Sorry to be delivering this Big Bang Theory recap to you late, but the show does seem determined to air episodes against major geek movie openings, doesn’t it? Note to CBS: just show a rerun when Marvel, DC or Star Wars has a movie opening on a Thursday night! Am I right? Anyway, THOR: RAGNAROK IS RAD.
There are weeks when I feel really critical of BBT for the reasons anyone ever cites– despite many progressive elements, they do tend towards the conventional with gender dynamics and character stereotypes. However, an episode like “The Proton Regeneration” goes a long way towards reminding me why I keep tuning in.
The big stories in this episode are Sheldon (Jim Parsons) being upset by the fact that the Professor Proton show is being rebooted and Howard (Simon Helberg) getting a vasectomy. The former means some sweeps-appropriate celebrity cameos, and the latter shows how times have changed on network sitcoms.
Bernadette’s (Melissa Rauch) surprise second pregnancy (Rausch’s real-life pregnancy that has been written into the show) has led to the Wolowitzes choosing to send Howard in for the ol’ snip-snip. I applaud their family planning being addressed on-screen and made an issue for Howard! Good job.
Howard becomes a whiny invalid, bed-bound while recovering from the procedure. This means that pregnant Bernadette adds caring for him to her full plate of mothering a toddler and kicking a** in the pharmaceutical industry. Although she doesn’t think she’s taken on too much, her doctor disagrees and puts her on bedrest.
With both Wolowitz parents down, someone needs to help with little Halley (voiced by Pamela Adlon). Penny (Kaley Cuoco) is the only friend who’s able to clear her schedule to step in, but literally none of the friends think her up to the challenge.
Penny is rightfully offended when Amy (Mayim Bialik) shows up to check on her, especially when it becomes clear that every one of the friends (except Sheldon, obviously) has asked her to go see how Penny’s doing.
How Penny’s doing becomes clear through the baby monitor, though, when Howard and Bernadette overhear the friend they’ve been so critical of being extremely loving and attentive to their daughter… and their cooing little girl reciprocating by saying “Mama” for the first time– to Penny.
Meanwhile, Sheldon is losing it over the fact that his beloved Professor Proton show is being rebooted. He has a few dream conversations in Yoda’s swamp on Dagobah with the ghost of Arthur Jeffries (Bob Newhart), the original Professor Proton. Newhart is true to form, chiding Sheldon for ignoring the whole “Rest in Peace” thing and reminding him that he’s just a figure of Sheldon’s imagination.
The talks convince Sheldon that he should audition to become the next Professor Proton, but his evident disdain for children is so striking in his first effort that he decides to seek help from an acting coach. When Wil Wheaton refuses to give him Patrick Stewart’s phone number for this purpose, Sheldon bestows the honor of the task on Wheaton. Much to his surprise, this leads to Wheaton knowing about– and securing– the role for himself.
Now Wheaton is back on Sheldon’s “Enemies List,” but as Wheaton observes, that isn’t that different from being on Sheldon’s “Friends List.”
Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) are also in the episode, but mostly to zing one-liners through these stories.
Keep up with my Big Bang Theory Season 11 recaps HERE.
- WANDAVISION Finale Recap: (S01E09) The Series Finale - March 5, 2021
- WANDAVISION Recap: (S01E08) Previously On - February 28, 2021
- WANDAVISION Recap: (S01E07) Breaking the Fourth Wall - February 19, 2021
