# The Big Bang Theory, Season 9, Episode 1 (September 21, 2015) -- "The Matrimonial Momentum" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149 "2015-09-21T20:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/61 "2015-09-25T14:34:45Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Because Penny, for all her shallowness, doesn’t cheat. But Penny has been cheated _on_, more than once. So it’s easy to understand why she would be upset. It’s happened to her before, and she probably thought Leonard was better than that (although why she would think so, it’s hard to imagine). ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/62 "2015-09-25T14:43:21Z")
But when Leonard asked Penny for advice about dating/sleeping with the comic book writer while Priya was in India, Penny was pretty blase about it. She pointed out it was definitely cheating, but didn’t seem to think it was a huge moral failing to cheat. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/63 "2015-09-25T14:46:14Z")
That was because she hated Priya. If Sheldon had asked about cheating on Amy she would have had a much more…animated answer. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/64 "2015-09-25T16:02:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The entire last episode needs to be every character coming to terms with where they are. Penny and Leonard should definitely be broken up for good, with Penny married to someone else, preferably Sheldon. Leonard returns to his apartment, Sheldon and Penny having moved to Texas, and then he sees the new blonde. For the love of god, no! I don’t have strong feelings about the Leonard and Penny relationship, but I have _very_ strong feelings opposing any hypothetical Penny and Sheldon relationship. They should never get together, under any circumstances. In fact, while I think that Jim Parsons is a good enough actor, I hate the Sheldon Cooper character, and actively root (within the BBT universe) for everything bad in life to happen to him, and nobody else but him. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/65 "2015-09-25T16:11:41Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > For the love of god, no! I don’t have strong feelings about the Leonard and Penny relationship, but I have _very_ strong feelings opposing any hypothetical Penny and Sheldon relationship. They should never get together, under any circumstances. I love the Penny/Sheldon relationship–as it is now. They’re better friends than they think they are. I think they will end up better friends than any of the other characters in the show. But no, I don’t think they should be romantically involved. I think trying to romantically involve Sheldon with _anybody_ (including Amy) is just shoehorning his character into doing something that doesn’t work for it. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/66 "2015-09-25T16:18:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why should Penny care? How many men has she slept with? Her reaction is uncharacteristic and unbelievable. Wait, what? Having had sexual partners in the past means she shouldn’t care that she was cheated on? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/67 "2015-09-25T17:02:31Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > But no, I don’t think they should be romantically involved. I think trying to romantically involve Sheldon with _anybody_ (including Amy) is just shoehorning his character into doing something that doesn’t work for it. Hence the break up. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/68 "2015-09-25T17:16:45Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > In fact, while I think that Jim Parsons is a good enough actor, I hate the Sheldon Cooper character, and actively root (within the BBT universe) for everything bad in life to happen to him, and nobody else but him. I’ve only ever seen Parsons in BBT and a TV movie about AIDS… in which he basically played Gay Sheldon. Wouldn’t mind seeing him tackle something else; I have no idea if he’s a good actor or not, really. Although it’s interesting watching the original pilot, in which he was secretly sleeping with Leonard’s off again on again girlfriend… ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/69 "2015-09-25T17:19:37Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > . . . > > Wouldn’t mind seeing him tackle something else; I have no idea if he’s a good actor or not, really. Although it’s interesting watching the original pilot, in which he was secretly sleeping with Leonard’s off again on again girlfriend… Someone here posted that they had seen him in the play _Harvey_, and that he made a very good Elwood P. Dowd. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/70 "2015-09-25T17:23:35Z")
In all the sketches in his SNL appearance, he was basically Sheldon again, too. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/71 "2015-09-25T17:58:46Z")
Is Parsons Sheldon or is Sheldon Parsons? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/72 "2015-09-25T18:04:57Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Remember when Stuart was the example of a Confident nerd who casually asked out Penny? I saw that episode a while back, and realized that even that Stuart was pretty pathetic - Penny took his attitude as appealing modesty, but since he let himself get sidetracked into an interminable argument with Sheldon, instead of going to Penny’s room after their date, I think it’s clear that Stuart isn’t much of a smooth operator - he just lucked into a couple of dates with Penny, one of which was a limited success and the other of which ended in disaster. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/73 "2015-09-25T18:32:15Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > . . . > Sheldon was kissing Amy and thought about whether to ask her about watching “The Flash”. It is presented as him caring more about his TV show than the relationship with Amy. . . From Sheldon’s perspective, he had an important commitment to consider, and he instinctively wanted to talk it over with Amy. He learned his lesson from the whole Mars debacle, but also actually wanted her input. For him, to respect the mind of another human enough to want their input on any decision is just absolutely ginormous. I’m sure that’s the realization that led him to talk to his Mom and get the ring. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > In all the sketches in his SNL appearance, he was basically Sheldon again, too. Well, yes. of course that’s what the writers would be going for. You need that familiarity to make a short sketch work. I thought he was very good in “Home” although voice acting is not the same, he really sold the character, who was[goofily well-meaning and sensitive.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O0EBM_MsWE) ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/74 "2015-09-25T18:44:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Huh? Sheldon kissed a girl- once. Penny has had dozens of relationships. Why does she get to go ballistic over one kiss? I’m assuming you mean Leonard, and not Sheldon. For clarification, are you saying that because Penny has had “dozens” of relationships, there is a certain amount of infidelity that she is required to tolerate? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/75 "2015-09-25T19:36:55Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > I’m assuming you mean Leonard, and not Sheldon. > > For clarification, are you saying that because Penny has had “dozens” of relationships, there is a certain amount of infidelity that she is required to tolerate? I dont consider what Leonard did “infidelity”. And she was over-reacting. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/76 "2015-09-25T19:41:52Z")
Bat pucky. It most assuredly **was** infidelity, and she was not over-reacting in the least. It was an emotional betrayal that just goes to show what an asshole Leonard is. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/77 "2015-09-25T19:50:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Bat pucky. It most assuredly **was** infidelity, and she was not over-reacting in the least. It was an emotional betrayal that just goes to show what an asshole Leonard is. Ok, let us go with your opinion. How does infidelity and emotional betrayal and being an asshole make the show\* funny\*? My point was- this epi wasnt in any way funny (Ok, there were a couple of laughs) . It was dark and depressing. The writers \*set up \*Leonard to do that, and _set him up_ to spill his guts, and \*set up \*Penny to over-react- and thus ruin what should have been a happy wedding. Instead the wedding was a sad, sad travesty. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/78 "2015-09-25T20:01:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I dont consider what Leonard did “infidelity”. And she was over-reacting. Your previous comment doesn’t argue that a drunken kiss shouldn’t be considered infidelity (I disagree, but I don’t set your boundaries), it argues that because she has had dozens of previous relationships, she should be willing to accept Leonard’s behaviour. Conversely, if it was Amy, Leonard would have been out of line, as she has not had dozens of previous partners. Kinda makes it sounds like Leonard’s culpability is dependent on what type of woman’s being cheated on. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/79 "2015-09-25T21:25:59Z")
The Meta-issue is that the elopement to Las Vegas wasn’t their idea. Sheldon sort of dared/challenged them into doing it. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149/80 "2015-09-25T21:28:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, let us go with your opinion. How does infidelity and emotional betrayal and being an asshole make the show\* funny\*? > > My point was- this epi wasnt in any way funny (Ok, there were a couple of laughs) . It was dark and depressing. The writers \*set up \*Leonard to do that, and _set him up_ to spill his guts, and \*set up \*Penny to over-react- and thus ruin what should have been a happy wedding. Instead the wedding was a sad, sad travesty. Exactly. It _wasn’t_ funny. The writers are fucktards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-1-september-21-2015-the-matrimonial-momentum/732149.md?page=5)