TO CLOSE

The casting of Big Bang Theory celebrates its twelfth and last season at The Langham Huntington in Burbank, California.
Harrison Hill, USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

Spoiler alert: This story contains many details of the finale of the Thursday series of "The Big Bang Theory".

"The Big Bang Theory" is not over with a bang.

This was never the goal of the hit comedy CBS, which ended its 12 seasons played Thursday with a one-hour final that featured a big, but hardly shocking, actuality.

After 279 episodes, "Bang" landed comfortably and appropriately in the main group, still in the same place, but still in a better position, little by little, in terms of emotional maturity. It is not that there has been no turbulence to the last resting place, but we will get there.

The final, actually two episodes ("The Constant Change" and "The Stockholm Syndrome"), ends the season of the story of Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and his wife Amy (Mayim Bialik), likely to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.

More: How are the adorable friends of 'Big Bang Theory & # 39; matured (well, not always) in the 12 seasons of the series

After 12 seasons, CBS & # 39; The Big Bang Theory & # 39; Thursday closed the book on Leonard (Johnny Galecki), left, Raj (Kunal Nayyar), Howard (Simon Helberg), Amy (Mayim Bialik), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) . (And no, most of them are out of place.Of course, Sheldon is.)

The phone call

It opens in the middle of the night with Sheldon, Amy, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) having a coffee and being grumpy as they wait for the announcement of the award from Stockholm. Sheldon gave permission to Leonard to slap him when he fell asleep and his friend and former roommate, who has been suffering for a long time, appreciates this potential opportunity.

They receive false alerts, including a call from rival Kripke (John Ross Bowie), before Amy gets the news: they won!

When Sheldon begins to wonder if he dreams of winning the biggest prize in science, Leonard understands his opportunity and delivers a big slap, easily the best gag of sight of the episode.

After the initial celebration, Sheldon and Amy are hit by a wave of media coverage. None appreciates it. Sheldon hides in his office to avoid a reporter; Amy is initially satisfied with the outside interest, but she fears later that she looks frumpy in front of the camera.

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Chuck Lorre on "The Big Bang Theory": "I'm sorry … and grateful"

Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) have a secret for viewers of "Big Bang Theory" and for their friends: she is going to have a baby. (Photo: Michael Yarish, CBS)

Secret baby news

With everyone focused on the new Nobel laureates, Penny and Leonard are able to keep an eye on their big news: Penny is pregnant.

The couple's disagreement about having children – Leonard for, especially Penny against – has been another major story this season. It would have been more interesting if Penny had stuck to her position and decided not to become a mother, but it was not really the kind of problem that "Big Bang" could address. Pregnancy is the most suitable solution, because – oh well, it's good to be happy for this pretty couple.

What is even more incredible is that none of the friends suspect Penny of getting pregnant, especially when she has to leave her dress and that later, she will not drink free alcohol during the flight to Sweden, even if she's a girl in love with wine. It's easy to imagine that guys are unconscious, but women, especially Bernadette, are smarter than that.

More: "The Big Bang Theory" makes fun of a record in the approach of the last reverence: "Proud of what we have done"

On the way to Stockholm

In the spirit of the "Big Bang", all friends accompany Sheldon and Amy to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, with Howard and Bernadette taking a trip without their young children for the first time. If that's not enough, they leave the kids to Stuart (Kevin Sussman). It will not go well.

Howard (Simon Helberg, left), his wife, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), and their friend Penny (Kaley Cuoco) share a laugh in the finale of the series "The Big Bang Theory". (Photo: Michael Yarish, CBS)

First, they must listen to Amy and Sheldon write their acceptance speeches. Sheldon is exceptionally dismissive and egocentric even for him. At this point, it is clear that the character, who has taken hundreds of steps forward to mature, is regressing to its starting point.

It gets worse during the flight to Sweden. Instead of congratulating Penny and Leonard for revealing their secret, Sheldon focuses on the fact that she has no virus and is relieved not to spoil the ceremony. He is a real idiot; it does not seem right for this character at this stage of his development, although it is not every day that you win a Nobel.

Sheldon's behavior annoys Leonard, who wants his friend to be happy for him. It's not everyone who notices this clash, as Raj thinks he's sitting next to Buffy's against vampires, Sarah Michelle Gellar. He confirms this conviction by rummaging through his purse to find his boarding card. It's pretty scary, so it seems like it's regressing too.

Leonard is still angry when he arrives at the hotel, where Penny, a pregnant woman, immediately craves pickled herring. Sheldon, forced by Amy, shows up to apologize, but only makes things worse. Leonard decides that it's time to leave, just like Howard and Bernadette, who are embarrassed by Sheldon's selfish behavior but who are also worried about Stuart's incompetent babysitting.

The friendship is tested, but survives

But they can not go. Despite Sheldon's behavior, he remains their friend. Obtuse Sheldon ends up getting it too. While Amy accepts her Nobel Prize and encourages young women to get into science (the "Big Bang" deserves the credit of being an example in this respect), he decides to give up his self-acceptance speech. enlarging.

More: Final recording of "The Big Bang Theory": mathematics, science, hugs and tears

The hard work of the spouses Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is bearing fruit with a Nobel Prize in the finale of the series "The Big Bang Theory". (Photo: Michael Yarish, Warner Bros.)

Instead, as if shot in a sling in his most childish way, he finally became aware of his most selfless act of maturity. In his speech, he pays tribute to his friends, realizing what is ultimately the most important in life thanking each of them for his support. (Buffy is here too with Raj.)

"I'm sorry if I have not been the friend you deserve, but I want you to know, my way, I love you all," he says.

Even though Sheldon's retrograde behavior was hard to believe, the winning speech is sweet and touching. For a show that has often made us laugh, it should make many cry.

The only complaint is that it is a little too centered on Sheldon, even with the recognition of other characters. Fortunately, the show deals with this in a beautiful final plan: this family of friends enjoys their typical Chinese dish in the living room of the apartment. An acoustic and melancholy rendering of the famous theme of the show plays them.

It's a scene that viewers have watched hundreds of times, but that's not a problem. This is not "Lost"; we were not looking for decisive answers in the final.

Fans have adopted this show because they feel comfortable with the characters that they have known for over 12 seasons and that a meal together feels good. It's a pretty closing portrait, knowing that they'll always be.

And it's a satisfying ending to a very good sitcom finale; not at "Newhart" level, but far from the worst. You can almost imagine, meta-meticulously, the ranking of the characters where the "Big Bang" is getting closer to his predecessors of the classic comedy. It's just what they do.

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