"The Commitment Determination" is the twenty-fourth episode and season finale of the eighth season of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on Thursday, May 7, 2015.
Summary[]
Sheldon pushes Leonard and Penny to choose a date for their wedding and deals with a crisis in his own relationship with Amy. Raj wonders about his compatibility with girlfriend Emily and the Wolowitzes want Stuart to move out.
Extended Plot[]
Sheldon and Amy are making out on the couch. Amy can't believe that it's been five years since their first date. Sheldon agrees and then asks if he should start watching the new Flash television series. Amy loses her smile and asks if that was what he was thinking about. That was one of many things replies Sheldon. Was he thinking about Amy? He was thinking about her because he was going to ask her if he should watch the television show. Sheldon tries to kiss her again and Amy waves him off. Sheldon as usual misinterprets her and says that she killed the mood. She protests that he killed the mood talking about the Flash. Sheldon feels that weighing the pros and cons of starting a new television show is very important because it will go on for years and Sheldon is wrestling with a big commitment issue. "That's the commitment issue [he is] wrestling with?" asks a disturbed Amy. Amy asks him, "Sheldon, do you understand the irony of your fixation on a man with super-speed, while after five years, all I can get out of you is a distracted make-out session on a couch?" Sheldon is still not good with irony, but can occasionally get better with sarcasm. Can Amy do that? "Oh, sure I'd love to," quips Amy. Sheldon then tells her to start whenever she's ready.
Are you breaking up with me?
Raj and Emily are looking around the comic book store as Stuart tells them he is closing up early. Bernadette is serving meatloaf and you don't have to not ask him twice. Emily picks up a severed head with pins sticking out of it and asks Raj if it would have a great Incandescent light bulb lamp for her bedroom. Raj is more of a Pottery Barn or a Crate and Barrel type of guy. Due to his lack of enthusiasm, she starts to put it back; however, Raj doesn't want her to and then offers to buy it for her. "Sold", shouts Stuart. Emily tells him that he doesn't have to do that. Stuart pipes in that there are no returns.
Leonard and Penny are coming up the stairs after visiting the Farmer's Market. Leonard had a really intense experience. After they picked up some vegetables, Leonard was mugged by some baby animals at the petting zoo. Entering the apartment, Sheldon wants some help with his relationship dilemma with Amy; however, Leonard wants to first take care of his goat bite. Penny asks if he was talking just before she got mad. Sheldon replied that he was. Penny remarks that that is probably the problem. Sheldon explains that he asked her about the Flash series while they were necking like a couple of hooligans under the school bleachers. Penny tells him that the girl expects the attention to be on her when kissing her. Sheldon tells her that it was, since he did ask her about the Flash series. Penny turns the conversation over to Leonard who also starts talking about the commitment to watching years of a new series. "Smallville" almost killed Sheldon, him waiting ten years to see Clark fly. Penny jumps in, pointing out that he was talking about a TV show on their date night. Not just that, it was their fifth anniversary. Penny tells Leonard that what Sheldon did was more stupid than Leonard thinking that being bitten by a goat would give him the powers of a goat.
Raj is helping Howardette with dinner while talking about his twisted girlfriend Emily. She wants to have sex with him in a graveyard. Bernadette figures that everyone should do their own thing and doesn't see any harm in it. How about one consenting adult and one guy who is afraid of being alone? Raj wonders of this relationship is right for him. Howard figures that he doesn't have the guts to breakup with her especially since she is willing to have sex with him. Bernadette doesn't think he will break up with Emily either. Raj reminds him that they have been complaining about Stuart living there and hasn't told him to move out. They also don't want to hurt somebody's feelings, which they did by laughing in Raj's face when he said he should probably break up with Emily.
Birthday cupcake.
Sheldon, Leonard and Penny are having the dinner that Leonard cooked. Sheldon still hasn't heard from Amy in over 24 hours. He thinks that she should have figured out she was wrong by this time. Penny agrees with Amy that Sheldon has been taking their relationship too slowly. After five years they haven't even slept together. Sheldon calls that foreplay. He also insists that Leonard and Penny is also taking theirs slowly, so Penny waves her engagement ring under his nose. Sheldon doesn't understand and waves his hand at Penny in a similar fashion. Penny counters that they are not in a rush. Leonard and Penny explain that they are currently focusing on their careers. They will set a date when they are ready.
Bernadette finds out that Stuart must have eaten her yogurt. It's time to kick him out; however, other circumstances kept them from doing it. Getting the comic book store running, the holidays, he was sick. Howard says that he did not have jaundice, he always looks like that. They plan to talk to him that night. Howard is going to drop the hammer. Bernadette loves it when Howard takes charge. Howard indicates that Bernadette was the hammer, which does not impress Bernadette.
While cleaning up dinner, Leonard asks Penny why they haven't picked a date. They are not in a rush, they are concentrating on their job and they are in a really good place. They haven't even discussed any wedding plans. Indoor, because Sheldon won't come to an outdoor wedding. Her dad isn't paying for it, so they decide on a small one. Penny wants it in a church. Leonard wants it to be black tie. Penny wants butterflies released which Sheldon objects to. The wedding plans sound perfect, but they still don't have a date notes Sheldon. They both tell him to shut up.
What are you doing tonight?
Starting their graveyard picnic, they have a beautiful moon, the tree and the grave of Elizabeth McNulty who died at the same age that Raj currently is. Emily feels like she is so alive there. She asks Raj if he's afraid of ghosts. He says no, and that he's more scared of her.
Sheldon apologizes to the couple that he got them upset. Leonard thinks that it is good he got them talking about the wedding. Sheldon perks up that even when he is complaining he still ends up making the world a better place. Now he wants to tackle Leonard's whining and Penny's drinking problem. Penny now wonders why it's so important they pick a date. Leonard says that they love each other and it doesn't matter if it's tomorrow or fifty years from now. Penny doesn't want them to wait until they are old old and gross. Then Penny sits next to Leonard and tells him that she is free tonight, and suggests that they go to Las Vegas to get married. Leonard is in complete agreement. They embrace, kiss and look very happy together. "After all these years," remarks Sheldon. He is very happy for them, but also wants them to get out of his spot.
Howard sees Stuart arrive at their home. Howard tells Bernadette to be {firm and show no weakness. He leaves and Bernadette tells him to come right back. Howard asks Stuart to sit down and he agrees but first goes into the kitchen. He replaced Bernadette's yogurt and bought Howard his favorite Captain Crunch with Crunch Berries cereal. Bernadette mentions that he has been living there a long time. Stuart agrees and says that he may sell comic books, but the real superheroes are sitting in front of him. Stuart gets a phone call from his father whom he thinks is going to wish him a Happy Birthday, but he can call him back. Finally the Wolowitz's serve Stuart a cupcake with a candle on top of it and sing "Happy Birthday" to him instead of serving him an eviction notice.
Raj and Emily are making out, though Raj is distracted. Raj mentions that the two of them are very different people. Emily thinks he wants to break-up with her. Raj reacts that she is just dark on the inside and he is dark on the outside. Emily tells him that if he wants to breakup, he should do it and not make her do it for him. Emily has it all wrong because Raj is trying to get around to tell her that he loves her.
This is CRAZY!!
Penny and Leonard are in his car on the way to Las Vegas. Penny finds a Denny's they can get married in that will serve them heart shaped pancakes. Leonard wonders if the gang will be mad at them. Penny tells him that it's only about the two of them. First they got together, then they got un-together and got to know everything about each other and now they have no surprises and no regrets. Leonard says, "No surprises." Penny adds, "No regrets." Leonard seems happy, but wants no secrets between them and tells her about a drunken make-out session he had with a girl when he was out on the North Sea. To Penny she feels that he's trying to sabotage the wedding; however, Leonard just wants to be honest. Penny thinks she can get past it. At least they weren't engaged at the time. All of the excitement has died out in the car. She still wants to get married. Penny agrees that they love each other, but when Leonard calls it the happiest day of their lives, Penny asks him to not push it.
I need some time to take a step back and re-evaluate our situation. Goodbye Sheldon.
Sheldon is Skyping with an unhappy Amy and both have been thinking about relationships. Amy says that being his girlfriend is so challenging both physically and emotionally. She has been incredibly patient for years. Sheldon strongly disagrees. Amy says, "This isn't easy to say because I love you, but I need some time to take a step back and reevaluate our situation." Sheldon is shocked, but agrees. She says goodbye and ends the call. Sheldon consults the Gollum statue on his desk. He reaches into the desk and pulls out a ring box with an engagement ring. "Well Gollum, you're an expert on rings. What do I do with this one?" he asks the statue, ending the season on a huge cliffhanger.
Credits[]
- Guest starring:
- Teleplay: Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds & Maria Ferrari
- Story: Steven Molaro, Tara Hernandez & Jeremy Howe
Notes[]
- Title Reference: The three unmarried couples consider commitment issues in their relationship; while Howard and Bernadette deal with Stuart living with them.
- Taping date: April 21, 2015
- This episode was watched by 14.64 million people with a rating of 3.7 (adults 18–49).
- Total viewers including DVR users 20.15 million.
- The Big Bang Theory was ranked #1 for the week ending 10 May 2015.
- This episode aired in Canada on May 7, 2015.
- First screened in Great Britain on E4 on Thurs June 18, 2015
- IMDb user reviews [1]
- Chuck Lorre's vanity card [2]
- Episode transcript [3]
Critics[]
- Jesse Schedeen for IGN - The takeaway from all of this is that there's definitely something wrong at the core of the Leonard/Penny romance, something that a quickie wedding certainly won't fix. It's a complex problem. And that's good. This show needs more complexity in its character dynamics....(T)here was definitely something sweetly tragic about a despondent Sheldon holding a conversation with his Gollum statue. It was an unusually somber but very effective way to close out the season.
- IMDb user reviews [4]
Trivia[]
- This is the second episode that doesn't end with studio laughter since it ends in a serious note without a punchline. The first one was "The Comic Book Store Regeneration" (S8E15).
- Sheldon was thinking about proposing to Amy, once again proving that even though Sheldon has commitment issues, he is somehow able to get over them quickly, or that he no longer has commitment issues with Amy and was ready to take the next step.
- Stuart's middle name is revealed to be David by Howard.
- Leonard's need to be honest also got the better of him when he confessed to Priya about kissing Alice in "The Good Guy Fluctuation" (S5E7).
- Sheldon pushes Leonard and Penny to pick a date for their wedding after a whole season of never discussing any aspect of the wedding, other than waiting for Penny's brother to be released from prison, and Penny's mother believing that she's not pregnant|expecting.
- Raj tells Emily that he loves her, but from earlier comments to Howard and Bernadette, he may just be scared to be alone, just like Stuart was in "The Desperation Emanation".
- Sheldon asks Amy whether he should watch The Flash television show even though it has already reached the end of the first season.
- While talking about Sheldon's fallout with Amy, he and Leonard bring up the anxieties he had to endure while watching "Smallville".
- This episode is the second time one of the guys has wondered about the possibility of getting an animal's abilities from a bite. Raj mused eloquently about inheriting the abilities of a rat in "The Alien Parasite Hypothesis" (S4E10).
- Second episode where a character finds out about a mistake Leonard made, causing him to ask what he should do about it leading to a response only applicable for future situations. First was "The Griffin Equivalency" (S2E4).
- As Sheldon and Amy are making out on the couch, a "whoop" can be heard from two members of the studio audience.
- The episode ends with Amy taking a step back from their relationship while Sheldon was planning to take a step forward; while despite still agreeing to get married, Leonard and Penny don't end up convinced about the idea. Furthermore, it's not ultimately revealed if Stuart was told to leave the house after Howard and Bernadette celebrated his birthday, nor if Emily forced Raj to tell her the truth after noticing he had a problem with her.
- As a result, this is so far the episode with most cliffhangers in the series.
- Amy only has two appearances at Apartment 4A with Sheldon in this episode:
- 1. She has one physical appearance with Sheldon on the couch in the opening apartment scene of this episode.
- 2. She has on appearance via Skype when she is informing Sheldon that she's going have some space from him at the ending apartment scene of this episode.
- Despite some people including Mayim Bialik suggesting that they don't know the true story of Sheldon's ring and what it truly means, the writers at Comic-Con confirmed that it was definitely an engagement ring because Sheldon wants to move his relationship with Amy to the next level.
- GOOF: Penny says that she never did anything like Leonard did on his North Sea expedition, but in "The Prom Equivalency", Penny does mention about making out with the high school football captain during one of the proms she attended even though they both had other dates.
- Sheldon finally seems to be at a stage where he enjoys initiating kissing and being more intimate with Amy (touching her leg while they make out). Penny quipped that Sheldon would do that when he finally reached puberty.
- Penny squealed after Leonard agrees and she knows that she is getting married.
- At the end when Sheldon mentions and begins to pull out a ring, the gasps can be heard from the audience.
- Amy shares no scenes with the seven other members of gang (Raj, the 'Howardette' couple, Stuart, The 'Lenny' duo, and Emily) throughout the rest of this episode.
- In "The Bon Voyage Reaction" (S6E24) Leonard was concerned that he might get himself in trouble on the voyage. Penny assured him that if he was going to get in trouble it would be while he was still in town. Turns out he did get himself in trouble while away.
- Emily shares no scenes with the "Lenny" duo, the "Howardette" couple and the "Shamy" duo in this episode.
- Throughout the entire episode, Penny is seen wearing the same floral print blouse, shoes, and jeans she wore in "The Gorilla Dissolution" (S7E23). This, coincidentally, is the outfit worn when she and Leonard officially became engaged.
- In addition, Leonard is also wearing the same pants, sneakers, and watch from that scene.
- Howard hints that Emily's father is deceased. That is when Raj is talking to him and Bernadette about Emily, Howard says "Well, if it’s her father’s grave and they didn’t get along, then you know she holds a grudge".
- Bernadette and Howard are only seen at the Wolowitz House in this episode.
- Raj and Emily are only seen with Stuart in the comic book store scene in of this episode.
- Raj, Emily, Howard, Bernadette and Stuart share no scenes with Amy, Leonard, Penny and Sheldon in this episode.
Quotes[]
- (Sheldon and Amy making out on the couch)
- Amy: Can you believe it’s been five years since our first date?
- Sheldon: I know. Do you think I should start watching "The Flash" TV show?
- Amy: That’s what you’re thinking about?
- Sheldon: Well, one of the things.
- Amy: Are any of them me?
- Sheldon: Yes. I thought, “I can’t decide if I should watch the Flash TV show. I know, I’ll ask Amy.” Anyway..
- (Tries to kiss Amy).
- Amy: What are you doing?
- Sheldon: You’re right, you did kind of kill the mood.
- Amy: I didn't kill anything. You did, talking about your stupid TV show.
- Sheldon: Excuse me. Starting to watch a television show that might run for years isn't a decision you take lightly. I’m wrestling with a big commitment issue here.
- Amy: Really? That’s the commitment issue you’re wrestling with? Sheldon, do you understand the irony of your fixation on a man with super speed, while after five years, all I can get out of you is a distracted make-out session on a couch?
- Sheldon: Irony’s not really my strong suit. But I have been getting better with sarcasm, if you want to give that a try.
- Amy: Oh, sure, I’d love to.
- Sheldon: Whenever you’re ready.
- Leonard: That was really intense.
- Penny: Well, now we know. Next time we go to the farmer’s market, the order is petting zoo first, then buy vegetables.
- Sheldon: Amy’s mad at me and I’m not clear why.
- Penny: Okay. Were you talking before she got upset?
- Sheldon: Yes.
- Penny: That’s probably it.
- Raj: You guys ever notice that Emily has a bit of a twisted side?
- Bernadette: You mean 'cause she has weird tattoos?
- Raj: No, because she wants to have sex with me in a graveyard.
- Howard: One more time?
- Raj: She and I were supposed to watch the new Avengers movie tonight, but it was sold out. So I said, what else do you want to do? She said, let’s go to a cemetery and do it on somebody’s grave.
- Howard: Like, a random person or somebody she knew?
- Raj: What difference does it make?
- Howard: Well, if it’s her father’s grave and they didn’t get along, then you know she holds a grudge.
- Penny: Okay, I don’t think she’s wrong about you going too slow in the relationship.
- Sheldon: Too slow?
- Penny: Yeah, you've been going out for years. You haven’t even slept together.
- Sheldon: That’s right. It’s called foreplay. And I could make the case that you two aren't moving forward in your relationship.
- Penny: Uh, hello.
- Sheldon: Hello.
- Penny: No, Sheldon. We’re getting married.
- Sheldon: But, you've been engaged for over a year now and you don’t even have a wedding date.
- Penny: Well, we will. We're just not in a rush.
- Sheldon: Okay.
- Leonard: We’re gonna set a date.
- Sheldon: Okay, if you say so.
- Penny: Good.
- Leonard: Really good.
- Penny: I’m focusing on my job.
- Leonard: And weave been busy with our paper.
- Penny: So busy.
- Leonard: Yeah, we’ll pick a date when we pick a date.
- Sheldon: Okay.
- Penny: You know, I can see why Amy’s mad at you.
- Leonard: Yeah, shut up, Sheldon.
- Bernadette: Did you eat all my yogurt?
- Howard: You mean the one that makes ladies do the thing that ladies pretend they don’t do even though they do?
- Bernadette: You know which yogurt I mean.
- Howard: I didn’t touch it. Must have been Stuart.
- Penny: Well, you want a date. Pick a date.
- Leonard: It’s not just the date. We haven’t talk about anything. Big wedding, small wedding, indoor, outdoor…
- Sheldon: Outdoor? I can RSVP “no” right now.
- Penny: Indoor it is. Big or small?
- Leonard: Is your Dad paying for it?
- Penny: I doubt it.
- Leonard: Okay, two friends each.
- Penny: All right, well I want it in a church.
- Leonard: Fine. I want black tie.
- Penny: Fine. I want to release butterflies.
- Sheldon: Seriously? Airborne worms?
- Leonard: Okay. Well, then it’s settled. Small indoor church wedding, black-tie, no butterflies.
- Penny: Sounds perfect.
- Leonard: Great.
- Sheldon: You still didn't pick a date.
- Penny: Stay out of it.
- Leonard: Shut up.
- Emily: Mmm. It’s a beautiful night.
- Raj: Oh yes, we've got the moon and the trees and… Elizabeth McNulty, who apparently died when she was the same age I am.
- Emily: Makes you feel alive, doesn't it?
- Raj: So does enjoying a meal at a well-lit restaurant, but here we are.
- Emily: You aren't scared, are you?
- Raj: Of ghosts, no. Of you, a little bit.
- Sheldon: Well, look at that. Even when I’m causing problems, I make the world a better place. Hey, next why don’t we tackle your penchant for whining and Penny’s love for the old glug-glug.
- Penny: Um, I’m free tonight.
- Leonard: Are you saying you want to get married?
- Penny: Vegas isn't that far away.
- Leonard: I’m in. Let’s do it.
- Penny: (Penny squeals)
- Sheldon: After all these years. I’m really happy for the two of you.
- Penny: Aw, thank you.
- Leonard: Thanks.
- Sheldon: Now get out of my spot.
- Amy: Hello.
- Sheldon: Hello. Listen, I've been thinking a lot about relationships and how difficult they can be and I think...
- Amy: I've been thinking about them, too, Sheldon. Being your girlfriend is so challenging. Emotionally, physically, I've been incredibly patient for years.
- Sheldon: Strongly disagree. Go on.
- Amy: Okay, well... this isn't easy to say because I love you, but…I need some time to take a step back and reevaluate our situation.
- Sheldon: Oh.
- Amy: I hope you understand.
- Sheldon: Okay.
- Amy: Bye, Sheldon. (Amy signs off)
- Sheldon: (Turning to the Gollum statue on his desk). Well, Gollum. You’re an expert on rings. What do I do with this one? (Takes an engagement ring out of his desk).
Gallery[]
References[]
- [5] Taping Report by Michy Geary
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