"The Ornithophobia Diffusion" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 10, 2011. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Bill Prady, Steven Molaro and Eric Kaplan, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, David Goetsch and Anthony Del Broccolo.
Rather than deal with Sheldon's irrational fear of birds, Leonard decides to go to the movies with Penny as friends. Throughout the evening, Leonard hammers home the point that he did a lot of things while dating Penny strictly to have sex with Penny, such as agreeing to Penny's movie choices.
But now that they're just friends, they should go watch a documentary about dams. And for dinner and drinks afterwards, Penny should pay for her half of the check.
Meanwhile, at Apartment 4A, Sheldon builds an ultrasonic blaster to scare away a bird. But the device doesn't work as Sheldon wanted and the bird comes into the apartment. Sheldon finds, much to his surprise, that he actually likes the bird, and is very disappointed when the bird flies out the window, presumably never to return.
Back in the apartment building, Penny tells Leonard that she likes how much more assertive he is now that sex is off the table. So Leonard tries asserting that sex is back on the table, but Penny says good night and goes back to her apartment.
Sheldon offers a "large reward" for the return of the bird, and tries incubating the egg he found in the nest.
Tropes
- Bad "Bad Acting": At one point, Sheldon tries to scare off the bird with a poorly drawn picture of a cat's face while meowing. When it doesn't work, Sheldon believes it's because he forgot to put whiskers on the picture.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: When Penny is leaving Sheldon's apartment, which currently has a bird on it's ledge, she calls out "Don't forget, he's more scared of you than you are of him!". Sheldon comments that doesn't help a lot. Penny then reveals she was talking to the bird.
- Big "NO!": Sheldon gives off a hilarious one when the bird lands on his spot on the couch.
- Call-Back: Sheldon mentions the time a chicken chased him up a tree, which he mentioned in a previous episode.
- Continuity Nod to "The Prestidigitation Approximation": In this episode, Penny knows that Leonard has two Starfleet uniforms. In the earlier episode, Leonard explained that one is a dress uniform and the other is an everyday uniform.
- Freudian Excuse: Sheldon's hatred of birds comes from many, many incidents where he was attacked or humiliated by numerous birds.Raj: What's your problem with birds?
Sheldon: The question you should be asking is, what is their problem with me?! - Glass-Shattering Sound: Sheldon gets a high-frequency tone generator to scare the bird off the window ledge. It shatters the window panes, but the bird is undisturbed.Raj: Wow, that is one tough birdie.
- Pest Episode: A bird gets inside Sheldon's apartment, which freaks him out. Bernadette and Amy eventually convince him that the bird won't hurt him and he becomes attached to it. Unfortunately, the bird flies away at that moment, leaving Sheldon heartbroken.
- Saw "Star Wars" Twenty-Seven Times: Leonard plans to see A New Hope with the guys.Penny: Haven't you seen that movie like a thousand times?
Leonard: Not on Blu-Ray. [Beat] Only twice on Blu-Ray. - This Loser Is You: Admit it, guys. If you identify with either Leonard or Penny, you got hit by at least one of the insults they were throwing at each other.
- Volleying Insults: Leonard and Penny discuss each others' perceived shortcomings in front of Laura at the bar. It gets a little brutal.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Sheldon's well-established fear of birds is front and center here.
