The Roommate Adjustment

We all know the Roommate Agreement is a long and heady document, filled with untold atrocities only Leonard Hofstadter can bear. Goodness knows how long it took Sheldon to compile the thing—though perhaps shorter than it’s taken for us to hear it all.

Our filtering takes progress, then. Season six brought one or two additions to the document, a list we’re sure will only extend longer and longer.

Time to get out those pens and fill in the backs of your own Roommate Agreement: we have new clauses for you. 

Roommate Review: Once a year (presumably), Sheldon assesses Leonard's worthiness as a roommate (S6 Ep2).

Sheldon occasionally calls out Leonard’s snark upon the eve of said “roommate review.” I’d hope its once a year. Once a month would seem a little excessive…but then again, this is Sheldon.

“Sheldon, you are not in charge.”

“That’s mighty sassy for a man with a roommate performance review around the corner.”

-- Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper

Section 27, Paragraph 5: The roommate agreement, like the American flag, cannot touch the ground (S6 Ep15).

On the cusp of Leonard and Sheldon’s recent big fight, Leonard demonstrates he’s had it up to here with the Roommate Agreement and tosses it on the floor. Sheldon, ever defensive of his hard work, cites this clause. Leonard storms out in a huff, but not before making it very clear to Sheldon that he doesn’t really live by his rules.

Although, at the end of the episode, he did move back with his peer university scientist.

“Aw. Here’s what I think of your roommate agreement.”

“You pick that up right now.”

“No.”

“Roommate agreement, section 27, paragraph 5, the roommate agreement, like the American flag, cannot touch the ground.”

Good to know you possess exorbitant importance on this country’s flag, Sheldon.

Roommate Agreement, Part II: The Power of Friendship

Although we’ve long since dissected the original roommate agreement, having a copy sitting in front of me (and hey—you could, too,) opened my eyes to one key fact: a healthy number of addendums discuss how the two roommates can and cannot help each other. Also, how Leonard must assist Sheldon during certain key scenarios.

Its interesting to note that in times of need, year, and robot-invasion, the two scientists always have a plan of action: Sheldon’s plan of action. Let’s go over the headlining clauses and how Leonard has to do the brunt of the work.

1. Body-Snatchers Clause (S2 Ep6): “Leonard will help Sheldon destroy someone who they know has been replaced by an alien pod.” Oddly specific, but anyway;

2. Distress Clause (Section 9) (S3 Ep22):  “The apartment flag – a gold lion rampant on a field of azure – should never fly upside down unless the apartment is in distress.”

And I have yet to see such a heralding banner. For shame, Sheldon Cooper!

3. Time Travel Clause (Section 9)(S3 Ep22): If one of the roommates ever invents time travel, the first stop has to aim exactly five seconds after this clause was signed. Spoiler alert: they didn’t.

4. Robot Clause (Section 74.C) (S4 Ep2): “Leonard must assist Sheldon if he ever becomes a robot.” I suppose that beats android-destruction (I’m personally not a fan).

And yet, for all the crazy possibilities, Leonard finds himself reciprocated one way:

Leonard’s Day (S5 Ep15): “Once a year, Leonard and Sheldon will take one day to celebrate the contributions Leonard makes to Sheldon’s life, both real and in Leonard’s mind. Leonard does not get breakfast in bed, the right to sit in Sheldon’s spot, or the right to alter the thermostat.  The only thing that Leonard shall receive is a card.”

Between shuttling Sheldon to-and-from work, allotted outdoor-hours every other Sunday, standing meal-nights, and the advantage of being able to pull the plug in emergency situations (yeesh), the show proves over and over Leonard surpasses all others in patience to even cosign such an astounding agreement. Until next Thursday!