Ep 18. The Gates Excitation

Sheldon and his friends, all physicists, have always been fascinated by fantasy works, like that of 'Game of Thrones' or 'the Lord of the Rings'. In this episode, the boys are over the moon, as they learn that the gates of the 'Game of Thrones' set in Northern Ireland are open for public viewing. They plan a trip to Belfast to visit the set, and this prompts a lot of exciting moments and humorous circumstances.

The excitement begins when Raj realizes that he's going to get to see his favorite 'Game of Thrones' star, Ser Davos Seaworth, in person. Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette can't enjoy the trip as much since they are there to take care of their kids, who they left with Howard's mother-in-law. The couple's attempts to have some personal time end up giving us some hilarious moments.

We also get to see a poignant subplot about Amy and Sheldon's relationship. Finally, we get to see something that's been playing in the background for the past few episodes - their wedding date. It's been postponed time and again, with everyone now determined to make it happen. But, as usual, Sheldon finds a way to get on Amy's nerves, and the two have a small quarrel. This, in turn, leads to an unexpectedly amusing way to reconcile.

The episode includes an array of guest stars, starting from Wil Wheaton, who is seen as yet another 'Game of Thrones' fanatic who's taken up becoming a tour guide as a day job. Fans of 'the Big Bang Theory' will remember Wheaton's recurring guest appearances as a frequent rival to the gang. Later in the episode, we will get to see a surprise visit by Brent Spiner, who starred with Sheldon actor Jim Parsons in the 2018 movie 'A Kid Like Jake'.

We get to see some of the best performances yet from the actors, too. The comedic timing of Parsons, alongside the rest of the cast, is impeccable and almost unmatched in any other show currently airing on TV. We get to see various quirky scenes, from Raj's fidgety behavior in front of his favorite star, to Sheldon's inability to decide between two swords, which results in him buying both, causing him to go over budget. Bernadette has her own moments of humor, as she has to make impromptu costumes for her kids so that they can enjoy the trip to the 'Game of Thrones' set.

The episode is directed by Mark Cendrowski, who has directed over 200 episodes of 'the Big Bang Theory' over the years. Cendrowski has worked primarily in television, with his other credits including hit shows like 'CSI' and 'The Odd Couple'.

Overall, 'the Gates Excitation' episode has a lot of quirky moments and a lot of entertaining characters that fans of the show have come to know and adore. It's a great way to take a break from a stressful day and get lost in the world of fantasy for a while. So tune in to witness the spectacle that unfolds. You don't want to miss it!