'The Big Bang Theory' Recap: 'The Maternal Combustion'

In tonight’s Big Bang Theory Leonard and Sheldon’s mothers come to town for a visit since their sons are getting an award. The group worries that the two of them will not get along.

Sheldon’s mom arrives first and immediately starts challenging her son’s beliefs since she is very religious. Sheldon asks her to keep religion out of the discussion with Leonard’s mom.

When Leonard’s mom arrives, she questions why he hasn’t set a wedding date with Penny. She believes that they are not having good sex. As they are walking up the steps, Leonard asks her not to bring up discussions like this in front of Sheldon’s mom.

When the two of them meet, Sheldon’s mom enthusiastically tells story about young Sheldon trying to build a nuclear reactor in the garage. Leonard’s mom isn’t as enthusiastic about Leonard and his childhood. She just mentions that he broke the vacuum while trying to make a generator.

Penny comes in and joins the group. Penny shows Leonard’s mom her ring. She likes it and suggests that it was expensive. That is until Sheldon reveals that they found a place that repurposes diamond drill bits. Leonard asks to speak to Sheldon alone. He is angry about the ring comment, as well as his mother stealing the attention away from his mom.
As soon as they leave the room, the topic of religion comes up which leads to arguing. Sheldon and Leonard enter the room, arguing as well.

Later, Sheldon has a conversation with Leonard’s mom. She discusses his mom’s parenting strategies and tries to analyze his upbringing. Meanwhile, Leonard talks to Sheldon’s mom and tells her how he always felt like he had to earn his mom’s love.

When they all join together at the apartment, Leonard’s mom says that she learned that there is more than one way to raise a child and that she realized that she always made him earn her love. She decides to give him a hug, which turns out awkward.

In tonight’s sub plot, Stuart is living with Howard and Bernadette. Bernadette is frustrated that they are making a mess and just playing video games. Bernadette demands that they, as well as Raj, clean up the mess. Raj argues that it is not fair because he doesn’t live there, but Bernadette points out that he has clothes in her laundry so he has to help too.
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While cleaning the kitchen, Raj tells Howard that Bernadette babies him and treats him the same way his mother did. Howard realizes that he is right and that he should start acting like an adult. He decides to do this by taking out the trash. This doesn’t go over well as the trash falls out of the bottom of the bag when he picks it up. He immediately yells to Bernadette in the other room that he made a mess. He tries to clean it up by himself, but doesn’t do a very good job. They do continue to clean while singing “It’s a Hard Knock Life.” Bernadette walks in and then leaves shaking her head.