Episodes 6.19 The Closet Reconfiguration (Mar. 14)

[Grasshopper]

 Yeah umm... Like I really don't know what everyone is arguing about. I'm just glad that this isn't a Back to the Future Forum. That is my all time favorite trilogy. if some one had to pick it apart the way they do TBBT here, I would probably eventually end up hating the movie after realizing that all the time paradoxes don't make sense in reality.

[Ar Diem]

 Yeah umm... Like I really don't know what everyone is arguing about. I'm just glad that this isn't a Back to the Future Forum. That is my all time favorite trilogy. if some one had to pick it apart the way they do TBBT here, I would probably eventually end up hating the movie after realizing that all the time paradoxes don't make sense in reality.

 

 

Comparing BttF and TBBT is like comparing a short poem with a novel.  The less time in which you have to entertain the easier it gets if you know what you are doing.  BttF has many problems but most people don't care because it tells a good story.  TBBT is trying to tell some of the same jokes for 6 years.

[annieogly]

Why would I expect it to change? Sheldon is my favourite character and that's the last thing I ever wanted (although I would argue it happened already). But Sheldon and Penny can be funnier than this. I also never thought Penny was stupid as a character either. She was originally written as the girl with the social skills the guys lacked and her come backs were always great. This was just a little weak. Anyway I wasn't singling Penny out, most of the jokes were weak this episode. It was a sentimental type of episode.

 

Exactly, didn't enjoy the episode at all, was more sentimental Friends than anything, the entire spring season has been bad, really unlike the fall/winter where the writers made sure to use the classic and funny TBBT formula. I don't know what they're doing now though...bleah

[eirwinrommel]

Did you notice that Howdette now have their own pair of shared pants, though it probably won't last.

[The God Particle]

Enough! You either liked the episode or didn't. There certainly no reason for things to get sidetracked with any personal comments.

[Kaizen]

Way better than the last one.  I really enjoyed the flow of a single storyline and a more serious plot.  There was enough humor to prevent it from crossing into melodrama land.   The Howard closure ending was brilliant.  I got a sense the writers and cast enjoyed doing something a bit deeper and meaning full for a change.

Howard's underrated drama skills really stood out. I'm usually not a big fan of H&B, but I actually enjoyed them this time around. Although Sheldon as a child, and doing an advanced knowledge bit with a "blonde monkey" Penny follow up wasn't new, it worked well. Overall, it was a very good "feel good" episode.

Misc. thoughts...

I'm was surprised to not see Lucy, and thought they dropped the ball with Penny's sneakers.  After Bernie said Howard wore her pants, I was expecting Penny to say something like "Yeah, I'm wearing Leonard's shoes".

[phantagrae]

Why would I expect it to change? Sheldon is my favourite character and that's the last thing I ever wanted (although I would argue it happened already). But Sheldon and Penny can be funnier than this. I also never thought Penny was stupid as a character either. She was originally written as the girl with the social skills the guys lacked and her come backs were always great. This was just a little weak. Anyway I wasn't singling Penny out, most of the jokes were weak this episode. It was a sentimental type of episode.

 

But I don't think the episode called for them to be "funnier than this"--though I think they were pretty funny, myself.

I don't think that Penny's funny lines were lame or weak.  I think it was actually pretty sharp of her to mock Sheldon's "epistemic ambivalence" explanation, because first of all, she was able to in the first place, and secondly, because she understood the overblown nature of the pedantic explanation.

And I love that Sheldon used that explanation to begin with.

 

Yes, it was a sentimental episode, but there's nothing wrong with sentiment.  It's human.

I think sometimes that as a society we're too busy trying to be cool or snarky or above it all and we forget that sometimes it's okay--even in a sitcom--to have a gentler moment.  A "sentimental" moment.

And I think that at this point in the show, 6 years into it, that taking an episode here and there to take a little deeper look into the characters is healthy.  It helps round them out so that they don't become a collection of cliched idiosyncracies.

I think that each of the characters has bumped up against that at various points and have all benefited--or are in the process of benefitting--from some moments of growth or insight.  Maybe such stories aren't always going to be laugh-out-loud funny, but that doesn't make them any less valuable in terms of the continued growth and development of the show.

 

IMO

[phantagrae]

Way better than the last one.  I really enjoyed the flow of a single storyline and a more serious plot.  There was enough humor to prevent it from crossing into melodrama land.   The Howard closure ending was brilliant.  I got a sense the writers and cast enjoyed doing something a bit deeper and meaning full for a change.

Howard's underrated drama skills really stood out. I'm usually not a big fan of H&B, but I actually enjoyed them this time around. Although Sheldon as a child, and doing an advanced knowledge bit with a "blonde monkey" Penny follow up wasn't new, it worked well. Overall, it was a very good "feel good" episode.

Misc. thoughts...

I'm was surprised to not see Lucy, and thought they dropped the ball with Penny's sneakers.  After Bernie said Howard wore her pants, I was expecting Penny to say something like "Yeah, I'm wearing Leonard's shoes".

 

I don't think it would have been appropriate for Lucy to have been involved.  I think that the focus had to be entirely on the tight gang, because in the end it really came down to Howard's circle of friends and how they ultimately surrounded him with support (especially after betraying him to begin with...)

Even if Lucy had only been at the first dinner party, I think that it would have taken the focus away from the story at hand because you would have had to deal with her social anxiety, etc.  If she has anxiety about a simple get-together at a coffee shop, or a texting date, it seems she would have been even more uncomfortable at a dinner party as the stranger among a group of very close friends.

I'm sure they'll get around to having Raj introduce her to his friends at some point.

 

As for Penny's shoes, I don't know that there was any reason to imply that she was wearing Leonard's shoes.  I think they intended to imply anything about her shoes--and maybe they didn't think the fans would pay attention to such a minor wardrobe choice.

But I did like Bernie's comment about the pants--and that they were both too short to reach the fire alarm, and that Bernie was going to lift Howard up, rather than the other way around.

[Kaizen]

But I don't think the episode called for them to be "funnier than this"--though I think they were pretty funny, myself.

I don't think that Penny's funny lines were lame or weak.  I think it was actually pretty sharp of her to mock Sheldon's "epistemic ambivalence" explanation, because first of all, she was able to in the first place, and secondly, because she understood the overblown nature of the pedantic explanation.

And I love that Sheldon used that explanation to begin with.

 

Yes, it was a sentimental episode, but there's nothing wrong with sentiment.  It's human.

I think sometimes that as a society we're too busy trying to be cool or snarky or above it all and we forget that sometimes it's okay--even in a sitcom--to have a gentler moment.  A "sentimental" moment.

And I think that at this point in the show, 6 years into it, that taking an episode here and there to take a little deeper look into the characters is healthy.  It helps round them out so that they don't become a collection of cliched idiosyncracies.

I think that each of the characters has bumped up against that at various points and have all benefited--or are in the process of benefitting--from some moments of growth or insight.  Maybe such stories aren't always going to be laugh-out-loud funny, but that doesn't make them any less valuable in terms of the continued growth and development of the show.

 

IMO

Ditto. Although the humour level low, it was appropriate for the episode. Personally, I didn't mind the change and think these type of meatier episodes is a good thing.

RE..the vibrator joke didn't bother me at all. It was funny.

[Kaizen]

I don't think it would have been appropriate for Lucy to have been involved.  I think that the focus had to be entirely on the tight gang, because in the end it really came down to Howard's circle of friends and how they ultimately surrounded him with support (especially after betraying him to begin with...)

Even if Lucy had only been at the first dinner party, I think that it would have taken the focus away from the story at hand because you would have had to deal with her social anxiety, etc.  If she has anxiety about a simple get-together at a coffee shop, or a texting date, it seems she would have been even more uncomfortable at a dinner party as the stranger among a group of very close friends.

I'm sure they'll get around to having Raj introduce her to his friends at some point.

 

As for Penny's shoes, I don't know that there was any reason to imply that she was wearing Leonard's shoes.  I think they intended to imply anything about her shoes--and maybe they didn't think the fans would pay attention to such a minor wardrobe choice.

But I did like Bernie's comment about the pants--and that they were both too short to reach the fire alarm, and that Bernie was going to lift Howard up, rather than the other way around.

Yeah, you're right about Lucy. I just thought Penny's sneakers looked like same one Leonard wears, and figured they were going to point it out for kicks.

[Moonbase]

I don't think it would have been appropriate for Lucy to have been involved.  I think that the focus had to be entirely on the tight gang, because in the end it really came down to Howard's circle of friends and how they ultimately surrounded him with support (especially after betraying him to begin with...)

Even if Lucy had only been at the first dinner party, I think that it would have taken the focus away from the story at hand because you would have had to deal with her social anxiety, etc.  If she has anxiety about a simple get-together at a coffee shop, or a texting date, it seems she would have been even more uncomfortable at a dinner party as the stranger among a group of very close friends.

I'm sure they'll get around to having Raj introduce her to his friends at some point.

 

As for Penny's shoes, I don't know that there was any reason to imply that she was wearing Leonard's shoes.  I think they intended to imply anything about her shoes--and maybe they didn't think the fans would pay attention to such a minor wardrobe choice.

But I did like Bernie's comment about the pants--and that they were both too short to reach the fire alarm, and that Bernie was going to lift Howard up, rather than the other way around.

 

I just think humour has a greater effect on some than sentimentally. When I watch a sentimental episode, I think "okay, that's kind of sweet" but the emotions it stirs are on the surface. When they make me laugh, I really care about them in a much deeper way. Just about everyone here loved this episode and I can appreciate why. The letter idea was good and Simon is fantastic but I just prefer the funny stuff. I'm not trying to be anything that's just the way it is.

[4ofN]

I don't know, since they associated it with the dead goldfish she forgot she had, I sort of think it suppose to something she had forgot about too, a while ago.  I don't really see it meaning she was using her vibrator now.

 

(Not sigleing you out or anything SRAM)

 

 

Why does anyone care if Penny uses a vibrator? It seems to me that a lot of women (and men) use them.

[Moonbase]

Yeah and what about the goldfish? Was it …luminous?

[Tensor]

Yeah and what about the goldfish? Was it …luminous?

That things been back there for a while......five years or so.

[tmp]

Can someone please show Sheldon my closet whole house?

[Moonbase]

That things been back there for a while......five years or so.

 

About right. I wish they had made it Sheldon's luminous fish. A reference to that old episode would have been a real treat. Sheldon could have made some comment about entrusting Penny with genetically modified pets.

 

 

 

 

Can someone please show Sheldon my closet whole house?

 

I was thinking the same thing.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Moonbase

[Shamynatress]

Yeah and what about the goldfish? Was it …luminous?

 

btw.... what happend to all this luminous goldfish????

 

exept the one that ended up in Penny's closet?

[Moonbase]

btw.... what happend to all this luminous goldfish????

 

exept the one that ended up in Penny's closet?

 

He vanished. One night he was there, the next he was gone. It had to be Penny.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Moonbase

[Shamynatress]

He vanished. One night he was there, the next he was gone. It had to be Penny.

but did'nt he have several glasses of these fishlis?

 

Hahahah, imagine Penny sneeking into Shellys room at night steeling his fish. Love that. And then letting it turn dry together with the jew-toy..............

[Ar Diem]

btw.... what happend to all this luminous goldfish????

 

exept the one that ended up in Penny's closet?

 

 

The cats ate them.  :o

Edited March 19, 2013 by Ar Diem

[Anomaly]

I'm just going to paste my post from another thread...

 

 

I just watched the latest episode (The Closet Reconfiguration)... I seriously think I'm going to stop watching new episodes before all the testosterone has been sucked from me. TBBT has become so much of a chick-show that watching this episode actually felt wrong to me. When everyone gathered around, telling their version of the letter, I thought I was going to throw up into my own mouth. I can watch the greatness of seasons 1-3 anytime I want on disc, but the estrogen fueled train that TBBT has become is nearing the end of it's line for me. The only (main) character that may keep me watching for a while is Sheldon... At least until he's been completely destroyed as well. In all honesty, The Closet Reconfiguration completely disgusted me. TBBT no longer even remotely resembles the show that I became addicted to five seasons ago. If this show hadn't jumped the shark prior to The Closet Reconfiguration (which I believe it did), it most certainly has now.

 

That's my take.

[BangerMain]

I'm just going to paste my post from another thread...

 

 

I just watched the latest episode (The Closet Reconfiguration)... I seriously think I'm going to stop watching new episodes before all the testosterone has been sucked from me. TBBT has become so much of a chick-show that watching this episode actually felt wrong to me. When everyone gathered around, telling their version of the letter, I thought I was going to throw up into my own mouth. I can watch the greatness of seasons 1-3 anytime I want on disc, but the estrogen fueled train that TBBT has become is nearing the end of it's line for me. The only (main) character that may keep me watching for a while is Sheldon... At least until he's been completely destroyed as well. In all honesty, The Closet Reconfiguration completely disgusted me. TBBT no longer even remotely resembles the show that I became addicted to five seasons ago. If this show hadn't jumped the shark prior to The Closet Reconfiguration (which I believe it did), it most certainly has now.

 

That's my take.

Hey, no problem. There is plenty of room for dissenting opinions on this subject of personal taste. I don't watch plenty of TV that I don't like myself.

 

Take care and hope you find a sitcom that gives you pleasure.

Edited March 19, 2013 by BangerMain

[phantagrae]

btw.... what happend to all this luminous goldfish????

 

exept the one that ended up in Penny's closet?

 

Goldfish don't generally live very long anyway, do they?

[phantagrae]

I'm just going to paste my post from another thread...

 

 

I just watched the latest episode (The Closet Reconfiguration)... I seriously think I'm going to stop watching new episodes before all the testosterone has been sucked from me. TBBT has become so much of a chick-show that watching this episode actually felt wrong to me. When everyone gathered around, telling their version of the letter, I thought I was going to throw up into my own mouth. I can watch the greatness of seasons 1-3 anytime I want on disc, but the estrogen fueled train that TBBT has become is nearing the end of it's line for me. The only (main) character that may keep me watching for a while is Sheldon... At least until he's been completely destroyed as well. In all honesty, The Closet Reconfiguration completely disgusted me. TBBT no longer even remotely resembles the show that I became addicted to five seasons ago. If this show hadn't jumped the shark prior to The Closet Reconfiguration (which I believe it did), it most certainly has now.

 

That's my take.

 

I wonder how the mostly male writing team feels about being "estrogen-fueled"...

[Pomita]

 

And I think that at this point in the show, 6 years into it, that taking an episode here and there to take a little deeper look into the

characters is healthy.  It helps round them out so that they don't become a collection of cliched idiosyncracies.

I think that each of the characters has bumped up against that at various points and have all benefited--or are in the process of

benefitting--from some moments of growth or insight.  Maybe such stories aren't always going to be laugh-out-loud funny, but that doesn't make

them any less valuable in terms of the continued growth and development of the show.

 

I agree.

 

I'm perfectly okay with someone not liking an episode (or the show). Not okay with the snarky testosterone vs estrogen comments. The stereotyping makes me want to throw up in my mouth. Unless someone takes a poll of ALL the 20 million viewers and computes a statistical chisquare of how many men and how many women actually watch it and like it, there's no way one can make a judgment other than pure chauvinistic bias.

 

Yeah, because someone being left with strong unresolved feelings because a parent left in childhood, or friends gathering together to support each other, happens only to females.