THE BIG BANG THEORY Stretches, But Far Enough?

After a group dinner, Sheldon goes to the model train store, but Amy stays at the apartment with Leonard longer than expected. Meanwhile, after an argument over where they’ll live once married, Howard and Bernadette agree to try living with Howard’s mother for a weekend.

Leonard was polite to Amy as she read quietly or sat staring at nothing while he finished some work and showered. When Sheldon got home, Amy abruptly invited Leonard to the wedding of two university colleagues. From the premise of “The Pulled Groin Extrapolation,” I knew something would happen between Leonard and Amy. The more interesting question was, “How would this affect Sheldon and Penny?”

Attending the wedding reminded Leonard that Priya was thousands of miles away in India. He didn’t show Amy a very good time at first, but eventually Amy convinced him to loosen up and have fun.

We next saw Leonard limping up the stairs to his apartment, having pulled his groin during the Hokey Pokey. He invited Amy in for tea, but she declined, saying she was headed home. Leonard politely kissed her on the cheek and, instead of going home, Amy confided in Penny that she thought she’d seduced Leonard.

I’m left thinking the episode should have gone further, such as drawing out more tension between Amy and Leonard. Instead, Amy told Penny she had no interest in Leonard. The writers could have also played up Penny’s feelings seeing Leonard go on a date, but there wasn’t much on that front, either.

Then again, the way Leonard described the date to Sheldon, Sheldon assumed Leonard pulled his groin making out with Amy. Sheldon suddenly judo-chopped Leonard on the back of the neck and said, “She is not for you!” I’ll take his awkward show of emotion, considering that, for most of the episode, Sheldon played with his trains, oblivious to what went on between Leonard and Amy.

Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette’s trial stay with Howard’s mother brought up Howard’s self-centered attitudes and pampered upbringing. I’d think Howard would have to get past this baggage to have a healthy marriage to Bernadette, but the writers may consider it a core part of his character. Also, after all, there are marriages, real and fictional, where the spouses accept each other’s shortcomings.

This much said, I may be expecting too much from a single episode. It’s too early in the season to tell what each episode will mean in the larger scheme of things. Despite Amy’s claim of no interest in Leonard, something could develop. More could definitely come of Sheldon’s impulsive chop, and Penny may be hiding her real feelings from Amy and Leonard.

Ever since Big Bang‘s cast expanded to include Amy and Bernadette, I’ve kept track of how well each episode balances the characters’ screen time. Unable to talk in the presence of women, Raj was the odd man out this week, only whispering to Howard and grunting. Next week, thank goodness, Penny introduces Raj to a woman with whom he can communicate. Does this mean actual talking? We’ll see.