The Big Bang Theory revolves around two genius roommates Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper who, though still socially challenged, always produce hilarious results with their friends. After countless proposals, we find Leonard finally engaged to girl-across-the-hall Penny, and the possibilities for happiness seem endless... while the probability for laughs is a foregone conclusion. What’s unknown is how this might impact the ironclad “Roommate Agreement” he’s entered into with Sheldon. Add to this, Sheldon’s uncomfortably close relationship with neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler; Raj’s new girlfriend; and Howard and Bernadette’s solution to an in-house caretaker (their friend Stuart) for the always outspoken Mrs. Wolowitz, and the worlds of science and sitcom are about to hilariously collide...

The eighth season of The Big Bang Theory delivers pretty much the same level of well craft scripts that fans of the show have come to expect. The season opens with Sheldon returning home after his train trip around America (never once actually leaving any train station) to pick up the pieces and change his field of study.

In this season Penny and Leonard move ever closer to their wedding day; Howard is becoming more and more jealous Stuart's special relationship with Howard's mum; Raj's new girlfriend is a little macabre and Sheldon and Amy's relationship plods ever onwards... although Amy is starting to get impatient waiting for their first night of sexual bliss.

Sadly, during the filming of this season, Carol Ann Susi who voiced the never seen Mrs. Wolowitz, passed away. The writers giver her a moving send off. The cast, not surprisingly, turn in passionate performances.

Extras include Shooting Stars: BBT on BBT (5 min look at the episode which stars Billy Bob Thornton); 2014 The Big Bang Theory Comic-Con Panel (28 min, 21 sec Q&A with the writers); Constellation Prize:  Chuck, Jim & Kaley make the Hollywood Walk of Fame (3 min, 42 sec look at three new stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame); Here's To You, Carol Ann Susi (9 min, 23 sec tribute to the actress who provided the voice for Howard's mum, who died during this season); It's A Quark... It's An Atom... It's the #BBTSuperfans! (11 min, 58 sec - winners of a global BBT competition get to attend the filming of an episode); and Gag Reel (6 min, 59 sec).

It's another wonderful season which ends on a rather bitter-sweet note. Here's looking forward to season nine.

9

Nick Smithson