'The Big Bang Theory' finale: Raj finally talks to Penny while sober in 'The Bon Voyage Reaction'

While rumors of a cliffhanger in the Season 6 finale of "The Big Bang Theory" didn't quite pan out, the show did have a shocking ending just the same. In the episode, which aired Thursday (May 16), Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) finally did the unthinkable: He spoke to a woman sober.

It's been a long-running joke that Raj's timidness around women renders him speechless, relying on alcohol to give him the extra boost he needed to speak to the fairer sex. But, mourning the end of his nascent relationship with the even more anxious Lucy (guest star Lucy Miccuci), Raj turned to Penny (Kaley Cuoco) for a shoulder to cry, revealing he had no booze in his system, but speaking just the same.

It's a monumental moment for the character, even though he's suffering a romantic setback. This being "TBBT," it's also milked for laughs, as the girls come to realize that, underneath all his anxiety, lay an irrepressible chatterbox. Amy (Mayim Bialik) gets the biggest laugh when, as the episode ends, she asks, "Does he ever shut up?" Let's hope not.

Other Bits:

- Leonard (Johnny Galecki) winds up taking the gig with Stephen Hawking, taking him out of the country for four months. It's a relief that the allowed Penny to encourage her boyfriend, rather than attempt to hinder his achievement. 

- It's also sweet how Penny steps up to take care of Sheldon (Jim Parsons) in Leonard's absence. It speaks to how the characters have become a real family in the six seasons the show's run. Can you imagine Season 1 Penny having anything to do with any of this?

What did you think of Raj's big moment, "Big Bang" fans?