…There was a certain charm in seeing the guys try their hand at fencing and live out their fantasies of being swashbuckling heroes. The scene where they took advantage of Barry's phone call to get a little horseplay in before resuming their stances was amusing…The episode also ended on a strong note, as Amy and Sheldon were forced into an awkward encounter in the stairwell. This scene was handled very nicely. You really got the sense that the two were happy to see each other despite being stiffly on guard. That scene illustrates better than any other so far how much these two characters are suffering in the wake of their breakup.

Trivia

 * John Ross Bowie returned as Barry Kripke in this episode.
 * Kripke and Stuart ask Amy out but she turns them both down.
 * Sheldon is deeply troubled by the idea of Kripke showing an interest in Amy (his jealousy was last seen in "The Comic Book Store Regeneration"- S8E15).
 * Amy clearly wants to reconcile with Sheldon, despite the numerous bad experience in the previous episodes (she turns down Stuart and Kripke and is hurt when she learns that the guys are trying to encourage Sheldon to move on).
 * Second episode in which Sheldon feels left out when Amy goes on a date. The first time being in "The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition" (S5E10) when she went out with Stuart.
 * When asking out the woman in the bar, Sheldon makes a Pokémon reference (Ash choosing his companion, Pikachu ); however, what actually happened in the show was that Pikachu was the only option for Ash, because Ash had overslept and all the starter Pokemon had already been given to other trainers.
 * Second episode where Bernadette yells 'WALK!' angrily at the top of her voice to a person - this time to Amy. The first time she did it was to Howard in "The Tenure Turbulence" (S6E20).
 * Third stumble in the Shamy separation is the fault of Howard who insists that Sheldon start dating other women and causes Amy to also start dating.
 * In "The Benefactor Factor" (S4E15), Sheldon had no qualms regarding a prostate exam, but in this episode he thinks his honor has been violated by such. However, he spoke of a self-examination procedure in "The Rothman Disintegration" (S5E17) In also asked Leonard if his girlfriend Dr. Stephanie Barnett would give him one in "The Vartabedian Conundrum" (S2E10).
 * Penny thought Stuart was a nice guy in "The Classified Materials Turbulence" (S2E22), yet asks what is wrong with him after the revelation of his Kripke-like perversion. Amy also had the same first impression of him in "The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition" (S5E10).
 * Raj referenced "The Princess Bride" previously in "The Workplace Proximity" (S7E5).

Quotes

 * Sheldon: Can I stab on of my friends?
 * Barry Kripke: We don't call it a stab. We call it a touch.
 * Sheldon: Yes, but if i say i want to touch one of my friends I'll be called into human resources.


 * Stuart: Thanks for coming by.
 * Bernadette Sure. So how can we help?
 * Stuart: Well, I know more women are buying comics than ever, but for some reason, I-I can't get 'em in here.
 * Penny: All right, well, what have you tried so far?
 * Stuart: Uh, I've-I've been stocking more female-oriented titles. Uh, in the bathroom, I folded the end of the toilet paper into a triangle. And, uh, you are now sitting in the official breastfeeding area.
 * Penny: Really? In a comic book store?
 * Stuart: Oh, don't worry. I-I've got a camera right up here, so I could watch from the counter and make sure guys aren't being pervs.
 * Amy: Well, for starters you might want to rethink some of this artwork. I mean, this woman is actually on a leash like a dog.
 * Stuart: Well, you don’t know the back story. Maybe she kept jumping up on the couch.


 * Leonard: Hey, Barry Kripke started a fencing club.
 * Sheldon: Interesting. Sword fighting does hold a certain elegant appeal. And I imagine it meets many of our personal criteria for a sport.
 * Leonard: It's indoors, so no sunscreen.
 * Sheldon: No throwing, no catching, no running.
 * Leonard: No gym shorts that can be yanked down.
 * Sheldon: Or worse, up.
 * Leonard: Preach.


 * Amy: Have you thought about advertising directly to females?
 * 'Stuart: Hmm, okay. Well... All right. What if I put up a sign in the window that said, "Women, come in. Don't be afraid."
 * Penny: Hey. Uh, have you read the online reviews for this place?
 * Stuart: Eh, the Internet's so negative. I try to avoid it.
 * Penny: All right, well, Heather H. says, "The owner stared at me the whole time and didn't blink once." Kelly M. says, "The creepy guy who runs it asked me out, then called himself stupid before I could say no." Jessica K. says, "I told the weird owner that I liked his shirt. He took it off and gave it to me."
 * Stuart: See? Negative.


 * Sheldon: Is that the prototype-drive system for the high-G rover?
 * Howard: No, Bernadette got me at Fitbit so she can track how much I’m exercising.
 * Leonard: That’ll teach her to care about your health.


 * Leonard: Look at all these activities the university has. Rock climbing club, archery, flag football…
 * Sheldon: Had me at flag, lost me at football.
 * Penny: Yeah, I think it’s great you guys want to get more exercise, but do you really think that sports is the right choice for you?
 * Leonard: What are you saying? We’re not coordinated enough to play sports?
 * Penny: Okay, Leonard, sweetheart, you twisted you ankle playing Scrabble.
 * Leonard: I got a triple word score with a double letter “Q”. If that’s not a time to bust out in a Scrabble dance, what’s point of having one?
 * Penny: Okay, Leonard, sweetheart, you twisted you ankle playing Scrabble.
 * Leonard: I got a triple word score with a double letter “Q”. If that’s not a time to bust out in a Scrabble dance, what’s point of having one?


 * Stuart: All right, I'm not saying it's true, but let's-let's consider for a moment that possibly I'm the problem.
 * Penny: Yeah.
 * Bernadette: You are.
 * Amy: You can say it.
 * Stuart: Okay, fine. What...? I mean, what can I do? I get so nervous around women.
 * Penny: Well, you're talking to us now. I mean, you don't seem nervous.
 * Stuart: Well, that's 'cause I'm doing that trick where you imagine the audience is naked. By the way, thumbs up, ladies.
 * (Bernadette is very cross by this)
 * Amy: Do you not hear how creepy that sounds?
 * Stuart: (laughing): It was a joke.
 * Bernadette: (very cross) Was it?
 * Stuart: No, I'm still doing it.
 * Penny: Okay. Don't be offended, but... what went wrong with you?
 * Stuart':I-I guess I assumed at this point in my life, I would be married or in a relationship, or even have a pet that didn't run away or kill itself.
 * Bernadette: That really happened? I mean, I can't say for sure, but I swear that rabbit looked me right in the eye before it hopped in front of that car. Anyway, the longer I'm alone, the more desperate I get.
 * Amy: Stuart, believe it or not, I understand. You know, before I met Sheldon, I was alone for a really long time. I was so desperate for people to like me, when I met these guys, it took everything in my power to hide my insecurity.
 * Stuart(laughing): Okay, we're all feeling it. Yes, I'll go out with you.
 * Amy: (to Bernadette)''' Suddenly, the rabbit thing makes sense.
 * (Bernadette now says nothing)


 * Leonard: Listen I should warn you that maybe asking Amy out is not a good idea.
 * Sheldon: Barry, a word.
 * Leonard: And now the crazy version of what I just said.
 * Sheldon: IF intent to pursue Amy, you ;leave me no choice, but to put a stop to it.
 * Barry: And how are you gonna do that?
 * Sheldon: By challenging you to a duel.
 * Barry: You’ve had one lesson. I’ll destroy you.
 * Sheldon: That is why the duel will take place at high noon three years from today. If your worth your salt as an instructor, I should be ready by then. And be warned. I’m going to touch you all over.


 * Sheldon: Excuse me. I’m recovering from a recent breakup and I’m told asking out another woman might make me feel better. And as Ash Ketchum said to Pikachu: I choose you.
 * Natalie: What?
 * Sheldon: It’s a Pokemon reference.
 * Natalie: I don’t know what that means.
 * Sheldon: Well, we gave it a shot. How about you?
 * Grace: I‘m married and I’m her grandmother.
 * Sheldon: Ah, what might have been? And you, give my regard to Barnum and Bailey.


 * Bernadette: Stuart took that rejection like a pro.
 * Penny: Well, he knew he was on the breast cam.
 * Amy: I don't have much practice turning men down. It wasn't so much fun.
 * Bernadette: Oh, you get used to it. Some guys you have to turn down over and over.
 * Penny: And sometimes we marry them anyway. (phone chimes) Huh. Well, this is weird.
 * Penny: What?
 * Amy: Barry Kripke just asked me out.
 * (Penny gasps for a second)
 * Bernadette: Oh. Look at you-- two guys in one day!
 * Penny: I told you things would change if you plucked your eyebrows!
 * Bernadette: What did he say?
 * Amy: (reading her text message) "Hi, how are you? I was wondering if you'd like to get a drink after work sometime." Well, what are you gonna do? I don't know. I guess I assumed that I would eventually date other people, but this is happening so fast.
 * Bernadette: What can it hurt? Well, I was hoping the next person I dated would be a little less like Sheldon.
 * Bernadette: (asking Amy crossly) You mean, not a scientist?
 * Penny: I think she means not a weirdo.
 * Bernadette: Are you attracted to him?
 * Amy: I don't know.
 * Penny: All right, well, what happens if you imagine him naked?
 * Amy: Oh, I don't have to imagine it.
 * (Both Bernadette and Penny gasp together in disgust by the image Amy had showed them on her phone. Amy now nods at the image on her phone by herself for a second)


 * Sheldon: I smell funny. I taste salty.
 * Leonard: You're just sweaty from exercise.
 * Sheldon: And kind of delicious. I wonder how many licks it would take to get to the center of me.
 * Leonard: I know it only takes one doctor's finger.
 * Amy: Hello.
 * Sheldon: Hello.
 * Leonard: We should let you guys talk...
 * Bernadette: Yeah.
 * [Leonard goes upstairs and Bernadette goes downstairs]
 * Sheldon: You don’t have to leave.
 * Leonard: Look at me go.
 * Amy: Uh, Bernadette. You’re my ride.
 * Bernadette: (shouting from her back view) WALK!!
 * [Bernadette now exits and she is finally gone]
 * Amy: (asking Sheldon grumpily) How have you been?
 * Sheldon: (answering Amy grumpily) I’m doing all right. I tried fencing today.
 * Amy: (sarcastically) How’d that go?
 * Sheldon: (speaks to Amy in low-tone) It was pretty easy. I think my background in mathletics helped. Barry Kripke was there. I should let you know that he expressed interest in asking you out.
 * Amy: (grumpily surprised) Well, actually he already did.
 * Sheldon: Okay. Don’t get too attached to him. In two years, 364 days he’s a dead man.
 * Amy: (low-tone of anger) I said no.
 * Sheldon: Interesting. I asked two woman out today and they both said no.
 * Amy: (quietly shocked) I didn’t know you were interested in dating.
 * Sheldon: I’ve been told it’s a good way to move on.
 * Amy: (grumpy for the last time) Oh. Okay. Ah, anyway, it’s nice to see you. You look good.
 * Sheldon: Um. Thanks. And I taste good too.
 * [Sheldon exits up the stairs and Amy now makes a huge frowning expression]


 * (The ending scene of which Bernadette is checking her computer in the Wolowitz kitchen looking rather puzzled and very cross about something. She bellows crossly for Howard)
 * Bernadette: (calls for Howard crossly) Howie?
 * (Howard opens the door and enters the kitchen)
 * Howard: What's up?
 * (Bernadette sighs crossly to Howard)
 * Bernadette: (she is now extremely cross with him) Why does your Fitbit say you ran 174 miles yesterday?
 * (Howard has a little lick of the batter spoon and says nothing).

Reference
Taping Report