The Hofstadter Insufficiency

"The Hofstadter Insufficiency" is the first episode of the seventh season of The Big Bang Theory and the 136th episode in total. It aired on September 26, 2013 on CBS.^[1]

Plot

Sheldon calls Leonard on his ship in the North Sea about a major emergency situation concerning their DVDs. Suddenly, Leonard is grabbed by a sea monster and taken away. Sheldon wakes up screaming and realizes it was just a dream. He runs over to Penny's apartment, distraught by the content of the dream; she agrees to let him sleep in her apartment and he takes her bed. Another day, Raj, Sheldon and Howard are in the cafeteria. Raj is heartbroken about losing his relationship with Lucy and is seeing Lucy everywhere, including in grease stains and in his chicken pot pie. Howard suggests a strategy to Raj in order to 'move on' that he attend the work social to meet women.

Later, while Penny is missing Leonard, she is not interested in the 3-D chess game that Sheldon has set up in his apartment. Penny calls Leonard, who is partying on his boat and not available to talk. Penny is upset, so Sheldon makes her a hot beverage to go. Penny loiters and they agree to share a 'vulnerable' secret each. Penny shares that she has made a topless horror movie scene that is unreleased. Sheldon chides her that it is available on the Internet; Howard had found it shortly after she moved in. Sheldon shares his secret (he does not like the new YouTube rating system). Penny feels duped as while her secrets makes her feel vulnerable, Sheldon's secret is the opposite. This hurts Sheldon's feelings, as she does not see the vulnerability of his secret. Penny apologizes and they share a rare hug.

Raj accepts Howard's earlier suggestion and they both attend a work social. Raj is not engaged and decides to leave, as he is departing he engages with Janine Davis. The conversation is awkward, but reveals common themes in their respective romantic relationships. Raj reassesses his perspective and tries to end the interaction amiably. Raj thinks that they had a moment together, but Howard disagrees.

Amy and Bernadette are lounging in the hotel bar. Amy gets excited that guys tried to pick them up without Penny being present. Bernadette brushes the guys off as they were spoken for. Later, Bernadette comments to Amy that no one would blame her to have accepted the invitation, since her boyfriend is "kind of Sheldon." Amy is offended and retaliates by saying Bernadette's husband "is extremely Howard." At bedtime, neither is talking to another. They try to engage by talking about how great it was to be found attractive. Amy was attracted to the short guy with the weird haircut, while Bernadette liked the tall inexperienced one. When it dawns on them that they felt attracted to traits of each other's respective guys, they quickly said goodnight.

At the end of the episode, Leonard boasts to his colleagues as they watch Penny's topless horror movie scene.

Reception

Ratings

"The Hofstadter Insufficiency" written by Jay Murray originally aired on CBS on September 26, 2013. The episode was watched by 18.99 million viewers in the U.S. and received a Nielsen rating of 5.5/18 among adults between 18 and 49.^[2] In addition, 5.15 million viewers watched on DVR, giving the episode a total of 24.16 million viewers.^[3] It was top in its time slot, ahead of FOX's The X Factor, NBC's Parks and Recreation, ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and The CW's The Vampire Diaries. The Big Bang Theory was also the highest-rated show of the night.

In Canada, the episode also aired on September 26, 2013. It received a weekly ranking of 2, as it was watched by 4.31 million viewers.^[4]

The episode aired on October 31, 2013 in the UK and was watched by 2.32 million viewers on E4 (according to BARB), making it the top watched program on E4 that week. It was watched by 0.41 million viewers on E4 +1, so it was watched by a total of 2.73 million people.^[5]

Critical reviews

Oliver Sara from The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+.^[6]

Jesse Schedeen from IGN gave the episode an 8/10 and called this episode a "solid look at life without Leonard". Schedeen praised the episode for "the characters divided into some fun, nontraditional pairs" and "moments of growth for Raj, Sheldon, and Penny". However, he also said there were "too many shades of early season 6 right now" and wondering if the series still needs Leonard.^[7]

References

External links