# The Big Bang Theory, Season 12, Episode 1 (September 24, 2018) -- "The Conjugal Configuration"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [September 24, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840 "2018-09-24T16:15:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/21 "2018-09-26T23:07:22Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> I never thought Penny and Leonard belonged together, and the longer they’re a couple, the less sense it makes. But it’s just TV, right?
I don’t get this. Leonard cares about Penny, something none of the 200 guys she’s slept with managed. Penny is warm and affectionate, something Leonard gets from no one else in his life. They don’t have much in common, but it’s pretty clear why they’re together.
That said, my favorite couple is Howard and Bernadette, who play off each other well. They’ve got my vote for the spin-off attempt.
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/22 "2018-09-26T23:10:38Z")
> [@epbrown01](#):
>
> I don’t get this. Leonard cares about Penny, something none of the 200 guys she’s slept with managed. Penny is warm and affectionate, something Leonard gets from no one else in his life. They don’t have much in common, but it’s pretty clear why they’re together.
>
> That said, my favorite couple is Howard and Bernadette, who play off each other well. They’ve got my vote for the spin-off attempt.
Penny hasn’t been warm and affectionate for a couple of seasons at least. I wish she would go back to it.
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/23 "2018-09-27T02:31:35Z")
The most interesting pairing to see on screen is usually Penny and Sheldon. I think it’s because Penny pushes back against Sheldon’s demands in a way that none of other main characters have the energy to do, and Sheldon cares about Penny in a completely non-sexual way, which is something Penny doesn’t get very often from anyone. They’d be a terrible couple, of course, but when the show has the two of them interacting it’s usually terrific to watch
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/24 "2018-09-27T03:26:11Z")
Mayim Bialik often posts articles [on her website](https://groknation.com/) about significant episodes of the show, and she just [put up a video](https://youtu.be/GLOr-pjkzjM) about this episode being the first in its final season.
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/25 "2018-09-27T11:19:38Z")
I was able to watch online. Note that episode two is on tonight (Thursday, September 27)
Brian
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/26 "2018-09-27T11:54:23Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> The most interesting pairing to see on screen is usually Penny and Sheldon. I think it’s because Penny pushes back against Sheldon’s demands in a way that none of other main characters have the energy to do, and Sheldon cares about Penny in a completely non-sexual way, which is something Penny doesn’t get very often from anyone. They’d be a terrible couple, of course, but when the show has the two of them interacting it’s usually terrific to watch
I agree with this. If you could mash together siblings and long-time friends, you’d get Penny and Sheldon - something that neither shares with anyone else.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/27 "2018-09-27T13:37:00Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> The hot dog bit was mildly amusing, but very un-Sheldon. No way he would even think about buying or eating or buying for someone else to eat a NYC dirty-water dog.
I image Amy had said something about trying a dirty-water dog and Sheldon had acted in typical Sheldon fashion (and that would have made one great scene). His buying the hot dogs was a way of saying he was sorry, and an opening gambit. Who is not going to talk to a man holding two hot dogs?
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### Author:  [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/28 "2018-09-27T14:31:24Z")
> [@TruCelt](#):
>
> Penny hasn’t been warm and affectionate for a couple of seasons at least. I wish she would go back to it.
True, but also somewhat understandable - Penny hates her job and has said so, and no one in her life seems to give a damn.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/29 "2018-09-27T16:12:31Z")
Really now the only women who seems nurturing and caring in the whole show are Amy and also Sheldon’s mom. Bernadette seems to be bipolar sweet and bitchy, Penny seems to have a short fuse with Leonard, Leonard’s mom is a coldhearted bitch, Amy’s mom is a total shrew. Not that the men are much better.
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### Author:  [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/30 "2018-09-27T18:51:01Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> I agree with this. If you could mash together siblings and long-time friends, you’d get Penny and Sheldon - something that neither shares with anyone else.
Oh yes, the two of them together are always entertaining.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2018, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-12-episode-1-september-24-2018-the-conjugal-configuration/821840/31 "2018-09-28T07:48:14Z")
> [@Quimby](#):
>
> Raj is an unwatchable character. He’s not funny, just unpleasant.
The best part of the final season is that we won’t have to watch Raj anymore.
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