The Matrimonial Momentum

"The Matrimonial Momentum" is the first episode of the ninth season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode will air on Monday, September 21, 2015.

Summary
Leonard and Penny arrive in Las Vegas while the gang gathers at the Wolowitz house to watch the wedding online. Sheldon pushes Amy to make up her mind about the status of their relationship.

Extended Plot
Leonard and Penny are at a Las Vegas wedding and are picking out their wedding package when Sheldon calls with the news about the break with Amy. Amy also calls Penny with the same news and is even more depressed about being left out of the wedding. Sheldon yells at them to go ahead and get married and sarcastically yells "cheers for love".

Amy is leaving her apartment when Sheldon shows up in the hallway and explains that eleven hours is enough time enough to sort things out. Amy is not ready and she is heading over to Howard and Bernadette's to watch the wedding online. Sheldon wasn't invited to make it easier on Amy though they do leave together, with Sheldon making a comment about them "being back together again," much to Amy's dismay.

After talking with the minister, Leonard and Penny are ready to commit and taking each other's arms they walk down the aisle together. The wedding chapel tells the couple that there is no confetti left and asks if they would like to use the pot pourri from the bathroom instead (they of course decline).

The gang is gathering in the Wolowitz living room while everyone is trying to console Amy. Outside the window stands Sheldon. Bernadette tells Howard to deal with it, so he closes the drapes.

The minister asks Leonard and Penny if they had prepared vows. Penny is surprised that Leonard has and he recites some geeky sci-fi vows. Penny sweetly quotes the lyrics to 'You've Got A Friend In Me' from the Disney film "Toy Story".

Sheldon is now watching and mentions that Amy is showing less affection because she is taking her time to figure things out. After he accuses his friends of taking sides, he then comments about how Amy's biological clock is ticking away in his own condescending fashion. Amy is truly offended saying that she doesn't need any more time. They are now through and officially broken up. She storms out with Bernadette following her. Stunned and upset, Sheldon asks for a ride home and Raj volunteers. The online broadcast comes to a conclusion as Leonard and Penny are pronounced man and wife. Stuart alone is the only one remaining who catches it and makes a comment about this. The rest of the gang missed the ceremony due to the fight between Sheldon and Amy.

Leonard huffs and puffs as he carried his wife into the hotel room. They kiss, but Penny Hofstadter (Yes! Finally, an official last name!) still can't stop thinking about Mandy the girl on the boat. Leonard again insists that the kissing wasn't that great especially since he also chipped her tooth. Penny wants to know if he feels guilty. Leonard jokingly says that he does not feel guilty because the girl had dental insurance. Leonard then says more seriously that he does feel guilty as he sees her every day at work. Penny is now truly shocked. Later, the newlyweds are fighting as they walk up the stairs of the apartment building and each goes into their own apartment slamming the door. As they both make parting comments, Leonard had the final say that Penny was "not easy to lift", leaving her openmouthed. On entering the apartment, Sheldon is raiding his refridgerator and rises only to provide Leonard with some condescending advice about how "wonderful" marriage is.

Amy is talking to Howard and Bernadette as they try to console her. Stuart makes a comment about there being other men and puts his hand on her shoulder. Amy doesn't believe that he may be hitting on her and she appears disinterested.

Penny is upset, so Sheldon brings her a hot beverage. As he is carrying hot beverages he provides his famous line "knock knock knock Penny" so she can open the door for him. They talk about how rough relationships are. Sheldon knows the girl in question and says that she is both brilliant and attractive. He says that maybe he should start dating her, but her standards are so low since she chooses Leonard. On Amy, Sheldon is very angry and does not understand the situation. Penny tells him that it's not her fault that Amy thinks he's a lousy boyfriend. This upsets Sheldon, who takes the hot beverage from Penny's hands as well as his own and leaves. As his hands are again full, Sheldon asks Penny to kindly slam the door in frustration behind him on the way out.

Finally, Sheldon and Leonard are at their place. They are both complaining about women. Sheldon claims that men are better except for Madame Curie because she had a 'penis for science' - he is clearly still distressed after the break-up. Leonard can't believe that this is how he was going to spend his wedding night. After the discussion about and their experience with women during the episode, Sheldon is less surprised.

Critics
To be entered.

Trivia
"You've Got A Friend In Me"
 * This season premiere episode takes place immediately after the last episode of the previous season.
 * Mary Cooper will make an appearance to give Sheldon advice and the truth about the ring will be revealed.
 * "Penny finally has a last name and it's Hofstadter"! (overheard comment made by Chuck Lorre).
 * Amy officially breaks up with Sheldon.
 * Penny's wedding dress is the same color as Kaley's was when she got married - pink.
 * The only guest in the audience to be photographed with any of the cast after this episode was Geoff Engelstein (designer of the excellent "Space Cadets" board game) who was taken with Kevin Sussman (Stuart).
 * Song used in Penny Hofstadter's vows:

You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me When the road looks rough ahead And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed You just remember what your old pal said Boy you've got a friend in me Yeah you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me You got troubles and I got 'em too There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you We stick together, we can see it through 'Cause you've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am Bigger and stronger too Maybe But none of them Will ever love you the way I do It's me and you boy

And as the years go by Our friendship will never die You're gonna see it's our destiny You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me
 * The name of the girl from the boat is Mandy and she will appear in the next episode.

Quotes
"You're not easy to lift" - Leonard Hofstadter