# The Big Bang Theory, Season 12, Episode 11 (January 3, 2019) -- "The Paintball Scattering" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147 "2019-01-03T14:01:15Z")\ **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:** [January 3, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/1 "2019-01-03T14:01:15Z")
I am starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/2 "2019-01-03T22:30:34Z")
I am subscribing to this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/3 "2019-01-04T04:43:55Z")
Not too bad an episode, all in all. Raj and Anu get broken up, Stuart gets a good story, Sheldon had a good shirt, kiwis get dissed. Still a rather lightweight outing, but what can you do? ---
**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:** [January 4, 2019, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/4 "2019-01-04T07:48:21Z")
I can see a Stuart and Denise spin-off working if they wanted to try it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/5 "2019-01-04T14:18:41Z")
I think Stuart’s reaction to Denise was spot on and in keeping with his character. Bernadette shows she is not against a little outside nookie with Howard, and Raj and Anu have an A Ha moment. I wonder if the show will let them work it out? Sheldon is so sure he is Perfect in Every Way that it’s nice to see him knocked down a notch or two. And more Josh Malina is just fine by me! ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/6 "2019-01-04T14:57:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Not too bad an episode, all in all. Raj and Anu get broken up, Stuart gets a good story, Sheldon had a good shirt, kiwis get dissed. Still a rather lightweight outing, but what can you do? I’m hoping that they’re broken up for good. I just don’t care for Anu. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/7 "2019-01-04T15:03:52Z")
Raj and Anu \*will \*get back together, if only because there are too few episodes left for Raj to get the happily-ever-after resolution that all the other characters are getting (even Stuart) in any other plausible way. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/8 "2019-01-04T15:08:14Z")
Well, I hop Raj and Anu work it out and date like normal people (not that people in arranged marriages aren’t normal-- you know what I mean!) because, so far, she is the most suited for him. Unless they bring back the older cleaning woman. Or the vet. Who won the paintball war? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/9 "2019-01-04T16:59:46Z")
I may be reading too much into this, but I thought it was an interesting choice by the writers. When Raj says he can’t trust Anu because he doesn’t know her, her response is, “Well, why are we planning a wedding?” NOT “Why are we getting married?” That tells me that they really haven’t thought this through. They’re planning a party/ritual/ceremony, but not really thinking of what that signifies. Their parents have arranged this, so they’re going through the motions and the thought that they will be married hasn’t really hit home for them. I think Bernadette’s team won paintball because she grabbed the flag first while Amy and Leonard were arguing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/10 "2019-01-04T17:27:45Z")
The wife read recently that the producers have indicated that Raj **won’t** be in a relationship at the end of the show, I think Denise won the paintball war because she was the only one still unsplatted and running free at the end. Favorite line: \ ***Stuart:** When do you stop worrying that you’ll screw it (the relationship) up? **Leonard:** (glances at Penny) “I’ll let you know.”\* ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/11 "2019-01-04T18:02:27Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Well, I hop Raj and Anu work it out and date like normal people (not that people in arranged marriages aren’t normal-- you know what I mean!) because, so far, she is the most suited for him. Unless they bring back the older cleaning woman. Or the vet. > > Who won the paintball war? I liked the vet as a possible love-interest for Raj! I wish that would happen, but I won’t hold my breath… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/12 "2019-01-04T18:32:12Z")
I’m still hoping for Sheldon’s sister. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/13 "2019-01-04T18:44:51Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m still hoping for Sheldon’s sister. Hey, I would be fine with that, as well. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/14 "2019-01-04T19:07:34Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > I liked the vet as a possible love-interest for Raj! I wish that would happen, but I won’t hold my breath… It says something about the lack of good romantic storylines that they’ve managed to find for Raj that people are hoping for a minor character from the B-plot of a single episode from (looks it up) five years ago to return and be his perfect match. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/15 "2019-01-04T20:07:22Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I think Bernadette’s team won paintball because she grabbed the flag first while Amy and Leonard were arguing. She (and Howard) won the Paintball but that is not the reason. 🆒:p:D ---
**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:** [January 5, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/16 "2019-01-05T05:05:57Z")
I haven’t watched the show for a while. My response to this episode was “what, Raj is engaged?” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/17 "2019-01-05T14:15:44Z")
This should have been a two part episode. Just so much crammed in. Esp. with the overgrown cast. Not enough time to properly run story lines. Penny acing paintball would have been amazing to watch. I think this episode cramming is going to continue for the remainder of the show. Stuart giving Denise a key to someone else’s place. How romantic! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/18 "2019-01-05T16:20:52Z")
The only real good thing in this episode is that we may not see Anu ever again. I think Raj is better off alone than with her. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/19 "2019-01-05T19:38:40Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The only real good thing in this episode is that we may not see Anu ever again. I think Raj is better off alone than with her. There’s previews showing him standing on her porch (doorbell camera view) with a sign. So, the dismalness will continue. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147/20 "2019-01-05T19:51:45Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Stuart giving Denise a key to someone else’s place. How romantic! And how totally Stuart. Denise handled it perfectly, too. I hope those two crazy kids can work it out and live happily (but semineurotically) ever after. Maybe with the aforementioned spin-off. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-11-january-3-2019-the-paintball-scattering/827147.md?page=2)