"The Big Bang Theory" Season 6 premiere, "The Date Night Variable," was all about date night for each of the couples, plus Raj. There were plenty of laughs. The episode focused mainly on quality jokes rather than on character growth. There were no big revelations or changes in the lives of the characters. It was just a great stand alone episode.
"Zeusowitz" and Bernadette
Howard Wolowitz (or as Raj puts it, the tiny Jewish Greek God, Zeusowitz, played by Simon Helberg) is still in space, so he is forced to have date night with a computer screen and webcam. The problem is that Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) refuses to continue their date night by video until Howard tells his mother that he is moving in with Bernadette.
He finally breaks down and starts to tell his mother, who reacts by hilariously emasculating her son in front of one of his crewmembers (Pasha Lychnikoff). He agrees to talk Bernadette out of the move. Then he tells Bernadette that he told his mother, without mentioning that she still believes they will be living with her.
It's amazing (and side-splitting) the way Simon Helberg is able to pull off playing the most pathetic human being imaginable. He has taken the most "giant leap forward" of which man is capable, but still can't stand up to his own mother. He may as well stop exercising and allow his backbone to shrivel up, since it's practically nonexistent anyway.
Penny and Leonard
Leonard (Johnny Galecki) wants to talk with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) about where they are in their relationship. Penny just wants to "be the girl" for one night. Unfortunately, Leonard is incapable of keeping his feelings bottled up. It's always amusing to see how Leonard and Penny reverse what would typically be the man's and woman's roles in a relationship.
Sheldon and Amy
Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is his typical self: incapable of showing or understanding emotion. Sheldon finds a loophole in the "Relationship Agreement" that allows him to outsource his side of their two-year anniversary date, including the "casual physical contact," to India (Raj). Amy (Mayim Bialik) becomes incensed, so Raj leaves to interrupt Penny and Leonard's date night (if you can call it that).
By the end of the night, Amy is able to coax something "meaningful and from the heart" out of Sheldon: a sappy line from "Spiderman." Grasping for the tiniest sliver of what they call a relationship, she takes it as another step forward in their relationship; however, Sheldon asks to split the check.
The relationship between Sheldon and Amy is probably the most entertaining on the series, and the pathetic attempt at an "anniversary" dinner did not disappoint. It was the lowest rung on the relationship ladder for most people, but Sheldon and Amy's relationship is measured differently. Their's is a 100-foot ladder, and they have just landed on about the second rung.
Raj and Stuart
Raj (Kunal Nayyar) finally has a quality subplot! Because he is incapable of speaking with women, he has decided to go out on what could be considered a "date" with Stuart (Kevin Sussman), the owner of the comic book store. Although it is not the type of relationship he was hoping for, at least he won't have to be lonely. Here's hoping to see more of this budding "relationship" in future episodes!
