The Big Bang Theory – The Cognition Regeneration

By: Jennifer Vintizleos

And we’re back after a quick break last week! This episode gave us something much different from the norm: a vulnerable Sheldon (Jim Parsons) afraid that he’s losing his cognitive touch. Also, we get to witness a guest return of Zack (Brian Thomas Smith), one of Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco) many exes. How will Leonard (Johnny Galecki) react?

Sheldon, Leonard, Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) are convened in the Hofstadter residence for some online gaming. Unfortunately, due to Sheldon’s inability to shoot instead of perform kicks on-screen, the guys lose the game and begin to lament over their own technological deficiencies. Sheldon sadly replies that he may no longer be the “wunderkind,” which prompts him to begin researching about a process called super-aging to keep his cognitive skills sharp. He presents this idea to the guys later at the comic book store.

Meanwhile Penny, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) are enjoying some quality girl time at the bar. Amy begins to nag Bernadette about drinking while she’s still nursing, which Bernadette quickly squashes. She’s allowed to have a fun night here and there. Penny goes up to get herself a refill and Zack approaches her at the bar. As they catch up we learn that Zack is now engaged, but still clueless as ever when he suggests that Penny and Leonard have dinner with him and his fiancé. Penny reluctantly agrees.

Amy returns home to the apartment to find Sheldon and Raj baking. Understanding that this is part of Sheldon’s super-aging theory, she watches as Sheldon pulls a tray of croissants out of the oven. While Raj immediately raves about how perfect Sheldon has made the croissants Sheldon is upset because he doesn’t feel challenged enough. Amy suggests that Sheldon choose more challenging skills rather than focus on easier ones. This prompts a stop later on at the Wolowitz residence where Howard decides to teach Sheldon how to do magic while Bernadette makes snide, snippy comments about Howard’s hobby.

Penny and Leonard arrive to the restaurant to have dinner and greet Zack sans fiancé, who was called away on an emergency that Zack didn’t ask about. With Leonard working on a government project and furthering his studies in his field, Penny laments that even though her job pays well she is unhappy. Zack offers Penny a job as head of sales at his menu company, an offer that takes both Penny and Leonard by surprise. On their way home from dinner Leonard shares his dislike of Penny working with her ex-boyfriend while Penny just wants to be happy in her job. A minor disagreement ensues as these two butt heads on Penny’s decision.

As Leonard discusses the Zack issue with Howard and Raj at his apartment, Penny and Bernadette are discussing the issue at the Wolowitz residence. Howard feels that Penny shouldn’t take the job and that Leonard is in the right while Raj believes that Penny will eventually leave Leonard for a better-looking man, so why not start now? Meanwhile, Bernadette takes a different approach and reminds Penny that Leonard’s insecurities are at play here. Later that night both Penny and Leonard talk about the potential job opportunity, to which Leonard reluctantly agrees to have Penny take the job if it makes her happy. Unfortunately, when Penny calls Zack to accept she learns that Zack’s fiancé is not happy about that idea to the point that she threw a shoe at his head. With the job opportunity no longer in play, Penny will stay in pharmaceuticals and Leonard has learned to keep his mouth shut about his happiness over this change in plan, knowing that he may get lucky later.

Bernadette’s brush-off of Howard’s magic prompts a trip to visit Bernadette’s mother to find out her secret hobby. When Bernadette arrives home Howard has a surprise for her, producing her old ventriloquist dummy from Bernadette’s pageant days. Bernadette tells Howard she named her dummy Tammi Jo St. Cloud and proceeds to demonstrate her skills. Instead of being able to ridicule his wife, Howard instead flees the kitchen as the dummy begins to freak him out – Bernadette hot on his heels.

In Sheldon’s pursuit of learning new skills Amy now walks into the apartment to find Sheldon on a unicycle with a rope strung across their apartment for him to keep balance. Because juggling had hurt him, Howard then offered his unicycle and Bernadette told Sheldon to keep it forever. But even that skill is abandoned when Amy sees Sheldon at a later time packing up the rope and unicycle.

It is in this moment that Amy points out to Sheldon that he tends to give up on things that are difficult, a tactic Sheldon enacts when he flees into the bedroom as Amy is trying to point that out. When Amy brings him tea later on she consoles Sheldon as he feels that time is running out for him to accomplish great things. Instead, she focuses on his studies in science and the loved ones he has around him, showing that that makes the mark of a life well-lived. Sheldon placates her for a moment until he rushes out of the bedroom, deciding to try stilts. He dreams that night about successfully walking on stilts.

The next episode promises to be a big one as Leonard, Howard and Sheldon have finally reached completion of their gyroscope project. But will this success be short-lived? We’ll find out next time on an all-new The Big Bang Theory!