As the geeky gang headed to a con in a town sort-of-far-away, The Big Bang Theory (once again!) blasted past its own highest ratings.
The Big Bang Theory keeps smashing its own records like they were glass baseballs. The show’s last all-time ratings high lasted for just one week, as “The Bakersfield Expedition” was watched by 19.78 million viewers on Thursday night.
“The Bakersfield Expedition” began with Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj all packing up their makeup, prosthetics and ray-guns and hitting the road for Bakersfield Comic-Con, evidently a low-profile haven for all things comic-y. They are accompanied by Leonard’s GPS, which Sheldon has hacked to provide smug interstate facts along with directions. Along the way, the guys pass by some authentic Trek backdrops and cannot resist the opportunity to don their cosplay and have a photoshoot.
Unfortunately, the four brave crewmembers are redshirted when Leonard’s car is stolen from the side of the highway, leaving them to trek (hee) along the punishing roadside in their elaborate (and not exactly desert-friendly) cosplay. The guys survive to reach a diner where their overwhelming geek-cred earns them a derisive reception. Only Raj’s spirits have not been bruised by the ordeal, and they decide to head home without hitting the Con.
Back in Pasadena, Penny, Amy and Bernadette decide to investigate the allure of comics. They are initially unimpressed by their selection (an installment of Thor, since “he’s hot” – yes he is, Penny) but soon find themselves engrossed in debate over the metaphysical properties of Thor’s hammer and the finer points of the active tense.
Disheartened and sweaty, the guys return to the apartment – only to overhear their significant others loudly debating the morality of Red Hulk. Bemused but excited, they set phasers to stun and charge in to investigate the nature of their new alternate universe.
The Big Bang Theory will be taking another hiatus (apparently until the end of the month), but we do know that the next episode will be called “The Cooper/Kripke Inversion.” Presumably, this will mean the return of Sheldon’s lisping nemesis Barry Kripke, which is always exciting… but we can’t help but wonder why he and Sheldon might be “inverted.” (And if we’ll see Sheldon bellowing out a Khan-esque “Kripkeeeee!”)