The holiday season kicks off with in-laws, awkwardness, and beer in still photos released from The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 9.

The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 9 will spend Thanksgiving with the geeky gang for the very first time, and still photos released from the episode make us very thankful indeed.

The episode, titled “The Thanksgiving Decoupling,” will bring the gang to Mrs. Wolowitz’s house to celebrate their hilarious dysfunction together. But, just like in real life, more than one surprise waits to be served along with the turkey and stuffing.

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Casey Sander will reprise his role as Bernadette’s strict dad in The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 9 – clearly, Mr. Rostenkowski has very strong feelings about the importance of beer at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. And as the preview for “The Thanksgiving Decoupling” showed us, another blast-from-the-past will guest star to toss a wrench in Penny and Leonard’s happy holiday; Brian Thomas Smith will return as the adorably brainless Zack, who has a shocking factoid to reveal about his ex-girlfriend Penny.

The official summary for The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 9 is rather coy on these issues, but makes it clear that Sheldon will have strong feelings about Thanksgiving. For a change.

Sheldon protests when the gang drags him to Mrs. Wolowitz’s house for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Penny and Leonard must deal with a mistake from her past.

Secrets, dysfunction, in-laws – it seems like Thanksgiving in Pasadena is just like Thanksgiving at home. We’re already giving The Big Bang Theory points for realism in “The Thanksgiving Decoupling!”

The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 9, “The Thanksgiving Decoupling” will air on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 8:00 p.m. on CBS.

What dirt will be spilled on ‘The Big Bang Theory”s first Thanksgiving?