Recap / The Big Bang Theory S 5 E 13 The Recombination Hypothesis

The Recombination Hypothesis is the 13th episode of the 5th season of The Big Bang Theory. In this episode Leonard asks Penny out on a spur-of-the-moment romantic dinner for two, as they contemplate renewing their relationship after their breakup.

Tropes

• All Just a Dream: Turns out the entire episode is an extended Imagine Spot where Leonard asks Penny out again but they start bickering and covering up their problems with sex. Just before being snapped out of his dream. Penny tells him that he always overthinks things, and the first thing he does exiting the dream is ask her out despite the "Bad Ending" he conceived. Penny even asks if he thought this through and he replies with an exasperated nod "Yes, and I think we should go, anyways."
• Big Damn Kiss: Penny gives one to Leonard before having sex with him in the daydream.
• Daydream Surprise:
  • The main plot turns out to be Leonard thinking though whether he should start dating Penny again.
  • The Stinger is Leonard and Penny's wedding, where Penny is heavily pregnant. That turns out to be Penny's own Imagine Spot, after which she says she has to go to the drug store.
• Foreshadowing: There are signs it was all a daydream:
  • Leonard was uncharacteristically confident when asking out Penny.
  • Daydream-Bernadette is socially inconsiderate when suggesting double-dating with Leonard and Penny in front of Amy. When the scene repeats back in the real world, Amy is the one carelessly suggesting double-dating in fron of Bernadette.
  • Daydream-Penny is really nervous for the daydream-date and doesn't know whether to wear a shiny dress with a navel-deep neckline or an outfit that would be suitable on a conservative religous lady.
  • In the past when Leonard tries to initiate sex after a fight with Penny he got rebuffed, this time she accepted.
  • Sheldon goes to the toilet in the middle of the night.
• Innocent Innuendo: Sheldon when playing a board game with Howard and Raj, much to their amusement.
  Sheldon: And now that I have my wood, I'm going to begin the erection of my settlement.
  Raj: He's got to be doing this on purpose.
• Insult Backfire: Howard tries to insult Leonard over coming back early from his bad date. Leonard just retorts "You're thirty years old and you live with your mother" which immediately shuts Howard up.
• Longing Look: Penny gives one to Leonard at the start of the episode when smiling at him.
• Relationship Revolving Door: After breaking up and agonising over their feelings for each other throughout Season 4, Leonard and Penny finally begin dating again.
• Shout-Out:
  • Sheldon ordered a cardboard cutout of Mr. Spock, but is disappointed that it's the movie reboot version rather than the original.
    Sheldon: Live long and suck it, Zachary Quinto!
  • The guys are playing Settlers of Catan. The episode gets a lot of laugh mileage out of the game's memetic "wood for sheep".
  • On his date with Penny, Leonard mentions that he used his grant money to build his own Bat-Signal.
• When She Smiles: Two examples.
  • Penny just smiles when she sees Leonard at the start of the episode, it shows she still cares about him a lot and is happy to see him.
  • The next one happens after Leonard finally asks Penny out, it's the first time Penny has been happy in a year when Leonard asks her out again.

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