The Big Bang Theory Review: The Proton Regeneration (Season 11 Episode 6)

On The Big Bang Theory Season 11 Episode 6, “The Proton Regeneration”, Sheldon auditions to play Professor Proton and ends up reconnecting with Wil Wheaton in the process. While Sheldon prepares for his audition and deals with its aftermath, Howard and Bernadette find themselves in forced bedrest, which gives Penny a chance to connect with Halley.

Professor Proton, a.k.a. Arthur Jeffries is no stranger to those familiar with the previous seasons of The Big Bang Theory. He made his first appearance on Season 6 Episode 22, “The Proton Resurgence” when he was introduced as Sheldon and Leonard’s childhood hero and the man responsible for getting them interested in science.

It seems only fitting that Sheldon instantly acts on the news that his beloved show is getting a remake. Instead of campaigning for a certain actor to get the role in the upcoming remake, he decides to audition himself.

Obviously, his audition tape sucks. 

It is too long, too complicated, and too obnoxious. Sheldon loves his own voice way too much (that is probably not news to anyone!) and lacks the ability to explain things in a kid-friendly way.

Sheldon clearly cares for the show but does not really get that it should cater to children, not to himself. After all, the primary goal is most likely to get young people interested in science, not to provide old fans of the show with feelings of nostalgia.

With this remake story-line, The Big Bang Theory taps into a very current topic, since television reboots/revivals/remakes are increasingly popular these days. By commenting on his hopes for a show that was once highly influential to him he echoes the discussions a lot of television fans likely have every single time a new revival, reboot or remake is announced.

Popular culture and commenting on it have been a part of The Big Bang Theory since its very beginning and though Professor Proton is only a character within the show itself, “The Proton Regeneration” taps into a very contemporary topic of discussion among television and pop culture fans in a very relatable way.

I think all of us can, in some way, relate to Sheldon’s worries. At least I can! Just yesterday, I started to worry about the upcoming The Twilight Zone reboot that is in the works by CBS All Access. 

Sheldon’s attempt to get himself cast as Professor Proton leads him to acquire help from his ex-enemy, Wil Wheaton. After asking Wheaton to give him some acting lessons Sheldon finds out that Wheaton has been cast as Professor Proton. Sheldon does not take the casting news lightly — how can a man who is not even a scientist play a character so important to him — and by the end of the episode it seems like Wheaton has been, once again, moved to Sheldon’s list of enemies.

On last week’s episode, Penny was trying to get through to Sheldon by using a parenting book left in the apartment by Bernadette. On my review of the episode, I suspected that the writers are using these sort of “parenting” story-lines to connect Leonard and Penny, and the viewers, with the idea of the two as parents. Penny taking care of Halley on “The Proton Regeneration” arguably is further example of such story-line.

It is revealed to Penny that her friends don’t think of her as a maternal and/or caring person. To everyone’s surprise, Penny actually ends up doing quite with Halley, so much so that Halley ends up calling her “mama.”

The fact that Howard and Bernadette felt like they couldn’t trust Penny with Halley took me by surprise because I have actually always seen Penny as a very caring and loving person. She loves to speak her mind, but that does not mean that she is uncaring or unloving.

I am kind of tired of seeing the jokes on the show built around the suspicion that Penny is not able to do something. Though she is not a scientist, she is very capable and should be treated as equal to the other characters, not as some silly sidekick whose actions and decisions are always questioned by those around her. 

I would love to see Penny and Leonard’s relationship develop in some other direction, but as I mentioned in the review for the previous episode, following the logic of the show it could be assumed that starting a family is in the future of the two.

I have mentioned before that I would love to see Penny trying out acting again and rather than seeing her starting a family with Leonard it would be amazing to see her finally follow her dreams. Her acting talent is always made fun of on the show, but I want to believe that she could actually excel if given a chance for it.

And if acting is not in the books for her, it would be amazing to see her follow her dreams in some other way. For a long time, Penny has been on the sidelines watching her friends live their dreams and I believe it is high time for her to be in the spotlight!

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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