Excitation — Episode 11: The Opening Night

The episode cleverly parallels two "opening nights" that, for the characters involved, carry the weight of religious experiences:

The return of Bob Newhart as Arthur Jeffries (Professor Proton) in the form of a "Force Ghost" serves as Sheldon’s subconscious moral compass, pushing him to realize that "being with [Amy] is more important" than a movie.

Sheldon and Amy consummating their relationship after five years of dating.

Leonard, Howard, and Raj attending the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens .

" The Opening Night Excitation " (Season 9, Episode 11) is the highest-rated episode of The Big Bang Theory , marking a seismic shift in the series' DNA by finally bringing together its two most significant themes: and human intimacy . The Convergence of Two Religions