BBT - Three Years Removed

[dzjc]

Hi Everyone!

New to the forum but a huge fan of BBT since the beginning!  I've recently binge-watched all the episodes again, and I have some new observations:

- IMHO, the character of Sheldon hasn't aged well.  Yes, he's "quirky" and has some uniqueness that is endearing at times,  However, three-plus years removed from the original episode, I find his narcissistic attitude a definite turn-off nowadays.  I think the writers pushed the character to be more of an "ass" in the last few seasons, and thus became (as designed), more insufferable.  I think they tried to reconcile that in the very last episode when they were all at the hotel before his acceptance of the Nobel Prize.

- I know this is going to be unpopular, but I find that Raj's character (over time) really didn't add much to the show.  His faux homosexuality and extreme insecurities didn't add much to any of the story-lines.  In fact, I would argue that Stuart and Kripky (sp?) could have had bigger roles and made the show more interesting.

- Like Raj, I feel Amy's character didn't add much either.  Her character had the potential of being something much bigger if she would have been Sheldon's foe in trying to make him a better person.  Instead, *most* of the time, she caved to Sheldon's whims.

- Penny is (IMHO), the true star of the show.  Kaley's acting ability is truly much better than the rest of the cast, and she evolved the character in a very natural fashion over the seasons.  I thought her and Sheldon's interaction and rapport were excellent.

- I would have liked to see Bernadette and Howard's characters expanded beyond the one-off jokes most of the time.  Seems like she was always playing the straight person for Howard.

Dale

[Mario D.]

1 hour ago, dzjc said:

Hi Everyone!

New to the forum but a huge fan of BBT since the beginning!  I've recently binge-watched all the episodes again, and I have some new observations:

- IMHO, the character of Sheldon hasn't aged well.  Yes, he's "quirky" and has some uniqueness that is endearing at times,  However, three-plus years removed from the original episode, I find his narcissistic attitude a definite turn-off nowadays.  I think the writers pushed the character to be more of an "ass" in the last few seasons, and thus became (as designed), more insufferable.  I think they tried to reconcile that in the very last episode when they were all at the hotel before his acceptance of the Nobel Prize.

- I know this is going to be unpopular, but I find that Raj's character (over time) really didn't add much to the show.  His faux homosexuality and extreme insecurities didn't add much to any of the story-lines.  In fact, I would argue that Stuart and Kripky (sp?) could have had bigger roles and made the show more interesting.

- Like Raj, I feel Amy's character didn't add much either.  Her character had the potential of being something much bigger if she would have been Sheldon's foe in trying to make him a better person.  Instead, *most* of the time, she caved to Sheldon's whims.

- Penny is (IMHO), the true star of the show.  Kaley's acting ability is truly much better than the rest of the cast, and she evolved the character in a very natural fashion over the seasons.  I thought her and Sheldon's interaction and rapport were excellent.

- I would have liked to see Bernadette and Howard's characters expanded beyond the one-off jokes most of the time.  Seems like she was always playing the straight person for Howard.

Dale

A very interesting view of the characters. However, you omitted Leonard a main character on the show.

Agree with you on Sheldon. He was obnoxious, arrogant, insulting and condescending to almost everyone. And it is true that the writers tried to reconcile his character by making him feel grateful to his friends in his Nobel speech. But I don't know if that makes up for the 12 years his "friends" had to endure him.

I also agree with the way you describe Raj. I kind of felt, especially at the end, his character did not have any growth like the other characters and essentially making his role unnecessary.

Penny was really the catalyst in the beginning for the plotlines and also to draw in male viewers with her beauty and wardrobe. But in the end I think her character grew the most. From a simple country girl aspiring to be an actress to a highly successful pharmaceutical sales rep and mother-to-be. Her marriage to Leonard was a key factor in their storyline

I was sorry to see the show end when it did as I thought as many others did that there were still stories to tell.  Glad you enjoyed your binge watching of TBBT

[dzjc]

Good point about Leonard.  I didn't mean to leave him out.  I thought the writers were most inconsistent with Leonard.  On some episodes he definitely played Sheldon's foe very well, but the next episode might seem him being intimidated by Sheldon.

[Mario D.]

1 hour ago, dzjc said:

Good point about Leonard.  I didn't mean to leave him out.  I thought the writers were most inconsistent with Leonard.  On some episodes he definitely played Sheldon's foe very well, but the next episode might seem him being intimidated by Sheldon.

Agreed  Think the writers made him grow from a very nerdy wimp to a moderate wimp after he got married to Penny. Yes the writers were very inconsistant in how they portrayed Leonard from episode to episode.

[chucky]

1 hour ago, Mario D. said:

Agreed  Think the writers made him grow from a very nerdy wimp to a moderate wimp after he got married to Penny. Yes the writers were very inconsistant in how they portrayed Leonard from episode to episode.

Ain't that the truth.