# The Big Bang Theory, Season 11, Episode 21 (April 19, 2018) -- "The Comet Polarization" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719 "2018-04-19T17:48:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/1 "2018-04-19T17:48:25Z")
I am starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/2 "2018-04-19T18:00:56Z")
Moved from GD to Cafe Society. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/3 "2018-04-19T18:30:04Z")
I don’t know, sometimes these threads generate some pretty heated debates. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/4 "2018-04-19T19:08:32Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Moved from GD to Cafe Society. > > [/moderating] Oops, I don’t know what I was thinking. Silly me! Thanks for moving my new thread! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/5 "2018-04-20T00:42:00Z")
And we still don’t know Penny’s last name, do we? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/6 "2018-04-20T08:49:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > And we still don’t know Penny’s last name, do we? It’s Hofstadter. This was a pretty good episode. Not hilarious, but I thought it was well written. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/7 "2018-04-20T12:26:31Z")
Better than last week. It seems like they do better when they play off characters they don’t normally play off, ie Penny/Raj. Funny that no one noticed Neil Gaiman, considering Howard and Bernie named their son after him. Good to see Stuart getting somewhere. I wonder if Denise will be a love interest for Raj? I don’t think he’s noticed her yet. Poor Amy…trying to learn about comic books, only to be dismissed by Sheldon. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/8 "2018-04-20T13:00:26Z")
I find it unbelievable that Sheldon or anyone else in the comic book store, for that matter, wouldn’t recognize Neil Gaiman. Worst. Episode. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/9 "2018-04-20T13:01:04Z")
The only time in the show’s history that Bernadette dressed sloppily is for Howard’s date night? Come on. Hope we see more of Denise. I think she’s kind of hot. But not as a love interest for Raj. Not sure what Raj needs or what gender. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/10 "2018-04-20T13:16:28Z")
It’s not that surprising that Neil Gaiman might not be recognized. He looks distinctly different than he did a few years ago when I met him twice. According to some websites, he lives mostly in Australia now. No character on the show has ever mentioned meeting him. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/11 "2018-04-20T13:38:27Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Better than last week. It seems like they do better when they play off characters they don’t normally play off, ie Penny/Raj. > > Funny that no one noticed Neil Gaiman, considering Howard and Bernie named their son after him. > > Good to see Stuart getting somewhere. I wonder if Denise will be a love interest for Raj? I don’t think he’s noticed her yet. > > Poor Amy…trying to learn about comic books, only to be dismissed by Sheldon. I enjoyed the episode! I was hoping that they would do a bit more with Mr. Gaiman, though… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/12 "2018-04-20T13:54:05Z")
Anyone else who was totally clueless as to who Neil Gaiman was? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/13 "2018-04-20T13:58:41Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It’s Hofstadter. Do we know for sure that Penny has taken Leonard’s name? When she was talking with Raj and he agreed that the comet could have her name, I expected him to ask what it was. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Hope we see more of Denise. I think she’s kind of hot. But not as a love interest for Raj. Not sure what Raj needs or what gender. The thread about bringing back Sheldon’s sister for his wedding episode made me wonder if they could pair her up with Raj. Raj, Howard, and Leonard were all interested in her the first time she visited, and the other two are off the market now. And Denise looked kinda familiar. I’ll have to find the name of the actress and figure out if I’ve seen her in anything else. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/14 "2018-04-20T14:06:55Z")
Denise was Lauren Lapkus, an improv comedian and podcaster, who was in _Jurassic World_, _Orange Is The New Black_, and other small roles here and there. She was a reg on a sitcom called _Clipped_ a couple of years ago too. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/15 "2018-04-20T14:15:23Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > I find it unbelievable that Sheldon or anyone else in the comic book store, for that matter, wouldn’t recognize Neil Gaiman. I didn’t find the lack of recognition disturbing, but I \*was \*surprised that no one looked up in response to hearing a British accent. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > The only time in the show’s history that Bernadette dressed sloppily is for Howard’s date night? Come on. I thought it was an impromptu date night…? She thought it was cancelled because Stuart was busy, and didn’t know Howard was going to set something up at home. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Anyone else who was totally clueless as to who Neil Gaiman was? I knew who he was, but learned I’d been mispronouncing his name. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/16 "2018-04-20T14:21:45Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I thought it was an impromptu date night…? She thought it was cancelled because Stuart was busy, and didn’t know Howard was going to set something up at home. That is true, but Bernadette is always quite smartly dressed no matter what the situation. Except for bedtime scenes, she always looks like she works in a fairly formal office and doesn’t change when she’s home. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/17 "2018-04-20T14:45:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The thread about bringing back Sheldon’s sister for his wedding episode made me wonder if they could pair her up with Raj. Raj, Howard, and Leonard were all interested in her the first time she visited, and the other two are off the market now. Sheldon’s sister is married (or at least, she was in the episode where Sheldon went home to help deliver her baby–there was mention of “her husband”). More than a potential love interest for Raj, I thought Denise was a welcome addition for being that rarest of rare creatures in the Big Bang universe: a woman who likes geeky stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/18 "2018-04-20T14:56:52Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > That is true, but Bernadette is always quite smartly dressed no matter what the situation. Except for bedtime scenes, she always looks like she works in a fairly formal office and doesn’t change when she’s home. Eh, I feel like we’ve seen her in sweats – if not that exact same outfit – before, when she’s home with no plans. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/19 "2018-04-20T20:36:32Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Sheldon’s sister is married (or at least, she was in the episode where Sheldon went home to help deliver her baby–there was mention of “her husband”). I remembered the baby. Wasn’t sure if they’d mentioned a husband or not, but she could be divorced now, and Raj just dotes on kids. So who would get naming rights if a comet was discovered as on the show? I could see a case for splitting it, but it would be hard to justify giving Penny sole credit. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719/20 "2018-04-20T20:37:49Z")
Whatever happened to Raj’s dog? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-21-april-19-2018-the-comet-polarization/812719.md?page=2)