I think all of them except Sheldon's were true. They all told him a PART of the 'letter' under the pretence of only one of them telling the truth.

Am I the only person who thinks that Amy, Penny, Howard and Bernadette paraphrased the letter, and Raj merely described what it looked like?

All the explanations, with the exception of Sheldon's absurd Goonies reference, says the same thing; Howard's father cared about him. That's all anyone needs.

(Amy) Son i didn't come meet you but I was there at your high school graduation. (Penny) I should have told you about my other life, things happen I m sorry for leaving you but they needed me.(Leonard) I was stupid to not realize the true value of family.. Dont you let them go. (Sheldon) Will leave your their present location..Go find this treasure and make it your own. (Bernedette) Howard, my son, my greatest gift. (Raj) Happy birthday Howard. I love you.

Y'know what they should've done instead at the end of this episode? They should've shown a small clip of a desrt island and Sheldon digging down, finding the treasure of one Eyed Willy.

Plot twist Sheldons was right

3:16 the part where Howard’s hands was shaking so and he is trying to control his emotions is just such a beautiful touch so subtle yet such a powerful scene

Simon took his acting to another level here. He is an excellent actor. No one could have done/handled it better than him. I love Simon. Best actor in TBBT.

Has anyone taken into consideration that it could possible be Pennys story which is true? When I first saw this episode I thought it was Bernadettes story but now after seeing the episode were Howard finds out he has a half brother I've changed my mind. Pennys story was "your dad wasn't who he said he was, eventually his OTHER LIFE caught up to him..." having another family sounds like another life to me. Just my theory

I think one of three things: 1. Leonard’s is right 2. Penny’s is right 3. All of them are right except Sheldon’s

If we are going off the theory that they all took a piece of the letter here is what it would have said: Howard, my son, my greatest gift, I'm not who I said I was. I got roped into some stuff with some bad people and eventually, my other life caught up to me and the only way I could keep you and your mom safe was to leave. I'm sorry I was never there for you but I was in the auditorium at your high school graduation, I cried because I was so proud of you. Family is the most important thing, and you should never throw it away like I did. Happy birthday Howard, I love you. Dad

And still, no Emmy, nor GG nomination for Simon Helberg.... just because he is not Sheldon Cooper...great episode

Maybe Sheldon associated “the goonies” with Howard’s story. I mean: 1. A father is absent in the kids life due to some problems threatening his family. 2. The boy has friends which society considers outcast (or strange). 3. The boy goes to a place few people have gone and know (or will know) about. 4. A piece of paper is the catalyst that brings the boy and father closer together.

"Told You" "Don't" Shamy is the best.

I really think it must be Amy's story because Sheldon has a hard time keeping secrets and after Amy told her version, Sheldon immediately reacted and said "Or that's complete poppycock!"

This is so touching on how all of Howard's mates supporting him about his past of Howard's Father 😊

I love how through out the series, the guys, mostly Sheldon use physics to cope beautifully with various social problems they faced in their lives. Credit to the writers.

The first time I saw this episode I was going crazy trying to figure out who told Howard the truth about what the letter said because everything that is said kind of reflects their own personality and lives. Penny who wants to be an actress says something that sounds like its from a movie, Leonard who grew up with a family that wasn't close or affectionate talks about how important it is to value family, Raj I think as Howards bestfriend just wanted to make him laugh and be sentimental went with a birthday card, Amy who values education and succeeds in her field but probably gets overlooked when it comes to praise and acknowledgement tells Howard his dad went to his High School graduation and is proud of him, Bernadette who although is his wife is a mother figure here speaks as if she was a parent to him. But I agree with most people who said that everyone is saying a part which means this is some good writing.

Probably one of the most heart touching scenes in the whole series!

They're all true except Sheldon's because he didn't want to tell Howard

Schrodinger's cat

I have a feeling they all lied and slowly paraphrased Howard the entire letter.... What wonderful friends!!! This is why this show is a success. The characters and their closeness redeems my faith in humanity. Yes, I know it's only a TV show and its fiction. But great fiction is based on real life!! This scene is a classic example of how well humans treat each other!!!

My Fav is Amy's

Just waiting for when we all find out it really was Sheldon's version and his father inspired the movie The Goonies.

I think all of them said different parts of the letter, except for Sheldon's part.

I hope they NEVER reveal which one was true, because all of them (except for Sheldon's, of course) was deeply moving. But I believe Bernadette's was the most convincing - just my opinion. Or, it could've been a lengthy letter, and it all was true (except for Sheldon's). It was a great episode, nonetheless!

*So Sad that Leonard cleared in the end “that well one of them is true”* They were all so beautiful 😭😭😭😭

This episode taught us an important lesson. Some things are not worth knowing. The best thing is to imagine what it could be.

I feel like the writers shouldn’t have made sheldon speak as much in this scene as this really hits hard

Howard is so patient for not hitting Sheldon.

I really like that the way the scene is presented, Sheldon was pretty obviously the one who came up with this, but because he is who he is he didn't mind letting his friends tell the versions of the letter that would actually make Howard feel better even though it was his idea. Someone else might have selfishly wanted to be the one to personally comfort their hurting friend, but he was happy to just provide a way for others to do it, and tell an obvious lie himself to stick to the spirit of the exercise. As long as he 'did' get to explain the brilliance of the idea, obviously.

leanard stating "well one of them is" does not rule out the possibility that more than one can't be true. the writers of this show never seem to amaze me; and i hope by his statement, all of them are true (in order from raj to bernie) except for sheldons. his lie had to be extremely unbelievable, because if he lies a normal lie, he twitches like a tick in a lime disease factory bazinga

Here’s what I think maybe the letter said I’m sorry I left you and your mother but something from my past caught up with me and the only way to keep you guys safe was to leave, family means everything so please don’t throw it away like I did cause not a day goes by that I don’t regret it, so I came to see your high school graduation and I cried when I heard them call your name cause I was so proud of you, Happy Birthday, I love you.

This scene made me cry like a newborn baby.

I find it nice that it was Sheldon’s idea to help Howard that way. Really shows how he had grown as a person

Trust that only one is true, I think the letter’s content was the one told by Amy. She’s the only one who stood up when she spoke.

my money's on all of them being true (except, of course, sheldon's). and they definitely need to get his dad on the show before it ends to give him a chance to explain

This was very touching, as someone who was abandoned by her father and received lhandwritten letters, I can empathize. Still 10 years later I've never completely read a letter, I just skim it, its very hard to read.

guys if we think about it logically sheldon is telling the truth, he cant lie remember

This has always been my favorite scene, along with the very last scene of the show. I enjoy the few heartfelt moments in any comedy show. Thanks for sharing.

Omg Sheldon and his stuttering before each sentence. Interrupting Amy)”yibbit dont!” “Yah-dih dih nothing to worry about your secret is safe with me”

My opinion is that it was Amy's version...because: 1) her delivery of it 2) she stood up to say it

This was the coolest moment in BBT. Pure physics applied in a real life situation.

I feel like all of them are true (except sheldon’s obviously). If you think about it they all led onto each other and Bernadette’s was like the end and raj’s was like the beginning and the stories were the contents of the letter

I love Howard's acting on this one.

the fact that Amy's version of the letter included that Howard's graduation was in an auditorium is very specific, graduations can also take place in cafeterias, football fields, and basketball courts, but out of all of those possibilities Amy said "auditorium". unless it was a coincidence OR they're all true except for Sheldon's.

I actually think this is the best way to tell him. Having it broken down into parts.

Most thought provoking episode so far! Good work! 😢

Simon's acting skills are impeccable. How hasn't he won an Oscar for a movie yet

Simon's acting makes me cry

Penny's story is like Wesley's from the comic book Wanted.

Howard's story line was the most developed and emotional one.

“Howard my son, my greatest gift”. Goddamn this is one my all time favourite Big Bang episodes and one of the only ones to make me cry. My dad once told me that, the moment your son or daughter are born your life changes forever, you protect them the moment you hold them. Also Howard's dad was right about family being the most important thing, you need people to love to keep you going because they love you too.

I've always felt it was a combination of all the parts (except Sheldon). Even if it wasn't, the message was clear: Howard's dad cared for him.

I wish there where more scenes like this on the big bang theory (or any show really). Scenes that focuse on the characters and their relationships, and are emotionally powerful. Here you can really see that this is a group of friends who care about each other, which would be easy to forget considering how they usually treat each other.

I guess we'll forever be in the state of epistemic ambivalence 😔 I'll miss this show so much.

I have a feeling this subject will be brought up again this season. Now with Howard and Bernedette having a baby, and Howard's mother gone, makes you wonder if out of the blue, his father shoes up

I always thought Amy’s was the truth because it was the only one to which Howard responded with a hopeful “Really?” That was the one he wanted to believe.

This one was beautiful... thank you...

It's Raj's. It's so mundane and everyday, but still shows his dad was thinking about him.

Okay how many of u got emotional ? I literally almost cried.

Could we all as die hard fans of TBBT appreciate the fact that if sheldon didn't have such awesome Edimetic memory this episode wouldn't exist with such sensible plot of Howard burning the letter firmly at once.

Still brings me to tears 😢

This is one of the best episodes from this series... It's so emotional and heartwarming 😍😍

i think amy's was true based on the simple fact that she stood up to state it, and it's the only one howard had an audible response to. it seems to be the one that impacted him the most, and that he most wanted to be true.

I don’t think Sheldon actually told them. He kept it to himself.

Bernadette's one is kinda awesome.

One of my favorite episodes. Not many people in real life end up with friends like this!

Personally I liked Bernadettes and Amy's the best. Mostly since Amy's actually got a response from Howard. That being said the picture one of Bernedettes was the sweetest of the lot.

I love this episode cause Howard is my fav character

I don't know who speaks the truth, but my tear is definitely real.

I might be wrong but Pennys version sounds the realist because he did have another family

who's cutting onions??😢

I think it was one of two things... 1) it said he doesn't deserve Howard's forgiveness for leaving but if Howard did there's a number and address to meet him 2) it was a receipt of a down payment on a car Howard would have received on his 18th birthday with a note on saying he may not have reliable dad but least he'll have a reliable car

What a scene, absolutely amazing writing!

One of the most beautiful episode in TBBT 🧠💌❤️

I think Amy's is the true one cause he got the letter when he was 18 so the timing makes sense. It wasn't Sheldon's obviously. It wouldn't be Penny's cause if his dad wanted to explain something like that it would be for both Howard and also his mother. Raj's story makes sense but if it was a card why would he get one just for his 18 birthday and not anymore years?

I hope they tell us which one actually is true

This clip proves sheldon can be a genius and clueless at the same time

Bernie's "Okay?" with her cracking voice is some excellent acting. Just a brilliant little piece of truth on television.

I think it was either all of them or Bernadette’s. It would make sense that she told him, and it was also one of the sweetest.

If I had to rate which one was the best of them: 1. Bernadette 2. Amy 3. Leonard 4. Penny 5. Raj

I love this part sooo much ♥ they're such good friends ♥♥

Really, this scene made me cry, you know I've only cried a couple of times on the series and it has always been because of something to do with Howard, although he's not my favourite character, I guess I like him more than I tought, he has a lot of love inside and is very sensitive.

The banter between Sheldon and Amy is funny yet cute and sweet. 😂

I usually enjoy jokes coming from Sheldon, but in this particular scene it kind of ruins the whole thing.

“So… which one, matey?” 😂😂😂

Seeing this makes me wish there was an episode where his dad shows up sometime after the death of his mother maybe and at first Howard expresses his anger towards him and doesnt want to hear any of it for what he and his mother went through but then he finds it in him to forgive him. That would be powerful and emotional like this scene and seeing his acting performance here, can imagine what that would be like.

I think they're all true except for Raj and Sheldon

I want all of them to be true, even Sheldon's xD the most believable ones is Amy's, Leonard's and Bernadette's. However, I'm leaning more towards Leonard's. Amy's a cliche, and Bernadette's makes it sound like Howard's father couldn't be more into the present, so he had to send Howard something of the past, which is why I strongly believe Leonard's to be the one.

Howards reactions on Amy and bernadette made me tear up. He reacted the most on them so i think those touched him the most.

this still makes me cry omg

Bernadettes acting in this episode made it so much better 💔

Let's break it down: First of all, Sheldon's account is obviously fake I mean he literally slipped up and he changed the name of the 'pirate'. If Raj's is true, than Bernadette's and Amy's are also likely true, and this is a triangle where if one is true the other 2 are also true. This is because if Sam truly loves Howard, he would have attended his high school graduation, been very proud of him, and regarded him as "his greatest joy". If Leonard's is true, than the previous triangle is also true. This is because along with what I said earlier, if he had felt this way aswell, feeling guilty that he abandoned his wife and son, he would encourage his son to never abandon his family. The reason this isn't included in the previous triangle is because although he may have loved Howard, it could have been that be was unhappy with Debbie, and abandoned them because he was sick of Debbie. He could have then decided not to be a part of Howard's life anymore, because he didn't want to see Debbie again. Finally, if Penny's is true, then they're all true, because in that scenario he loved his family so much that he didn't want them to get hurt because of his actions so he abandoned them to protect them, and he would have told Howard to never abandon his family, because he felt very guilty and was grieving the "loss" of his family. Thus I firmly believe that more than one account, if not all (except for Sheldon's) are true.

Okay, now I’m in tears 😢

Considering Howard later learns he has a half-brother, meaning Leonard, Penny, and Bernadette's stories were not true. Amy's couldn't be true because how could he have gotten into his graduation. Either Raj's was true or something else entirely.

We know that Sheldon wasn’t sure whether it was “a personal correspondence” or “family memorabilia” which means it had to be more than a letter right? I think it was either the birthday card or the photograph with writing on the back. Although personally, Amy’s was my favorite.

I would really like to know how the actors felt during this scene. This is the best group of friends in the world.

surprisingly a lot of the beautiful moments of this show are about howard. That is amazing.

I've got to watch this clip again, this time WITHOUT CRYING !! 