"The Vartabedian Conundrum" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on December 8, 2008. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Bill Prady and Richard Rosenstock based on a story by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro.
Dr. Stephanie Barnett (Sara Rue) has just spent another night with Leonard in his room in Apartment 4A. Sheldon invokes a clause in his roommate agreement with Leonard regarding a woman moving in with Leonard, along with other scenarios they both considered unlikely at the time of signing.
But Leonard disputes that he and Stephanie are living together. Leonard gets a second opinion from Penny, who gets him to see that Stephanie has quietly replaced some of his things with hers. Finally realizing this, Leonard also realizes the relationship is moving too fast for his liking.
Sheldon bothers Stephanie at the hospital, asking her for a bunch of medical examinations. So as to get rid of him, she tells him he's got a swollen larynx and needs to stop talking so his throat can heal. Thus Sheldon is silenced for the rest of the episode.
Leonard tries to get Stephanie to move out without also breaking up, but she dissuades him when talking to her in person in his room. So he cowardly sends her a text message from the university cafeteria telling her to move out. With this, he believes he will never have sex again. But she replies quickly and Leonard rushes out, saying he was wrong about never having sex again.
Tropes
- Failed a Spot Check: Leonard denies that Stephanie has moved into the apartment, even as Penny points out all the stuff of hers in his room. It's only when he can't find his Bat-Signal replica that it dawns on him.Leonard: Don't you think if a woman was living with me that I'd be the first to know about it?
Penny: Oh, sweetie, you'd be the last one to know about it. - Hypochondria: Sheldon complains to Stephanie about a droning sound in his ear. Stephanie finds nothing wrong, but takes advantage of the situation by pretending that he has something in his throat and needs to be quiet for a week.
- Shout-Out: To In Style magazine, a copy of which is one of the items that Stephanie must have brought into Leonard's room.
