Big Bang Theory Recap: Live Updates of “The Hot Tub Contamination”

The episode opens with Penny and Leonard watching Daredevil (Penny thinks it’s Mr. Robot) when Amy and Sheldon storm in to argue over Sheldon’s bathroom schedule. When Penny says they need to compromise, Sheldon replies with a quip that Penny would know about compromise, having married Leonard. Leonard retorts that Penny didn’t compromise, she settled!

After the commercial break, Raj and Howard are at the comic book store, talking about Howard’s upcoming vacation. Apparently, Bernadette wants to spend more time with Howard before the baby comes. When Stuart asks why Howard’s at the store instead of with his wife, Howard then says that Raj also wants to spend more time with Howard before the baby comes.

Amy offers to compromise with Sheldon, but he then says they should see other people instead. As they argue, Leonard reminds Penny that if Sheldon and Amy break up, Sheldon will move back in with them. Penny says they just need to keep them apart for a while and see if that cools things down.

Unfortunately, Bernadette has a bad case of morning sickness, so Howard offers that they have a secret “staycation” instead. Bernadette thinks that would be fun, so Howard immediately tries to put the moves on her instead.

Penny drives Sheldon around to cool him off, but Sheldon only manages to agitate Penny’s relationship with Leonard instead. It seems that Sheldon is the “Penny” in their relationship.

Howard gives Bernadette a foot rub, when they hear someone come inside the door. At first, they think it’s a burglar, but when the hot tub comes on, they look outside and realize it’s Stuart.

Leonard gives Amy a pep talk about living with Sheldon, and reminds her that she’s never had a roommate before. He promises that there’s a learning curve involved, but it gets better.

Howard and Bernadette continue to watch Stuart relax in their hot tub when the porch lights suddenly turn on. Raj walks out onto the porch with a bottle of champagne and finds an empty hot tub. He climbs in, but freaks out when Stuart suddenly emerges from the pool, having run out of breath while trying to hide. Raj screams at Stuart about what he’s doing there, and Stuart quickly admits that he uses Howard and Bernadette’s hot tub when they’re not home.

Penny agrees to take Sheldon for ice cream, and Sheldon doubles down on saying he wants to meet other people.

Stuart and Raj have a nice heart to heart about Stuart’s crippling loneliness and Raj’s dating life. We learn that Raj is now 100% single, having lost both his girlfriends at some point between seasons.

In order to discourage Amy from caving in to Sheldon’s request, Leonard reminds her of all the progress she’s made with Sheldon. He then admits that he’s changed the locks on the apartment, so Sheldon can’t come back to live with him.

At the ice cream parlor, Sheldon admits that he doesn’t want to hit on other women. He then tells Penny about the time he walked in on his father having an affair with another woman. (That’s why he knocks on doors three times.) Sheldon says his bickering with Amy reminds him of his parents, and that he’s just trying to prepare Amy for inevitably disappointment. Penny says he should focus on fixing the hurt in the present.

When Stuart admits to Raj that he’s actually naked in the hot tub, Howard blows his cover and starts yelling at the two to get their own hot tub.

Sheldon and Penny return to the apartment, and Sheldon quickly apologizes to Amy for his behavior. He also offers to forego the bathroom schedule, and says he never wanted to meet other women. Sheldon then says he wants to take their relationship to the next level: sharing a toothbrush holder.