The Big Bang Theory (Season 2)

Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Sara Gilbert
Creator: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Genre: Sitcom
Rating: B+

The second season of The Big Bang Theory develops the characters a lot more, leading to the formation of a lot of the things that become key elements of the show.  We get to really know Sheldon (Parsons) as more than just a jackass; it’s in this season that he really becomes a neurotic asshole who could easily be diagnosed with a number of different disorders – although whenever anyone says that he’s crazy, Sheldon is always quick to deny it and say that his mother had him tested.  In rather weird way, Sheldon becomes loveable in this season – he is as infuriating for the viewer as he is for his friends, but in a way that makes him rather endearing and loveable.  Adding to Sheldon’s growth is the growth of Penny (Cuoco) and Leonard (Galecki), their friendship, and their feelings for each other.  I really enjoy the development of this relationship, and the way that gradually over time Leonard becomes less awkward around Penny and, in turn, Penny becomes a bit more… understanding of the men in the show.

The season opens and closes in a sort of opposites; at the start, Leonard and Penny have just completed their first date, which results in a very short lived and somewhat disastrous relationship as Leonard begins to over think things and the difference in intelligence between the two comes into play.  The bulk of the remainder of the season shows Leonard trying to move on and get over his feelings for Penny, although he isn’t exactly successful at this and even as her friend still winds up questioning the nature of their relationship and over thinking the meanings of things that she says.  By the end of the season, however, his over thinking seems to be in line, as Penny becomes rather distraught at the idea of him, and the other guys, going to the North Pole for three months.  In between the two events, Leslie Winkle (Gilbert) briefly dated first Leonard then Howard (Helberg), making one question just how the hell Howard managed to get laid.  Leonard also dates Stephanie Barnett (Sara Rue), proving that it is possible for Leonard to date someone that Sheldon approves of.  We’re also introduced to reoccurring characters, including Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie), a co-worker and antagonist of the guys; Beverly Hofstadter (Christine Baranski), Leonard’s mother; and Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) and Captain Sweatpants (Ian Scott Rudolph), the owner of the comic book store and a regular patron, respectively.

I think some of the humour in this season is my favourite of the show's course, at least so far.   The guest stars that they have this season are amazing - I especially like the episode where Summer Glau appears as herself, and the guys all try to hit on her.  This is really the last season where the focus is more on the random antics of the male characters in the show and not on their romantic entanglements, although the romantic entanglements do have a part.  I was a bit disappointed in the part that Gilbert played; while I enjoyed Leslie Winkle in the first season, I didn't like how they used her in the second season and found her to be rather one-dimensional.  This is definitely also the last season where the characters really are as they were at the start of the show, each one makes some form of growth in this season, however subtly, and even more growth in the later seasons.  You can definitely see here the ways that this show is evolving.

Leslie Winkle wasn't the only additional character that I disliked.  Barry Kripke never ceases to annoy me, both in his character and his speech.  While I enjoy Stuart overall, he tends to be a bit too depressing for my tastes - I'd like to see something good happen in his life for once.  He provides a great foil to the group, but is really kind of pathetic.  Not as pathetic as Captain Sweatpants, but that's a whole other issue.  I did love Leonard's mother, but so far I've loved all the parental introductions and would like to see more from the character's extended families.