The Big Bang Theory Review: Sheldon Loses His “Escape Hatch”

The Big Bang Theory

Some people that are critical of The Big Bang Theory say that it operates only on the surface level. I would argue those critics haven’t been watching the past few seasons. There have been long gestating, deep-seeded issues boiling for some of these characters for some time, and Big Bang has finally taken a commendable step toward exposing and dealing with those issues, which results in major character growth and strides forward. All told, it’s making the show both entertaining and compelling.

This week on The Big Bang Theory: Raj is looking for a cheaper place to live, so Leonard and Penny offer to let him have Sheldon’s old room. Howard and Bernadette also offer Raj some space, but they don’t have as much space to give. Sheldon, upset that Raj is taking his old room, seeks advice from Leonard’s mother. Leonard’s mom suggests that the kindnesses toward Raj are masking deeper issues for the couples, and for Sheldon.

I’ve been consistently impressed with the growth that these characters have shown over the past few seasons. Though Sheldon has certainly shown the most growth over the past few seasons, they’re not shying away from growing up a formerly immature Howard, or developing a mature relationship between Leonard and Penny. Now, they’ve moved on to Raj. Just an episode ago they identified Raj as having plenty of growing up to do, and they’ve certainly tackled it head on. To me, honestly, Raj is the most interesting he’s been in months, if not years.

Perhaps the best of this is that the show hasn’t lost any humor. What’s funny about these characters is still funny, but they’ve still exhibited growth and changed and evolved over 10 seasons of the show. Sheldon is still funny because of his quirks. Howard’s slightly inappropriate jokes still elicit laughs. Bernadette is still the meanest tiny woman on TV.  But it’s sometimes so hard to see how it’s still working because it has happened so naturally over the course of 10 years. The characters are still funny in the same ways and it baffles me!

Here are some other thoughts/funny moments:

  • “Raj is looking for a cheap place to live and I put India”
  • “You need to be supportive of my hilarious jokes!”- I tell my wife this all the time too.
  • I totally agree that “spruce up the place” = life-size statues.
  • “Penny almost got a science fact right”
  • “You know how I feel about people who aren’t me!” Same here, Sheldon.
  • Perhaps my favorite moment was Stuart, the anti-Negan, using Negan’s bat as a self defense weapon.
  • “See if I can beat my high score on the blood pressure machine”

Maybe the only negative in this for me was turning Stuart, revealed to be a failed artist, as a mooch. Though his character has always been this way, and an amusing sad sack at that, there was a slight implication that artists would sell out and mooch when they fail. I’ve never met an artist like that in my life.

Overall, though, this was a good episode with the growth that Big Bang has been pushing for a few seasons now really starting to shine through. It’s working well and I’m excited to see it continue, assuming that the show continues beyond Season 10.

What did you guys think? Did you enjoy the episode? Let us know!

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS

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