Two noses and maybe a few hearts were broken on The Big Bang Theory season 8, episode 9. Check out our recap and share your thoughts on “The Septum Deviation”!
Standard deviation
Leonard has a deviated septum and decides to have surgery to correct it. Sheldon is distressed by this decision, considering the procedure completely elective. Later, he watches Leonard sleep and listens mournfully to his deafening snores.
Sheldon admits that he is scared for Leonard to undergo surgery; he doesn’t think Leonard will survive the anesthesia. Sheldon does the math and tries to calculate Leonard’s odds of death during (and before) the surgery.
Exasperated, Leonard promises to rethink his decision.
The break (I)
After asking Howard and Bernadette for gift ideas for his mom and dad’s 40th wedding anniversary, Raj learns that his parents are splitting up. He puts on a brave face, but is understandably distraught at the news.
Later, Bernadette and Howard visit Raj to cheer him up with muffins and reports of their own parents’ terrible marriages. It works about as well as you’d think.
Dangerous activities
After an earlier appointment for the surgery opens up, Leonard checks into the hospital. Sheldon thinks he’s going to a public pool instead.
Amy tries to keep up the lie, but gets flustered and is forced to tell Sheldon the truth. He insists that Amy take him to the hospital to support Leonard… and tell him “I told you so!” if something goes wrong.
The break (II)
Sheldon and Amy join Penny at the hospital. Sheldon is angry at being lied to, and tries to discuss Leonard’s funeral arrangements with Penny. (Because he’s tactful like that.) Penny asks Sheldon not to bother Leonard when he gets out of surgery, but Sheldon is still angry and reserves his right to take out his anger on his recuperating friend.
As they bicker, a minor earthquake rumbles the hospital and then the power cuts out. Sheldon is overwhelmed with concerned for Leonard, and collides with the swinging door in his desperation to go see him. He falls to the ground, clutching his nose.
The little things
Bernadette admits to Howard that she is concerned about their marriage. She wants them to share the little annoying things about each other they doesn’t want to share, though he suggests improving communication, like he learned in couples’ therapy with his mother Raj.
The couple start to share what they love about each other, which starts out well, but devolves into a passive-aggressive irritation game. Raj joins them for dinner.
Bits and pieces
Post-surgery, Leonard and Sheldon huddle on the couch, wearing matching nose bandages. Sheldon blames Leonard for his own nasal issues, while Leonard is annoyed that Sheldon is still mad at him.
Later, Sheldon unpacks the snarkily-engraved urn he bought for Leonard’s ashes. Sheldon bought his own as well (etched with the words “I’m with stupid,”) which we suspect means that Sheldon gave this less thought than he usually does.