Happy news led to bittersweet goodbyes on The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 24! Check out our recap and share your thoughts on the season finale!
Here’s what happened in The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 24!
Stolen thunder
As the gang unpacks dinner, Howard and Bernadette grouse over Mrs. Wolowitz’s tendency to drive away her nurses. When Raj arrives, Leonard and Penny announce their engagement – which is quickly overshadowed by Raj’s comment that he slept with Emily.
Leonard and Penny are indignant, until Bernadette makes a good point. “You guys propose all the time!” she says. “This never happens!”
Later at the University, Raj can’t stop talking about his conjugal exploits with Emily. Sheldon arrives looking dazed – the University won’t let him stop studying string theory. He’s tempted to leave the University.
Mothers!
Leonard Skypes with his mother to tell her he and Penny are engaged – but Sheldon has already told her. Mrs. Hofstadter is chilly on the idea, but says it’s okay if Sheldon is okay with Penny.
After Penny tells her mother over the phone. Bernadette arrives, traumatized at taking care of Mrs. Wolowitz. She briefly hires Penny to take care of her, which does not work out.
A change of place
Sheldon tries to petition the University to be allowed to change his field of study. Leonard brings up the subject of living arrangements when he and Penny get married. Sheldon is okay to let Penny live with them one day a week.
Leonard gently says he doesn’t want to live with Sheldon. He floats the idea of Sheldon moving across the hall, which completely scrambles Sheldon’s circuitry, and he freaks out.
Later, Sheldon vents about his problems to Amy. She reminds him of Leonard’s flaws as a roommate. She suggests that they could live together, and the idea of more change further sets him off. He demands that nothing change.
Leonard makes dinner for Penny because her cooking sucks. Amy comes in – Sheldon is missing. Leonard says he needs some alone time to decompress. Amy tries to butt in on their dinner.
Getting warmer
Sheldon goes to Stuart’s comic book store, which has suffered a terrible fire; Sheldon still thinks his problems are worse than Stuart’s. He buys a comic book to keep the store afloat; Stuart is disappointed to avoid death at the hands of a falling light fixture.
Howard and Raj visit Stuart to help out. Howard offers him the job as Mrs. Wolowitz’s nurse; he and Bernadette and pleased and horrified to discover that nursing “Debbie” appears to be Stuart’s true calling.
Leaving on a steam train
Leonard tracks Sheldon to the train station. Penny says they were worried; Sheldon says he’s getting on a train and leaving forever, though he doesn’t have much of a plan. Leonard asks what he can do; Sheldon says everything is changing, and he needs to get away and think.
Penny suggests that they let Sheldon go – Leonard can’t protect him forever. Reluctantly, Leonard agrees to let Sheldon go on his trip.
“I’m gonna miss you,” Leonard says, tearfully.
“Of course you will,” Sheldon replies.
The loose end
Amy talks with Sheldon on the road; Penny thinks the change is good for him. Amy’s disagreement becomes evident when she tries to beat Leonard to death with a pillow for letting her boyfriend go.