Although it’s popular for many reasons, arguably the most interesting part of CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” in Season 9 has been the fast-developing relationship between Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). With most of the surrounding cast now married to one another, and some having kids, the big teaser this year has been Sheldon’s possession of his family’s engagement ring.

In a recent interview with Hollywood Spotlight Now’s J.J. Snyder at PaleyFest 2016, Bialik was approached on the red carpet to talk about the changing relationship dynamics on the show now that everyone is paired off and procreating.

“Our writers are really specific about showing different kinds of relationships and how they exist, and I think they’ve done that really well,” she said, before addressing her character’s reaction to her friend’s baby on the way. “I don’t think Amy is going to have baby fever, I don’t see that happening. But, our writers always do super-funny stuff with things I never would have thought. So I don’t know.”

The ring first popped up on “The Big Bang Theory” at the end of Season 8. After events that led to Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) agreeing to get married, Sheldon video-called Amy to talk to her about their relationship, but it didn’t go as planned. Before he could make his speech, she interrupted him and told him that she needed some space to figure out what they were together. After they hung up, he revealed that he’d stashed an engagement ring in his desk. Later in Season 9, he reveals that it’s a family heirloom that he was planning to use to pop the question.

Although the couple has since gotten back together, the presence of the ring still looms large over the show. It has come up frequently throughout the latest season of the show, culminating in episode 13, “The Meemaw Materialization,” when Amy discovered the existence of the engagement ring. It seems that the writing is on the wall for an engagement between Sheldon and Amy, which will bring the gang from a rag-tag group of outsiders to a close-knit collection of married couples... And Raj (Kunal Nayyar). When asked on the same red carpet if that would affect the show going forward, series creator Chuck Lorre admitted that it would.

“Very much so, we write about that. We’ve written about how it’s changed their friendship,” he said. “The chemistry between all the characters has changed dramatically because of these relationships. As it should, it’s life, you know? I think it’s breathed a lot of life into the show.”

“The Big Bang Theory” is currently on a break for the NCAA Championship, but will return on March 31 with an all new episode titled “The Solder Excursion Diversion.”

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