The Big Bang Theory Review: The Comic-Con Conundrum (Season 10 Episode 17)

After seeing the episode title for The Big Bang Theory Season 10 Episode 17, “The Comic-Con Conundrum,” I got instantly excited, because anything to do with the Comic-Con usually works out brilliantly.

So, does this episode live up to the hype I had orchestrated around it based on the title alone?

I am happy to report that it does!

“The Comic-Con Conundrum” features one of the best cold opens I’ve seen on The Big Bang Theory in a long while. At the conclusion of the previous episode, Raj became financially independent probably for the first time in his life, and it seems like he is already going through the consequences of that decision.

The cold open does what it needs to do — introduces the premise of the episode — while also including few, solid laugh out loud gags. Also, while I do love Bernadette and Amy, the cold open made me realize how brilliant the interaction between the “core group” (the original cast members) can be if the jokes land just right.

So, as one can probably predict, now that his father is not paying for this lavish lifestyle any longer, Raj is facing some pretty major financial problems. After the possibility of hiring a business manager is brought up, Sheldon agrees to help.

And he begins by telling that Raj’s financial situation is in such a dire state that he won’t have money to purchase a ticket to the San Diego Comic-Con.

After Raj is forced to think about the ways in which he could still make attending the Comic-Con possible, Howard and Leonard also start to ponder their decisions and possibilities for going. While Leonard is trying to deal with the fact that Penny wants to tag along, Howard isn’t sure whether he can leave Bernadette and Halley behind for five days.

As you might now, Comic-Con is a BIG DEAL for these guys, and I totally get why it is. I have never been fortunate enough to attend the San Diego Comic-Con myself, but going there is right on top of my bucket list.

Maybe that is why I felt so sympathetic toward Raj’s attempt to make attending the convention possible by trying to gain extra work to earn the money. And I honestly felt so proud of him when he decides not take the money offered to him by Bernadette and Howard because he wants to solve his financial problems on his own.

(Yes, it is totally legit to be proud of a fictional character.)

I must admit that I was kind of nervous about the possibility of Raj sliding back to the financial comfort of his parents once he realizes the truth about his financial situation.

I am not saying it is not okay to ask for help, because it totally is. I’m just saying that narratively that would have been the easy way out, while this new reality Raj is living in offers a number of interesting possibilities for his story arc.

As mentioned, also Leonard and Howard have to make a decision about what to do with Comic-Con. By the end of the episode, after both have gone through some obstacles to make their Comic-Cons plans a reality, they follow in Raj’s footsteps and say they won’t go either.

I don’t know if this is character growth (can you really grow out of the desire to go to the Comic-Con) or just change of priorities, but nevertheless, it was interesting to see the guys change their mind.

Sure, they still have time to change their minds again, but I do think this conclusion was a way to close the Comic-Con narrative storyline and make sure that they don’t actually have to film anything in a convention.

While it would be awesome to get an episode of the guys attending Comic-Con, I do understand why this decision was made. Not only do the decisions of Howard, Raj, and Leonard give them more character depth and show character growth of sorts, they also allow the show to close on this storyline and focus on something else.

While the jokes on this episode seem almost exceptionally good, the aspect I really enjoyed is the fact that the episode focuses on one solid storyline — the plans for Comic-Con — instead of flip-flopping between a number of separate storylines.

This has proven, at least to me, be the way The Big Bang Theory works the best and manages to generate the kind of reaction it aspires for.

Stray thoughts:

• Amy and Sheldon’s relationship is often used as a laughingstock on the show, but honestly, they probably have the most honest relationship out of all of the relationship featured on the show. While Sheldon might not be the easiest person to be around, he is the one I would pick as my boyfriend out of the four guys (I am not even counting Stuart here because I wish he wouldn’t exist!)
• I was kind of bothered by how Howard’s “horrible” forced task to do before getting permission to go to the Comic-Con is doing chores. Does he never usually do anything at home?
• The closing scene and the dialogue between Amy and Sheldon are golden!

What did you think of this episode of The Big Bang Theory? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.

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