 The title " A Many Splendored Thing " is a reference to the 1952 historical romance novel A Many @-@ Splendoured Thing and the subsequent film Love Is a Many @-@ Splendored Thing ( 1955 ) . The title refers to the episode 's theme of the many variations of love , as demonstrated by the sexual taboos from the world of Angela Frandina , the dysfunctional relationship of Munch and Felicia , the budding romance between Bolander and Linda , and the twisted love Mitchell Forman harbors for pens . The Forman case was inspired by a real @-@ life murder that took place in Anne Arundel County , Maryland , in which a 23 @-@ year @-@ old man shot another man 10 times in a doughnut shop when the victim refused to sell the shooter his pen . During the double date Munch crashes , Howard becomes depressed about the hopelessness of life and love , leaving unhappily with Danvers . This scene foreshadows the eventual break @-@ up of Howard and Danvers , which occurs at an unspecified time in the third season . 
