The Bow Tie Asymmetry

"The Bow Tie Asymmetry" is the twenty-fourth episode and season finale of the eleventh season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on May 10, 2018.

Summary
When Amy's parents and Sheldon's family arrive for the wedding, everybody is focused on making sure all goes according to plan – everyone except the bride and groom.

Extended Plot
Maid of Honor Penny is organizing the hotel and transportation arrangement for the wedding guests. She remarks that the wedding day was a day that she never thought would happen. Both Sheldon and Amy have similar feelings. She rallies the troops comparing their job to one of their comic boo movies. Raj suggests the new Avengers movie, the film that Bernadette napped through. Amy brings up a Lord of the Rings analogy. Someone has to go to places like Gondor, Mordor or hold off the demon of shadow and flame. The last is Amy’s mother. Sheldon thinks that that is appropriate since the Lord of the Rings involved a ring that binds you in servitude for ever. Amy turns to Penny and she is touched that he said “forever”.

In apartment 4B, Amy gets off the phone with Wil Wheaton who is excited about officiating at their wedding. Sheldon keeps working on his bow tie trying to get it perfect. He also explains that when he was younger he would have asked for William Shatner to do his wedding, but if he was too expensive, Wil Wheaton would do. Also Sheldon wants to get his bow tie even; however, Amy thinks that a little asymmetry looks good. In the Renaissance, the concept was known as “sprezzuatura”. Sheldon is more of an Enlightenment person. Amy wonders if Sheldon has any pre-wedding jitters. Sheldon does not, even if he came back from the future to stop the wedding because their child was will destroy humanity. Amy mentions that even then they had gotten married because Sheldon believes that time travel is a closed loop. Sheldon then tells her how much he loves her so damn much.

Penny is bringing in Amy’s parents and asks if Mr. Fowler was comfortable in the back. His wife says that he is fine. She also complains that Amy didn’t pick them up and even though it is the day before the wedding, she just didn’t have enough time for her mother. She feels that Amy used to be much more devoted and now she is just waiting for her to die and get her china.

Raj picked up Mary Cooper and her daughter Missy. Mary is very appreciative to Raj. Their driver to the airport was also an “Indian fellow”. Missy comments though Mary doesn’t think that’s racist to notice that someone is Indian. Raj doesn’t mind and he did notice that they were both white. Mary adds that Missy is a bit hormonal since she is pregnant. Raj congratulates her and Missy replies, “Whoopee.” She is also separated from her husband. Raj finds that interesting that she is available.

The engaged couple and Leonard is visiting with Georgie Cooper. Amy remarks that he is Sheldon’s brother. He replied that Sheldon got the brains and he got the bod and the face and the hair. Amy loves his accent and wished that Sheldon had it. Sheldon can sound like that, but won’t. Raj brings in Missy while his mother stooped at the hotel to freshen up and to pray for Missy’s soul. Sheldon introduces Amy and adds that if he ever needs a kidney ask his twin sister. Amy is happy and remarks that she always wanted a sister. Sheldon wonders why. Missy adds that she loves him too. Penny enters uttering, “Oh my, God.” Next come in the Fowler’s. Mrs. F calls Amy “Mama’s little girl” and can’t believe she is getting married. Also she says that her husband can’t believe it either. Amy tells her father hi and asks how he is doing. Without a word Me. Fowler indicates that he wants to hang himself.

Howard is petting a dog while Bernadette comes downstairs wondering where he came from. She already has two kids and Howard and Stuart. Howard found the dog in the backyard and called the owner. The doorbell rings and its Mark Hamill. Howard excuses himself, closes the door and squeals, “That’s Mark Hamill!” Mark is so glad that Howard found his little friend, Bark Hamill. Mark had had an online contest with the fans and the runner up was Honey Baked Hamill. Howard won’t accept a reward so Mark asks him if there is something he could do for him. Howard adds that he’ll probably regret saying that.

Stuart approaches Denise with “Hey, dude,” and adds that he doesn’t think of her as a woman. She doesn’t think that he is much of a man. HE asks her to Sheldon and Amy’s wedding, which she thinks is weird since he is her boss. Howard then runs in that Mark Hamill is going to officiate at the wedding. She turns around and tells Stuart that he needs to buy her a dress.

Back in 4A, Mrs. Fowler mentions that Amy played Amelia Earhart in the eighth grade. At home, not In a play with all those kids do is take drugs and have intercourse. Sheldon raises her wine glass and Leonard fills it. Leonard mentions the Fun with Flags show which embarrasses Amy. Her mother thinks reminds Amy what men do with those online videos. Raj tries to defuse the comments saying that the show puts him to sleep. Sheldon was being quiet thinking about string theory. Mr. Fowler tells her husband that these are the people you’re leaving me with after he dies.

Howard meets Bert Kibler and tells him that he looks good. He compares himself to Geode that looks wonderful, but you have to break it open to see the beauty. Raj sees Mark Hamil enter and Howard explains how he got him there. Howard has to go tell Wilt that he has been replaced.

Leonard is getting emotional helping his buddy get ready. Leonard is happy for Sheldon and that Sheldon will be officially and legally Amy’s problem. Ahh. Sheldon adds that he will always be Leonard’s problem. Leonard hugs him as Mary Cooper comes in and asks for a moment with her son. They both agree that they wish that his dad could be there. She is proud of him. Sheldon thanks her for everything including his whole life. They hug and then his mother wants to straighten his tie. Sheldon wants it to be a little asymmetrical. Mary adds that sometimes it the imperfect stuff that makes things perfect. Sheldon has a thought and leaves. Mary then says to herself, “Case in point”, referring to her Shelly.

Wil Wheaton approaches Mark Hamill and says. “So we finally meet.” Mark doesn’t know who he is, but does appreciate all the notes that Wil had made while staying up all night.

As Amy is adjusting her veil, Sheldon knocks and she tells him to come in. He thinks that Amy looks amazing. He then describes how her comments about imperfection in his bow tie; he wants to add the imperfections of the real world into his string theory calculations. Amy then calls his work super asymmetry and he likes that. He gets her lipstick and starts to work out the calculations on her stand-up mirror.

Howard approaches Mark Hamill and asks him to stall since the bride and groom are running late. Mark doesn’t know what to do, so Howard asks if there are any Star Wars questions from the congregation. A lot of hands go up including Mr. Fowler’s. Raj is jumping up and down.

Sheldon is hard at work talking about slightly asymmetrical knots when Leonard comes in to check on them. They tell Leonard that they are inventing super asymmetry. Leonard hasn’t heard of that and wants them to leave until he gets into the discussion.

Raj asks Mark Hamill about Luke Skywalker trying to understand the natives when he was on the Wookie home planet. Mark doesn’t remember that, though Stuart remembers about the dreaded Star Wars Christmas special. Georgie wonders why none of the Star Wars vehicles had tires also stumping Mark. Stuart answers again with Denise telling him that he was hot.

Mrs. Fowler goes to take Amy home because she is convinced that Sheldon stood her up. Penny tell s her to sit back down because they love each other and Sheldon wouldn’t hurt her. Mary applauds Penny who tells her to also sit down. Amy’s mother tells her husbands to say something because of the way Penny spoke to her. He replies, “Thank you.”

Back in the bride’s room, Leonard checks Google and no one has thought of their idea of super asymmetry. They had a brand new idea. Penny comes in and asks what these lunatics are doing? They are working on science. Penny finds that shocking, but what about the wedding. Sheldon agrees that they have their entire lives to work on science. Amy says, “Let’s get married.” Penny is pumped up and leaves to get the wedding started.

Penny enters with Sheldon and Leonard. Sheldon is shocked at finding Mark Hamill. Mark congratulates him as the music starts and Amy comes in in her father’s arm. Amy notices the difference, but it is just another sci-fi guy with a beard. Mark moves straight to their vows since he has been answering questions for 45 minutes. Stuart knows who was really answering the questions. Amy tells Sheldon that she knew there was something special between them ever since they met in the coffee shop and her loves has been growing ever since. She doesn’t know what the future holds, but she knows she has never been happier than she is at that moment. Mark gets all choked up and then tells Sheldon to continue. Sheldon doesn’t know wash to say because he is overwhelmed by Amy. Even if he can’t express himself at that moment, he plans on spending the rest of his life showing how much he loves her. Mark barely gets out asking them if they will wed each other, he finishes with “By the power invested in me by EvenYouCan PerformWddings.com he declares them man and wife. They kiss, applauds break out and Sheldon escorts his wife Amy don’t the aisle to Barry singing “At last, my wove has come awong, my wonely days are over, and wife is like a song….”

Credits

 * Guest starring:
 * Laurie Metcalf as Mary Cooper
 * John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke
 * Courtney Henggeler as Missy Cooper
 * Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler
 * Wil Wheaton as Himself
 * Jerry O'Connell as George Cooper Jr.
 * Mark Hamill as Himself
 * Kathy Bates as Mrs. Fowler
 * Lauren Lapkus as Denise
 * Teller as Mr. Fowler


 * Teleplay: Steve Holland, Eric Kaplan & Tara Hernandez
 * Story: Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro & Maria Ferrari

Critics

 * IMDb user review

Trivia

 * The Shamy wedding is Saturday, May 12th per the series dialogue, but will be broadcast in the on May 10th.
 * So far Mary, Sheldon's brother George Jr. and Sheldon's sister Missy have been confirmed to appear at Sheldon and Amy's.
 * Courtney Henggeler's second appearance as Missy Cooper will take place ten years almost to the day since her first appearance in Season One's "The Porkchop Indeterminacy".
 * In "The Porkchop Indeterminacy", Missy was attracted to Raj, whom reciprocated her feelings, though he could not speak to her back then. He gets to drive her and her mother from the airport, where he is delighted to learn that she is separated from her husband.
 * Mark Hamill will be officiating Sheldon and Amy's wedding (after Howard asked him to officiate as a favor for Sheldon when he found his ), originally Wil Wheaton was supposed to officiate for their wedding.
 * Both Star Wars and Star Trek members are in this episode. Wheaton's clash with Hamill alludes to.
 * Mark Hamill is well-known for portraying in the 1990s Batman Animated Series, as well as in the sequel movie and Arkham video games, Batman's chief nemesis and Sheldon's favorite superhero, as well as Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars movies, one of the guys' favorite sci-fi franchises.
 * played the genius inventor and string theorist on the sci-fi series "" where they were jumping between alternate worlds.
 * Kathy Bates replaces Annie O'Donnell who portrayed Amy's mother on a brief videochat in season 4. This is the first time a Big Bang actor was replaced in an already established role.
 * Teller will play Amy's father and escort her down the aisle.
 * Bert and Barry Kripke attend the Shamy nuptials.
 * Looks like Wil Wheaton is attending the ceremony with his real-life wife.
 * The episode consisted of a teaser and three separate acts.
 * There was a scene filmed with the Coopers opening their wedding gift from the late Stephen Hawking, but it was not in the final edit.

Quotes

 * Penny: It's show time! I'm pumped!


 * Sheldon: [To Amy.] Wow, you look amazing!