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The Barbarian Sublimation

  • Episode aired Oct 6, 2008
  • TV-PG
  • 21m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory (2007)
ComedyRomance

Sheldon introduces Penny to online gaming, however she refuses to quit after becoming addicted.Sheldon introduces Penny to online gaming, however she refuses to quit after becoming addicted.Sheldon introduces Penny to online gaming, however she refuses to quit after becoming addicted.

  • Director
    • Mark Cendrowski
  • Writers
    • Chuck Lorre
    • Bill Prady
    • Steven Molaro
  • Stars
    • Johnny Galecki
    • Jim Parsons
    • Kaley Cuoco
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.7/10
    5.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Cendrowski
    • Writers
      • Chuck Lorre
      • Bill Prady
      • Steven Molaro
    • Stars
      • Johnny Galecki
      • Jim Parsons
      • Kaley Cuoco
    • 7User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos79

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    Top cast9

    Edit
    Johnny Galecki
    Johnny Galecki
    • Leonard Hofstadter
    Jim Parsons
    Jim Parsons
    • Sheldon Cooper
    Kaley Cuoco
    Kaley Cuoco
    • Penny
    Simon Helberg
    Simon Helberg
    • Howard Wolowitz
    Kunal Nayyar
    Kunal Nayyar
    • Raj Koothrappali
    Sara Gilbert
    Sara Gilbert
    • Leslie Winkle
    Mark Harelik
    Mark Harelik
    • Dr. Eric Gablehauser
    Tyler Jon Olson
    Tyler Jon Olson
    • Blaine
    • (as Tyler Olson)
    Mark Hames
    Mark Hames
    • Tom
    • Director
      • Mark Cendrowski
    • Writers
      • Chuck Lorre
      • Bill Prady
      • Steven Molaro
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    8.75.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8mr_olimpia09

    The Barbarian Sublimation: Gaming, Geek Culture, and Comedy

    This episode centers on the characters' immersion in online gaming, highlighting humorous consequences and character quirks. The interactions are playful and character-driven, keeping the sitcom light and entertaining.

    Pros: clever humor, engaging character interactions, entertaining depiction of geek culture.

    Cons: plot is straightforward and predictable, typical for early-season episodes.

    Verdict: A fun and light-hearted episode that emphasizes character dynamics and geeky humor.

    My rating: 8/10.
    8studioAT

    The Barbarian Sublimation

    A very funny Sheldon/Penny centred episode, with some lovely moments.

    Everything really felt like it was gelling here, from the writing to the cast dynamic.

    Great.
    9ThePunatic

    By far the best episode of all 12 seasons

    Much of this show is 2 or 3 jokes over and over again, but this episode really is genuinely funny. I dropped off 5-6 seasons in, but somehow always caught this episode on reruns and that made me return to the show and endure through the rest of the 12 seasons. It really is that good, this episode.

    Many tropes come together, much of the laughter-track is appropriate, and not thrown in to convince the inattentive viewer that a joke actually happened, and none of the characters behave out of character. And there's a cameo by a cat too.
    10maligor5

    Simply one of the best

    I always thought the show was overrated until I saw this episode. It was a little more relevant in 2008 when everyone and their mother was playing online games like world of warcraft. It still stands up as a top 5 episode today though. Penny and Sheldon at their best, recommended even if your not a normal fan of this show.
    10Hitchcoc

    No Pajama Bottoms!

    Penny, who recognizes her failures, falls into the realm of serious gaming. She becomes obsessed and totally dependent on Sheldon, whose life she begins to control. There are so many funny scenes, including Sheldon accidentally asking a big guy out, cluelessly. My favorite is when Penny goes into Sheldon's bedroom to get help and Leonard hears them in there. What a great show.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This episode was watched by 9.33 million people with a rating of 3.7 (adults 18-49).
    • Goofs
      When Penny sneaks into Sheldon's bedroom in the middle of the night to ask him a question about her video game, she leaves the door open slightly. She talks to Sheldon for a few minutes, then the scene changes to Leonard hearing the end of their conversion through the door. When the scene changes, the door is clearly closed, and Penny nor Sheldon would not have had any time to close the door.
    • Quotes

      Sheldon Cooper: Would you prefer to wait in our apartment?

      Penny: No, Sheldon, I'd rather sit on this freezing cold floor sobbing like a three-year-old.

      Sheldon Cooper: All right then.

      Penny: For God's sake!

      [Goes inside]

      Sheldon Cooper: Just when I think I've gotten the hang of sarcasm.

    • Crazy credits
      CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #219 On a recent trip to Las Vegas I watched a grim, beer-bellied man row a gondola filled with tourists through the "canals of Venice." This was his job. At some point he had to have filled out an application and undergone an interview process to determine if he had the necessary skills to be a pretend gondolier eight hours a day, five days a week. As he glided past me I found myself imagining him walking into his house at the end of a long day, tossing his keys into the cheap ceramic bowl by the front door and sadly calling out to his wife, "I'm home." To which she would cheerfully respond, "How was work today, sweetie?" But instead of saying "fine," which was how he answered that question every other day, he paused and considered the days' events, and all the events that had led him to this point in his life. Then he crossed to the hall closet, took down a shoe box from the hat shelf, removed a small caliber pistol that he'd bought for home protection, and immediately blew his brains out all over the badly framed photograph of him rowing Barry Manilow. Waking from my brief reverie, I found myself suddenly filled with compassion and respect for this stranger of the inland sea. Compassion for his quiet desperation. And respect that he chose not to take his cheerful wife with him. I don't know about you, but Vegas always does this to me.
    • Connections
      Features Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      History of Everything
      (uncredited)

      Written by Barenaked Ladies

      Performed by Barenaked Ladies

      [Series theme song played during the opening titles]

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Chuck Lorre Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 21m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16 : 9

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