The Big Bang Theory Season 9 Ended On Another Cliffhanger

Spoilers for The Big Bang Theory below, if you’re bothered by such things.

Last year, The Big Bang Theory gave fans two huge storylines to think about as the finale went to the credits, with both Sheldon and Amy’s break-up and Leonard and Penny’s planned Vegas elopement taking each couple to very different next steps. Tonight’s Season 9 finale, “The Convergence Convergence,” didn’t take aim at its major characters for the episode’s shocking moment, but rather their parents, as Sheldon’s mother Mary and Leonard’s father Alfred appeared to have made off for a night and morning of possibly wild sex and possibly mild sex, considering each person’s offspring. But is that what really happened?

Sure, this might be something of a low stakes ending for you or me, but just think about it from the characters’ perspectives. We’re talking about Leonard and Sheldon having to deal with the information that their parents probably did the deed with each other, having just shared wine and food at the same table earlier in the night. Look at how unassuming Sheldon is, the poor sap.

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Sheldon is someone who can’t throw trash away, so I can’t imagine that he’ll be able to look at Leonard on a daily basis without seeing an uncomfortable writhing of body parts in a hotel bed. Okay, so he probably isn’t capable about such thoughts, but you know what I mean. Maybe it would just be a recurring dream where Leonard is dressed as Darth Vader saying, “I am your brother.”

According to showrunner Steve Molaro, there was supposed to be a “brotherly” reference in the show.

There was – it fell out of the script – a joke referring to them as potential brothers. I’m going to go with the word ‘uncomfortable’ probably is a good starting place for their primary emotion of where we leave them and where we will pick up.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Season 10 starts out with Penny still ragging on Leonard and Sheldon about it. I mean, who wouldn’t? It would be somewhat disappointing if it’s revealed that Alfred and Mary just fell asleep with their phones off in respective rooms, but at least we got to see what Sheldon and Leonard were like with just the concept in their brains.

All in all, the Great Parental Bone Zone was a great way to bring in guest star Judd Hirsch to introduce Leonard’s dad for the first time on the show after years of just verbal references. Molaro also told EW that Judd was interested in the hook-up story idea, which had been tossed around for a while. Sure, it’s not a secret marriage or a crumbling relationship, but after all the other too-heavy finales that have already passed our TV screens this year, I’m okay with Big Bang ending on a sillier note.

And now we wait for Season 10.

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Nick Venable
Assistant Managing Editor

Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper.  Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.