Recap / The Big Bang Theory S 4 E 11 The Justice League Recombination

Plot

After Penny starts dating Zack, the gang decide that Zack should replace Leonard as Superman for a costume contest at the comic book store, with Penny as the reluctant Wonder Woman.

Tropes

• Bittersweet Ending: The gang end up winning the costume party, however, when midnight strikes Zack kisses Penny while Leonard watches heartbroken.
  • What makes it even sadder is the fact that Leonard and Penny clearly want to kiss each other.
• The Bus Came Back: Zack after his last appearance earlier this Season returns.
• Cannot Spit It Out: It's clearly evident that Penny is regretting her break up with Leonard and only dating Zack simply to distract herself. When Leonard questions her to why she's sad, she's unable to tell him and instead choose to attend the comic store party instead.
• Consolation Backfire: Sheldon in true fashion tries to cheer up Penny by telling her he's aware why she's upset. However, he then reveals he believes she's upset because her Wonder Woman costume makes her look fat, upsetting her more.
• Dresses the Same: At least three groups of people decided to dress up as the Justice League of America for the costume party.
• Easily Forgiven: Zack immediately forgives the guys for calling him stupid when they offer him some candy when apologizing.
• Exact Words:
  Zack: Oh, I see. You're inferring that I'm stupid.
  Sheldon: That's not correct. We were implying it. You then inferred it.
• Forced to Watch: Leonard when Zack kisses Penny.
• Good News, Bad News: This exchange after Howard eavesdrops behind Penny's door and finds out that Penny is deciding to come to the party as Wonder Woman.
  Howard: Okay, the good news is, we have a Wonder Woman.
  Sheldon: Oh.
  Zack: Yes.
  Sheldon: What’s the bad news?
  Howard: Superman probably isn’t getting laid tonight.
  Zack: (looks around a bit to make sure whose costume is whose) Ahhh, damn.
• Group Costume Fail: The gang recruit Penny and her ex-boyfriend Zack to compete in the comic book store's New Years Eve group costume contest with them so they can go as the Justice League of America. Penny rebels first because she doesn't want to wear the brunette wig for Wonder Woman and later because of feeling awkward around Zack and Leonard, but eventually does join, in the wig, helping them clinch victory (especially because the other groups dressed as the Justice League looked terrible in comparison).
• New Year Has Come: The episode is set on New Years Eve.
• Offending the Fool: When the guys make fun of Zack for his lack of intelligence, he storms out of the apartment upset. Penny calls them out on this, since they all claimed to have been bullied as kids, but ended up acting no different towards Zack.
• Romantic False Lead: Zack is a deconstructed example. It's evident his stupidity is too much of a turn off for Penny to actually pursue a relationship with him. It's all but stated that Penny's only with him to distract herself over her feelings for Leonard.
• Shout-Out:
  • To the Justice League:
    • Zack: Superman
    • Leonard: Green Lantern
    • Penny: Wonder Woman
    • Sheldon: The Flash
    • Howard: Batman
    • Raj: Aquaman
  • Stuart dresses as the Fourth Doctor at the costume party.
  • When Zack and Penny drop out, the gang consider switching to their Muppet Babies (1984) costumes.
  • To SpongeBob SquarePants: When Zack talks about seeing a show about how a starfish can come back to life if you cut it in half, Sheldon asks if by any chance the starfish was wearing shorts.
• Stepping Out to React: The Stinger has Leonard asking Sheldon if he can turn down the thermostat. Sheldon has an Imagine Spot where he's The Flash, running all the way to the Grand Canyon to yell "Good Lord, how you frustrate me, Leonard Hofstadter!", then running right back to say "fine."