The Big Bang Theory S7E3 - "The Scavenger Vortex" Recap

Raj is upset that no one came to his murder mystery dinner. They apologise and he says that he will create a scavenger hunt, which the group is more keen on doing than a murder mystery.

At the scavenger hunt, Raj says he has hid a gold coin somewhere and that there are ten puzzles, with one leading to the next. Raj tells them to divide up into teams of two and Bernadette suggests that they do couples. Leonard says that they could mix things up by picking names out of a hat. Penny is offended by the implication that she will be a hindrance to him. The teams end up as Sheldon and Penny, Howard and Amy, and Leonard and Bernadette.

The game begins with a puzzle - literally, a puzzle. Sheldon is annoyed by Penny just putting random fitting pieces together instead of starting with the edge pieces. Amy apologises to Howard for his not being paired up with Bernadette and he compares her competitive nature to going into a steel cage with a wolverine. Amy tells Sheldon that it's the comic book store when they haven't finished the puzzle yet. She wants to get going but he insists on finishing the puzzle, putting them in last place when they could have been first.

Bernadette is annoyed with Leonard for driving too slow and Leonard is concerned that Penny may be mad at him. Amy and Howard are in the car and she notes that this is the first time that they have been alone together. They realise they don't have much in common with each other and Howard tells her to pick out some music to play in the car ride over. They realise they have a shared love for Neil Diamond and begin singing along to "Sweet Caroline."

At the comic book store, the teams get a riddle from a cardboard cutout of the Riddler. Penny and Sheldon are the last to arrive but the first to leave as Sheldon quickly figures out the riddle. Howard and Bernadette leave next, heading back to the "Neilmobile." Penny and Sheldon arrive at the geology lab and are tasked with "leaving no stone unturned" to find the next clue. Sheldon explains how he solved the riddle as they begin turning over various rocks. Penny then realises that the clue is under a Rolling Stones poster. It shows map coordinates and Sheldon knows where to go simply by looking at it.

Penny and Sheldon arrive at a bowling alley, much to Sheldon's delight since he has been carrying a bowling ball around in his backpack (just in case). "My brain is better than everybody's!" The game continues on with Penny and Sheldon working incredibly well together, Bernadette maintaining her angry competitive state, and Howard and Amy gleefully deciding to go to a Neil Diamond concert together the following month.

The final clue sends Bernadette, Penny, and Leonard charging back to Sheldon's spot. Raj then steps out and tells them to check their pockets. Each of them has a gold coin in their pocket and that they're all winners when having fun together. The three of them are furious at him that there is no proper winner and he is forced to run out of the apartment.

The episode ends with Amy and Howard having given up the scavenger hunt, opting instead to go to a karaoke bar and sing Neil Diamond songs.

The Big Bang Theory airs on Thursdays on CBS at 8PM.