The Big Bang Theory: “The Sales Call Sublimation” Review

“Time to get your Sheld-on.”

When last we saw the Big Bang Theory crew, Sheldon had just mended fences with Amy, and the two finally consummated their relationship after years of glacially slow progress. And with that, the relationship drama that formed the backbone of Season 9 was over. Which, of course, begs the question what direction the series is going to take in the latter half of the season. “The Sales Call Sublimation” set a few new wheels in motion in what was a generally entertaining 2016 debut.

Perhaps deciding that Sheldon and Amy had hogged enough of the spotlight lately, the writers relegated Amy to a minor role and ignored any potential fallout from “The Opening Night Excitation.” Shifting focus to the rest of the cast is probably the best move right now. This season really hasn’t done much with Raj, Howard and Bernadette, and even Leonard has felt neglected at times. These characters need their own conflicts again, and that’s what this episode delivered. For Howard and Bernie, it was figuring out how to adjust to life without Stuart’s creepy presence. Stuart’s creepy stalker behavior was the source of some of the more memorable humor this week. Plus there was Howard’s little underpants celebration. Any opportunity this show has to let Simon Helberg bust out a little physical comedy is worth taking.

I just wish the Howard/Bernie storyline was given a firmer resolution. Predictably, the two found themselves pining for Stuart after he left. There was a clear sense that Howard became his mother in terms of his relationship with Stuart – simultaneously bristling his presence and being unable to let him leave the nest. But what’s the takeaway from this? It almost seemed like the episode was building towards Howard and Bernie making the big decision to have a baby, especially when they were arguing over what to do with Stuart’s old room. But this subplot pretty much cut off at that point without a proper conclusion.

Penny stops being polite and starts getting real.

It was fun to see Leonard step into the spotlight for a change and pay a visit to a psychiatrist who’s about as far removed from his cold, domineering mother as it’s possible to be. One of the highlights of this episode involved Leonard claiming he didn’t need therapy, only for his friends to pelt him with his many psychological foibles. Sorry, Monsignor Leonard, that dog won’t hunt. That paved the way for Jane Kaczmarek to put in a guest appearance as Dr. Gallo. This episode didn’t give Kaczmarek much to do from a comedic standpoint, but she she was a great fit for the characters all the same – firm but kindly, and far more reserved than she was in, say, Malcolm in the Middle.

Once Leonard found inner peace (which will no doubt be fleeting), the story shifted to Penny and her futile attempts to peddle her new drug to Dr. Gallo. It was amusing to watch this scene transition fro ma sales pitch to a full-blown therapy session, but more importantly it seemed like we’re seeing the genesis of the next big dramatic thread on the show. Penny basically acknowledged all the flaws in her relationship with Leonard and the fact that she basically gave up on her dream of acting. There’s clearly a lot of lingering resentment to be dealt with. And while sometimes the ongoing Leonard/Penny drama can be a real drag on the show, I am interested to see where this leads.

For once, Sheldon enjoyed more of a supporting role as he teamed up with Raj for a bit of weekend astronomy. It’s always fun to see Sheldon pair off with someone who isn’t Leonard, Penny or Amy and get a slightly different dynamic out of the mix. The “Take Your Sheldon to Work Day” storyline would probably have grown tedious if it were the main focus of the episode, but as a smaller subplot it worked nicely. Sheldon got a chance to bug Raj for a bit, show off his superhuman skills of data analysis and then claim an asteroid for his very own. Not bad for a Saturday’s work.