Ep 3. The Gothowitz Deviation

In The Big Bang Theory season 3 episode 3, titled "The Gothowitz Deviation," the focus is on Howard and his relationship woes.

The episode starts with Howard and Raj trying to pick up goth girls at a local club, which Howard seems to be successful at. However, when he goes to their house later that night, he is in for a surprise. The girls have a surprise visitor, their father, who turns out to be a rather large and intimidating man. The girls' father takes an instant liking to Howard, but Howard feels uncomfortable and rushes out.

The next day, Howard goes to work and tells his friends about the previous night's events. They are all surprised to find out that Howard went home with two goth girls, but their shock quickly turns into concern when Howard reveals that he is scared of the girls' father. The gang then sets out to help Howard find a way out of his predicament.

Meanwhile, Sheldon is dealing with his own issues. He is upset that his assistant, Alex, is going to leave him to work for his arch-nemesis, Barry Kripke. Sheldon is determined not to let Alex go and does everything he can to keep him, even resorting to blackmail.

Back to Howard, the girls' father comes to visit him at work, and it turns out that he is actually a kind and supportive man. He tells Howard that he thinks of him as a son and invites him to come over for dinner. Howard hesitantly accepts the invitation and brings Raj along as support. The dinner is awkward, but Howard manages to bond with the family over his love of science and even helps the girls' father with a project.

As for Sheldon, his plan to keep Alex backfires and he ends up losing him to Kripke. However, Sheldon realizes that he was wrong to try and manipulate Alex and lets him go with his blessing.

Overall, "The Gothowitz Deviation" is a fun and light-hearted episode that focuses on Howard's character and his relationships. It also shows a vulnerable side to Sheldon, which is rare for the character. It's a great mix of comedy and heartwarming moments, and a must-watch for any fan of the show.