The Big Bang Theory: The Maternal Capacitance
By fred | February 10, 2009
(S02E15) Some change took place on the TV schedule last night, but there was a new episode of The Big Bang Theory, and it came at 9.30 after a new Two And A Half Men, so one can expect some very good results ratings-wise. And for the occasion, the show continued from last week’s trend and delivered once again a very good and hilarious episode.
I’ve said in the past that if Sheldon makes the show, I always like it best when he gets to interact with Penny. While at first she was just the girl next door and Leonard’s crush, things evolved over time and it is with Sheldon that a real relationship, friendship, was developed. Plus, those two just have great chemistry and work very well together.
They’re not the same, they’re so not the same, but they do work well together. However this week, it was another woman Sheldon found a connection with. Odd as it may be, if Leonard had met Sheldon’s mother, Sheldon had never met Mrs. Hofstadter yet, and this week he did, we all did, and before anything it should be said and repeated how the casting of Christine Baranski for the role was absolutely perfect.
That, and she really was Leonard’s mother. All of a sudden it all became clear, why and how Leonard manages to deal with Sheldon the way he does, why he’s constantly seeking for love, it’s all there in his mother. A mother who was pretty much a female version of Sheldon, in a way. She’s very analytical, processes everything trough a scientific approach and, of course, the only time she did make use of humor was with Sheldon, and it had to do with a CT scan of course.
And while somewhat predictable, how Leonard and Sheldon basically both wishes they had had the other one’s mother when they grew up, this was just too good to complain, whether it was when she made Penny cry over her daddy issue, “outing” Howard and Raj as a married gay couple, or of course in a “fantastic” singing duo with Sheldon!
The only thing I didn’t like this week was Leonard and Penny. I don’t know where everybody stands on that issue, but as far as I’m concerned it was over, ancient history, and we were past that, they both moved on. So to see them hooking up again, even while drunk and trying to forget the way Mrs. Hofstadter makes them feel, I really didn’t like it, especially when they moved things to the bedroom.
I guess that means Leonard’s doctor girlfriend really vanished, and so did the boy-toy Penny was going back to last time. Anyways, I didn’t like it, and if that was only to have Leonard say something really, really, but really really stupid - like, when in bed with Penny, how he’s only trying to have sex with… his mother! – so we can go back to where we were before. Well, I would have done without any of this. But somehow I’m sure now that we haven’t seen the last of it…
One little thing: I thought the opening scene with the geeks in Chili Peppers mode was great, but I’m really getting tired or Raj shutting down and being mute as soon as a girl is in the room. I never really liked that, and more and more it feels like a cheap thing…
Fun quote :
Penny: What was Leonard like when he was little ?
Mrs. Hofstadter: Oh, I think you mean young, he’s always been little.
And of course the entire discussion between Sheldon and Leonard’s mother about her sex life was hilarious from beginning to en, or the Jar Jar Binks jokes.
So, what did everybody think of this episode ? Happy/sad/indifferent at the Penny/Leonard almost something ? What was your favorite quote of the episode ?
Posted in Reviews
Shows: The Big Bang Theory
I loved how Leonard’s mother is like Sheldon. It was also good to see Sheldon in a relationship again and it was funny. The Leonard and Penny thing was awkward but if you ignore that, this episode was pretty good. I love how Leonard’s mother was so specific about tea like Sheldon normally is with things.