The Big Bang Theory plot hole that should have led to Sheldon’s death

In the season 3 episode “The Vengeance Formulation,” Sheldon is feuding with his nemesis Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie) after Kripke ruins Sheldon’s surprise announcement that he’s going to be interviewed on NPR. Fuming, but determined to deliver a professional interview, Sheldon readies his talking points and sits in his office to call into the interview.

Unbeknownst to him, Kripke already has a plan to sabotage his appearance. As Sheldon speaks he notices his voice is getting higher and higher, until he goes full on cartoon character. Kripke had inserted a nozzle attached to a helium tank through a hole in the wall and filled his office with the inert gas.

Sheldon quickly discovers the prank and vows revenge on Kripke. He ends up getting the episode’s titular vengeance by way of foaming ceiling tiles in Kripke’s office, but as fans of the sitcom have pointed out, were this the real world, Sheldon wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get that sweet, sweet revenge — because in the real world he would have been dead.

Written by: Looper