"The Roommate Transmogrification" is the Season 4 finale of The Big Bang Theory. It first aired on May 19, 2011. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Bill Prady, Eric Kaplan and Jim Reynolds, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro and Eddie Gorodetsky.
Grossed out by Leonard and Priya's naughty talk, Raj becomes Sheldon's new roommate, complete with a whole new Roommate Agreement, identification card, lapel pin and even power of attorney for life and death decisions should Raj become incapacitated.
Raj prepares an elaborate meal with wine for himself and Sheldon, which Penny also partakes of. Thanks to the wine, Penny and Raj have a very pleasant conversation.
Bernadette announces she has earned a doctorate degree. Howard is happy for her. However, Bernadette also gets a job at a big pharmaceutical company and gives Howard a very expensive watch as a gift. Howard is not so happy about this turn.
Priya (Aarti Mann) calls her parents (Alice Amter and Brian George) on a videoconference program, and tells Leonard to hide, because she still doesn't want her parents to know about Leonard.
On the call, Priya lets it slip that she's moving back to India in a month, much to Leonard's surprise. Leonard makes his presence known and confronts Priya about her planned move back to India, turning the call very unpleasant and tense for all concerned.
Penny wakes up naked next to Raj under a blanket in Leonard's bedroom at Apartment 4A. She wakes Raj up, and now the poor sober bastard finds himself unable to talk to Penny. Then Penny tries to make a discreet exit, but Howard, Leonard and Sheldon are all in the living room and see Penny and Raj not quite fully dressed.
Tropes
- Bedmate Reveal: As the episode ends, Penny wakes up to find Raj in bed with her.
- Crazy-Prepared: As he gives Raj a tour of the apartment, Sheldon reveals that he has indicated the path to the emergency exits with luminescent paint.Raj: You're kidding.
Sheldon: [turns off lights to reveal glowing arrows on the floor] I never kid about safety. - Hard on Soft Science: Amy, a neurobiologist, belittles Bernadette for studying microbiology.Amy: I'll make it simple for you. I study the brain, the organ responsible for Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Bernadette studies yeast, the organism responsible for Michelob Light.
- M.D. Envy: With Bernadette having earned her doctorate, Howard is now the only non-doctor in the group other than Penny. To rub it in, Penny notes it while serving them at the Cheesecake Factory.Penny: So that means you're a doctor, you're a doctor, you're a doctor, you're a doctor, and Howard... you know a lot of doctors!
- My Greatest Failure: While drinking with Raj, Penny admits she screwed up by breaking up with Leonard the previous season. She's been kicking herself for it ever since Leonard hooked up with Priya.
- Not What It Looks Like: Penny says this after she and Raj walk out in the living room obviously appearing to have had sex which each other. Sheldon, being Sheldon, takes this literally.Penny: It's not what it looks like.Sheldon: Well then, what does it look like?
- That Came Out Wrong: Raj says this after Sheldon compares Leonard to homo erectus:Raj: I'm the new homo in town! [Beat] That came out wrong.
- Walk of Shame: After waking up in bed next to Raj, Penny tries to leave as discreetly as possible, only to see Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard in the living room and now staring at her and Raj. She insists this isn't what it looks like before walking away as quickly as possible.
- Wrongfully Attributed: Raj says he is paraphrasing William Shakespeare when he says "It's better to have loved and lost than to stay home every night and download increasingly shameful pornography." The actual quote — "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" — is from Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Penny freaks over waking up in bed next to Raj. She insists she can't remember what even happened, prompting Raj to simply nod in agreement.Penny: Really? Still can't talk to me?
