Review: 'The Big Bang Theory' - 02/19/2015

Long-running television shows are a lot like long-running marriages. No matter how much you were in love at the beginning, at some point you find yourself wondering if you can ever love it again. The quirks that seemed endearing in the beginning now just annoy you and there are moments when you think you'll scream if you ever hear the same conversation one more time. You wonder if the magic is gone and you start to reflect on the relationship and wonder if you're not just better off walking away and remembering the good times you shared together.

That's certainly been the problem that I've wrestled with as I watched "The Big Bang Theory" this season. I've always loved the show, from the comedic skills and chemistry of the cast to the ability of the writers to subtly let the characters evolve in a very organic and natural manner. This is a show that is as good as any television comedy and it's been the source of hours of laughter at my house.

But I think even fans will admit that the current eighth season of the show has been exasperating and often disappointing. There have been weeks where I've finished watching and sort of shrugged about the episode and not thought about it again. Granted, these episodes are still often very funny. But watching these episodes is like having a front court seat to Michael Jordan playing for the Washington Wizards. There's greatness there, but the moments when the age begins to show can be jarring and a little sad.

It's easy to blame the problems with the overall age of the show, and I'm sure that everyone involved is a bit tired after eight seasons. But the issue is really that the writers have struggled to find a groove as they nudge the characters in new directions. These people can't stay in the same place forever, but with such a strong and well-defined cast, making changes can spark more problems than solutions. And a lot has happened in the past season. Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) have finally gotten engaged, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is wrestling not just with his girlfriend Amy (Mayim Bialek) but his attempts to become more self aware of his social limitations. He and Penny have also became friends in a very unexpected way. Stuart's (Kevin Sussman) comic store burned down and that sent him to live with Howard's (Simon Helberg) mother. And those are just some of the many storylines being juggled on the show this season.

Even though the changes make sense in the context of the characters and for the future of the show, it's sometimes been tough to make everything fit together in a way that is both believable and funny. A number of the best episodes this season have involved storylines that kept the men and women together with their own group. It's sometimes seemed like two shows were taking place at the same time, just in two adjoining apartments. There were still flashes of the initial brilliance in the series but I couldn't help wondering if I was going to have to find a comedic mistress to fill the gap in my viewing life.

One of the biggest changes for the show came off-camera, with the death last November of actress Carol Ann Susi. While she had never been on-camera on the show, she had provided the booming voice of Howard's mom and those moments with her had always provided some of the biggest laughs over the years. Given that few viewers even knew her name, it would have been easy to simply replace her and pretend nothing had really changed.

Luckily for fans of the show, Bill Prady and the writers of "The Big Bang Theory" opted for a different approach and the result is one of the best episodes of the series. It's funny, touching and sweet in a way that isn't cloying or predictable. Every scene is note-perfect and you will walk away from the episode remembering why you loved "The Big Bang Theory" in the first place.

"The Comic Book Store Regeneration" begins simply enough, when Sheldon discovers that Amy has provided some invaluable help on string theory to his "nemesis" Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie). Sheldon is torn between his lack of respect for everyone else's abilities and his annoyance over Amy's assistance to Kripke. It's a discovery that predictably steamrolls out of control, leading to Penny realizing that she has been an unwitting participant in a scientific experiment. It's solid comedy and it's especially welcome since the jokes are driven by the various character's evolving place in the show. I won't give anything else away, other than  to mention that the episode includes an appearance by Nathan Fillion, who tries in vain to eat his lunch without being bothered by fans.

The entire gang ends up at Stuart's soon-to be opened comic book store and that's where Howard takes an unexpected phone call from his aunt. She tells him that his mother unexpectedly died in her sleep while vacationing in Florida. Her death will no doubt set up some emotional moments in upcoming episodes, but the final few minutes of this week's show will be what you'll remember. I don't want to say too much, but Sheldon does something which is surprising and sweet in a way that he could have never managed even a couple of years ago. The final couple of scenes of the episode are filled with warmth and great laughter and watching it is like seeing a favorite band find its groove again. The episode is the perfect way to have handled the death of a beloved member of the cast and it's a creative decision that shows once again why "The Big Bang Theory" is the "I Love Lucy" or "Seinfeld" of this generation.

God speed, Ms. Susi.