"The Tangible Affection Proof" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on February 14, 2013. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Jim Reynolds and Tara Hernandez, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and Steve Holland.
Leonard, Howard and Sheldon search for perfect Valentine's gifts for Penny, Bernadette and Amy respectively. Sheldon being Sheldon of course delegates the task of finding the perfect gift for Amy to Alex (Margo Harshman).
Considering that Amy's a neurobiologist, Alex finds Sheldon a gift for Amy of such great historical importance that Sheldon decides to keep it for himself instead of giving it to Amy.
Meanwhile, Raj and Stuart (Kevin Sussman) host a lonely singles' party at the comic book store. Unexpectedly, Raj finds a date: Lucy (Kate Micucci), a woman who struggles with social anxiety.
Tropes
- Hypocritical Humor: After Raj's speech about how the people at the comic book store are great and don't need to be defined by being in a relationship, Lucy asks him out for coffee. He then bids goodbye to the crowd with a "Later, losers!"
- Insane Troll Logic: Alex, noticing that Amy is a fan of The Canterbury Tales, presents a map illustrating the characters' journey through England as a possible gift for her. Sheldon rejects it because Amy has Google Maps on her phone.Alex: I don't know how to respond to that.
- It's All About Me: Penny initially seems to be having a good time with Leonard, but as soon as she sees her ex-boyfriend and ex-friend happy together she becomes bitter at everyone.Penny: They’re bad people. It’s not supposed to end happy for them, it’s supposed to end happy for me.
Leonard: Um, it did end happy for you. You’re here with me.
Penny: Yeah, yeah, I know. - Lazy Husband: Bernadette calls Howard this for not doing laundry.
- Rousing Speech: Raj makes one at the comic book store.Excuse me, everybody! Can I have your attention, please? We're all here tonight because we have no one to be with. But that doesn't make us mutants. The only mutants here are in these comic books. We gotta stop defining our self-worth by whether or not we're in a relationship. You know what I see when I look around? I see a room full of great people. So let's give ourselves a break! We are a community, and as long as we have each other, we're never truly alone.
- Ungrateful Bitch: Discussed regarding Penny. Leonard calls Penny this for deliberately sabotaging the Valentine's Day dinner he threw for her with her bad attitude. Penny downplays her ungratefulness by arguing she didn't want one in the first place but rather Leonard threw it for his own pleasure and she sees it as too soon for her as she feels Leonard will use it to keep proposing to her so they will finally be married and have children, which Penny apparently thinks she isn't ready for yet. Leonard compromises by giving up proposing to her and to just wait for her to propose to him instead.
- Valentine's Day Episode: The gang is dealing with how to celebrate Valentines Day. Sheldon has his assistant look for a gift for Amy; Leonard tries to surprise Penny with a romantic evening, which gets ruined by Penny's bad attitude; Howard accidentally breaks his gift for Bernadette, who is already angry at him for not doing chores; and Raj arranges a mixer at the comic book store, which ends with him getting a date.
