The Big Bang Theory Recap Season 11 Episode 4: Parental Woes

On Monday’s The Big Bang Theory, a slew of pushed down feelings came to the surface.

The episode, called The Explosion Implosion, had nearly every member of the geeky gang questioning parenting in one way or another.

Perhaps most illuminating was the gender reveal of the baby Howard (Simon Helberg) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) are expecting. It’s a boy!

That information came as a real shock to these two eggheads who were both surprised and scared by the news. Each wondered: How am I going to raise him? What do I know about parenting a male?

Howard, who had an absentee father, took those fears on the road with Sheldon (Jim Parsons), whose father wasn’t much better. They drove to the desert to launch a rocket but the vintage toy didn’t cooperate, crashing and burning before it ever got off the ground. Failure!

Howard sulked, but Sheldon was already questing for a new adventure: He wanted to drive!

This took Howard off guard. He was surprised to learn that his pal who often exhibits Asperger-like characteristics had secretly secured his license during a license-getting spree that also included one for fishing.

As he tentatively took over the wheel, a calm and collected Howard helped his friend ease into this fresh experience. Sheldon even gave Howard a compliment: “Your son is going to be happy to have you as a father.”

Things weren’t as serene when Leonard (Johnny Galecki) learned his psychiatrist mom was bonding with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) as often as possible.

Their texts, Face Times, and phone calls were at once personal and desperate, turning Beverly (Christine Baranski) into a multi-dimensional character for arguably the first time.

Leonard wasn’t thrilled because his mom apparently liked Penny best until he learned that she was proud of him–for picking such a smart and compassionate woman to be his wife.

Leonard had a cry as this storyline resolved on a very parental version of this long-running, often introspective, and always funny CBS sitcom.

The Big Bang Theory airs Mondays at 8 p.m., ET on CBS.