Note: Full spoilers of this episode to follow.
I always love a good framing device, and tonight's episode of The Big Bang Theory featured a pretty awesome one involving Wolowitz reflecting – just moments before blasting off into space – on his wedding with Bernadette, and the events that lead to their decision to quickly elope.
Not only did this framing device set the episode apart from the rest of the season, but it killed two birds with one stone, allowing fans to see both events without stretching things to two untidy episodes. And, despite having both the space launch story and the wedding in one episode, the framing device allowed us a taste of the hell Wolowtiz will likely endure in space, while enjoying the more character-centric, and touching, aspects of this season-long arch.
Also, since wedding episodes are pretty common for season finales, the launch subplot added a flavor to the narrative that freshened things up. In fact, pretty much every aspect of the wedding felt fresh, right down to Sheldon's Klingon officiation.
In many ways, "
The Countdown Reflection" represents what many fans have longed for all season – a better balance of geeky jokes, relationship humor, character and Sheldonisms. Pretty much everyone hit their marks tonight (Sheldon was on fire, by the way), and yes, this includes Amy Farrah Fowler, who got at least three solid laughs out of me.
The episode also hosted a decent share of touching moments, starting with the first scene between Wolowitz and Bernadette, where he gives her a little star pendent he plans to take into space, so he can bring her home a star (awww). It was an honest moment that felt both real and cute, and was followed by a pretty solid laugh. And the final scene, between all the couples, was also honest and sweet, and a pretty great payoff to the previous episode.
As is sometimes the case with The Big Bang Theory, this season in particular, the characters are pretty clumsily written and half-cocked. But a great many of the issues did manage to get cleared up here, paving the way for a sharper, potentially funnier sixth season...hopefully.
Sheldon and Amy's relationship will finally move forward, likely in some rather hilarious and awkward ways.
Leonard and Penny deepened their feeling for one another. Wolowtiz and Bernadette, now married, must now mutually endure Wolowtiz's overbearing mother, or purge her from their lives. And Raj, well...he seems to have finally come to terms with being a bachelor.
Let's hope the kinks of this season won't rear its ugly head next fall, and tonight is just a twinkling of things to come. I will leave you with my favorite line of the episode that, in spite of my optimism and love for the show, seems somewhat fitting,"That's what you said about the Green Lantern movie. You were 114 minutes of wrong."
Source : http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1224582p1.html
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