[s3e11] The Maternal Congruence -

In the world of , few characters can unsettle the gang quite like Dr. Beverly Hofstadter . Portrayed with icy precision by Christine Baranski , Leonard’s mother returns in this classic Christmas-themed episode to deliver a holiday visit that is anything but "merry" for her son. Plot Summary: A Holiday of High Tension

: Leonard is horrified to discover that Sheldon and Beverly have been in regular contact. Sheldon has known for weeks about major family updates that Leonard was kept in the dark about, including his parents’ pending divorce , the death of the family dog , Mitzy, and Beverly’s recent surgery . [S3E11] The Maternal Congruence

As Leonard and Penny prepare for Christmas, Leonard fails to mention that his brilliant yet emotionally distant mother is coming to town. When Beverly arrives, the tension quickly mounts: In the world of , few characters can

: In a drunken state, Beverly returns to the apartment and unexpectedly kisses Sheldon on the lips before deciding she'd actually rather "have the busboy" from the bar. Trivia & Highlights Plot Summary: A Holiday of High Tension :

: In the opening scene, the gang is watching the 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! . Funnily enough, guest star Christine Baranski also appeared in the 2000 live-action film adaptation.

Episode Spotlight: " The Maternal Congruence " (Season 3, Episode 11)

: After feeling neglected by Leonard, Penny takes Beverly out for drinks. The legendarily uptight neuroscientist eventually loosens up over tequila shots, leading to a hilarious bonding session where she begins to treat Penny as her "home girl" .