The Terminator Decoupling

Season 2, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

The gang is thrilled when they see Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Summer Glau is also aboard their train to San Francisco for a scientific symposium. Meanwhile, Sheldon frets over having forgotten a paper he wants to present to George Smoot.
7.8
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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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  • Sheldon on a train. Whee!

    7.8
    "Good"
    By patty_h, Apr 23, 2011 Report Abuse
    I have to admit that I had higher expectations for this one. The gang meeting Summer Glau seemed interesting, and what could have been a great episode turned out to be average at best.
    Sheldons usual paranoid weirdness was remarkable (as it usually is), and the Penny/Sheldon interaction was the highlight of the episode. Raj, the indian casanova, came in a close second, and the rest of the cast seemed a little out of place. Leonard was completely underused, and Wolowitz persuit of Summer Glau was missing some of his creepiness.
    Fun to watch, and even though Sheldon got to take the train, The Terminator Decoupling was not one of the seasons finest.moreless

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    2 5

  • 217

    8.8
    "Great"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Jan 02, 2011 Report Abuse
    Better than the last episode in a lot of ways. We got some originality here, and this episode was made memorable due to the very funny plot formula. The gang in a train for 11 hours trying different methods to hit on a TV star. Meanwhile Sheldon & Penny have amazing interactions. And this episode clearly proves that Sheldon & Penny together in a plot equals hilarity.

    Summer Glaue was pretty funny here, but she definitely bounced off the main cast. This was one of those times where Howard was really funny, even Raj brought a few laughs. Of course most of the laughs came from Sheldon & Penny tonight, regardless, overall this was a hilarious episode and it just wrapped together perfectly in the end there.

    Memorable episode, likable characters, and funny one liners and you've got yourself a great TBBT episode.moreless

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    0 0

  • The guys run into Summer Glau on a train. The rest of the summary is not needed because the fact that friggin' Summer Glau is in the episode should be enough to win. It is.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By themarkedx, Dec 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    The guys run into Summer Glau on a train. The rest of the summary is not needed because the fact that friggin' Summer Glau is in the episode should be enough to win. It is.

    This episode doesn't have the good writing it has usual. I would rate it 6/10. Fortunately they had Summer Glau who is the only person who rates 14 on a scale of 10 so combined this episode scores a 10. They should thank Summer for gracing them with her presence. I think I'm gonna check out the Terminator show now.

    Too bad Sheldon and Summer never got to speak to eachother.moreless

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    10 10

  • Summer Glau makes a appearence.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By efc91, Sep 19, 2010 Report Abuse
    The gang is thrilled when they see Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Summer Glau is also aboard their train to San Francisco for a scientific symposium. Meanwhile, Sheldon frets over having forgotten a paper he wants to present to George Smoot. This show has been great lately the writers are on good form. It was great seeing the gang on a train with Summer it was really funny when Leonard went to talk to her. Sheldon gettiing called Moonpie was hilarous and it was even better when he lost his temper. Overal another histerically funny episode another 9.5 out of 10.moreless

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    1 3

  • a filler episode, i only liked the scene of Penney teasing Sheldon.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By altaleh, Jul 02, 2010 Report Abuse
    regular episode, not that strong if i need to say!!! i mean it kinda funny but not big bang funny :s
    i liked when Penny started to teas Sheldon she really got him, i never saw Sheldon that angry !!
    but the hottest thing about this episode was the appearance of the beautiful terminator , Raj stupid he thought he was drunk but he wasn't, and Korthabali was Sheldon for the terminator !!
    but overall i didn't thought that this episode can be compared with the previous episodes of this season it lacked a lot of stuff, and it only can be typed as a filler episode!!moreless

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    2 1
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Sheldon and Leo are exchanging the iPhone while talking to Penny, it clearly shows that they were not making any actual phone calls. The iPhone screen switches off while making a call and pressed against the caller's head, but it remains at the contacts screen. Edit
    • Penny mentions that a play might be the only chance I actually have to play Anne Frank. Actress Kaley Cuoco previously played a character on another show who played Anne Frank in the 8 Simple Rules season two episode, "The Story of Anne Frank and Skeevy". Edit

  • Notes

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    • This episode's end titles has Chuck Lorre's Vanity Card #243. Edit
    • The 'sci-fi female appearing as herself' role was originally offered to Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff, who turned down the role. Edit
    • The German episode title is "Das Placebo-Bier", meaning "The Near Beer". The French title is "Terminator dans le train", meaning "Terminator on the Train". The Italian title is "Il binario del Terminator", meaning "Terminator Railroad". The Spanish title is "La separación de Terminator", an exact translation. The Mexican title is "Terminator multiplicado por diez", meaning "Terminator Times Ten". Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Sheldon: Stop. We can't do this. It's not right. Raj: Sheldon, you have two choices. Either you let him put a bigger hard drive in the TiVo, or you delete stuff before we go out of town. Sheldon: But once you open the box, you've voided the warranty. The warranty is a sacred covenant we've entered into with the manufacturer. He offers to stand by his equipment, and we in return agree not to violate the integrity of the internal hardware. This little orange sticker is all that stands between us and anarchy. Edit
    • Sheldon: So I'm thinking, 'You won the Nobel Prize, what, three years ago,' so you must deal with a whole lot of 'what has Smoot done lately?' My thought is, we continue my research as a team. You know, Cooper-Smoot—alphabetical—and when we win the Nobel Prize, you'll be back on top. Dr. George Smoot: With all due respect, Dr. Cooper, are you on crack? Edit
    • Raj: Have you seen Slumdog Millionaire? Summer: Oh, yeah, I loved it. Raj: It's loosely based on my life. Edit

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