The Big Bang Theory – The Decision Reverberation

By starrymag | May 1, 2019

By: Sammi Turano

 

 

The episode opens with the gang hanging out at Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco) home. Penny is pouring wine and the gang is chanting about what to do.  They discuss seeing The Avengers and getting dinner afterwards, but Sheldon (Jim Parsons) doesn’t want to eat at ten at night and asks if he is Hemingway. Amy (Mayim Bialik) asks why Hemingway ate so late and Sheldon says it is because he spent a lot of time in Spain.  Amy says he also spent time in Florida where they eat at 4:30. Raj (Kunal Nayyar) discusses Hemingway having cats with six toes. Penny asks if it was six toes total or per foot.

 

Howard (Simon Helberg) says at this point they are never going to see The Avengers. Leonard wants them to make a decision on what to do. Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) says she is kind of hungry now, as his Sheldon.

 

They then have do decide on 3D vs regular for the movie. Bernie wants 3D so she can feel as if she can lick Thor’s abs.  Leonard says 3D makes him queasy.  Sheldon wants 3D as well, so Leonard finally agrees.  Penny tells him not to do things to please others and Sheldon calls him a textbook “satisficer.”

 

This leads to him and Leonard arguing over if that is a word. Raj says no one wanted to hear that from Sheldon. Leonard wants everyone to be happy,  despite the gang asking him what he really wants. He insists he just wants everyone happy and Sheldon says next time they get to pick what they do.

 

Later on Penny is taking care of Leonard, who has a headache and got sick from the movie. Penny feels bad he missed the end, but he says he feels like he saw it due to everyone talking about it. Penny says that he talked about the bathroom so much they felt like they saw that, too.

 

Leonard says he would have been fine had they not sat so close. Penny asked why they did and Leonard said it was what Sheldon wanted. Penny tells him he needs to stand up for himself because maybe he is that word Sheldon said…a satisficer. Penny asks him when the last time. He was selfish and did something he wanted without thinking of others. He says his mom said he took his sweet time being born. Penny wonders how that is selfish and he says she had dinner reservations.

 

Raj gives Anu (Rati Gupta) a tour of where he works. She wonders where the telescope is and she wonders where it is, which is Hawaii.  She also asks about the smell, which is either his coworker or mold. He goes on to explain his work and speak Hawaiian to try and impress her, but she seems confused and bored.

 

Leonard is hanging out on the steps when Amy comes home. She asks what is wrong and Leonard says he has to make a selfish decision on what they will do and he isn’t up for it. Amy’s night will consist of a lecture of what The Hulk would be like if he were made of metal as part of a “What Would The Hulk Be Like If He Were Made Of Other Things” series. Leonard talks about being a people pleaser and worries about  his decision. He asks Amy for advice and she reminds him of how he went after Penny without thinking of what anyone,  even Penny wanted.

 

Leonard finally goes upstairs and tells Penny he wants to have sex. She says he is really swinging from the fences with that one and then he adds that they will watch Star Trek after.  She says she might be on the phone and he asks for Star Trek or…..then, he says it doesn’t matter.

 

Raj is doing a planetarium event and explains that this is how A Star Is Born. He then apologizes to Lady Gaga. Howard tells Bernie that he knew Raj would make that reference and she is glad he didn’t mention how much he cried during the movie…..but then he does.

 

The audience asks questions. Howie asks about how long it takes the light from a star to reach Earth and if he planted friends in the audience to ask questions. He gives answers to both and then takes another question, which has to do with aliens. Raj says there might be alien life, leading to more questions and debate about aliens.  Bernie wonders if she should still ask her question because she feels they are past that.

 

Later that day the gang is getting dinner at the Hofstadter house.  Sheldon says the Chinese food smells funny and they tell him it is BBQ. He says it Chinese food night and Leonard says he picked it to prove he is not a satisficer. Sheldon says that is what he likes best about him and the notes he leaves in his lunch. Amy says she leaves those notes. Sheldon says he is disappointed because now he doesn’t know if Leonard “hearts” him. Leonard says this is what is for dinner and Sheldon says he is nothing if not flexible. Leonard is sitting in Sheldon’s spot because it is his house and he is tired of being told where to sit. Sheldon leaves in a huff, followed by Amy. Leonard tells Penny to not take it the wrong way, but that was more exciting than the sex. Penny agrees.

 

Leonard and Sheldon are driving to work.  Leonard is taking a new route and Sheldon says that it is kidnapping if they go over state lines. Leonard says this is the new him so get used to it. Sheldon finds the new Leonard tiresome. Leonard wonders how that is different and Sheldon says he gives knowing winks.

 

Leonard explains that he is tired of being a people pleaser and how he was always afraid of ruffling feathers and stepping on toes. Sheldon asks if he was trying to ballroom dance with a chicken. He says New Sheldon is hilarious.

 

Leonard says he wants to work on a plasma physics project. Sheldon thinks he is funny, but Leonard is serious. He plans to put together and if it doesn’t work he will find someone who will accept his proposal. Sheldon continues to argue and Leonard says Sheldon only likes it when he is successful and not Leonard.  Sheldon denies it and wonders where they are.

 

Raj is complaining to Howard about being a joke due to the alien thing. He is stopped by colleagues who wonder why he is at work when the truth is out there. He goes into his office to find alien stuff. Howard laughs, but Raj is not amused.

 

Amy comes home to see Sheldon on the steps. She says it is deja vu and he tells her the real meaning of the word.  She says that is the real deja vu. She wants to know why he is on the stairs. He wonders if he is selfish and she tells him to think about what he is going to do and add “that’ll show them” in the end.  He tells her about the talk with Leonard and wonders that if deep down he doesn’t want him to succeed. She thinks that the fact that he is worried about how Leonard feels shows he cares. Sheldon is happy and says she earned a bonus lecture about Sponge Hulk.

 

Leonard shows Penny is proposal. She says it has a science-y bulk to it and she is proud of him. Sheldon comes in to tell him not to go for it. Leonard thinks Sheldon doesn’t want him to succeed. Sheldon says this new Leonard is going to take some getting used to. Penny thinks he should go for it because the worst that could happen is the say no. Leonard admits that if that happens he will quit and find a place that accepts the proposal. She ponders if she can’t get him to go to the beach yet now he wants to see the world. She is also upset he didn’t discuss this with her and he argues that he is doing what she asked. She says it only applied to things she didn’t care about. He admits he is unhappy and, although it is scary, he has to go for it. He is confident they will say yes.

 

President Siebert (Joshua Malina) says no.  Leonard says he won’t take no for an answer, so  Siebert repeats it in Russian.

 

Raj talks about the alien debacle at another planetarium show. He says that it is only one possibility and to follow evidence to see where it goes. We then see Howard and Bernie watching something on the laptop about an astrophysicist saying the Loch Ness Monster is real.

 

Leonard comes home to tell Penny about the meeting. She doesn’t want to move,  due to her new SoulCycle membership. He says he was offered a different job as photon entanglement team. He says it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t almost believed in him. She asks him how he wants to celebrate and he says he can’t make another decision…until she suggests SoulCycle.

 

The show ends with Sheldon and Amy coming home and discussing broccoli and the Jolly Green Giant.  They see Leonard on the stairs and think he is hiding from Penny, but he is just in too much pain from SoulCycle. Amy says Sheldon should keep him company and goes upstairs. Sheldon asks him what the Hulk would be like if he were made of sherbet…the answer is delicious.