episodes 1204 'The Tam Turbulence' (October 11)

[Tripper]

'The Tam Turbulence' - Season 12, Episode 4 
Airs Thursday, October 11 at 8/7c on CBS.

When Sheldon won't tell anyone why he's never mentioned Tam, his childhood best friend, Leonard takes matters into his own hands. Also, Bernadette and Penny take out Raj’s fiancée, Anu, for dinner to get the skinny on her.

Jerry O'Connell returns as Sheldon's older brother, George.

[Die Zimtzicke]

I can't wait to see Jerry O'Connell play George again.,

[Tonstar17]

I love the muppet, I mean puppet that is Holland. Is Moloro running the show from YS writing room using strings.

 

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[chucky]

2 hours ago, Tonstar17 said:

I love the muppet, I mean puppet that is Holland. Is Moloro running the show from YS writing room using strings.

 

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I definitely believe he is. 

[Tripper]

Rate the episode

[Die Zimtzicke]

I liked it more than I thought I would. When they went into Sheldon's memory I cringed, thinking it was going to be some "It's a Wonderful Life" thing, but they managed to touch on some of the funnier scenes from past shows. Penny and Bernie were also funny with Anu. I didn't get a better read on her from this ep, though. Howard was hilarious with his many quips.  If they ever show Tams son, though, I think they will use the actor from YS. They made Leonard kind of whiny and petulant again in my opinion, though, and I'm not sure why.

I expected to dislike it and I didn't.

[joyceraye]

I can understand why Sheldon at 14 or so would have wanted a friend to move to Caltech with him. His fellow postgrads would have been 22 or more. Tam would be an undergraduate.

52 minutes ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

I think they will use the actor from YS.

Tam's actor from YS would be a bit young to play Tam's son who must be 18 ish  if he's looking at universities. Tam is 14 or 15 in YS.

Time confusion : It's surely more than 20 years since Sheldon started his postgraduate course ? That would make him only 34 now and we know he's 38. Or did he collect several Masters' degrees one at a time ?

[Chrismo]

Episode was okay. Don’t like Anu. Time for Raj to dump her or get dumped. Big nothing when it comes to George. The Penny Bernadette storyline was forced IMO. Never see them at restaurants now there hung ho about it. Didn’t buy it. Did laugh at the flashbacks. Tired of the Sheldon everything revolves around me scenario. It would of been better if Sheldon acknowledged or understood why Tam stayed in Texas. Can’t see how this episode helps TBBT or YS ratings wise.

[Kev0821]

Mayim's recap:

https://groknation.com/culture/tam-turbulence-mayim-bialik-saying-goodbye-big-bang-theory/

[djsurrey]

Very light episode. It was amusing.

[joyceraye]

I think Raj ought to tell Anu why he's single : because he's horrible. He slept with a woman with whom he planned a wedding on the strength of a conversation about Disney, thus two-timing a woman with whom he'd been in a relationship for two years. He's self-indulgent under all that clean-cut cuteness. He's not ready to make the personal sacrifices required of a family man. However, a bossy woman might be the making of him. OTOH I hope for Anu's sake she meets somebody better-suited to her before this approaching engagement goes too far. 

[veejay]

The Big Bang Theory Season 12, Episode 4 Recap: More Penny and Bernadette, Please

Glamour

"To be fair, the Sheldon/Tam/Leonard storyline in "The Tam Turbulence" was classic Big Bang, but it was Melissa Rauch and Kaley Cuoco who stole the episode with their buddy-cop humor and deadpan delivery. It's that reason why I believe Big Bang could still live on as a spin-off should it choose to; the Bernadette/Penny show more than proved that."

Viva la Girl Sprouts!

[KripkeRules]

Not as funny as the other three episodes, just OK. 

Hated that TPTB downplayed Leonard's importance to Sheldon.  I've never watched YS, so I don't know this Tam person, but I think the other three scenes might still happen with Tam, but without Leonard, that Christmas hug scene would NEVER happen. 

Penny and Bernie were good, George was the funniest one to me. That's saying something. 

[veejay]

As usual, there was too much Sheldon (IMO) but I liked Penny, Bernadette and Anu together.
I know the Tam story was only in because people watching YS wondered what happened to him. It wasn't an especially interesting or funny plot line.
Only the flashbacks with Tam instead of Leonard were well done and real surprising!

[Jonny]

Pretty average episode I thought, not many laughs and the season/show so far seems to be plodding towards its end rather than going out with a bang.

I thought Penny and Bernadette had the best lines and scenes in terms of comedy in this one. Still not got a feel for this Anu character and whether she and Raj do in the end get married and share a life together. I guess by revealing some of Raj's character traits and metrosexual behaviours they are kind of setting it up so it could still go either way.

From Anu's perspective she might continue to learn more about Raj and decide he's not her type or she might come to love the man he is 'quirks and all' and their relationship becomes something much deeper. My gut still tells me they won't go through with getting married, but we shall see.

Haven't got much to add on the Sheldon/Tam storyline. It was an old school Sheldon storyline when he falls out with someone but the real truth is somewhat different. I don't like when the show seems to ignore character experience and growth over the years by reverting it all back for a story. I'm all about the growth and life lessons, learning from your experiences and using that knowledge gained from those situations to perhaps see different perspectives and even modify how you react to them. I think Sheldon has shown a capacity to change and be more caring and conscious of other people and how they might see things differently, but if the story 'requires' him to go back to an earlier iteration of his character then that's what they do.

I've watched all 4 episodes this season and only 1 I have really laughed at and thought was better than average. I'm actually not opposed to some more dramatic episodes provided they are well written, executed and not a repeat of old themes or rehashed stories.

On the evidence so far and if this continues during the rest of the season, for me personally I may come to the realisation they have indeed ended the show at the right time.

Edited October 12, 2018 by Jonny

[Itwasdestined]

Looks like this whole season is going to be about how bad marriage is. Now Bernadette has joined Penny with the “its fine”. They were the funniest but not a lot of competition. Thought the Tam story was pointless and lacked humour. He fits into Young Sheldon but was just a generic nobody in this episode. Leonard continues to be diminished as a character. Increasingly seems to be portrayed as not liking Sheldon anymore. Amy hasn’t had much to do last two episodes but back to top billing next week. Didn’t laugh much at this one. Wife found last week boring ( I enjoyed that one). I fear she will respond similarly to this one.


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[Die Zimtzicke]

2 hours ago, Jonny said:

I thought Penny and Bernadette had the best lines and scenes in terms of comedy in this one. Still not got a feel for this Anu character and whether she and Raj do in the end get married and share a life together. I guess by revealing some of Raj's character traits and metrosexual behaviours they are kind of setting it up so it could still go either way.

Penny, Bernie and Anu were funny, but if they are the cause of breaking up the couple, I am not going to be happy.

 

2 hours ago, Jonny said:

On the evidence so far and if this continues during the rest of the season, for me personally I may come to the realisation they have indeed ended the show at the right time.

Oh, for me it's a relief. I thought they should have ended it before.

[Jonny]

8 minutes ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

Penny, Bernie and Anu were funny, but if they are the cause of breaking up the couple, I am not going to be happy.

 

Oh, for me it's a relief. I thought they should have ended it before.

I think I saw some signs last season the show was starting to 'creak' a bit and show its age. I was still however getting enough enjoyment from it, and I thought the shift to perhaps rehashing old stories, using old gags and change in dialogue was a result purely of a change of showrunner who had his own vision and maybe needed some time to settle in.

The season is still young and has potential after we get next weeks out of the way (wow that promo for next week has already tilted me) so we could still get some funny or great moments. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned.

 

Edited October 12, 2018 by Jonny

[chucky]

At least we didn't get to hear Stuart's "Cool Operator" this episode.  

[KripkeRules]

6 minutes ago, chucky said:

At least we didn't get to hear Stuart's "Cool Operator" this episode.  

I actually think last week's "Smooth Operator" plot is much more funny than this week's lame Tam plot.

[Jedichic98]

I think the divide between episodes written pre-cancelation announcement and post announcement is going to be clear. Like it was said this episode, while funny in some parts feels like the typical trend of when a new season starts we get some painful ones out of the way. Like the beginning of season 11. This was before they knew it was going to be the last one. So once we get later in the season I predict an immediate shift in writing because they can't waste time anymore. 

[Strawberry PopTart Fan]

This episode didn't even make me smile, let alone laugh and I always hope for the best.  All the characters seemed to be at their worst and the grudge plot was just stupid. Very disappointing when you look forward to it all week.

[Denise07]

I thought the episode was ok.  Kind of mindless entertainment that I watch on auto-pilot, a sense of familiarity, and cracked a smile or 2 but really didn't laugh.

The Tam thing:  I watch YS and YS is more self-aware (maybe a little detached and awkward in his interactions but he a is kid in HS so it makes sense in YS) than the Sheldon on TBBT.  The flashback while, I found fun, rang false.  A self aware Sheldon would have viewed those differently.  For the Tam plot, we get the robotic black and white Sheldon who literally replaces Tam with Leonard.  Nothing changes.  Sheldon continues to be the Sheldon they need for the episode.  We also get the wonderful him and Amy can't be best friends line.  Not that I really care but again, clueless Sheldon is abound.  Which makes Leonard's stance very reasonable in this episode.  I found his reaction to all of this believable and very much in line with Leonard.

Well, I continue to like Anu.  Maybe it's the actress is so damn adorable?  But whatever it is, I find how this is unfolding very believable at least from her perspective.  Looking at the Raj side, I find him believable too.  Hear me out:  Raj has been consistently desperate.  If he actually goes through with it, I would believe that based on his characterization.  Someone mentioned that maybe Raj should tell Anu why he is single.  This would require that Raj had insight to this.  I don't think Raj realizes why he is still single. I also believe he feels he is the victim in most of his entanglements  (like really, I believe Raj believe he REALLY had a shot with Penny and even Bernadette). 

I also enjoyed Anu, Penny and Bernadette.  It was a refreshing combo.  However, we now have Bernie joining Penny in the "kind of settled for their partner" dept.  I. Can't. Even. here.  This is S12 and the last season, this doesn't feel like the time to shake it up.  I don't mind a Raj story line but it's like a secondary story line when it should be at the very lease tertiary.

I get the JP announcement came a bit late so it may have been too late to go back and do re-writes for the first few episodes.  For a season that is touted as going out with a bang, it feels like it is puttering along and the bang might be a backfire.    

Not very articulate I know.  Just my off the cuff thoughts on all of this. 

[hokie3457]

This was really just a "meh" episode.  I did enjoy Penny and Bernadette's scenes.  Bernie's call to her dad played really well with me and I found it hilarious!  With each other and with Anu, they held my attention.  The only drawback was the dual reference to settling for their husbands.  At least it was Bernadette in the lead and Penny just agreeing.  Hate to say it, but that is progress, believe it or not.  Being a big, big Emily Sweeney fan I am surprised that I find myself liking Anu.  I don't see any pretenses with her.  So far she seems to be a "what you see is what you get" sort.  We will have to wait and see how things play out.

Sheldon was very unlikable for me.  From the get go (photo-shopping the Wright Brothers into your wedding photos?  Really?).  It was a big regression and I wanted to get back to Penny and Bernie and Anu and not have to listen to yet another "Sheldon learns a lesson about forgiving others" plot.

As many others I am betting the lackluster episodes so far are the result of not having the information that Season 12 was going to be the end.  They have much to do in a very limited amount of episodes......

Edited October 12, 2018 by hokie3457
Emily Sweeney (played by Laura Spencer)

[joyceraye]

1 hour ago, Jedichic98 said:

I think the divide between episodes written pre-cancelation announcement and post announcement is going to be clear. Like it was said this episode, while funny in some parts feels like the typical trend of when a new season starts we get some painful ones out of the way. Like the beginning of season 11. This was before they knew it was going to be the last one. So once we get later in the season I predict an immediate shift in writing because they can't waste time anymore. 

They should have been writing as if it was the last season anyway. It was the end of the contract and usually they haven't known for months into the last-contracted season whether there were going to be any more. Jim did them a favour by declaring his position up front. We've no idea how many of the others didn't intend to negotiate for more. It's not as if it's a big surprise there'd be no season 13. I think they could have come up with a better Tam story than this one. Sheldon is supposed to have changed since he was 14.