The Big Bang Theory Review: The Gyroscopic Collapse (Season 10 Episode 23)

A penultimate episode of a season could be expected to be a bit exciting, even a bit intense.

But unfortunately, The Big Bang Theory Season 10 Episode 23, “The Gyroscopic Collapse,” is only a so-so episode that lacks laughs, but nevertheless manages to introduce a few storylines that most likely play a role on the upcoming season finale.

As I predicted on my review of The Big Bang Theory Season 10 Episode 22, “The Cognition Regeneration,” change is in the air. This time, change comes in the form of Amy getting a summer research fellowship to Princeton, which means that she needs to spend few months apart from Sheldon.

On “The Cognition Regeneration,” Sheldon tried to challenge himself, for example by learning to bake. Amy’s departure from California brings ahead a new kind of challenge and one Sheldon might not be prepared for — living alone for the very first time in his life.

 

Throughout the series, Sheldon has been extremely dependent on the other characters, which is why I think it could potentially be very interesting to see him on his own, even for a short period of time. Hopefully, this will happen on the season finale.

At least the title of the episode, “The Long Distance Dissonance” makes one assume that the episode focuses heavily on the new long distance relationship between Amy and Sheldon. 

In addition to Amy moving away,  Sheldon, alongside Howard and Leonard, has to go through the disappointment of getting the air force project suddenly taken away. I must admit that I was anxiously waiting for the project to be wrapped up, because I haven’t found the scenes of the guys working on it particularly interesting or funny.

From the get go, I have hated the fact that Raj was not involved in the project. Based on the cold open, Raj neither was super pumped about the exclusion. 

Raj’s life without financial assistance from his parents has been put to the back-burner for a few episodes now, and unfortunately it does not play a big part of “The Gyroscopic Collapse” either. Importantly, though, Raj is seen moving away from Leonard and Penny’s apartment.

The obvious solution would be for Sheldon to move back to his old room temporarily, but I REALLY hope that doesn’t happen.

Sheldon has come so far throughout this season, as is proven by the way he eventually approaches Amy’s departure from California, and seeing him back in his old room could possibly feel like a return to an old format and jokes that have been repeated too many times already.

Despite his occasionally childish ways and selfish behavior, Sheldon has always been near and dear to my heart. While this 1oth season of The Big Bang Theory has not been as good as I remember the earlier seasons being, it has not managed to make me grow bored with Sheldon.

The end of the episode, and the way Sheldon worries about Amy and clearly wants to be updated on her life at Princeton, is one clear indication of Sheldon’s character development. Before, he most likely would have only talked about himself and how this move affects him. Yes, he does mention himself too, but he clearly also shows concern and caring for Amy.

Sheldon: What if I become strange and eccentric?

While “The Cyroscopic Collapse” does manage to introduce storylines that will most likely appear on the upcoming season finale, it lacks the kind of laughs one could expect from a comedy.

A few things Sheldon says, like his worry about becoming strange and eccentric, managed to make me chuckle, but as a whole, I think this episode was a bit lame.

Nevertheless, I am extremely excited about the season finale and can’t wait to see how Sheldon does on his own, how Raj’s life in his new apartment (Bert’s garage) starts, and if Penny’s struggles with her job are brought up again.

Also, there is an empty apartment in the building that is identical to Penny and Leonard’s place. It makes an appearance on the episode twice, which makes me think that it would not be too forward to assume that it will somehow play a role on the season finale or the upcoming seasons. Could Raj move there? Do Sheldon and Amy need a bigger place?

Stray observations:

• Once again, I found something I share with Sheldon — love for tasteless, plain oatmeal.
• I love how Penny and Bernadette encourage Amy to take the job, telling her that distance from Sheldon might do some good for both of them. They also say that if the roles were reversed, Sheldon would already be on the train to Jersey. I would like to think that Sheldon would now be considerate enough to tell to those close to him that his leaving, but Penny and Bernadette are probably right.
• Sheldon initiates intimacy even though it’s not Amy birthday. That is kind of a big deal, right?!

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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