One of the funniest and most popular sitcoms on television is back with its sixth season, probably one of the most realized and unique seasons of the hit series. After wisely adjusting its formula about four geeks and the hot girl next door, “The Big Bang Theory” slowly became an ensemble series about four geeky guys and the women that love them in spite of their odd obsessions. “The Big Bang Theory” is as funny as ever, and despite criticism from “fan boys” on the net, still a ratings juggernaut that promises to continue into ten seasons.
So far, “The Big Bang Theory” really isn’t showing its age, and continues to find new ways to show the world of Leonard and his friends within the pop culture frame work that often decides how they fare in reality. Now that Howard has returned from NASA and his space mission, he’s become an insufferable egomaniac, true to form. All the while many complications and odd twists arise when Raj begins seeking a girlfriend and meets someone he can finally connect with, all the while the girls garner an insight in to the comic book obsession the guys hold dear. There’s a hilarious episode featuring a Star Trek cosplaying mission that goes wrong, and there is a lot of growth among the cast of unique and hilarious characters. Much of the season revolves around finally bringing character Penny (played by the hilarious Kaley Cuoco) around from the hot girl next door in someone of actual depth.
Sure, she’s still the Southern gal with a daddy complex, but she’s also one of the best straight men on television. She once greeted the antics of her friends with shock and embarrassment and now finds the utter amazement at how charming they can be and tend to be. We garner insight in to Penny’s journey to become an actress in “The Monster Isolation,” and Penny realizes that she shares a passion for something in her life like her friends do. It’s her friends. We’re also able to confront a lot of the pasts of the characters, as well as decisions that will dictate their future. Sheldon plays a game of “Dungeons and Dragons” on Christmas that turns in to his confrontation with Santa on why he allowed his grandfather to die, and Howard discovers that the father that abandoned him left behind a note.
The group decides to break it to him in a unique and touching way. One of the better moments involve Penny’s admission to Leonard about an element of their relationship that’s troubled them for a long time. As well, Sheldon and Amy discuss their sexual relationship during a hilarious bout of Dungeons and Dragons where Howard leads the charge with a slew of celebrity impressions. The series isn’t always perfect,as it enters in to a corner of Raj’s sexuality in the beginning of the season and then suddenly backs off. I was never sure what the writers were intending with Raj and his friendship with comic shop owner Stuart, but at first it seemed the writers are aiming for a homosexual realization that suddenly never blossomed. I never could understand if the writers just intended to move away from it or just didn’t know how to segue in to that revelation.
Raj has always been suspected of being Gay by his friends over the years, I’m not sure how hard it would have been to adjust his character to that framework. That said, the show delivers laughter, heartache, and interesting story lines where you can somehow empathize even when they’re being insufferable. Though Howard’s insistence on mentioning NASA every minute is obnoxious, it’s very true to his character and you can understand why he’d want some credit for this feat. One of the better story lines of the season involve Raj’s relationship with the social-phobe Lucy, as played by the incredibly charming Kate MiCucci, and her entrance in to the show serves not only as a wonderful storyline, but a huge awakening for character Raj who comes to a conclusion by the series finale that may decide his future relationships with women. “The Big Bang Theory” is as great as ever, and still the ratings monster that hopefully will continue growing and realizing its characters well in to its eighth season.
For fans of the season, the set comes with some great features including “The Final Comedy Frontier” with actual astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Mike Massimino both of whom discuss Howard’s trek in to space, “Houston We have a Sitcom” shows the cast of the show engaging in a Skype call with astronaut Joe Acaba, while “The Big Bang Theory at Paleyfest 2013” introduces highlights to the cast and crew’s panel. “Electromagnetism” is a look at the various relationships during the sixth season between the men and their women, and finally there is a gag reel as well as a reel of Deleted Scenes.