The Big Bang Theory Season 8 Episode 3

Even though season eight of The Big Bang Theory only started a week ago, it is already airing the third episode of the season since two new episodes last week.  Since then, CBS has decided to continue airing two episodes as long as the show is on Monday nights, with the second episode being a repeat.  The second episode that aired tonight was from last season.   

I will be discussing things that happened during the episode, so there will be spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen the episode yet.

The new episode mainly deals with Howard training to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game despite the fact that he has absolutely zero athletic ability.  His first attempt playing a baseball video game - I believe it was on the Wii - and he still manages to hurt his arm.  Bernadette offers to help him learn to pitch, and she discovers that it will be much harder than she anticipated.  They have been together for a while now so she really should have known better.  Howard ultimately comes up with a unique way to deal with the situation that may or may not work out for him.

Sheldon owes Amy some dates per the relationship agreement.  They end up going on a double date with Penny and Leonard and Sheldon proceeds to carry on about his relationship with Amy is so much better than Penny and Leonard’s relationship.  There is a little bit of an issue that comes up, but it gets dealt with in a way that works and doesn’t leave any lingering issue or mess. 

The wedding does get mentioned, along with Penny’s reason for wanting to wait a while.  I’m fine with them having a long engagement just as long as they don’t go and mess up their relationship again.  I think the funniest things are tied to Howard’s attempts at throwing a baseball, like when Raj decides to heckle Howard when he is using the video game for practice.  Howard does some odd stretches or some sort of nerd version of yoga at one point that is hilarious.  Sheldon is a bit insensitive once or twice, but that is normal for him.  Raj is mainly regulated to assisting Bernadette in trying to teach Howard throw or making fun of said attempts.  There is no mention of his girlfriend.  There is also no mention of Stuart, Howard’s mother or their situation.

For things that really don’t mean anything overall to the show, I still don’t like Penny’s super short hair.  I honestly think that in some of this episode, her hair looked even worse than it did in the first two episodes.  I’m thinking there was an attempt to make her hair look cute with some sort of barrette or clip or whatever, but it didn’t work.    

Overall the episode is fun and entertaining, though maybe not one of the funniest of the show.  It is still worth checking out.