Recap / The Big Bang Theory S 4 E 7 The Apology Insufficiency

Plot

When Sheldon inadvertently ruins Howard's chances of working on a government surveillance satellite, he finds himself guilt-ridden. Unfortunately, he finds that simply saying "I'm sorry" won't be enough.

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Tropes:

• As Himself: Neil deGrasse Tyson.
• Change the Uncomfortable Subject: When Leonard starts talking about his trouble with women, Sheldon quickly starts talking about the capybara, the world's largest rodent. He freely admits it was a desperate attempt at changing the subject.
• Continuity Nod: While talking to the FBI agent, Sheldon accidentally brings up the time Howard crashed the Mars Rover back in "The Lizard-Spock Expansion". He also mentions Leonard almost giving showing rocket fuel to what turned out to be a North Korean spy, from "The Staircase Implementation."
• Daydream Surprise: Sheldon is telling Leonard how his guilt about what he did to Howard won't let him sleep. Leonard then tells him that he's dreaming right now, and points to the Gorn sitting next to Sheldon as proof.
• Never My Fault: Howard acts as though his not getting to work on the surveillance satellite is all Sheldon's fault. Even though Sheldon (accidentally) spills the beans to the FBI agent, Howard is the idiot who crashed the Mars Rover, the reason why he was rejected, in the first place. And yet he pins the blame entirely on Sheldon.
• N-Word Privileges: Invoked by Raj when discussing his fear of being deported.
  Raj: They'll find a reason to give me a one-way ticket to Gandhiville. By the way, when I say that, it's not offensive.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Sheldon is so desperate to make amends to Howard that he gives him the thing he treasures most: his spot on the couch.
• Plot Hole: Even though Sheldon admits that Howard is responsible for the Mars rover incident back in season 2, the fact that he accidentally caused the rover to discover lucrative information that there might have been life on Mars is never brought up.
• Pluto Is Expendable: When Raj introduces Sheldon to Neil deGrasse Tyson, Sheldon blames him for demoting Pluto to a dwarf planet.
  Neil deGrasse Tyson: But I actually didn't demote Pluto. That was a vote of the International Astronomical Union.
  Sheldon: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas. Think about that, Dr. Tyson.
• Prized Possession Giveaway: Out of desperation, Sheldon offers Howard his spot on the couch if he'll just accept his apology. Touched by the gesture, and realizing how much that spot meant to Sheldon, Howard accepts. Sheldon lasts all of ninety seconds before demanding the spot back.
• Rejected Apology: Howard won't accept Sheldon's apology for telling the FBI about the Mars Rover incident because it not only cost him the job, it set his career back two years.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Leonard finds out Agent Page is in the doorstep in his and Sheldon's apartment, he immediately bolts to his room because he unsuccessfully flirted with her the other day.
• Special Guest: Eliza Dushku as FBI Special Agent Angela Page.