RECAP: Big Bang Theory Season 7 Premiere - The Hofstadter Insufficiency

The gang of Big Bang is back! (See what I did there?)

The season opens with Sheldon's dream. As usual, even in his dreams, our dear Dr. Cooper is still suffering from OCD. He was calling Leonard, who is still at the Arctic, because of misplaced DVDs--Back to the Future 2 disc was interchanged with the Back to the Future 3 disc. Oh the horror! While in the middle of the call, Leonard was taken by a kraken, prompting Sheldon to wake from his crazy dream. He rushes to Penny's, asking if he could keep her company, knowing that she misses Leonard so much. That he's worried that she might have been experiencing bad dreams--like the ones you get after watching "The Clash of the Titans" before going to bed. Of course, it was all a ruse. Sheldon is the one who misses Leonard so bad that he already appears in his dreams, yes?

---

Meanwhile, Raj is still brokenhearted after his break up with Lucy. He have been seeing her everywhere--in the shape of an oil spill at the garage and on the chicken pot pie's crust. Since Bernadette is in a neuroscience conference with Amy, Howard decided to accompany Raj at a welcoming party for incoming post-docs at the university. He figures it could help nurse Raj's broken heart, and forget about Lucy. Raj asks Sheldon to come, but Sheldon refuses saying, "I want you to be happy too. But not enough to do anything about it..."

At the party, Raj tries his luck on the girls. Considering the fact that he has been afraid of talking to women for 6 seasons already (unless he has alcohol in his system), he is doing pretty well now. He finally gets a chance to connect with someone--Mrs. Davis. She has just separated from her husband and Raj tries to befriend her. Though they were up for a bad start, Raj eventually proves that he is sweet and at the end of the night, was able to have a connection with her at a "human level", not as human resources to professor type of interaction.

He gushes at Howard about it. He tells him that he and Mrs. Davis had a "moment". Howard tells him that they didn't had a moment. Raj quickly, and defensively replies, "Who died and made you King of Moments?"

Howard tells him that even if they do had a moment, he doesn't think that Raj would do something about it anyway, to which Raj agrees.

---

Penny and Sheldon play 3D chess at Sheldon and Leonard's apartment. They have been missing Leonard so badly that they decided to call him. They found out that Leonard is at a party with the rest of the people at the ship and seems to be having a great time. They were bummed upon realizing that Leonard may have not been missing them anyway. (aaawww...)

To ease their sadness, the two bonded by sharing some secrets. Sheldon having 9 pairs of pants and underpants--his take on something personal. Later on, Sheldon shares about his profound disappointment about the YouTube interface change. Penny was a bit annoyed about this confession of Sheldon's that she decided to take off. Sheldon's feelings was hurt as Penny did not know that the YouTube change was actually a big deal for Sheldon. She apologizes and tells Sheldon about a topless scene she did at a low-budget movie. She thought no one would see that movie anyhow, but Sheldon blurts out that they actually saw the movie online the moment they first met her.

Anyway, since they miss Leonard so bad, Penny offers Sheldon a hug. Hesitant, he eventually gives in. Of course, he never failed to give up a quip about being strangled, something he feels when somebody hugs him.

---

At the convention, Bernie and Amy went to a bar. At first, the two hit it off. Bernie thought it is a great chance for them two to hang out together without Penny. That they are finally able to talk about something intellectual rather than just boys when they are with Penny. Some gentlemen at the bar sent them drinks. Bernie made a remark about Sheldon that offended Amy. Amy then blurts out something equally mean about Howard to make things even.

Eventually, the two made up. Before bed, they talked about the guys who sent them drinks at the bar. How it was flattering that someone noticed the two of them at a bar, without Penny to attract the men's attention. They confessed about which one they liked and realized that Bernie's type was the guy who seems like Sheldon, while Amy likes the other one--the guy who bears resemblance with Howard. Noticing that everything suddenly turned awkward, they bid goodnight on each other.

---

Last scene of the episode shows Leonard at the Arctic. He shows everyone Penny's movie. He brags--and swears to God--that the girl in the movie is his girlfriend.

***Regina King reprises her role as Mrs. Janine Davis, the guys' Human Resources Administrator at Caltech.