The Night “The Big Bang Theory” Didn’t Jump the Shark

The Night “The Big Bang Theory” Didn’t Jump the Shark


*Spoilers are included*

Last night was the Season 5 ending for The Big Bang Theory and I have to admit, I was really worried about it. Sitcoms have a bad and predictable history when it comes to weddings. Normally, they don’t happen, normally the reason is stupid, and normally it is ignored in the after affects.

So, “here we go” with a finale in which Howard Wolowitz is suppose to get married and blast into space, neither of which are guaranteed to happen. In most sitcoms, neither would have happened. But the show starts with Wolowitz in the rocket with two other astronauts as his friends (minus Penny) watch from home and we learn quickly that he did in fact get married and that part of the show is told in flashback.

We see the group of friends scramble around to try and get Howard and Bernadette married before he leaves for his space mission. We see the continued conflict between Leonard and Penny over Leonard’s sudden proposal during sex last week. This was the reason I was worried about the show. Sitcoms love to screw up relationships. Get the “main couple” together and split them up as much as possible but keep them friends to the point the audience no longer cares about them (can anyone say Rachael and Ross). I had predicted Penny and Leonard would be the ones that ended up getting married. Penny missing from the group watching suggested perhaps her and Leonard had broken up again. Then it happened. After one failed attempted Howard and Bernadette get married, no last minute surprises.

Back to the present, Penny gets home from work just in time and the rocket starts to take off. A worried Bernadette comforts a worried Raj by holding his hand. Penny takes a surprised Leonard’s hand, interlocking their fingers. Then Sheldon reaches over to lightly grasp an even more surprised Amy’s hand.

Congratulations Big Bang Theory, you got this one perfectly right.