TV Review: The Big Bang Theory – The Complete Seventh Season
4 min read
Over the last 7 years we have become acquainted with the quirky and loveable characters that make up the cohesive cast of The Big Bang Theory. The show is the hugely successful brain-child of Chuck Lorre, who, prior to the launch of the show back in 2007, already held a very lucrative portfolio of show creations including the problematic cash cow that is Two and a Half Men and nineties sitcoms Grace Under Fire, Cybill and Dharma & Greg.
Season 7 of the Emmy Award winning sitcom brings as many laugh-out-loud moments as its previous seasons with all of the characters now getting older but still as immature and nerdy as ever. Former seasons have allowed us to witness relationships blossoming and the boundaries of friendships being tested within one of the most eclectic friendship circles on television and this latest growth spurt for the show rides smoothly along using a similar formula to its previous seasons.
While many TV sitcoms form a disconnection with its audience after a few seasons (or the first if you are very unlucky), The Big Bang Theory seems to have retained its audience and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. In fact, the success of Season 7 led to the show being renewed for a further 3, meaning that we will be able to enjoy the clan right through till at least 2017.
The team behind the show keep us laughing with the impeccable scripts delivered by its seasoned and enormously talented cast who all play a part in making this show the success story it has become all over the world for 7 years and counting. While the over the top science talk and Star Trek references would usually be reserved for viewers who share a similar I.Q and ‘nerdiness’ shall we say, with Sheldon, Leonard and co, the show has become a staple sitcom for people of all I.Q levels and in fact, is incredibly educational to those not ‘in-the-know’.
The cast is the key to this shows long-lasting success and while the first few seasons centred heavily on the relationship between Leonard and Penny or Sheldon’s inability to relate to anyone on an intellectually level lower than his or show any social skills whatsoever, the supporting cast, in particular Bernadette (played by Melissa Rauch) and Sheldon’s girlfriend Amy Farrah Fowler (played by former Blossom star Mayim Bialik) are the characters that really shine throughout this season of the show. There were only so much of the same relationship issues that fans could handle between Leonard and Penny, let’s face it, and thankfully the creators and writers of the show realised that a shift in focus was needed to make the show more attractive as it ages.
Howard also has his time to shine during The Deception Verification. Although the episode was centred on the return of Leonard from the expedition to the North Sea which left us hanging in season 6, the side story involves Howard becoming very feminine after being exposed to his mother’s estrogen-based massage cream. The episode was also met with acclaim following its airing and was the most watched episode of the season.
Recurring characters are also a highlight to this season with the incredible Laurie Metcalf reprising her role as Sheldon’s mother in the awkward episode The Mommy Observation, as well as other show favourites including Will Wheaton who plays himself as Sheldon’s former nemesis, Kevin Sussman as the loveable but pitiful Stuart Bloom and Christine Baranski who reprises her role as Leonards mother, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, in the episode, The Raiders Minimization.
Along with fellow comedy competitor, Family Guy, the influence of Star Wars also plays a role in the new season of The Big Bang Theory with both James Earl Jones (who was the voice of Darth Vader) and Carrie Fisher (who played Princess Leia) delivering fine performances in the episode The Convention Conundrum where Sheldon befriends Jones while trying to get tickets to the latest Comic-Con. LucasFilm, the studio behind the Star Wars franchise, helped create one of the seasons later episodes, The Proton Transmogrification, which follows the team as they prepare for Star Wars Day.
While the general consensus was that the humour and character development throughout the shows 6th season fell flat for the most part, the issues seem to have been ironed out nicely as the show appeared to be well and truly back on track.
With smiles all around following its latest renewal and the broadcast success of season 7, we can only hope that with its recent 3 season renewal, that the writers of the show can keep us as engaged as they have done with the latest round of episodes.
Blu-Ray Extras:
2013 Comic-Con Panel
Johnny Galecki crashed the BBT writers panel
String Theory Serenade
The Big Bang Theory’s May the 4th
The Big Cendrowski: Backstage with the coolest director and cast in the universe
Jeames Earl Jones: The unconventional guest star
BBTea time
Gag reel
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.