So Sheldon Cooper has got married. Rewind 10 years to the awkward, robotic-like figure in Series One, and you will find a character that is an emotional-shadow of his former-self.
After getting to know his future-bride-to-be Amy, he has slowly changed into a more-rounded, thoughtful person, culminating in his most emotionally expressive episode to date.
Thankfully, Series 11 ended with this story complete and not on a cliffhanger, something I was slightly worried about after watching the end of Series 10 recently.
But it didn’t. Instead, we witnessed an episode containing laughter, thought and adoration, as well as one particular recognisable face.
We finally saw Amy’s mother not on a computer screen, with her parents being one of the biggest successes of the finale. She was everything that she was built up to be by Amy, and performed the over-bearing protecting mother that requires a lot of skill to play.
It only makes me wish, like Sheldon’s newly shown brother, she was used more often and less sparingly than what she has been. Her defensive and unrealistic parenting skills gave us all something new to laugh at, the show giving us yet another witty dimension.
The writers were also incredibly clever to use Sheldon’s pursuit of string theory to unite himself and Amy in a way I can’t remember seeing from the two of them before.
The chemistry between them just before they went to the alter would have connected viewers, and it built a stronger attachment to them with their wedding just moments later.
Sheldon’s speech was unique, almost sacred considering that it is him speaking. The words he said to Amy and vice versa, were both their most powerful yet, and it highlighted his evolution from robot to husband.
Penny and Leonard were also fantastic in their more backseat roles. They were clearly both proud of Sheldon and Amy, and embraced the wedding as if it were their brother or sister.
The inclusion of Mark Hamill too was also inspired, his cameo portraying him as your typical down-to-earth guy with an affection for small dogs. Officiating the wedding, it felt like the legend himself was giving this same status now to Jim Parsons himself. Another appearance from such a worldwide figure continues to emphasise how big the show is.
His prestige rubbed off on characters like Will and Raj, and Stuart and his new *friend, all of whom showed us even more of their awkward, geeky personalities that we have come to love.
Seeing Stuart connect with a woman was another story that I hope the producers will take further, it’s about time both he and Raj find a woman so we can look forward to episodes dedicated to their own weddings.
Overall, the series 11 finale contained a number of great moments, and whilst the current season hasn’t probably exceeded ones previously, the episodes are still of such a high standard that people have perhaps taken for them granted.
joeharbert 