Episodes 7.18 'the Mommy Observation' (March 13)

[Shamyyes]

All in all a very good episode.  Loved the interaction between Sheldon and Howard.  Murder mystery was fun.  Loved seeing both Mary Cooper and Stuart.

[stardustmelody]

I really enjoyed this episode and it was wonderful seeing grown-up Sheldon instead of childish Sheldon.  I loved how mature he acted (for Sheldon) and love, love, love having Laurie back as Mary.   The murder mystery was fun, although to me the highlight was Amy talking about how she and Sheldon have talked about their future in detail.  That was icing on the cake.   Penny was hilarious tonight with her "clues".   Although I felt that she and Leonard really didn't settle and figure out a right answer for them on the dual career issue, I thought that at least that murder mystery had a good ending. I kind of felt the Sheldon/Mary conversation stopped just short of an end to a sentence or something.  I thought they would go back to it but when it ended it seemed a bit unfinished.    I also loved Howard and Sheldon interactions.   It was nice that Sheldon listened to Howard's advice and considered it solid this time. 

[gwhh]

I guess Facebook does not exist in 20 years. Or Stuart could have check there status before he left

[Shel_Ra_Ho_Le]

It felt very disjointed and it seemed a miss without Sheldon and Howard being in the livingroom. LOVED Raj for burning Penny too. I still dont like how Penny always acts like she is better than Leonard. Figure it out or just get out. I did like the scenes with Laurie and Jim of course, especially the last one. I thought it was good to see Howard and Sheldon getting along and spending so much time together. So two weeks off?

Edited March 14, 2014 by Shel_Ra_Ho_Le

[bambam7]

It's driving me crazy so I signed up for the forum... What kind of car was Howard driving tonight???

[Chrismo]

P I still dont like how Penny always acts like she is better

Penny did admit at the end of that exchange that Leonard's job was more important than her acting.

[vonmar]

The AV Club review...

http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/big-bang-theory-mommy-observation-202195

[AndyRenee]

DUN DUN DUN...

I wanted to say that I absolutely loved this episode! I am so very happy that Sheldon is being mature in this episode. He really was so hurt that his mother would tell him one thing, and then in his opinion act a different way that was separate from what she said. He really communicated his feelings and showed his mom that he is more of a grown man. I am looking forward to their new dynamic. And I did actually enjoy that bit with her sending him to his room because it shows that if you love your mother they still always have that power, don't they? I was laughing so loud when he gave HER the sex talk. I found that to be such a clever move by the writers to flip it like that. The Howard and Sheldon bonding was really great. I think what I most appreciated was how they let the Sheldon moment with his mom be powerful and show character depth, and left the silly giggle moments for Raj+gang.

As a Shamy shipper, I obviously have to say the RA line was incredible. Sheldon and Amy basically put rings on it in terms of commitment with writing out so much about their future and lives together. Amy was all together in this episode so snarky, fun, quirky, just great. Keep it up, writers!

Party planning Raj is my absolute favorite! He is so enjoyable in this role.

Edited March 14, 2014 by AndyRenee

[Martin Pollard]

Very enjoyable episode. Laurie Metcalf is great as always, and I liked how they expanded a bit on her character by showing her to be conflicted about how her behavior with this man squares against her strict Christian beliefs, rather than come across all high and mighty with all sorts of explanations and justifications (like one would expect from a stereotypical "hypocritical Christian" character).

 

Also, something small but significant: we now have confirmation that Stuart's last name is indeed Bloom. In fact, I like how they played up on this with Amy and Bernadette's little back-and-forth about it ("I didn't know his last name was Bloom." "It's Bloom."). A little friendly dig at us obsessive fans, perhaps?

[Grasshopper]

I guess Facebook does not exist in 20 years. Or Stuart could have check there status before he left

 

I'm sure it did exist or even something similar to it, but Stewart probably still had a dumb phone because he was still so poor.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Grasshopper

[Grasshopper]

 I haven't posted on here for quite a few episodes now, although I have occasionally been here to read some of the episode reviews.

Most of the previous episodes I have been rating no more or less than good, which is rare for me as I have been such a huge fan of this show from the begining.

 

Tonight's episode I would have to say was something special. First of all after watching the end of last week's episode which was pretty good also, especially at the end, I was anticipating to see the details about Sheldon's trip to Texas with Howie.

 The scene with him and is mom was awesome! It was great to see her make an appearance again on the set.

Raj's murder game was brought to life once Stewart awoke from the dead. Stew's lines to Penny and Leonard were absolutely brilliant and classy as F**K!

Edited March 14, 2014 by Grasshopper

[rachelshamyfan]

For me the best bits were sheldon talking to his mom and Amy with the relationship contract, shows how they think about the future together

Edited March 14, 2014 by rachelshamyfan

[ajond]

Yay, my first very good of the season. Loved S and his mum. Murder mystery was good Nice one liners.. Maybe 2 plot lines per ep is better for the writers and the audience.

[Convict13]

Excellent,  loved it, Jim Parsons' Emmy episode I think.  I really enjoyed watching Jim and Simon together, Howard and Sheldon's growing friendship is wonderful, so much better than Sheldon constantly belittling Howard's achievements, long may it last, and lovely to see Laurie back again.

 

 I even quite enjoyed the Murder Mystery dinner, although Penny once again was a bit of a wet blanket, she is still resisting taking part in what she considers "uncool" things to do. 

 

So now they have opened the way for Sheldon to no longer fear the wrath of his mother if he and Amy partake in some coitus in the future, he now just has to get over his other concerns.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Convict13

[BlackWhiteRose]

It was a good episode.

 

I really liked all the Sheldon/Howard scenes. Love their friendship!

And to see Sheldons mum again was wonderful! Love her! She really knows how to handle her son. Loved it how Sheldon tried to make her stop saying he should go to his room. But he should have known that his mom would win that "fight" .

The Murder Mystery game was nice. Loved Bernie *LOL* Oh and Stuarts comment about Penny and Leonard was so wonderful!
And I liked the end with Stuart 20 years older!

[Jamie]

Great episode! One of my favorites this season.

I'm so glad they stuck to just two storylines in this one and didn't try to fit in three, like they did last week, which imo ended up being way to messy and rushed.

My biggest laughs during the episode was the last bit of the conversation between Sheldon and Mary "are you having the sex talk with me?". And when Penny accidently revealed she was the murderer, Raj's reaction omg!!

The only issue I had with this episode was: Why in heaven's name was Sheldon wearing rouge?!

.. yes these^^ are the kind of stuff I notice. But the poor make-up on Jim (and Mayim's messy hair?! what was up with that? ) in this episode really kind of bothered me!

Edited March 14, 2014 by Jaime

[frankie]

Yes! I was wondering why Sheldon looked kind of…weird this episode. It took me out of the story, which was pretty good. The other thing that bugged me was that I thought Amy enjoyed Raj's group games--but she was being kind of snarky about the murder mystery. Maybe she is still mad at him for messing up her "date" with Emily?

[koops]

Yes! I was wondering why Sheldon looked kind of…weird this episode. It took me out of the story, which was pretty good. The other thing that bugged me was that I thought Amy enjoyed Raj's group games--but she was being kind of snarky about the murder mystery. Maybe she is still mad at him for messing up her "date" with Emily?

I actually thought it was a great bit of continuity because in Scavenger hunt it was revealed everyone hates the Murder Mystery parties so it made perfect sense nobody wanted to take part. They all refused to show up last time he arranged one. I think they love games but not these dinners.

Amy in this episode was one of my favorite Amys of the season, if not of the last two seasons! I love when she gets snarky.

I also loved the continuity with Bernie from Scavenger about her playing to win ("Have you ever been locked inside a steel cage with a wolverine" indeed!).

I thought every character was amazing today and true to themselves.

[rachelshamyfan]

I didn't notice the bad make up, looked OK to me and mayims hair did look different but I liked it

[rickfromillinois]

The only discordant issue I had with the episode was Leonard arguing with Penny about if she were a famous actress working in another city and he a tenured professor.   I think what I found a little troubling about it was that at one time he was willing to move to India to be with Priya.  I think that if he had some important research to do, he could do so from most major cities.   Stewart's speech put an end to that though.

[notchinc]

I thought the lighting in Mary's living room was a bit dark. It was hard for me to see her.

[Chiany]

The only discordant issue I had with the episode was Leonard arguing with Penny about if she were a famous actress working in another city and he a tenured professor.   I think what I found a little troubling about it was that at one time he was willing to move to India to be with Priya.  I think that if he had some important research to do, he could do so from most major cities.   Stewart's speech put an end to that though.

 

He said (or suggested) that he would move with her, but that his tenured position wouldn't allow him.

[sentenza]

Just watched it. Very nice episode. I liked the part with Sheldon et his mother when sheldon says that he is a grown man it was very funny

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[Chrismo]

The only discordant issue I had with the episode was Leonard arguing with Penny about if she were a famous actress working in another city and he a tenured professor.   I think what I found a little troubling about it was that at one time he was willing to move to India to be with Priya.  I think that if he had some important research to do, he could do so from most major cities.   Stewart's speech put an end to that though.

He said (or suggested) that he would move with her, but that his tenured position wouldn't allow him.

The murder mystery was really a thing to discuss Leonard/Penny. Raj's take was that they were too stubborn to go where the other was. I think part of that is he has known them forever and hasn't really noticed a change in them. Bernie's take, which in my opinion was more correct, was they would still be together no matter how far apart. When they started arguing about it Amy correctly pointed that something like that should have been discussed before this point. Leonard IMO didn't back down and admitted that her earnings potential could be more than his and Penny admitted what Leonard did for a living was more important. The argument wasn't resolved really but it wasn't continuing really either. Stuart IMO had the big line correctly pointed out that Leonard has come out of his shell and Penny(finally) has started to analyze things more closely because of each other. Amy and Bernadette wanted to argue originally but IMO they have much more in common with their mates. It also seemed that Penny really did appreciate what Stuart said. In regards to Priya and Leonard. To me this has shown how Leonard is not quite as wimpy as before with Priya. He just isn't as needy as he was then.

[queuetee]

Liked the addition of color to Amy's wardrobe---but those sweaters are still pretty heavy for CA. Like Leonard's new  look also.

 

 I don't think the writers  continue to do any favors to Penny. When they have her pursing her lips and looking bored, she does not look good---sort of old and haggard. Why they had her get a couple of beers when there is so much talk about her drinking made no sense. It looked like Leonard gave her a look when she got up.

 

Also not crazy about the writers' choices in having her talk about the two of them being apart and  how they would handle it. Granted Stuart tried to bring them together with his positive comment, but I would have preferred that she make a comment that showed their  future in a good light.

 

I  am still rankled by her comment back when she wasn't shown on the TV show....a comment that the writers gave her to say that seemed to come from her gut....ten years in CA and I have nothing to show for it.