The Status Quo Combustion

"The Status Quo Combustion" is the twenty-fourth episode and season finale of the seventh season of the  The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on May 15, 2014.

Summary
Howard and Bernadette can't keep a caregiver for the incapacitated Mrs. Wolowitz. The comic book store suffers damage after a fire. Penny and Leonard announce their engagement and look for new living arrangements. All these changes really upset Sheldon.

Extended Plot
While unpacking at Sheldon and Leonard's place, Howard explains how they have lost to date two s because his mother is so impossible. After Raj arrives, Leonard reaches for Penny and the two of them announce that they're. Everybody is excited over their engagement; however, Raj thought that the big would be him  Emily since Leonard  to Penny all the time. Penny agrees so the engaged couple join in Raj's celebration.

At Caltech, Raj says that he is so since he had  the other. In comes a depressed Sheldon because President Siebert won't let him change his to  since that was he was hired for to work on string theory and all his  is designation for that field. He also told Sheldon that sometimes one has to do things they don't want to do like look at Sheldon's stupid. He is tempted to leave the. Howard offers him a job looking after his. Leonard tells him to not make any rash s, while Raj feels that to relieve his tension her should have sex.

At his mother's , Howard and Bernadette lose their third  who leaves saying that life is too short. They are worried that the agency won't send over anyone new. Howard feels that they have to face the fact that they will have to take care of her. Bernie doesn't want to use up her being a nurse, she wants to go to, not. She accepts that Howard's family's s are hers too and then kids him as she asks for a.

Leonard contacts his mother and has an announcement for her. Sheldon has already told her about his engagement to Penny. He hates that she talks to Sheldon more than him, but declines to to his mother on a more frequent basis. She has had her misgivings about Penny, but because of Sheldon's, she is good enough for her. Leonard is ticked that she doesn't think that she is good enough for him. Beverly wonders why Leonard has to have her approval. He should work on getting over his need for her approval.

Penny calls home and tells her mother about her engagement. She explains that he is the who works with  and "ic s" that she has been seeing for two s. Her mother is happy that she is not, which is a first for their. Amy scoffs at the term "atomic magnets". Bernadette arrives late after caring for her. Her to Penny is that she is also ing his family. Penny thinks that Beverly Hofstadter is fine with her. The point is whether she can go to the by herself. She takes a of, downs it and asks for another. Penny notes that they haven't yet decided on their living arrangements and since she's not .."You're not working?" pipes in Bernadette. How about taking care of her mother-in-law and she will pay her anything she wants. Penny tries to do it; however, after a very short while she tells them to keep their.

Sheldon is composing a to the   as an  to change their decision. His letter contains his usual condescending attitude that they won't understand what he does. Leonard wants to discussed their living arrangements. Sheldon figures that Leonard wants to preserve the myth of Penny's before the get married. No. Leonard wants to with Penny. Sheldon offers a one a  trial period except when she is having is cranky during her. Leonard thanks him; however, he and Penny want to move in together with ...out Sheldon. He doesn't understand. How can they all move in together when he is not there. Leonard realizes that is scary for Sheldon. One is that he and Penny live in Apartment 4A and Sheldon could move in across the. Sheldon wonders if Leonard has taken a. Or has he been hit in the head with a. Leonard s Penny and wants to give her what she deserves. Sheldon is incensed that Leonard wants to but his  well being over his. He stomps off to his.

Sheldon at Amy's place complaining about all the changes. The university won't let him change his field of study and Leonard doesn't want to live with him anymore. Amy made him some  which he says won't solve his problems, but does visibly calm him down. Amy points out that he is always complaining how lousy a Leonard is and maybe it would be good for him to live alone. Sheldon says that perhaps that is true. And if it turns out that he doesn't like living alone, then maybe they could move in together. Sheldon that she would love that. Why don't they get engaged, buy a, start a family and spend their years together? Amy counters that it is just a thought. Sheldon demands that nothing change and everything stay the way it is. Amy also made the Quik with the instead of the  and it s better that way he said adamantly as he storms out.

Leonard is making for the two of them since Penny's  skills are poor. So they begin to talk about a for the. She wants it to fit into her brother's. He outs in 12 to 18 months with good behavior meaning he is still in. Amy comes in looking for Sheldon who stormed off and isn't answering his. She mentions that he flipped over their suggestion that he move out so they could live together. He was so upset he couldn't understand her great idea that she and Sheldon move in together. Leonard says that he has had a couple of rough days and probably needs time to. Amy sits down and asks what they are doing. First Penny says they are having a nice dinner together as a newly engaged couple. Leonard adds that maybe Sheldon just needs some time alone. A lot of people need that. Finally Penny tells Amy to get out and she leaves.

Stuart is sweeping his blackened and comic book store that is in complete disarray. Sheldon enters and Stuart tells him that the due to an  with a. He was across the using the  as a. Stuart tells him that he won't reopen until after he talks to the. "Tomorrow?" asks Sheldon. Stuart levels with Sheldon that his is falling apart at the moment. Sheldon then goes on about all his troubles including a that loves (What?) him so much that she wants him to move in with her. Also the store is  and smells. Sheldon offers to help Stuart get back on his feet and tries to buy a comic book. Stuart asks for $2.99 and Sheldon says that it's wet. Stuart drops the price to a, but doesn't have any change for Sheldon. Sheldon storms out after telling Stuart he is not the only one who's day was a. As Stuart carries a box over to the counter, part of the falls where he had been standing and he es that it had  him.

Penny and Leonard are watching, and Leonard gets worried because Sheldon hasn't come. He uses his to {{w|track him down. Leonard has known his {{w|password}} ever since Sheldon wandered off chasing a {{w|balloon}} when they attended a {{w|swap meet}}. Penny thinks that he'll be fine. He finds out that he is at the {{w|train station}}. Even though he loves {{w|train}}s, it's late and they they should go get him. Penny tells him how {{w|sweet}} he is to worry about Sheldon. Leonard is just doing it because his mother would kill him if anything ever happen to Sheldon.

Raj and Howard are {{w|Survey methodology|survey}}ing the damage at the comic book store. They wonder if he did it for the insurance which Stuart admits that everybody else thought. Raj tells him if he needs anything to just ask. Stuart is looking for a place to {{w|sleep}} but doesn't want to prevent Raj from having his {{w|sleepover}} with Emily. Howard says that he has a place where he could stay and earn some money. Great! It does come with {{w|humiliation}}, {{w|verbal abuse}} and degradation. Stuart still asks him what the catch is.

Penny and Leonard find Sheldon at the train station. Sheldon realizes that they used his phone. One chases on balloon for three {{w|miles}} and... Penny tells him that they were worried. Sheldon is merely getting on a train and leaving forever. He has no {{w|clothes}} so he will be stopping at {{w|malls}} and {{w|buying}} what he needs. It called {{w|living off the land}}. Leonard wants him to come home and work things out, while Sheldon feels that he's passed the {{w|Breaking point (psychology)|breaking point}}. He'll live like a {{w|hobo}}, but one with a {{w|credit card}}. Due to all the changes in his life, Sheldon has to get away and think. Penny says that they should let him go and that it will be good for him. He is a {{w|grown}} man, however sometime {{w|little}} {{w|people}} are in big people {{w|body|bodies}} like in "{{w|Freaky Friday}}". Penny tells Leonard that he taught him "{{w|Padawan}}". Sheldon scoffs because Padawan was the {{w|student}} and not the {{w|teacher}} in Star Wars. Leonard wishes him good luck and Penny {{w|kiss]]es him on the {{w|cheek}} telling him to be {{w|safe}} and call them. Leonard admits that he is going to miss him and Sheldon agrees making leaving him there easier.

At Howard's mother's place, Stuart loves his new {{w|job}}. He sees Howard and Bernadette sitting in the {{w|living room}} and tells them to go home. He is being called "Stewie" and Stuart is calling her "Debbie". He leaves thanking them for his {{w|dream}} job. Even though the situation is weird, Stuart tells them to leaves, and they do so willingly.

At apartment 4A, Amy is on the phone with Sheldon. She said that he was {{w|happy}} and sounded good. Penny says that it is all for the best. Leonard adds that he can take a {{w|sabbatical}} as Amy hits him with a {{w|pillow}} screaming "How could you let him go?"

Critics

 * Jesse Schedeen for IGN- "Overall, this episode managed to live up to its name more than I might have expected. Things are finally changing on a sitcom where the status quo has always been pretty rigid and slow to evolve. It could be argued that the writers are guilty of returning to the same season-ending trope they so often rely upon. Once again, the season wraps up with a major character taking a dramatic trip and leaving the rest of the gang anxiously waiting his return. But in this case, there's an element of unpredictability that should be fun. We have no idea where Sheldon will go or what he'll do on his cross-country travels. The potential is there for all sorts of new Sheldon-centric stories. Or he could just follow Leonard's example and come back quickly without really accomplishing anything."

Trivia

 * For the first time, Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik have appeared in every episode of a season.
 * Stuart's Comic Book Store suffers fire damage after he has an accident with a hot plate.
 * Sheldon takes to the rails after too many changes occur in his life. As a contrast, he is sensitive of hobos on the train in "The Locomotive Manipulation" (S7E15).
 * Stuart begins a new job as Mrs. Wolowitz's caregiver.
 * Debbie may be a nickname instead of Mrs. Wolowitz's real first name.
 * When complaining to Stuart, Sheldon tells him that his girlfriend loves him so much that she wants him to move in. That's the first time love has ever been mentioned in the Shamy relationship and even more incredible that Sheldon saw it and acknowledged it.
 * The second episode where someone attacks Leonard for damaging Shamy. First was "The Pulled Groin Extrapolation".
 * After saying that Sheldon could move across the hall, Sheldon asks him if he has been hit in the head with a coconut. That was the logical suggestion that little Spock gave to Sheldon for his situation in one of his dreams in "The Transporter Malfunction".
 * Despite his fondness for Amy, Sheldon had no farewell scene with her.

Quotes

 * Leonard: You can move across the hall.
 * Sheldon: Move across the hall? And did you take a marijuana?

(Penny on the phone with her mom)
 * Penny: No. I'm not pregnant. Yeah, it is the first for our family.


 * Amy: (hits Leonard with a pillow) How could you let him go?!