The Matrimonial Momentum

"The Matrimonial Momentum" is the first episode of the ninth season, and 184th episode overall of The Big Bang Theory. It first aired on CBS on September 21, 2015.

"The Matrimonial Momentum"
The Big Bang Theory episode
Episode no.Season 9
Episode 1
Directed byMark Cendrowski
Story by
Teleplay by
Production code4X7201[1]
Original air dateSeptember 21, 2015 (2015-09-21)[1]
Guest appearance(s)
  • Louise Claps as the receptionist (voice only)
  • Jim Meskimen as the minister
  • Laurie Metcalf as Mary Cooper

Plot

Leonard and Penny elope in Las Vegas, live streaming the ceremony for friends at home. Leonard wrote a touching cosmology-based wedding vow while Penny recites "You've Got a Friend in Me". When they kiss after he carries her over the threshold, Penny is still bothered that Leonard kissed Mandy two years ago and is outraged to hear they work together. When Leonard and Penny return home, she goes to her apartment alone. Sheldon, confused and hurt by Amy's indecision about their relationship, insults her before all their friends watching the wedding at Howard and Bernadette's house. Amy openly breaks up with him, upon which all leave except for Howard and Stuart, who actually see the wedding to the end. Sheldon calls his mother to return his great-grandmother's ring which he had intended for Amy, but Mary tells him to wait. Sheldon briefly considers dating Mandy to hurt Amy. He is angered that Penny knew Amy was unhappy and did not defend him. A dejected Leonard cannot believe he is spending his wedding night with Sheldon, though Sheldon always expected this.

Reception

Ratings

The episode was watched live by 18.20 million viewers, and had a ratings share of 4.7, during its original broadcast.[2]

The episode attracted 2,661,000 viewers upon its British premiere, making it the most watched programme on E4 for the week.[3]

Critical response

In 2019, Screen Rant rated it the worst episode of the series.[4]

Jesse Schedeen of IGN rated the episode 8.2, complimenting how the episode set-up ongoing drama, as well as Amy and Sheldon's break-up. Schedeen criticized the episode's lack of humour.[5]

Caroline Preece of Den of Geek similarly criticizes that the episode is "devoid of any laughs at all" and ends on "a sour note". Preece commented that Sheldon is "unrepentantly awful" and described the wedding as "cute" and a "brave choice" by the writers, but questioned after their breakup: "what was the point?"[6]

References
  1. "Listings | TheFutonCritic.com - The Web's Best Television Resource". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  2. "Monday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory' Adjusted Up; 'Significant Mother', 'Life in Pieces' & 'Penn & Teller' Adjusted Down - Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015.
  3. "Weekly top 10 programmes". www.barb.co.uk. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  4. https://screenrant.com/big-bang-theory-5-best-5-worst-episodes/
  5. Schedeen, Jesse (September 21, 2015). "The Big Bang Theory: "The Matrimonial Momentum" Review". IGN. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  6. Preece, Caroline (September 23, 2015). "The Big Bang Theory season 9 episode 1 review: The Matrimonial Momentum". Den of Geek. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
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