The Big Bang Theory – The Maternal Conclusion

By starrymag | May 15, 2019

By: Sammi Turano

 

 

The episode opens with Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) discussing Leonard’s mom’s arrival. Sheldon wants to know when Leonard is picking her up and he says never. Penny (Kaley Cuoco) says never is when he goes to the gym and Amy (Mayim Bialik) wants to know if he is really not picking her up. Leonard says that his mom prefers cabs or shuttles to meet people because strangers are people whose emotional weak point you haven’t found yet.

 

Sheldon says Leonard’s mom is the best. He offers to pick her up and Amy reminds him that he doesn’t drive. He tells her to get her keys and this makes them a great team. Leonard thinks that will make them look bad. Sheldon says that will be a topic to discuss on the way home, along with Amy’s reluctance to use turn signals. She argues that they were in a parking garage.

 

Penny says his mom gave birth to him and Leonard agrees to go get her.  Sheldon calls back seat and Amy wants to go to see if they will talk about her. In the end, Leonard goes alone to get his mom (Christine Baranski), who comments on the fact that he is alone.

 

In the car, Beverly and Leonard discuss the flight and how she made parents cry because they were unable to accept constructive criticism. Leonard says he and Penny won’t be offended if Beverly wants to stay at a hotel. She says she was looking forward to staying with them, which surprises Leonard. They agree that everyone is happy.

 

Raj (Kunal Nayyar) is having dinner with Howard (Simon Helberg) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and asks why they never eat in the dining room. Bernie says it is for company only. Raj asks what he is and Howard says he is apparently a guy who wants to get his feelings hurt.

 

Bernie asks when Anu is coming back and Raj says next week. He also says this week gave him a chance to focus on himself, realize he didn’t like it and came over here.

 

Denise (Lauren Lapkus) walks in and says she didn’t realize they had company. Raj says neither did they. She says Stuart is at work and goes to grab the last juice. She adds it to the list, leaving everyone in awkward silence. When she leaves, Bernie realizes it is her handwriting on the list and the three discuss how often she has been over and spending the night. Raj says she wasn’t there Wednesday and Howie says she was but Raj didn’t notice because he was in the hottub eating Oreos. Raj gets up to add Oreos to the list.

 

Penny and Beverly enjoy wine while Leonard does dishes and explains his new job. He and Beverly agree that she will come to work with him and then she goes to bed. Penny thinks Beverly is being really nice and Leonard wonders which one of them is dying. Penny thinks Beverly might be genuinely proud of him and. He asked away her wine.

 

Raj FaceTimes with Anu (Rati Gupta) and she says she is in a hotel in Notting Hill. He quotes the movie and asks her to bring him a T-shirt. Anu says she was offered a job in London. They want her to start right away, which means she isn’t coming back. She asks how committed he is to staying in California. He says this is where his life is and he isn’t happy there, so what’s her point?

 

Stuart (Kevin Sussman) and Denise are in the comic book shop when she goes to leave for her drawing class. He wants to know if she is drawing fruits or nudes today. He says he is jealous of both and kisses her goodbye. They agree to see each other later. After she leaves Howard says that he should have asked and they argue over how much time Denise is spending there. Howard wants them to spend more time at Denise’s. Stuart says they agreed he can have girls over and Howard says they were making fun of him.

 

Leonard shows Beverly around the lab and she says she is impressed. He waits for the “but” yet there is none. Sheldon comes in to rescue her, but Beverly wants to stay with  Leonard.

 

Denise and Stuart are at her place for movie night and begin to watch Paddington 2. Her roommate Mitch (Todd Giebenhain) asks to join them. She says she didn’t see him there and he says he was there the whole time. He joins them and says he has seen the movie already when Stuart tries to explain it.

 

Raj tells Bernie and Howie about Anu’s new job, saying it is great. He thinks this is the push they need to get married. Hoard asks if he is really going to move halfway across the world and he says he will if she says yes. He plans to use the same ring he used before, causing Howard to call him “an Indian giver” and to say he needs to get all the teasing out before Raj leaves.

 

At breakfast Penny comments on how well Beverly and Leonard are getting along. She says he is the most docile of her children. He says she put that in a birthday card he keeps on his nightstand.

 

Penny says Leonard was happy about the time he spent with Beverly and she asks if it was much happier, somewhat or happy as usual. Penny says that was a weird question. Leonard says their relationship wasn’t easy, but it helped him become who he is. Beverly asks him about this and Penny says she might have had something to do with it and asks him how often he wears his superhero underwear. He says on Fridays and his birthday, causing Penny to say that was her doing.

 

Beverly wants to observe them tomorrow and it comes out that Beverly is doing research, upsetting Leonard. Beverly sees that he is angry and asks him how angry. She then says she sees it in his face.

 

Sheldon is looking over his texts with Beverly and can’t see how he could have offended her.  Amy says she is sure she is not mad at him and maybe she wants to spend time with Leonard because he is her son.

 

Leonard storms in and Sheldon asks what the fracas is as to why he didn’t knock. Leonard tells them about Beverly using him for research and Sheldon is happy because Beverly isn’t mad at him. Leonard says he can have her because he is done. He goes to see Beverly, but Amy stops him saying this is an emotionally complex issue she doesn’t have time to explain. He says that excuse is running out of steam.

 

Bernie and Howie discuss Raj going to the airport for his big romantic movie moment. They agree is a bad idea and Bernie sends Howard off to get his best friend back.

 

Penny tries to talk to Beverly, but she says she won’t speak to her because she will send the wrong message by giving into Leonard’s tantrums. Penny tells Beverly to put down her phone and talk to Leonard.  She says she will talk to her when his tantrum is over.

 

Leonard says his mom asks him turn into a needy eight year old boy. Sheldon says he is acting like that now and his mom isn’t there. Amy says that a need for a mother’s approval is baked into their biology. Leonard knows that and says he thinks he would have known that. Sheldon says he didn’t and claims he is compassionate.

 

Denise and Stuart discuss how Mitch reels them out and caused them to sleep in the store. They discuss moving in together and decide to go for it, using comic book references and claiming they are so weird.

 

Howard stops Raj and says if he loves Anu then he can go, but if not he can stay with the people who love him. Raj worries this is his last chance at love. Howard promises him it isn’t and there is a woman who loves cooking shows, sweater vests and dumb things. He says if he is going to pull a Notting Hill they should know the reference. Raj asks if he is a boy standing in front of another boy asking him not to leave. Howard says yes and they declare their love for one another.  The airport claps and Howard says that it isn’t what they think. They leave and Raj asks how he got past security. Howard says he got a ticket and Raj owes him $1300.

 

Leonard asks to speak to his mom alone. Penny leaves and Leonard says Beverly hurt him, despite that not being her intention.  He wants to tell her how he feels and he says it doesn’t matter because she will never change and they should accept each other. He forgives her and himself for everything. She admits it feels good to be forgiven. They share a hug.

 

The show ends with Denise and Stuart telling Mitch they are moving in together. He wants to know if they love each other and they finally say it to one another. Mitch then wants them to say it to him.