Handlung

Leonard's purchase of a dining room table causes Sheldon to reevaluate the changes in his life. Meanwhile, Howard is offered a chance to go back to space and Bernadette struggles with whether or not to encourage him.

Penny sitting on the floor during dinner makes everyone in the gang think that Leonard and Sheldon should invest in a dining room table, that is except for Sheldon, despite they having unused space for one and only because it is change which Sheldon does not like. Despite Sheldon being against getting one, Leonard, on Penny's urging to stand up for his rights, decides to buy one anyway, although he does keep in the back of his mind what he thinks Sheldon would or would not like, if he was to like anything. The resulting dining room table in the apartment ends up being a metaphor for Sheldon's current life. Meanwhile, Howard gets a call from NASA asking him to go back to the Space Station, about which he is thrilled. Bernadette is less than excited by the news, if only because of her remembrance of how miserable Howard was during his last space experience. Will the thought of the thrill of space travel trump Howard's memory?—Huggo

The gang is having take-out food for dinner and making fun of how Raj say the word "mustache". (moo-stache) Penny enters the apartment after an audition making everyone groan. Penny gets angry that they didn't ask her how it went. Raj offers her his seat so she doesn't have to sit on the floor. Penny declines and sits down. Bernadette asks if they ever thought of getting a dining room table so they can all eat together. Amy notes that they could put it by the window.

Later, Leonard invites Sheldon to join Penny and him table shopping. Sheldon is too busy falling back in love with Windows 98. He has several thousand updates for his old operating system. They haven't used the junk by the window for years. Sheldon tells him that do they want to argue over this table issue since they have never argued over anything else. Leonard looks at him like he is crazy and leaves.

At Howard and Bernadette's place, Howard is showing Raj his new universal remote that is in the shape of a magic wand. Bernadette didn't think that it was cool when he tried to "mute" her. NASA calls and wants Howard to return to the International Space Station to repair the telescope he installed. Raj is going to miss Howard and is willing to watch Bernadette while he gone. And if he fails to return, they'll name their first son after him or Dileep after his grandfather.

Penny and Leonard are looking at tables at a furniture store. Penny likes a table made of reclaimed wood which would not appeal to Sheldon since he is worried that the original owners might reclaim it. Sheldon chooses what TV shows they watch, what food they eat, what is Leonard's favorite hobbit. Leonard agrees and chooses a glass topped dining room table which Penny doesn't like.

When Bernadette comes home, Howard explains NASA's offer, while Bernadette is surprised that based on his experience she didn't think that he would ever want to go back. While Howard seems to be in denial, Bernie remembers a lot of complaining and Howard wanting it to be over.

After the new dining room table is set up where everyone can sit around it and it has a great view out the window. Sheldon's spot has a great view outside a window. Sheldon sits at it for a fraction of a second and still doesn't like it. Also it hasn't been approved by the furnishing committee specified by the roommate agreement which unfortunately only meets every two years. Sheldon then exclaims that the problem is how Penny has changed Leonard and that Sheldon can no longer manipulate him. Penny proves that Amy has changed Sheldon. Sheldon realizes that Amy has changed his personality so he has to break up with her. After Sheldon leaves, Penny calls Amy. After Amy learns that Leonard bought the table, she jumps to the conclusion that Sheldon is on the way over to break up with her.

Sheldon shows up at Amy's Apartment to break up with her by signing a portion of their relationship agreement. He doesn't want her to cry all over his iPad. Amy agrees with Sheldon and has already moved on. Amy says their breakup is not about them, it is about Leonard taking Sheldon's attention about that awful table. Leonard is manipulating him like he always does. Then Sheldon wonders if Amy was manipulating him however Amy says that he is smart enough to see that. Finally he agrees with her as she has a little smile that Sheldon can't see.

Bernadette and Raj are having tea together. Bernie wants to know why Howard wants to go back up since he hated the entire experience. Raj agrees that he has forgotten all the miserable parts. Bernie asks Raj to talk to him and then wonders if she is a terrible wife. Raj thinks that he is the cool one and she is the buzz kill.

Amy and Sheldon return to apartment 4A with Sheldon saying that Leonard's attempt to break them up didn't work. Sheldon repeats everything that Amy says including that their relationship is stronger than ever. Leonard retorts that Sheldon's favorite spot is on a couch that Leonard bought. He wants to know how that change is good while the table change is not. Sheldon is speechless until Amy says that he doesn't have to explain himself. Amy then says that he is tired of Leonard's nonsense and ready to move in with Amy. Sheldon then tells Leonard to just keep the table which Amy feels that she got too cocky, going to move in together.

At Howard's he comes home and finds Raj, Bernadette, his father-in-law Mike and astronaut Mike Massimino via web chat there performing an intervention on his decision to return to space. They all love him, though Mike has to be prodded to agree. Mike calls him Froot Loops and tells him that he has the "wrong stuff". The experience was traumatic and he was miserable the entire time. He had asked Mike to shoot him in the foot. Howard is insulted that they don't think he can handle it, until Massimino reminded him that he had to go through survival training again. Next Howard is having his blood pressure checked and it is fine. He pleads with the doctor to get him a reading that will have him rejected. Then, he calls his mother and his blood pressure sky rockets.

Finally, they are all having dinner at the new table except for Amy and Sheldon, who are in their old spots. Howard is lamenting failing his blood pressure tests, but rejects any suggestions where he could get it back down so he could go. Sheldon tells them to eat up there if they want to; however, it makes him sad that things have changed. Bernadette feels sorry for them since they are sitting in two groups. The time to stand up to Sheldon is over as they return to the living room. Raj doesn't want to return since he sits on the floor, but gives in. Sheldon says how nice it was now and that sometimes the baby wins.

Title reference: The polarizing reactions of Leonard and Sheldon to the idea of getting a dining room table.