Relationships were tested on The Big Bang Theory season 8, episode 4. Check out our recap and share your thoughts on “The Hook-Up Reverberation.”
A big step
The gang is preparing to meet Raj’s girlfriend Emily. Sheldon observes that, scientifically speaking, people in romantic relationships often lose friends. Raj is confident this won’t happen, but grins and says that if Emily doesn’t like one of them, they’ll be dead to him.
The vibe
Raj and Emily comes over for dinner. Emily is friendly to most of the gang, but cool to Penny, though they make a date for Penny to practice pitching pharmaceuticals on Emily. Sheldon wants to show her his butt.
The next night, Penny tells Amy and Penny that she got a weird vibe from Emily, though they think she must be imagining it.
Eureka!
The guys shop at a new comic book store, bemoaning the loss of Stuart’s shop. Howard just wants Stuart out of his mother’s house, but is upset to learn that Stuart may not have enough money to reopen the store and get out on his own. Leonard suggests they front Stuart the rest of the money, becoming part-owners.
The idea gains momentum, and the guys come up with terrible, molester-ish ideas for promoting their theoretical comic book store.
A day that shall live in infamy
Penny practices pitching a drug to Emily, who is borderline rude in response. Penny asks her what’s up, and Emily confesses that she’s upset about Penny and Raj’s hook up once upon a time… even though they never really had sex.
Later, Penny confronts Raj with his disclosure. He claims he was just being honest with Emily, but Penny is upset – she thinks Emily hates her. Penny storms out, and Sheldon observes that Raj is one friend down.
Full disclosure
At the new comic book store, Leonard is concerned that Penny may have left men off her “list” of past relationships. Sheldon proves not to know anything about relationships, but proves to be right that Leonard and Howard should tell Penny and Amy about investing in the comic book store.
Penny’s response to the idea is to tell Leonard about her credit card debt. Bernadette, on the other hand, is thoroughly unimpressed by the entire idea. Sheldon forces Amy to approve the plan by passive-aggressively threatening to break up with her.
He’s a real champ, that Sheldon.
Girl talk
After complaining to Amy and Bernadette about being forever hated by Raj’s girlfriend, Penny invites Raj and Emily over to make peace. Emily wants to make up as well; she’s mostly insecure because of Penny’s good looks. Raj nearly snarls up the steps toward making up.
The two seem to be getting friendlier, but when the door closes behind Emily and Raj, both women emphatically announce, “I hate her.”
Precious
Bernadette and Howard tell Stewart about their tentative plans to invest in the store. But it turns out Mrs. Wolowitz has not only already given him the money, but she now calls him “Bubeleh”! Howard blows a gasket.
Later, the guys lament the loss of their ideal comic book store, while relaxing in their ideal comic book store – the living room.