Tom Beasley reviews the first episode of the new season of US smash hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory. There are spoilers ahead…
The season finale of the eighth season of The Big Bang Theory came with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Leonard revealed to Penny that he had kissed another woman whilst they were together and Amy said that she needed time to reconsider her relationship with Sheldon, who unbeknownst to her had been preparing to propose. It was a big narrative kick up the rear end for a show that can often be accused of treading water in its central storylines.
That’s not something that ‘The Matrimonial Momentum’ could be accused of, though, as we were thrown right into Leonard and Penny’s wedding in Las Vegas. The pair selected a wedding package that allowed their friends back in Pasadena the ability to watch the ceremony live on the internet. The wedded bliss didn’t last long, however, as the spectre arose of Leonard’s unfaithfulness, exacerbated by the fact that he still works with the woman in question. Meanwhile, Sheldon reacted with horror to his newfound singledom, refusing to allow Amy the breathing room for which she had asked.
This was, mostly, a defiant return to the screen for The Big Bang Theory, which greatly benefited from its narrative shake-up. Whilst it’s not unusual to see turmoil between Leonard and Penny, it was bizarre to see the good ship Sh-Amy veering off course. Mayim Bialik did much of her best work as Amy, here, rising above the desperate caricature she has often become in previous episodes. Her scenes of quiet contemplation against the backdrop of the episode’s general chaos were some of the best moments.
Unfortunately, Sheldon’s reaction to the break-up is less of a step forward for the character. Whilst Penny and Leonard’s reactions to their relationship problems are humane and plausible, Sheldon’s feel forced and insensitive, even for a character who is often ignorant to the emotions of those around him. His frequent lapses into mansplaining and casual sexism jar horribly, as do the multiple scenes in which Stuart makes semi-predatory advances towards the women of the show, teasing a creepy direction for his character that no one wants.
This was a rather joke-light episode of the show, which is perhaps understandable given the amount of narrative lifting that needed doing. It was at its best in its quieter moments, whether it was Penny drawing her wedding vows from Toy Story or the final scene in which Leonard rued spending his wedding night with Sheldon, who confessed that he had never expected otherwise. There was also a joy in watching Howard and Bernadette quietly gloat to each other about how much better their wedding was.
For a show that has been running for almost a decade, this was a confident start to the new series of The Big Bang Theory. The programme has set up a series of impressive story threads to explore in the coming weeks and it’s refreshingly unclear where the characters are going to end up by the time the season finishes next year.
Tom Beasley – Follow me on Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=Jf68Kc0RlE0
