The Big Bang Theory - Season 7, Episode 2 'The Deception Verification' [Review + Recap]

This is all about the second episode in the special two-episode premiere of Season 7 of The Big Bang Theory. If you're looking for a recap/review of episode 1 then click the link below:
http://scenesisters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-big-bang-theory-season-7-episode-1.html

The episode opens with Sheldon and Penny coming back from the grocery store and the two discuss Leonard's imminent arrival, and how this well affect their bonding time together. Penny arrives in her apartment to discover Leonard waiting for her as the two embrace and Leonard reveals he has arrived earlier (unbeknownst to Sheldon) so he can spend a couple of days with Penny alone (surprise surprise). Sheldon, Howard and Raj visit the comic book store as Sheldon wants to buy a coming-home present for Leonard. Stuart uses this opportunity to hawk overpriced goods to Sheldon such as a water gun and a figure of aqua man. 

Meanwhile in the store, Howard complains that he is feeling bloated and Raj tries to comfort him. Later on, back in Penny's apartment, Leonard and Penny are looking through Leonard's photo's from his trip when Sheldon appears with Chinese while Leonard is in the bathroom. Penny tries to hurry him away, but Sheldon notices that it looks like Penny has company, but she denies it. 

Meanwhile, Howard comes home to Bernadette (who has made brownies) and complains that he is bloated and is gaining weight and acts generally moody. Bernadette is curious and when Howard mentions about rubbing cream into his mum's back, it is revealed that Howard has been absorbing estrogen from the cream into his skin (by not wearing gloves) and this is why he has been acting so strangely. Bernadette tries her best to comfort Howard with sex, but he is repulsed by the idea saying (rather ironically) that 'it's her solution to everything.' Oh, Howard. Bernadette's face is literally priceless at this point.  

In Sheldon's apartment, Amy is trying to get Sheldon to play her made up word game, but his mind is elsewhere. Amy asks Sheldon what is wrong and he explains how he thinks Penny may be cheating on Leonard, citing that takeaway rubbish was actually put in her trash can, and reluctantly, Amy agrees with Sheldon's theory. 

The two then hurry over to Penny's apartment and lean against her door, trying to hear for noises or voices. Amy remarks that she hears someone who sounds like Leonard, and Sheldon dismisses this notion, until they unlock the door and find Leonard and Penny sitting on the sofa together. Sheldon is visibly upset, but when Penny exclaims that he should have knocked first, Amy and Sheldon then go back through the doorway and close the door, knocking again. Amy and Sheldon's face when they are leaning against the door is ridiculously funny; Amy and Sheldon look so determined and eager to discover Penny's infedelities.

Leonard tries to cheer Sheldon up by giving him a sailor hat he wanted from the trip, and Amy and Penny exclaim how great he looks in it, but despite this, Sheldon is still not pleased. Back at Bernadette's place, Howard and Raj are deliberating whether theyve gained weight or not. This is probably the funniest event in the entire episode as Raj and Howard then proceed to jiggle and shimmy with their tops off to decide if they have grown larger breasts. Then Raj touches Howard's breasts and they both try and figure out if they feel any bigger. Meanwhile, Bernadette has been standing in the hallway the whole time and eventually get's so tired of their drawn-out display that she returns back to one of the back rooms. I guess Howard and Raj really are breast friends. (cue awful series of puns) Anyhow, Leonard and Sheldon eventually repair their friendship after Sheldon has trouble getting around and performing his usual duties (calling on the help of Amy). Sheldon runs into Penny in the hallway and they patch up their friendship, after Sheldon reminisces about the fact he let Penny use his store clubcard to buy feminine hygiene products.

The main reason for Sheldon's change of heart, is, when in the cafeteria, Howard essentially breaks down over Leonard and Sheldon's feud, causing Sheldon and Leonard to rebuild the bridge of their friendship. Over dinner later that evening, Sheldon recalls all the fun things he and Leonard have done together today, such as visit the dentist, the barber and the Los Angeles Bureau of Weights and Measures (Sheldon must have been in Heaven). 

The scene ends with Sheldon giving penny a coupon for vagisil, which Penny then passes onto Howard after he gets emotional. Overall, there was certainly more for fans to get their teeth into in this episode with classic lines from Sheldon and plenty of Raj/Howard drama to laugh endlessly about. Poor Bernadette for having to put up with all of this. So, the next episode faces around a Scavenger hunt that Raj has organised, who's hoping to see Sheldon don some sort of intense Scavenger gear and take everything very seriously? 

Reviewed by Mel.