The Big Bang Theory Season 10 Episode 18 Recap: "The Escape Hatch Identification" Shows How Much the Characters Have Grown

The Big Bang Theory capped off episode 18 of their remarkable tenth season with another major shift in the lives of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Amy, and the gang. Think back to just six months ago, when Leonard and Penny were tying the knot again and the major cliffhanger was whether Leonard's dad and Sheldon's mom had hooked up. Things have changed a lot, right?

Back on September 19, 2016, Penny was still residing in her apartment and Sheldon and Leonard's. Amy was living alone in hers. Bernadette and Howard hadn't welcome baby Halley. Raj was living off of his parents' wealth to stay in a place he couldn't afford.

But by the end of tonight's episode, Raj had officially—though temporarily—moved in with Penny and Leonard. And consider this: Sheldon no longer lives in his apartment (Did we ever think we'd see the day?); Amy and Sheldon now live together in Penny's place; Penny officially moved in with Leonard; Bernadette gave birth to Halley. Just one of those changes can be risky for a show—to have no less than four major changes in the span of six months? That's practically unheard of.

And yet, it still feels like The Big Bang Theory we know and love. You know that saying—as much as things change, they also remain the same. We're just seeing a more authentic side to all the characters that have been seasons in the making. Everyone is growing up and their lives are shifting, but the writers (certainly earning their well-deserved paychecks) have done it so seamlessly that it doesn't feel forced.

Sheldon moved in with Amy as an experiment, which was pretty much the only way Sheldon was ever going to give up his spot on the couch on a permanent basis. In the process, he learned to accept—and even enjoy—living with Amy in a new place. Considering that Shamy first had coitus over a year ago, seeing them move in together was both monumental and most importantly, natural.