Big Bang Bust?
I watched this week’s episode of The Big Bang Theory tonight and, although it was episode six of the season, it was only the second good episode (in my opinion; the first being the one where Raj was going to be deported). What happened to this show? It used to be ‘must see, tv’ for me, but it’s lost it’s chemistry.
First, the writers seem to have forgotten that this is an ensemble show — these four guys and one girl used to all hang out together for ‘Halo night’ or ‘Comic Book Store night’, but now it’s Leonard and Penny, sometimes Sheldon… and the other two. The Sheldon-Penny friendship had grown to the point where it very often stole the show, and they had one of these moments this week when Sheldon comes over to borrow some bread, but generally this season it’s been reduced to a few off-hand insults or side comments. As for Raj and Wolowitz, they’re starting to play-up the bromance they have just a little too much; it’s almost as if the writers didn’t see it happening until they made a point of it in the episode where Leonard’s mom comes to visit. My recommendation: put everyone back in the guy’s apartment, order some take-away and start the tape rolling.
As for the move to the late slot in the CBS Monday Night line-up, I can only assume it’s because of the overly sexual language and themes that have blatantly added to the show. Yes, yes… Penny and Leonard are dating now and a little sex-joke here or there is just fine, but remember these guys are geeks! Wolowitz usually manages to provide enough sexual energy and attitude for any episode; it shouldn’t be the central focus here. If I wanted to see that, I’d watch Two and a Half Men (which I do, right before BBT).
Quick aside: stunt-casting Wil Wheaton was a great idea. Too bad he was completely wasted as a throw-away character with a weak plot. If, as an old Trek fan you need your Wil-fix, go check out season three of The Guild.
Any how, I haven’t given up on the show yet. I have to hope that someone is going to steer it back to the absolute brilliance of the first two seasons. Make it a show that the whole family can watch, laugh at and enjoy.
Have you been watching this season? What do you think? How does it compare to previous seasons?
November 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Agreed. There’ve been some flashes of brilliance, but they’ve been few and far between. I was quite disappointed in the whole football subplot this week.