The Anything Can Happen Recurrence

"The Anything Can Happen Recurrence" is the twenty-first episode of the seventh season of the  The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on Thursday, April 24, 2014.

Summary
On Anything Can Happen Thursday, the couples are split up into different groups after Amy and Bernadette lie about having dinner together. Howard and Raj watch a horror movie that Emily likes. Penny takes Sheldon to a psychic.

Extended Plot
Sitting around the island, Penny is telling how in her    is slowly growing over all her  ending last with her  which the  thinks is important for the. Her facilities are at the  across the  that she has to use while dressed as half an ape. Sheldon is struggling to find a new field of study and eliminates possibilities that Leonard thinks are significant fields. To get Sheldon's mind off of his troubles, Leonard suggests reinstating "Anything Can Happen Thursday". Sheldon agrees and no one can think of something new to do  Sheldon wants to order or s. Penny wants to do something that's free. Sheldon also suggests a group that meets in and reenacts  scenes from "". He even has a 's for the occasion. Finally, they leave to walk around until they can find a new to have. After again being annoying, Penny kids that since its "Anything Can Happen Thursday," they can push Sheldon down the stairs.

At Mrs. Wolowitz's, Raj and Howard are hanging out. Raj suggests that he gets Cinnamon to take her s by hiding it in her and he can do the same for his. Raj wants to watch a, but his mother doesn't have a great selection which includes her. Raj brought "" which Emily loves and wants to watch with him. He wants to preview it so he can act cool watching it with Emily. Howard agrees and Raj tells him that he's a good and he owes him one until Mrs. Wolowitz screams that she needs help out of the.

Walking around Sheldon is not happy that they haven't prescreened their choices. Across the street there is an restaurant that Sheldon feels will remind him too much of. Penny sees Bernadette and Amy having dinner together. Amy said that she was and Bernadette told everyone including Howard that she had to work late. Sheldon knocks on the three times and yells at them "Why did you lie to us?"

Raj and Howard's movie is full of, and s, though Howard had just helped his mother out of the tub so he has seen horror. Raj pulls it out of the  and finds a yucky hair on it. Howard tells him that he's really going to do great watching the movie.

Amy is tired of listening about Sheldon about what to do after. Bernadette mentions that Penny keeps ing about how miserable she is making her movie Serial Ape-ist 2: Monkey See, Monkey Kill. Amy says that that doesn't mean that they don't still her. Penny asked Leonard if that was true about her complaining and Leonard tells her that he loves her. She tells everyone that she needs a break from them and leaves with Sheldon to go have dinner with him. They are going to spend the evening complaining to each other. Sheldon agrees, as he starts to talk again, she tells him to shut up.

At an Asian Fusion restaurant, Sheldon doesn't understand his mix of food s. Sheldon tells Penny that she doesn't complain too much about the movie though he doesn't seem to listen to her in the first place. Penny wants to know why he isn't upset with Amy. Sheldon tells that he is upset and plans to brings her to this terrible restaurant on their next.

Raj and Howard are disgusted by the movie and the that Mrs. Wolowitz had devoured though she didn't see the pill in it. Raj wonders what is wrong with Emily if she enjoys this movie. Howard tells Raj that he would go out with  anyone, including someone who has the body parts of ex-s in her.

Leonard stays and has dinner with the other girls. Amy feels bad about lying to Sheldon. Bernie admits to making up to Howard by dressing in a sexy. That probably would work with Sheldon since he would give her. Leonard says that he and Penny have a based upon  though the girls know that Penny lies to him.

Penny and Sheldon get their and Penny suggests that his answer is in his fortune. For Sheldon the only with something good in it that can solve life's problems is  or Nutter Putter cookies. Penny gets " turn to you for guidance and " which Sheldon scoffs at. Sheldon gets "Your warm and fun loving nature delights everyone" and Penny tells him to try another cookie. She also admits to never having to pay for food with money.

Shutting off the movie again, Raj wants a girl who likes "". Howard tells him that he is the in the relationship that likes that movie. Penny then calls Howard and tells him that Bernie lied to him. He then tells Raj that he is having with a Catholic school girl that night.

Bernie gets a call from Howard, apologizes and says she will put on her. Leonard tells Amy that they should hang out more often, but Amy thinks that that is weird. He learns that Penny is taking Sheldon to a. She can be very persuasive to Leonard, but then they do have sex together. Amy also admits that she is of Sheldon and Penny's. Leonard tells her that they have known each other for a long time and that since she grew up around, she knows how to not spook them. Amy just wants Sheldon to be that comfortable around her all the time. Bernie comes in saying that she has to go since Penny ratted her out. Also, she tells him that the that Penny is getting Leonard for his  came from money she got out of his.

Sheldon tells the psychic that there is no scientific basis for her and that she is a, though no offense. Penny tells him to ask her a. Sheldon says that he did having thought of it expecting her to read his mind. He was asking about the next Star Trek movie. The psychic tells Sheldon that he is having problems with a in his life. This woman he is in relationship with, has dark hair and is in a field similar to his. She tells Sheldon that Amy is the key to his and that all of his problems will be solved by giving into this relationship. Penny thinks the psychic has his situation nailed down. Sheldon gets mad and leaves calling his experience malarkey.

On Raj's date with Emily, they sit down to watch the movie. She was previously a, so if he gets too scared, she can still change his , she kids him. Raj admits that he finds these movies disturbing and weird, as does Emily though they also. Raj immediately starts the film.

Finally, a contrite Amy goes to Sheldon's apartment; she is wearing a. Feeling bad about lying to him, she wants to make things up with him. She opens it up her coat and is wearing the uniform of a Catholic school girl and smiles. Sheldon silently gulps and says that unless she has the movie "" on under her, he doesn't know what she is doing.

Critics

 * Jesse Schedeen for IGN- "While I don't necessarily agree with the criticisms that the big Bang Theory is fundamentally worse now than it was in its early seasons, episodes like this do show the series' age. The writers dusted off an old concept and didn't find a huge amount of comedic value as a result. There were certainly some funny moments this week, most involving the ever-appealing Sheldon and Penny pairing, but this definitely wasn't one of the more memorable installments of Season 7."
 * Dhruv Rao of The DR Club gave the episode a B: "The writers do a good job with the plot by turning the night into a fan-favorite Penny-Sheldon bonding episode. The dinner and the psychic are perfect examples of the comedy that the fans expect out of any random episode. So, that's why the episode is a hit. Amy's insecurity was a new level which we never expected, and once again it unveils a whole new array of possible plots for the next season, as does the psychic's advice that Sheldon should invest his time in Amy now. The A-plot receives a thumbs up. But, the B-plot was rather half-baked: I didn't really enjoy the two friends watching a horror movie. You can't really call that a story, can you? Moreover, the Mrs. Wolowitz jokes got old in the fifth season, so try and keep them in control."

Costume Notes

 * Sheldon wears his blue "73" t-shirt.


 * Leonard wears a green t-shirt featuring the visible light spectrum.

Trivia

 * Tied with the longest episode title "The Contractual Obligation Implementation" (S6E18).
 * Anything Can Happen Thursday was first established in "The Hofstadter Isotope" (S2E20).
 * In fact Sheldon was conducting researches on dark matter in "The Pirate Solution" (S3E04) when he hired Raj who was nearly deported, thus it is curious that he needs to use Leonard's opinion on this field.
 * This time is the first time Leonard and Amy have spent time on their own together since "The Pulled Groin Extrapolation" (S5E3).
 * Sheldon and Amy have another relationship moment like last season's love spell game play in "The Love Spell Potential".
 * Sheldon's reactions to the psychic's advice and Amy's dressing up as a Catholic schoolgirl may not be based on pure disbelief, but the culmination of him trying to process all the information mentally, based on his relationship moments with Amy (including their first Valentine's Day kiss and him telling her he hasn't ruled out sex one day) and his inability to decide which field he wants to study. Interestingly, the psychic's advice on giving into the relationship to solve his career troubles does make sense because the morning after he gave up string theory, he woke up hungover and seemed more concerned about the fact that he drunkenly scared Amy off after she put him to bed than waking up next to a Geology book and immediately decided to call her and apologize to her, possibly implying he wanted to sleep with her the other night but was distraught about blowing his chance.
 * The couples are split up into different groups again like they did in "The Scavenger Vortex" (S7E03).
 * Penny goes to see the psychic again after "The Psychic Vortex" (S3E12) dragging Sheldon along.
 * Raj and Howard do not like Emily's favorite horror movie despite following some horror franchises.
 * Amy again shows her kinky side to Sheldon.
 * When Sheldon is describing Penny's babbling as "wa wa wa" he was using the sounds the adults used on the old Charlie Brown cartoon specials.
 * The psychic's name is Ms. Davora.
 * This episode was originally broadcast on Thursday.

Quotes

 * Sheldon: This is how "Anything can happen Thursday" turns into "It won't stop coming out Friday".


 * Fortune Teller: Your spirit guides are telling me that you're in a romantic relationship.
 * Penny: Yes! Yes, your spirit guides are on fire!
 * Sheldon: My spirit guides can go suck an egg.


 * Sheldon: (Sheldon swallows after seeing Amy in schoolgirl uniform) Unless you have gravity on blu-ray under that skirt, I don't see where you're going with this.


 * Penny: So we’re about to shoot this scene in the movie where this killer ape DNA is slowly taking over my body.
 * Leonard: O.K.
 * Penny: But I realized their gluing everywhere except my cleavage. So I ask the director why and he says it’s important to the story that my boobs be the last things to turn ape.
 * Leonard: It’s sweet that he thinks there’s a story.
 * Penny: Oh there’s not even a bathroom on the set. I have to go to the gas station across the street. I mean, I was dressed as half an ape and I wasn’t even close to the most disgusting person in there.


 * Sheldon: Amy’s sick.
 * Leonard: Oh, what’s wrong with her?
 * Sheldon: Well, she talks a lot. She always wants to hold hands.


 * Amy: I’m sorry. I just needed a break from hearing you obsess about what to do after string theory.
 * Bernadette: I kinda wanted one night where we didn’t have to hear about how miserable you were making this movie.
 * Amy: None of that means we don’t love you.
 * Penny: I don’t complain that much about the movie, have I?
 * Leonard: I also love you.


 * Amy: I do feel bad about lying to Sheldon. How am I going to make it up to him?
 * Bernadette: I’ll tell you what I’d do with Howard, but I don’t think dressing up like a Catholic school girl is going to work with Sheldon. [Amy stares off into the distance.]
 * Leonard: He’d probably give you homework.


 * Penny: Hey, maybe the answer to your career question is in one of these (fortune cookies).
 * Sheldon: Penny, there’s only one cookie with something in the middle that solves life’s problems and that’s an Oreo. Or a Nutter Butter if you’re in a pinch.


 * Leonard: You know, we never hang just out like this. Why is that?
 * Amy: I know. Its weird, right.
 * Leonard: Yea, we should do it more often.
 * Amy: No, I mean it’s weird right now.


 * Bernadette: I gotta go. Penny ratted me out to Howard. FYI she’s getting you a watch for your birthday with money she took out of your wallet.


 * Sheldon: I don’t mean to be rude or discourteous, but before we begin, I’d just like to say there is absolutely no scientific evidence to support clairvoyance of any kind. Which means again, no insult intended, that you’re a fraud, your profession is a swindle and your livelihood is depended upon the gullibility of stupid people. But again, no offense.
 * Penny: Sheldon, ask your question.
 * Sheldon: OK, I just did. What was it?
 * Penny: Oh, for God sakes. Look he’s a physicist who trying to figure out what his next field of study should be.
 * Sheldon: For your information I was asking her about the next Star Trek movie.
 * Penny: I can answer that one. I’ll be bored.
 * Fortune Teller: All right. Why don’t we begin? Your spirit guide is telling me that there’s a woman in your life that you’re having problems with.
 * Sheldon: That’s an easy guess. I’m a clearly annoying person and have problems with both genders.
 * Fortune Teller: I know. You clearly are. But I’m seeing a specific woman that you’re in a romantic relationship with.
 * Penny: Oh, oh. Here we go.
 * Fortune Teller: Does she have dark hair?
 * Penny: Yes. Yes. Your spirit guide’s on fire!
 * Sheldon: The majority of people have dark hair. Even you at one time.
 * Fortune Teller: Does she work in a similar field to you?
 * Sheldon: Ha. The opposite. She’s a neurobiologist, I’m a theoretical physicist. My spirit guide can go suck an egg.
 * Fortune Teller: They’re telling me that you have difficulty being close with her.
 * Penny: Oh, he does. He so does. What should he do?
 * Fortune Teller: He should give himself to this relationship. Once he does all his other pursuits will come into focus.
 * Penny: Sheldon, did you hear that? Amy is the key to your happiness.
 * Fortune Teller: Exactly. Personally and professionally everything will fall into place once you commit to her.
 * Sheldon: Do you what this is? I reserve this word for those rear instances for it is truly deserving. This is malarkey.
 * Penny: Wow. You really struck a nerve. I never heard him use the M word before.