CFK emerges from too much work to bring you this week's episode.  I'm up for anything that puts Sheldon in drag. But what kind of convoluted scenario will lead to it? Let's find out.

We start with a taping of "Fun With Flags", the one show-within-a-show I wish was real. Seriously, wouldn't you follow this shit religiously? Anyway, it's the final episode, which breaks my tiny heart. Sheldon has found the pressures of work and a social life too difficult to manage, and the show has got to go. He and Amy banter adorably for the camera. Seriously, it's sweet. Opening credits.

Raj, Leonard and Howard go through a dead professor's office, where they completely judge him over not having a family. They sort through his work to find anything important, and only find a note and a bottle of champagne from his mom - to be opened when he makes a big discovery. It was never opened, which is tragic - well, the guys keep joking about the poor man's name, but maybe someone thinks it's tragic. Penny meets her boss for dinner, and he's totally into her, but she gracefully laughs it off. He also hates Bernadette, or fears her, or both. Sheldon continues to film the final episode in his trademark soulless manner. He also keeps throwing barbs at Amy for forgetting to record an important episode. They also play a highlight reel, which is quite hilarious, including the aforementioned Sheldon-dressed-as-Betsy-Ross thing, which is hilariously perfect. There's also some bad green screen involving beach flags and 1920's swimsuits, and the Best of Kripke's Lisp.

The rest of the guys continue to sort through the dead prof's data, where they wonder if any of the info might be usable. Who knows, they might even be able to crack open that bottle. Bernadette and Penny's dinner with Dan continues to be awkward, mostly due to Bernadette's slightly acerbic personality. When Dan goes off to get drinks, Penny tries to tactfully tell Bernadette that she's a little too harsh sometimes. It doesn't go well, really.

The Flags extravaganza has a special guest this time - AND OH MY GOD IT'S LEVAR BURTON. He's appeared before, but his arrival is always a delightful surprise. Keep in mind I'm fangirling not because of Roots or Reading Rainbow or Star Trek, but more because of this:

Sheldon chooses this moment to run what appears to be his one blackface episode by Burton, who is stunned into silence.

The guys go to visit the dead prof's colleague, Professor Sharpe, who quickly debunks the information. It's the man's food diary, not a brilliant theorem. Sharpe tells them that his colleague never amounted to anything. Over at dinner, Bernadette keeps protesting that she's not mean, which doesn't quite convince Penny. She suggests that Bernadette show some attempts at sweetness. It really doesn't work.

Sheldon brings the episode to a close, paying a special tribute to Amy and her hosting skills. He then tells his audience how much the show has meant to him. He then uses a white flag as a kleenex to dry his tears. Honestly, this is the most human I've ever seen him. He does take one last jab at Amy, though, because human doesn't mean normal.

Talking about the deceased Roger Abbott (heh), Howard reflects on how some people will never accomplish anything even if they work hard, though not him because he went to space. They all decide to take the champagne and save it for their first big accomplishment, someday - though not before they rub it in Sheldon's face. Bernadette goes up to apologize to Dan, who then decides to tell her everything they've kept from her to save their sanity. Bernadette concludes that she's a monster and cries. And somehow manages to manipulate them into buying her an espresso machine.

Leonard returns home to find a morose Sheldon, who has received no comments on his final video. Just then, he gets his first comment, which is fairly positive. Inspired, Sheldon decides to bring the show back - and pops the champagne to celebrate, though he doesn't intend to drink it. Leonard is exasperated, as usual.

Tag scene - Sheldon knocks on LeVar Burton's door to offer him a part in the next episode. It's about flags, and involves Burton dressing up like a swastika. Burton is less than enthusiastic.

This episode had three short stories in one, and two were quite effective (Bernadette had her moments, but it was pretty lightweight). Leonard, Howard and Raj had a wonderful arc in which they pondered their own worth. However, Sheldon's storyline took the cake, with some great comedic moments and some true poignancy at the end. Until we get a "Fun With Flags" spinoff, I'm very glad that we have episodes like these to keep us going.

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