The Big Bang Theory Review: The Cognition Regeneration (Season 10 Episode 22)

The Big Bang Theory Season 10 Episode 22, “The Cognition Regeneration,” is all about discoveries.

Most importantly, it is about the self-discoveries Sheldon and Penny make — discoveries that I assume will play a role in the few last upcoming episodes of Season 10.

The cold open features the guys playing online video games against a bunch of Little Leaguers. When Sheldon freezes and is unable to win the game for the team, he realizes that he might no longer be as technologically adept as he used to be.

In his own words, he is “no longer a Wunderkind.”

Obviously, Sheldon is not able to let go of his loss to the “boy teenagers,” which is why he decides to test the theories of “super-aging.”

I, of course, had to Google super-aging in order to know what Sheldon is talking about. According to an article by The New York Times, “superagers” are people “whose memory and attention isn’t merely above average for their age, but is actually on par with healthy, active 25-year-olds.” Simply put, as a study by Massachusetts General Hospital suggests, “superagers” have brains with “youthful characteristics.”

Losing on the video game makes Sheldon wonder whether the capabilities of his brain are declining, which is why he chooses to challenge himself in order to keep his brain active and youthful.

Raj suggests Sheldon should challenge himself by learning Hindi, but it turns out that it is something Sheldon did when he was eight years old. I would suggest learning Finnish, but Sheldon already kind of did that too on “The Psychic Vortex” (sSeason 3 Episode 12).

Fun fact: back in the day, Sheldon learning Finnish actually made it to Finnish news. Yes, it was kind of a big deal. 

Rather than learning a new language, the challenges Sheldon gives himself are involved with baking and circus arts. Neither necessarily helps him get closer to his dream of becoming a Nobel prize winner, but at least they show him that he is capable of getting something done just as long as he does not quit.

Sheldon: Physicist, baker, lover…what can’t I do?

As I heard Sheldon talking about his Nobel prize dream, I started to wonder what would happen on the show if Sheldon actually would make a major scientific discovery.

Talking about being famous for his work is something he has done pretty much since episode one, but actually seeing him as “famous” among the academic/scientific community could be extremely interesting.

How would his relationships with his friends change? What about his relationship with Amy?

While Sheldon is trying to challenge himself, Penny is also wondering whether a change would do her some good.

Questioning the ethics of her job (lying about the side effects of different pharmaceuticals she sells) has led her to think about different career paths, and a different kind of future for herself.

It is sometimes hard to remember that Penny actually gave up her dream on the show. While the guys have all had a change to continue with their scientific careers, Penny let go of her dream of becoming an actor and got herself a “responsible” job.

I guess Penny’s dream of becoming an actor was always kind of treated as a joke on the show, since maybe she wasn’t the best actor around. Nevertheless, I hope that through this new discovery about her unhappiness with her job Penny could find employment that she actually wants to do.

Since she has let go of the dream of becoming an actor, what does she really want to do with her life?

The title of the final episode of the season seems to be “The Long Distance Dissonance,” which I assume refers to a long distance relationship. Perhaps a job opportunity is offered for one of the characters that would mean moving away from California. Could it be Penny or Sheldon?

Stray thoughts:

• According to Raj, Jennifer Lopez is a “superager.”
• Bernadette’s beauty pageant talent used to be ventriloquism. I absolutely loved the scene on which she talks through her doll, Tammy Jo St. Cloud, and makes fun of Howard.
• Leonard seems to be against the idea of Penny working with her ex, Zack, but didn’t he kind of do that with Leslie Winkle? They slept around for a while and afterwards continued working together at the university.
• Those interested in seeing Sheldon as a “Wunderkind” should keep their eyes on the upcoming The Big Bang Theory spin-off which will focus on Sheldon as a child in Texas. The show, which is titled Young Sheldon has been picked up by CBS and is set to air in the fall.

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

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

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