The Commitment Determination Season 8, Episode 24 -  Aired May 7, 2015

The Commitment Determination

After Sheldon upsets Amy on their fifth anniversary date night, Sheldon and Amy both think about the state of their relationship. Meanwhile, Sheldon's relationship reflection pushes Leonard and Penny to reexamine their engagement. Raj rethinks his relationship with Emily, while Howard and Bernadette try to make a change to their homelife.

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Guest Stars: Kevin Sussman as Stuart, Laura Spencer as Emily

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Jim Reynolds (Story), Maria Ferrari (Story), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Steve Holland (Teleplay), Eric Kaplan (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 14.64 million Households Rating: 9.8/17 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.7/14

Available on iTunes

Episode Lists

  • Sheldon & Amy: Key Episodes Sheldon & Amy: Key Episodes

    The key moments in Sheldon & Amy's relationship including Howard & Raj setting them up, the signing of the relationship agreement, the first time they said "I love you", them breaking up and subsequently getting back together, the proposal, the wedding and winning the Nobel Prize together.

  • Leonard & Penny: Key Episodes Leonard & Penny: Key Episodes

    The key moments in Leonard and Penny's relationship including the first time they saw each other across the hall, their first kiss, their first date, breaking up and getting back together, the first time Penny says "I love you", a couple of proposals, their engagement, two wedding ceremonies, and finally Penny getting pregnant.

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to the relationship decisions made by Leonard and Penny, Sheldon and Amy in their respective relationships.
  • This episode calls back to the Season 6/Season 7 plot where Leonard left for a North Sea expedition.

Episode Quotes

Leonard: What am I supposed to do?
Penny: Err, keep your mouth off other women.

Penny: Wait, what is wrong with you two? He was talking about television during their date night.
Sheldon: Oh, not just date night. Our 5th anniversary.
Penny: Okay, see, that's even dumber than you wondering if being bitten by a goat would give you the powers of a goat.
Sheldon: If that happens, don't make me wait ten years to watch you eat a tin can.

Sheldon: Amy's mad at me, and I'm not clear why.
Penny: Okay, were you talking before she got upset?
Sheldon: Yes.
Penny: That's probably it.

Penny: Hey, I don't think she's wrong about you going too slow in the relationship.
Sheldon: Too slow?
Penny: Yeah, you've been going out for years. You haven't even slept together.
Sheldon: That's right. It's called foreplay.

Sheldon: But I have been getting better with sarcasm, if you want to give that a try.
Amy: *sarcastic* Oh, sure, I'd love to.
Sheldon: Whenever you're ready.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
CBS Announces Eighth Season Finale May 4, 2015

CBS has put out the press release for the eighth season finale of The Big Bang Theory, "The Commitment Determination", which airs this Thursday, May 7.  Full story

Recap

On their date night, Sheldon and Amy kiss on the couch in the apartment. Sheldon breaks off from kissing to ask Amy for her opinion on whether he should start watching The Flash TV series. Amy is upset that Sheldon is thinking about something so trivial when they're supposed to be spending some romantic time together on the fifth anniversary of their first meeting each other.

As Raj and Emily shop at Stuart's comic book store, Stuart prods them to hurry up as he wants to get home to Howard and Bernadette's where she's cooking meatloaf for dinner. When Emily finds a creepy decorative skull in the store, Raj is a little freaked out by her tastes but decides to buy it for her anyway.

When Leonard and Penny return home to the apartment, Sheldon asks them for their opinion why Amy's upset with him. Penny tries to explain to Sheldon why Amy is right to be angry with him, but he doesn't see it. Meanwhile, Raj joins Howard and Bernadette as they prepare dinner. Raj is creeped out by Emily's desire to have sex in a graveyard, so he's considering breaking up with her. Howard and Bernadette don't think Raj will break with up somebody who's sleeping with him.

As Sheldon, Penny and Leonard eat dinner in the apartment, Sheldon is still stirring about Amy, who hasn't spoken to him for twenty-four hours. Penny thinks Amy is right to feel upset that her and Sheldon's relationship is moving too slowly, but Sheldon doesn't see it that way. Sheldon points out that Leonard and Penny still haven't set a date for their wedding, angering Leonard and Penny who don't appreciate their relationship being put under the microscope Elsewhere, Bernadette is angry that her yogurt has been eaten by Stuart. Bernadette and Howard decide it's time to tell Stuart to move out of their house.

While Leonard and Penny wash up after dinner, Leonard wonders why they still haven't set a date for their wedding. Later, Sheldon apologizes to Leonard and Penny for causing trouble, though they realize it was helpful for them to think about their relationship. Penny points out they're free tonight and Vegas isn't so far away, so they decide to go and get married there and then. Meanwhile, Raj and Emily are at a graveyard, where Raj struggles to feel comfortable. Elsewhere, as Stuart pulls up at Howard and Bernadette's house, Howard tries to leave Bernadette with the job of telling Stuart to move out. Bernadette tells Stuart they need to talk, while Raj says the same to Emily.

As Bernadette and Howard try to tell Stuart to move out, he praises them as superheroes for putting up with him in their house. Stuart then receives a call from his father to wish him a happy birthday. In the end, Howard and Bernadette end up giving Stuart cake and singing Happy Birthday to him. Meanwhile, after Raj tells Emily that he thinks they're both very different, Emily asks him whether he's trying to break up with her. After Raj denies this, Emily says if he wants to break up with her, he'll have to do it himself. Raj tells Emily he was trying to tell her he loves her.

As they drive to Vegas, Leonard and Penny are excited at the prospect of finally getting married. After Penny says they're getting married with no regrets, Leonard feels the need to tell Penny about a kiss between him and another woman during his North Sea expedition. Penny feels Leonard is only telling her about this to sabotage their night, but Leonard says he only did it to be truly honest. Penny thinks she can look past Leonard's indiscretion and they should still get married.

Back at the apartment, Amy video calls Sheldon. As Sheldon begins to tell Amy he's been thinking about their relationship, she interrupts Sheldon to tell him she needs a break from their relationship. Sheldon is shocked, but tells her he understands. After the call ends, Sheldon turns to the Gollum figure on his desk and asks him what to do about an engagement ring.