"The Prom Equivalency" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 6, 2014. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Eric Kaplan and Maria Ferrari, based on a story by Jim Reynolds, Steve Holland and Jeremy Howe.
Because of their terrible experiences at high school prom, Amy and Bernadette want a do-over — Amy's experience was particularly pathetic. They plan a prom on the roof of the building where Penny lives. Penny couldn't care less about prom, she's already been to seven of them, but Leonard convinces her to go along with it.
Emily (Laura Sweeney) and Raj are on board. Howard is also on board, until he learns that Bernadette invited Stuart (Kevin Sussman), who will presumably take Mrs. Wolowitz (Carol Ann Susi) as his date. It's actually worse, Kevin's taking Howard's cousin Jeanie (Kara Luiz), but as a friend.
This leaves Sheldon as the last holdout, he consults with Penny and is horrified to learn about "prom mating rituals."note But after a talk with Amy, Sheldon agrees.
Leonard and Penny are the first to arrive at the rooftop prom. They discuss whether teenage Penny would have danced with teenage Leonard. The other prom attendees arrive by limousine. Everyone has a good time, for the most part.
Tropes
- Call-Back: Stuart's date to the prom is Howard's cousin whom he lost his virginity to, as mentioned on "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency".
- Continuity Nod: Sheldon recalls the time he went to see Penny in A Streetcar Named Desire in "The Monster Isolation".
- High-School Dance: Because of their bad prom experiences, Amy and Bernadette decide to hold a fake prom to make up for it.
- The "I Love You" Stigma: Defied. Amy was working up the nerve to tell Sheldon she loved him and prefaced it with a long-winded ramble about how she isn't expecting anything in return. Sheldon ended up cutting her off by saying "I love you too," explaining he already concluded love was the only explanation for his feelings for her.
- Irony: Penny cannot for the life of her remember her "A Night To Remember"-themed prom.
- Last-Second Photo Failure: When it's Howard and Bernadette's turn for a prom photo, Raj teases him with "Say 'cousin'!", referring to how he lost his virginity to a cousin; the photo shows Howard angrily charging the camera. When it's Stuart's turn, he gets a call from Mrs. Wolowitz and is leaving as the picture is taken.
- Love Confession: Amy tries to make her feelings for Sheldon known, but Sheldon beats her to the punch.
- Metaphorgotten: Howard wonders what to do about his mother dating Stuart. Sheldon offers up the fact that the gibbon is the only member of the ape family that is classified as a lesser ape. When Howard wonders why he thinks that's relevant, Sheldon replies that taxonomists really went out of their way to single out the gibbon.
- Shout-Out:
- Penny's seventh prom was themed A Night to Remember.
- Raj mentions wanting to go to prom ever since he saw Pretty in Pink, then got discouraged after watching Carrie (1976), and got enthused again after Never Been Kissed.
- Sheldon explains The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to Penny.
- Emily likes Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas because she is covered in scars and can pull her own limbs off and sew them back on.
- Bernadette likes Cinderella. Emily then points out that in the original story, the stepsisters cut off their own toes in order for their feet to fit in the famous odd shoe.
- Unseen No More: Howard's second cousin Jeanie (the one he had sex with) finally makes an onscreen appearance in this episode.
- Wham Episode: Sheldon finally — finally — confesses his love to Amy.
- Wham Line:Amy: Sheldon, there's something else I've been wanting to say. But before I do, just... I want you to know you don't have to say it back. I know you're not ready, and I don't want you to say it because social convention dictates...
Sheldon: I love you too.
