The Big Bang Theory - Episode 8.04- The Hook-up Reverberation - Recap & Review

Teaser/Beginning Scene
The guys are having lunch at the cafeteria. Raj reveals that she is going to invite Emily to meet the rest of his friends tonight but Sheldon is opposed to this idea because that according to a study from Oxford University, one that gets romantically involved will lose two friends. But Leonard and Raj question Sheldon's theory because he's involved with Amy but he tells them that they are not romantically involved. I think if Sheldon is a man to profess his love like Howard and Leonard do for their lovers just like the times he did it for Amy in The Locomotive Manipulation from last season, he would be more romantically involved with her AND still have friends.

Penny vs. Emily plot
Emily finally gets to meet everyone (other than Amy because they met last season). She's happy to see everyone except Penny.

Later at her apartment, Bernadette thinks that Penny is being very paranoid. She tells the girls that she has went her whole life without tell them "I hate you" to her face and Amy is shocked about this. She would tell her this but it's the cheekbones that's preventing her from saying it.

To impress Emily, she uses her sales skills to sell pharmacy things to her at her workplace and even purchases her coffee. Emily is still not impressed and she tells the main truth about why she does not like her. It's because Raj told her that she once hooked up and was naked in front of him. She tries to lie about it but Emily is not buying it and still has a grudge against her.

Penny gets real upset with Raj but he defends himself that he wanted to share everything in his life before being in a relationship with Emily. Sheldon comments that his theory was right about losing a friend and he wonders who he is going to lose next. He tells him that he's the next friend to lose. Penny is at her apartment that everyone has a past. Bernadette tells her that she is pretty and Emily may not be the first girl to dislike her. Penny realizes that she used to not like Amy.

Later on, Emily apologizes to Penny and she accepts her apology. Raj wants his girlfriend and his friend to get along well. This ends up with the girls reconciling but they both say they hate each other behind close doors.

The Guys plot
Meanwhile, the guys are disappointed about Capitol Comics because they miss Stuart's comic book store. Howard wishes that Stuart would re-open but Leonard thinks it's because the Stuart is with his mother. I love the Game of Thrones reference when he commented that his mother was confused about that show. Leonard comes up with this idea to invest their on money that Stuart needs to relaunch the comic book store. This would mean that they would be owners of the store, which excites them.

Sheldon explains his excitement about owning the comic book store to Howard, who's excited as well. Leonard wonders if Penny left anyone off her former loves list. Being typical Sheldon, he makes some unnecessary comments to the guys especially about insulting Amy's hair, which makes Leonard irritated since he knows nothing about women.

The guys (except Raj) ask their lovers on advice on if investing money to the comic book store is okay. First, Penny seems like she's not enthusiastic simply because the credit card debts that she still owes them. Then, at dinner, Howard mentions about investment but knowing Bernadette's sassy personality, she immediately rejects because it's too risky due to the fact that they are saving money for a new house. Then, in a final plea, Howard reveals that he used to have fun at the comic book store with his estranged father when he was young. Also, it was one of the very few things that he did and he feels uncomfortable to talk about. Bernadette thinks the story is made up but she buys his plea. Sheldon asks Amy her honest opinion about opening a comic book store and hopes that she keeps an open mind. At first, she does not like this idea because she wonders why a grown man like him would rather be investing his time on selling picture books of men in their underwear knowing that he is an accomplish scientist. However, she supports this him investing his money doing this, which makes him happy.

Despite there were support of investing the comic book store, the idea now fails because Howard's mother gave Stuart the money to open his business, which makes him infuriated. At the end, the four guys are sitting on the couch relaxing despite their disappointment and Sheldon reveals that this idea was too good to be true.

Observations:
- Even with Sheldon's immaturity, she supports him greatly and tolerates his immature behavior especially when he tends to insult her just like when he asked Emily if he could make an appointment to look at his butt, which made Amy jealous as she hasn't seen it yet.

- It's good to see a story arc with Penny having a rival in her life knowing that she is the only character to not have that yet. I do not blame Emily for not being welcome to her. If I were in her shoes, I would not feel comfortable at first. The scenes with her and Emily were entertaining especially when she visited her at work. I doubt that's the last we've seen those two having a scene together.

- I thought that Howard was very serious in his plea to Bernadette about investing their money to the comic book store. I thought he was telling the truth.

- I understand why Howard is frustrated with Stuart given the fact he is a grown adult living with a friend's mother. I would feel awkward too if I was in Howard's position.

- At the end, the guys wished they had a place to read comic books and have comfy couches to sit in along with snacks. What was entertaining about the end scene was that they already have a place to do it at, it's Sheldon and Leonard's apartment.

- I enjoyed this episode because of the storylines with Penny and Emily fighting, the excellent chemistry between with Raj and Emily, and the guys wanting to have their own comic book store.