Ship Zone The Shamy Thread! (Season 6 Edition-Spoilers)

[rachelshamyfan]

I wonder about the comment he made about Amy worshipping him and the look he gave her after she stared at him and didn't say anything, was he expecting a reaction?

Edited June 27, 2013 by rachelshamyfan

[koops]

I do not only think Sheldon has the tools, I think he is working on it already. He did say so himself! I actually wouldn't be surprised if it turned out he has his own 4-year plan, 10-year plan, 20-year plan or whatever. The way he says "it's only been three years" like he has all the time in the world, says a lot, IMO. He isn't saying "What more can I give you?" it's "What do you mean faster than this?". The thing is that I don't think it's ever going to be one big moment of epiphany where he has to make a choice or a massive decision, because that's not the way he operates. It's more of a baby step, baby step, baby step, prod, change, baby step, baby step... and so on kind of process with him. And I think that's also why Amy is perfect for him, because she's patient enough. Anyone else would have gone nuts at this pace by this stage.

 

The problem is, like we said before, it can't always and only be his pace that things move at. 

[Misophonia]

Koops is just oozing brilliance today. Oh my Cod. 

 

Oh My Cod. Why does that phrase never cease being funny?

[Misophonia]

...... Why can't the sizing make sense?

 

A question men have been trying to figure out for years.

[phantagrae]

I'm loving all the Sheldon/Amy/Shamy analysis this morning! (last night, whatever)

 

I do agree that Sheldon isn't some damaged wounded animal so much as he's just sort of controlled and repressed.  Because he's constantly referring to feelings as "hippy dippy" things, he sees emotional responses as something wild and uncontrolled and therefore less reliable than reasoned intellectual responses.

Unfortunately for him, he's got a depth of emotion underneath his Spock-like exterior.  And I do think that it comes out in his dreams and when he's drunk and leaks out around the edges of his control, like when he can't bring himself to admit how much he needs Leonard's companionship ("oh good, you picked me, you picked me")

 

And I think that one issue of his approach with relationships, either with his friends in general, his work colleagues or even Leonard and Amy, to some extent, is that he seems to be the kind of person who recharges his batteries by being alone.  He prefers to be alone and seems to guard against social gatherings, even with his closest circle.

 

I've read that there are essentially two ways that people recharge--some, like Penny or Howard, and maybe Raj, prefer to go out and party or socialize to rev themselves up again, while others, like Sheldon and probably even Leonard, need alone time or down time to reset their mental/emotional energy.

That is how The 43 Peculiarity struck me--for Sheldon, interacting with his colleagues and even with his friends, and probably moreso now that he has a girlfriend to deal with, is draining and exhausting and distracting.  Having that alone time, whether he's playing hackysack or doing something else mundane, allows him to recharge his batteries.

 

But I think that one thing he has learned, or is still learning, through his association with Leonard, who is so willing to accomodate others, is that he can incorporate new people and new things into his life without his controlled world falling apart, and the greatest of these incorporations is his relationship with Amy, because it is so different from anything else he's allowed.  He can deal with Penny because she's still a slightly less direct relationship as her primary attachment is to Leonard.

But with Amy, she is directly attached to him and it's a different kind of relationship than he has dealt with, where he has had to learn to look beyond himself more and more, to allow for her feelings and needs.  It's certainly a lesson he is still learning, never having been anyone's boyfriend before.  It's like a completely new suit of clothes and it seems like every now and then he wants to take it off so that he can go back to the way he was before and be completely self-centered.

 

Maybe a lot of men are like that...

 

Anyway, I don't have much else to contribute just now.

[koops]

I'm loving all the Sheldon/Amy/Shamy analysis this morning! (last night, whatever)

 

But I think that one thing he has learned, or is still learning, through his association with Leonard, who is so willing to accomodate others, is that he can incorporate new people and new things into his life without his controlled world falling apart, and the greatest of these incorporations is his relationship with Amy, because it is so different from anything else he's allowed.  He can deal with Penny because she's still a slightly less direct relationship as her primary attachment is to Leonard.

 

Love this part. Kind of related to that, I love the little touch the writers put in with the difference from when he explains "his spot" to Penny in the pilot ("at a certain angle so as not to discourage conversation") and when he explains his spot to Leonard in the flashback episode ("without being subjected to conversation"). That was a great way of showing how Sheldon has been growing ever since meeting Leonard and how having someone like Leonard around, who is so patient and kind and nurturing has allowed him to develop sides of himself he never had a chance to because everyone probably just got fed up with him and left him to his own devices.

 

Which is just sending me into a spiral of Leonard feels right now, because everyone should have a Leonard in their lives. That man has such a big heart.

Edited June 27, 2013 by koops

[phantagrae]

Love this part. Kind of related to that, I love the little touch the writers put in with the difference from when he explains "his spot" to Penny in the pilot ("at a certain angle so as not to discourage conversation") and when he explains his spot to Leonard in the flashback episode ("without being subjected to conversation"). That was a great way of showing how Sheldon has been growing ever since meeting Leonard and how having someone like Leonard around, who is so patient and kind and nurturing has allowed him to develop sides of himself he never had a chance to because everyone probably just got fed up with him and left him to his own devices.

 

Which is just sending me into a spiral of Leonard feels right now, because everyone should have a Leonard in their lives. That man has such a big heart.

 

I agree.  I think people tend to underestimate the strength that Leonard has.  So many people think he's some kind of pushover because of how he lets Sheldon set the rules or how he seems to follow after Penny, but in reality, he's the strongest of them all, I think.

 

Maybe Leonard didn't know exactly what he was getting into when he first met Sheldon, but he has been able to put up with Sheldon without killing him or moving out the way Sheldon's previous roommate did.  He's been able to see past all the bravado and condescension and arrogance to see the human being underneath, which has allowed Sheldon a safe place to be himself, even if he's annoying.  But Leonard allows Sheldon his rituals and his bathroom schedules and helps him out, but he also seems to really be Sheldon's friend.

 

And with Penny, Leonard has often refrained from pressing his advantage when she's been vulnerable, even if he wants to kick himself for it afterward.  It kind of reminds me of one point in the story of Cyrano de Bergerac, where he's been helping the beautiful young Christian woo Cyrano's own beloved Roxanne.  Roxanne, of course, falls in love with Christian, thinking that Christian has been the one coming up with the beautiful words that have melted her heart.  But when Christian is killed in battle, Cyrano does not take advantage of the moment and never reveals to Roxanne that he was the one responsible for the love letters she had received while the two men were off to war.

Sorry to go down that bunny trail, but in the same way, Leonard doesn't tell Penny when Kurt suddenly repays Penny the money he owes her.  Leonard lets her think that Kurt came to the idea on his own and doesn't try to take credit for urging Kurt to pay up.  Similarly, at that Halloween party, when Penny comes over to Leonard's apartment very drunk and kind of upset about Kurt and all that stuff, Leonard could have taken advantage of her drunken advances and probably could have gotten as far as having sex with her, but he stopped her after that first kiss and asked her how much she'd had to drink.

Someone like Howard or Raj probably wouldn't have even thought to stop her.

 

Leonard is the one who befriended Howard and Raj and he is, as Amy pointed out, the center of their social circle.  He's like everyone's big brother, except Penny.  And I'm glad that they're happy together at this point because I think that Leonard has worked hard to get to this point, waiting for Penny to finally feel safe enough to admit she loves him.  Even when he was dating other women, he wasn't doing it to get back at Penny nor to rub her face in it, but simply trying to find a satisfying relationship somewhere.

 

I think Leonard is stronger than all of them.

[CaitAmber]

A question men have been trying to figure out for years.

 

I just guffawed, thankfully no one asked why. 

[Guest DroneInTheSun]

I love Leonard. Everyone should love Leonard. I don't understand why people hate Leonard. 

They call him a needy baby greedy baby, they say he's insecure and jealous, and I'm wondering if we're 1) watching the same show because Leonard is hands down the less needy of the four guys, and 2) in what universe is being insecure something so bad it warrants being hated on? (cf. my life-long battle against people who hate Ron Weasley)

Leonard is awesome. He's able to put up with everyone's crazy (because even if Sheldon is often singled out as the crazy one, Raj and Howard have a lot of problems of their own too) and in spite of everything he went through, especially in his childhood, he's still able to see the good in everyone. A lot of people having been raised the way he has would have come out of there much more damaged and much bitter about the world and everyone in it, but Leonard didn't. He's had to deal with an emotionless mother most of his life and the moment he moves out and can finally escape that, he runs into Sheldon. And you know, I wouldn't have judged him for running in the opposite direction - I know I would have - but Leonard didn't. And maybe he feels like he owes Sheldon for saving his life, but gratitude can only last so long. Leonard decided to first try and then stay because in spite of everything he sees the good in everyone.

He's probably the character I see getting the most hate out of the original five, and it's just unbelievable because Leonard is a saint for putting up with everything he puts up with and still not murdering anyone (not just Sheldon - his other friends and his girlfriend too)

[rachelshamyfan]

I think he used to be needy with penny but that changed in the Valentine's ep when he called her out on her behaviour, it can't help having Beverley as a mother though!

[Lionne]

Okay, it took me an embarrassing long time to figure out that the Loops OTP = Lionne+Koops = Loops, but now I'm all, "aw blushes" about it with happiness. Like we have figured out before, I'm the Leonard to her Sheldon. So I have to say that all of the outpouring of warmth towards Leonard makes me feel even happier, especially because if I had to name my best quality it would be that I, too, have a big heart. So yay for Loops, and yay for being Leonard. I guess that also makes me Ernie, and Koops is Bert! I'm going to go wash my yogurt cups and buy her some bird seed to feed Lovey Dovey and the other pigeons, 'cause I'm a good little buddy like that. Maybe I will also make her a hot beverage and take her to the comic book store later to buy Sheldon and Amy dolls.

 

As for the "ILY," I also want to hear Sheldon say it first. I like the idea of Amy being shy saying it, and frankly I think that the evidence already weighs that out. We know Amy has a 4 year plan towards marriage, and that she's been incredibly patient with Sheldon. I think she knows how she feels about him, and I think she actually DID come close to an "ILY" this season - her "because you're pretty great" while they were having salad together was unusually shy and even hesitant for Amy. It was the first time I think I've heard her just compliment him on a broad spectrum, rather than focusing on complimenting just his intellect, a complement that he would also take for granted as his due, and even the way she's remarked on it has been more of a "fact" than matter of adoring opinion. It kinda hit me in an emotion place the way Amy so shyly said, "because you're pretty great," (it even sounded like there was a question mark on the end of the sentence) because she seemed vulnerable when she said it, but obviously felt something tender and sweet enough in that moment where she wanted to share it. But I feel like that was one of Amy's first "consciously" flirtacious, complimentary moments with Sheldon, where she was saying something from the heart and putting a little on the line with him, and for once she came off as timid, and sweetly shy, rather than blunt, factual and straight-forward. So my guess is that it's not going to be any easy for Amy to admit how she feels about Sheldon than it'll be for him, and I could see that Sheldon would say it first and I agree about wanting to say it first.

 

On the other hand, like I said, I think if Sheldon heard those words from Amy it would be pretty electrifying for him, and I don't think he'd flip out "in a bad way." I do think it would go a long way regarding his trust issues, I don't think he'd be quite able to say it back to her immediately, and I think you could knock him over with a feather after he heard it, and I think on the surface he would barely let anything show about how he felt about it, while internally he'd be overjoyed.

 

So I don't know how I want it to go, or who I want to have say it first, but I think it'll have consequences to their relationship depending on which one does.

Edited June 27, 2013 by Lionne

[koops]

My good buddy Lio! I think your avatar describes our relationship perfectly. Not that I don't return your feelings of buddy-ness, of course, because I do. But that's essentially my reaction to displays of affection.

 

Anyway, word on all the rest of your post really. I think Sheldon might be completely stumped if she says it first and not be able to say it back not because he doesn't want to but because since it would probably come at a random time and a bit out of the blue, if it comes from her first, he's not prepared, he hasn't planned it, he isn't sure, and that might actually lead to all sorts of insecurities for poor Amy. But I do agree that it would eventually be very good for their relationship, once he gets past the shock/joy and mans up to it.

[MJistheBOMB]

Reading all your posts is giving me all these great feels :-) Thank you all for that. I would love it if Sheldon said ILY first but even if Amy said it first, there can be a lot of good in that as well. I keep playing this scene in my head where she does say it to him first. His eyes get all big at first, then he has this dreamy look on his face like he's about to melt. His heart is pounding as his breathing quickens. He smiles at her as he can barely walk over to her at this point, grabs her and plants one right on her smacker. 

 

Hey, a girl can dream, right? LOL.

[koops]

You know, the more I think about it, the more I struggle to figure out what Sheldon's reaction to an ILY might be.

 

Because there's of course a big part of him that rejects feelings of affection as hippy-dippy things and is swooned when Amy talks pragmatic (like she did to him in Desperation), so I wonder whether he wouldn't be moved at all by words like that but rather there is something else that Amy can say and/or do that would be the final push he needs to trust her completely and let go. And in that sense an ILY would mean more to Amy than it does to him.

 

But, on the other hand, it would be interesting if he reacted in a way he himself didn't expect to, like you're all saying: feeling like he's melting inside, being electrified, overjoyed and so on and be completely stumped by the fact that his reaction to those words aren't what he predicted at all. And I could see him become a sucker for that feeling, just like I always said I could see him become a snuggler-in-denial once he realizes he likes it, which I think it's something they could easily do IC playing off his childlike side. I think Sheldon who tries to hide his soft side from people is one of the most hilarious Sheldons.

[Catlina]

So what do you guys think, if we look back now season 6 as a whole, what was it that happened to Sheldon in the latter half of the season (considering their relationship)? If we consider it now only from the point of story telling and story progression, not because we know something might have happened in the writers room and there may have been some turbulence or over-protectiveness about Shamy. How do you see and explain it? I try to think that something happened there for Sheldon, but I'm not sure what and which interpretation would be fitting.

[Misophonia]

So what do you guys think, if we look back now season 6 as a whole, what was it that happened to Sheldon in the latter half of the season (considering their relationship)? If we consider it now only from the point of story telling and story progression, not because we know something might have happened in the writers room and there may have been some turbulence or over-protectiveness about Shamy. How do you see and explain it? I try to think that something happened there for Sheldon, but I'm not sure what and which interpretation would be fitting.

 

I think the last half of the season especially was a major realization process for Sheldon. He has realized how important Amy is to him (whether he likes that or not is another matter altogether). I also think he has realized how important her feelings and overall happiness are to him and how sometimes he will have to sacrifice his own comfort and desires to give her what she needs (whether he likes that or acts out about that is another matter altogether). In some ways, he has matured. In others, he stubbornly hangs on to childish aspects of himself in order to cope with all this change that is happening to not only him and his relationship with Amy, but to the group as a whole.

 

I honestly think one of the reasons Sheldon is so ordered and scheduled is not because he is OCD, but because he prefers to free his brain from the mundane tasks. If you already plan what you are going to eat every day of the week and stick to that for the rest of your life, think of how much time you will save in making decision--time you can use to think about the Cosmos and how to figure out the various ways it works. I think Sheldon is all about efficiency--especially as this usually goes hand-in-hand with logic. I also think this type of reasoning is why he is the way he is about germs. (Not to say he isn't a hypochondriac as well because he is a documented one.) But, if one is sick and has to spend days or weeks trying to get better, this is time wasted that could have been spent on physics.

 

In the end, it's all about rationality, logic and efficiency with Dr. Cooper. This is why I have said before and I will say again that, if Amy was really the sex-starved fiend people think she is, she could have used these traits against Sheldon to get him to sleep with her. Provide a logical, irrefutable reason for him to do something and, no matter what it is--no matter how much he has protested it before--Sheldon Cooper will do it.

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

[Misophonia]

Oh and Happy early 4th of July to all my fellow U.S. citizens on here!

[Sheps88]

Here's somthing to talk about: what was the first episode of tbbt that you had ever seen and what did you think of it? Mine was The Terminator Decoupling. I laughed through the whole thing. "You forgot your flash drive. You forgot your flash drive. You forgot your flash drive."

[rachelshamyfan]

Early last year. My first ep was halfway thru zazzy when everybody was avoiding the shamy in Penny's apartment, it got me intrigued enough to look out for the next ep and I have been addicted since

[phantagrae]

I believe the first episode I saw was The Bozeman Reaction or whatever it's called, where the guys' apartment gets broken into. It really struck a chord with me because my apartment had just been broken into--and because all the nerdiness struck a chord with me.

But I didn't start watching it regularly until I found it on TBS and then at some point during the 5th season I started trying to plan in watching it when I didn't have rehearsal. Then with the start if the 6th season I started taping all the episodes. (Yes, with that ancient artifact, the VCR...)

Edited June 28, 2013 by phantagrae

[Guest DroneInTheSun]

I think the last half of the season especially was a major realization process for Sheldon. He has realized how important Amy is to him (whether he likes that or not is another matter altogether). I also think he has realized how important her feelings and overall happiness are to him and how sometimes he will have to sacrifice his own comfort and desires to give her what she needs (whether he likes that or acts out about that is another matter altogether). In some ways, he has matured. In others, he stubbornly hangs on to childish aspects of himself in order to cope with all this change that is happening to not only him and his relationship with Amy, but to the group as a whole.

 

I honestly think one of the reasons Sheldon is so ordered and scheduled is not because he is OCD, but because he prefers to free his brain from the mundane tasks. If you already plan what you are going to eat every day of the week and stick to that for the rest of your life, think of how much time you will save in making decision--time you can use to think about the Cosmos and how to figure out the various ways it works. I think Sheldon is all about efficiency--especially as this usually goes hand-in-hand with logic. I also think this type of reasoning is why he is the way he is about germs. (Not to say he isn't a hypochondriac as well because he is a documented one.) But, if one is sick and has to spend days or weeks trying to get better, this is time wasted that could have been spent on physics.

 

In the end, it's all about rationality, logic and efficiency with Dr. Cooper. This is why I have said before and I will say again that, if Amy was really the sex-starved fiend people think she is, she could have used these traits against Sheldon to get him to sleep with her. Provide a logical, irrefutable reason for him to do something and, no matter what it is--no matter how much he has protested it before--Sheldon Cooper will do it.

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

But see, there's something about that that doesn't really click. Sheldon's known for a while that Amy's important to him - he asked her to be his girlfriend, for crying out loud - and there are plenty of instances where seeing her upset upset him too (like in The Shiny Trinket Manoeuvre where he didn't get why Amy was mad at him but cared enough that she was mad at him to drink digital alcohol and buy her a freaking tiara! or even in early Season 6, when he realises he's a callous egomaniac and that she's gonna leave him if he doesn't change and he ends up dri

nking so much he gets drunk and wants to beat up Wil Wheaton)

 

And the reason why saying he panicked because he realised she's way too important to him and that's why he's been such an asshole just doesn't sit right is that it's 1) not logical given what transpired in previous episodes and 2) just wildly OOC. Sheldon is selfish, and he doesn't care about a lot of people, but never Amy. That's what drew us to the Shamy in the first place, I guess. That he was so different with her.

 

So yeah, like we've said it before, I guess the writers panicked after the Valentine's Day episode because things were going quickly and they had to make that part of the audience who hates the idea of a sexually active Sheldon happy. I really don't think there's anything other to than that to the problems we've had with S/A in those episodes.

 

Now if we really need to look for a logical explanation, I'd say that like the writers, Sheldon panicked because things were going so quickly. In 6x14 he admits to Leonard and Penny that he's "working on it" and that a physical relationship is a possibility. In 6x15 Amy moves in and he's just "not ready". And then 6x16 Amy sacrifices her Valentine's Day dinner so they can both enjoy their evening, and I think that's where Sheldon realises that it's definitely going too quickly. He makes her his ICE contact, which is a pretty huge proof of commitment, but it's also pretty tepid, because she's still at a distance. But it makes her so happy she hugs him and he realises that no matter what, Amy's gonna take any of his little steps as a proof that he wants to go forward and she's going to keep hugging him and touching him and Sheldon simply isn't ready yet. So he has to shoot her down. Which is why you get episodes like 6x18 where he denies her a kiss twice, and like the terrible Tenure Turbulence where she's literally his punching ball and Closure Alternative where he wishes she were dead.

 

This explanation would make some sense too, in the light of what he says in 6x23 - "it's only been three years". It's only been three years and he doesn't understand why she wants more so fast because if he's not ready why is she? Sheldon wants it as much as she does, of this I'm 100% sure. But it's the pace he's not comfortable with.

 

And like koops said - it can't always be going at Sheldon's pace.

[koops]

 

Now if we really need to look for a logical explanation, I'd say that like the writers, Sheldon panicked because things were going so quickly. In 6x14 he admits to Leonard and Penny that he's "working on it" and that a physical relationship is a possibility. In 6x15 Amy moves in and he's just "not ready". And then 6x16 Amy sacrifices her Valentine's Day dinner so they can both enjoy their evening, and I think that's where Sheldon realises that it's definitely going too quickly. He makes her his ICE contact, which is a pretty huge proof of commitment, but it's also pretty tepid, because she's still at a distance. But it makes her so happy she hugs him and he realises that no matter what, Amy's gonna take any of his little steps as a proof that he wants to go forward and she's going to keep hugging him and touching him and Sheldon simply isn't ready yet. So he has to shoot her down. Which is why you get episodes like 6x18 where he denies her a kiss twice, and like the terrible Tenure Turbulence where she's literally his punching ball and Closure Alternative where he wishes she were dead.

 

This explanation would make some sense too, in the light of what he says in 6x23 - "it's only been three years". It's only been three years and he doesn't understand why she wants more so fast because if he's not ready why is she? Sheldon wants it as much as she does, of this I'm 100% sure. But it's the pace he's not comfortable with.

 

And like koops said - it can't always be going at Sheldon's pace.

 

Great post Lost! I think this explanation of his behavior in the most recent episodes (if we really have to find one, and I hate having to come up with explanations for inconsistent writing) is much more consistent with what we've seen.

 

I don't think Sheldon is someone who freaks out when it comes to Amy, we've stopped seeing him freak out since as early as the time she wanted him to meet her mother. Ever since he's been very collected about it all and he was extremely calm when he told Penny "I'm quite fond of Amy", which, in Sheldonese, it's pretty much saying "You know I love her and I'm not leading her on". Actually, I think that's what I like the most about that line, it's all the implications: that he has to preface what he's about to say with that to make the point that 1) it's not her, and 2) he isn't messing around with her but he is serious about their relationship. He is very aware of what she means to him. But I digress...

 

Also, he was very calm during all those episodes where he was throwing punches her way. A guy who is suddenly scared of how important she is to him or  would act very differently. But if he's trying to slow things down because they're suddenly moving at a pace he isn't comfortable with he would turn her advances down, make comments about going back and forth on the relationship (even though we all know it isn't true) and sort of keep his distance. I think the EC contact was probably sort of a compromise on his part in the light of what happened in 6x15. A way to say "You're important to me but let's not get ahead of ourselves". It was all very calculated, which is very IC for Sheldon.

 

But, yes, once again, I think the challenge for him next season is that he has to realize his behavior can really hurt her (and he did already this year on occasions) and that he needs to step out of his comfort zone a little and take some risks for her and for the relationship.

[Misophonia]

But see, there's something about that that doesn't really click. Sheldon's known for a while that Amy's important to him - he asked her to be his girlfriend, for crying out loud - and there are plenty of instances where seeing her upset upset him too (like in The Shiny Trinket Manoeuvre where he didn't get why Amy was mad at him but cared enough that she was mad at him to drink digital alcohol and buy her a freaking tiara! or even in early Season 6, when he realises he's a callous egomaniac and that she's gonna leave him if he doesn't change and he ends up dri

nking so much he gets drunk and wants to beat up Wil Wheaton)

 

And the reason why saying he panicked because he realised she's way too important to him and that's why he's been such an asshole just doesn't sit right is that it's 1) not logical given what transpired in previous episodes and 2) just wildly OOC. Sheldon is selfish, and he doesn't care about a lot of people, but never Amy. That's what drew us to the Shamy in the first place, I guess. That he was so different with her.

 

So yeah, like we've said it before, I guess the writers panicked after the Valentine's Day episode because things were going quickly and they had to make that part of the audience who hates the idea of a sexually active Sheldon happy. I really don't think there's anything other to than that to the problems we've had with S/A in those episodes.

 

Now if we really need to look for a logical explanation, I'd say that like the writers, Sheldon panicked because things were going so quickly. In 6x14 he admits to Leonard and Penny that he's "working on it" and that a physical relationship is a possibility. In 6x15 Amy moves in and he's just "not ready". And then 6x16 Amy sacrifices her Valentine's Day dinner so they can both enjoy their evening, and I think that's where Sheldon realises that it's definitely going too quickly. He makes her his ICE contact, which is a pretty huge proof of commitment, but it's also pretty tepid, because she's still at a distance. But it makes her so happy she hugs him and he realises that no matter what, Amy's gonna take any of his little steps as a proof that he wants to go forward and she's going to keep hugging him and touching him and Sheldon simply isn't ready yet. So he has to shoot her down. Which is why you get episodes like 6x18 where he denies her a kiss twice, and like the terrible Tenure Turbulence where she's literally his punching ball and Closure Alternative where he wishes she were dead.

 

This explanation would make some sense too, in the light of what he says in 6x23 - "it's only been three years". It's only been three years and he doesn't understand why she wants more so fast because if he's not ready why is she? Sheldon wants it as much as she does, of this I'm 100% sure. But it's the pace he's not comfortable with.

 

And like koops said - it can't always be going at Sheldon's pace.

 

Knowing someone is important to you is one thing. Being happy that someone is important to you in so much as it's going to have a huge impact on your life is an altogether different matter. Sheldon, as a character, has a history of waffling back and forth on things (which I blame on the writers.) You'll have one episode where he seems to accept something and another where it's back up in the air. What we know for sure is that Sheldon doesn't like change. Season Six has been about change. So, it doesn't surprise me that he has been cranky and mean and immature more this season. I am not trying to excuse the things the writers have had him say to Amy just for the sake of a joke, I am simply trying to explain my take on the season. That's all.

 

Two things:

 

You said: "Sheldon's known for a while that Amy's important to him - he asked her to be his girlfriend, for crying out loud."

 

I read this as if you were implying that Sheldon was planning to ask her to be his anyway. I don't know that I can agree with that. Sheldon did not ask Amy to be his girlfriend because she was important to him. He did it because he was over a barrel, and she was going out with someone else. She was important to him. He had already acknowledged this and would not have needed a commitment beyond friendship with her to proclaim this to the world. He in no way wanted the responsibility that came with having a girlfriend as well as the extra obstacles he would have to face with this kind of relationship (especially in regards to physical touching). But, he knew logically that, if he didn't ask her, Amy would had every right to date Stuart or anyone else who might come along. Amy agreeing to date Stuart just proved to Sheldon she wanted to date someone and would date someone if asked. Up until that point, I think he believed she was like him and didn't want a romantic relationship of any kind, which she had told him several times. Therefore, if he wanted to keep her all to himself, he had to make adjustments accordingly. This, to me, is why he bit the bullet and asked her. The relationship agreement was his way of compromising in this regard and allowed him to give her what she wanted while also being able to do so at a level he could be comfortable with.

 

You said: "and there are plenty of instances where seeing her upset upset him too (like in The Shiny Trinket Manoeuvre where he didn't get why Amy was mad at him but cared enough that she was mad at him to drink digital alcohol and buy her a freaking tiara! or even in early Season 6, when he realises he's a callous egomaniac and that she's gonna leave him if he doesn't change and he ends up drinking so much he gets drunk and wants to beat up Wil Wheaton)"

 

Sheldon is, first and foremost, a man. He doesn't necessarily get upset simply because Amy is upset. He gets upset because Amy is mad at him and is punishing him accordingly. As he wants the punishment to stop, he has to find a way to make amends (buying the tiara or going to beat up Wheaton). Honestly, I was with Sheldon on the whole Wheaton thing. Amy was getting exactly what she was dishing out. Why should Wheaton have to apologize and why should Sheldon have to be involved at all? She bit off that bite all by herself, she should have to swallow it. As long as Wheaton wasn't being overtly mean to her (like calling her really bad names or threatening her), Sheldon didn't need to get involved. I wouldn't have. I think the only thing Sheldon learned for sure was that, when it came to arguments, he had to side with Amy no matter what or he was going to be punished. This is a lesson most men have to learn at some point in a relationship. However, I think it is ridiculous to think that Sheldon is sensitive enough to be upset simply because Amy is. He never has been, and he never will be. He didn't even want to go into his bedroom to comfort her on the Dungeons and Dragons night. He was pushed in there by obligation and peer pressure from his friends. (Yes, everything he did while in there was of his own free will. But what got him in there to begin with wasn't his idea.)

 

I do, however, adore that he got drunk and made the "callous egomaniac" comment. I loved that he recognized what a gift he has in Amy and how he doesn't always treat her right. I think, most of all, this as well as his Texan upbringing is what propelled him to go threaten Wheaton.

 

OK. I am not sure what the point to this essay is anymore. But here you go nonetheless.

[Misophonia]

Here's somthing to talk about: what was the first episode of tbbt that you had ever seen and what did you think of it? Mine was The Terminator Decoupling. I laughed through the whole thing. "You forgot your flash drive. You forgot your flash drive. You forgot your flash drive."

 

Actually, the first episode I ever watched was the one where Sheldon ends up in the ball pit. He had me at "Bazinga!"

[smellypooper73]

Actually, the first episode I ever watched was the one where Sheldon ends up in the ball pit. He had me at "Bazinga!"

My parents love the episode in which Howard builds the robot hand. I was curious as to what they were laughing at, so I sat down and watched it with them. Thought the show was pretty good, so I asked for season 1 on DVD. I was hooked the moment Leonard held up the "sarcasm" sign.

Hello, by the way. Been lurking on here for awhile now!