S8 Discussion Thread

[phantagrae]

L/P can't do anything quickly so I don't expect anything soon. And I can't get my head around Sheldon as a married man. I'm not fussed to see weddings happening in s8 (or maybe even s9), because it would be such a huge punctuation in their stories. I also can't imagine an L/P marriage where Sheldon gets to be as intimately intrusive as he (comically) is. Luckily I'm a viewer/consumer, so I'm prepared to be amazed/have everything explained to me.

 

I really don't think that Sheldon interferes or intrudes on their relationship in any real way.  Yes, he has trouble imagining anything radically different in the future--like Leonard not living in the 4A apartment, despite being married to Penny, or whatever--but as far as the actual relationship between L/P, he doesn't do anything that creates problems or issues between them.

They deal with him individually in relation to his own problems, but when they want or need to discuss something without him, they know how to find their own privacy.  If they're having a conversation in the guys' apartment when Sheldon is home, yes, he's likely to blunder into it because he has no filter and is used to them being around, etc., but it's not as if he goes bursting into their bedroom when he knows they're having sex, or as if he sits between them on the couch or plays them off against each other.

 

If they want privacy, they go to Penny's apartment and Sheldon rarely goes there when the two of them are there, especially now that he has Amy.

 

I really don't see that Sheldon is really "intrusive" in their relationship.  If they're hanging out in the apartment where Sheldon lives, they've got to expect that he's not going to hide in his room while they make out on the couch or keep his mouth shut if they're arguing in front of him.  He doesn't intrude on their relationship in any kind of way that matters to the two of them.

IMO.

[Missy]

The last thing they're going to want to do is have the big payoff and then have to kind of lame-duck it until the end of the 10th season.  And also, once L/P get married, then the change in living arrangements becomes more crucial.  They can probably get away with all kinds of experimental arrangements before hand, depending on how TPTB want to deal with the central set and who lives there.  But once the marriage happens, then the living arrangments have to be settled.

 

 

 

So true.  They have 3 more seasons - they really kinda have to drag things out in my mind.  I know I am in the minority here - but I would love to see a Shamy baby at the end.  I would love that.

[gsxdoug]

I honestly don't see a Shamy wedding happening. A proposal, maybe. But there are still three seasons to go so who can say?

[Tensor]

As for a Lenny wedding, I don't think L or P will get cold feet in any way, but I also don't think the wedding will happen this season, necessarily, simply for series logistical reasons.

Since the Lenny wedding is one of the big payoffs of the show, they're not going to want to spend that dollar too quickly.  If they anticipate having a Shamy wedding and a Lenny wedding, and maybe even one for Raj, they've got to time it all carefully.

 

The last thing they're going to want to do is have the big payoff and then have to kind of lame-duck it until the end of the 10th season.  And also, once L/P get married, then the change in living arrangements becomes more crucial.  They can probably get away with all kinds of experimental arrangements before hand, depending on how TPTB want to deal with the central set and who lives there.  But once the marriage happens, then the living arrangments have to be settled.

 

Also, there's the question of who gets married first--SHamy or Lenny?  Which wedding is the bigger payoff?  You save your momentous occasions for Sweeps and finales, so whose wedding or other big life event (whatever that may be--pregnancy? something else?) gets to be the finale of the whole show?

I don't think they'd like to burn both weddings in the same season and crowd each other, like with some crazy double-wedding scenario, so who would go first?

 

Snip….

 

Whatever happens, I don't think we'll see the Lenny wedding so quickly.

 

Heheheheheh, from my post , about a month ago.  

 

This is in answer to the 12-18 months, with good behavior line from Penny as to the timing of the wedding:

 

I think it's the writers sneaky way of not having to worry about the actual wedding episode for 12-18 months.

It also allows them to time the wedding for the sweeps period. 12 months puts it at the end of next year (May Sweeps, year 8 ) while a delay of 18 months, puts it in November sweeps of year 9 Penny could find out she's pregnant at the end of season 9 (May Sweeps again) and then the baby would be born nine months later, in the Feb Sweeps of year 10, just before they end the show (May sweeps). Hell, that's five of the nine sweeps months. Say one for Bernadette finding out she's pregnant, One for the baby being born, one for the Shamy proposal and one for the Shamy wedding, and they've got all the sweeps months covered for the next three years. Until the wedding, they can throw in an occasional episode of their preparing for the wedding, problems, etc (see Howardette, season five).

I've since realized there will be a few Raj things going on, but they can have more than one thing happen in a sweeps (A Shamy ILY prior to the engagement). I also suggested somewhere on here that it could make sense to have both Lenny and Shamy find new apartments at the end of this coming year, allowing them time to rebuild the sets over the summer. Take all of this with the 800 lb grain of salt I have laying around.

[Nogravitasatall]

...I really don't think that Sheldon interferes or intrudes on their relationship in any real way. Yes, he has trouble imagining anything , etc., but it's not as if he goes bursting into their bedroom when he knows they're having sex....

If they want privacy, they go to Penny's apartment and Sheldon rarely goes there when the two of them are there, especially now that he has Amy.

I really don't see that Sheldon is really "intrusive" in their relationship. If they're hanging out in the apartment where Sheldon lives, they've got to expect that he's not going to hide in his room while they make out on the couch or keep his mouth shut if they're arguing in front of him. He doesn't intrude on their relationship in any kind of way that matters to the two of them.

IMO.

I guess this is an example of diversity in views. You might be right. For myself, I lived in a shared house with two guys who were very considerate of my girlfriend when she visited, but it was such a relief when we moved in together to our own place, even before we got engaged. Having a lover and a roommate in the same space was a tad stressful at times.

How Penny and Leonard will continue to share so much of their lives with Sheldon as they do now puzzles me. But sharing space with Sheldon has been an essential part of the show's premise. Penny was formerly the intruder into bachelor/geek nerdvana. Now, if the two prioritise as I'd expect a couple would, Sheldon will be on the outside, regardless of where they are actually located. It's not a matter of privacy, it's a matter of who is at home and who is visiting. Whenever Penny is currently with Leonard at 4A she is a visitor. At some point that has to stop. But once Leonard and Penny marry they will have to have a home (say 4B) and then Sheldon will be the visitor. And the opportunities for comedy that ensues from having to unavoidably interact with Sheldon and breaking into his routines will be diminished.

Of course they can continue to spread themselves across the two apartments and nothing will change.

edit. And he did come in through the window once. They knocked over a lamp, presumably while having a good time and scared him. He ended up electrocuted. Bozeman I think

Edited June 19, 2014 by Nogravitasatall

[Martin Pollard]

I can see a Lenny wedding in mid-S9 for the 200th. That would work out nicely: they meet in episode #1, get back together (as a serious couple this time) in episode #100, and married in episode #200. That would leave either "smart and beautiful babies" or a Shamy wedding/proposal/whatever for the series finale. That's my guess, anyway.

[Tensor]

I can see a Lenny wedding in mid-S9 for the 200th. That would work out nicely: they meet in episode #1, get back together (as a serious couple this time) in episode #100, and married in episode #200. That would leave either "smart and beautiful babies" or a Shamy wedding/proposal/whatever for the series finale. That's my guess, anyway.

That does make sense. The 200th episode (the 17th of season 9, based on how they currently schedule) would fall in the February sweeps (the 11th, 18th, or 25th of February, 2016. The ninth season.). This year it fell on March sixth, because of the Winter Olympics, but that wouldn't be a consideration then.

[Nogravitasatall]

It only makes sense logistically. Not all for couple madly in love. LOL.

[kerrycec03]

LOL, I actually just went through the sweeps calendar before you posted this too.  I think it does make sense too!!! 

[SRAM]

But that makes the writers have to plan ahead, they don't do that, they say.

[3ku11]

SHeldon doesent interfere on their Relationship? Come on hes been constantly the third wheel, and has been playing hypnotenuse between Lenny since S1. He hated them dating in S3 because it disrupted the entire order of his world. He even tried to modify Pennys behaviour with Chocolate to make to him Pennys behaviour more consistent with what he considers appropriate, and he inadvertantly convinced Penny shes not smart enough for Leonard. Of courss Sheldon diddnt do these things deleibararley, as he was pretty innocent around that time. But as he has lost that innoccence, and edge. So i think Sheldon needd to accept more and more Lenny are a collective. And i wouldent say he has never intruded in their relationship, in S3 he walked into their room while sleeping gave Penny a heck of a fright haha, constantly was knocking on their door when wanted alone time e.t.c So while he is not a big issue in their relationship, its kinda similar when Howard was a third wheel in S3. Only Sheldon is more consistent, incessant, and annoying lol.

And i dont think its fair to make any comparisons between Lenny and Shamy. First off the four of them play very different roles in the respective relationships. Only similartie is that Sheldon snd Penny almost play the Alpha, although on almost every single level they are not compatible. But on some level they both have a pathalogical fear of intimacy, obviousley considering Pennys High Experience and Sheldons Low Experience haha, its in very different ways. Where as Leonard and Amy could both profess to having similar roles in their relationships too, the Amegas. As a collective though. Lenny exists in a tradational romantic paradaigm. They can both bring over their experiennces from othet requitted or unrequitted relationships, most of them Physical partic Penny, so they are more equipped. So the small, fundamental things like Kissing, Hugging, showing general affection naturally are not small for Shamy, its big because their relationship is vastly different. Their relationship experiences have been with each other, thats why its so awkward. So while its endering they are learninh together, thats why its so slow and methodical getting to a point where they can define the identity of their relationship. Ones Resistant and takes five steps forward and then 5 steps back, the other takes a 1000 steps forward. Can you guess whos who haha. Anyway i also think Lenny wedding wont be S8, cld be but i can also forsee S9.

[kerrycec03]

But that makes the writers have to plan ahead, they don't do that, they say.

I often think while they don't put pen to paper and "work ahead" they do have ideas of where they'd like to see things go with an idea of timeline

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[Martin Pollard]

Plus, the 200th is a milestone. Even if the writers don't normally plan ahead, a milestone episode is something you'd probably consider in advance.

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[BangerMain]

I really don't see that Sheldon is really "intrusive" in their relationship.  If they're hanging out in the apartment where Sheldon lives, they've got to expect that he's not going to hide in his room while they make out on the couch or keep his mouth shut if they're arguing in front of him.  He doesn't intrude on their relationship in any kind of way that matters to the two of them.

IMO.

 

Sheldon may have been somewhat intrusive in the early portion of the Lenny relationship but he sure isn't now. In season 7 we saw Penny slowly put Sheldon in his place as she made her final push toward Leonard. From "The Table Polarization" on to the finale we saw her ween Sheldon off of his dependency on Leonard.

 

- She told Leonard to stand-up to him and made him buy a table that Sheldon didn't want .

- She screamed at Sheldon for wanting Leonard to play a board game while she needed Leonard's attention on her car disaster (and she called Leonard in the hallway for privacy).

- She has constantly tried to make Amy Sheldon's new caretaker, even taking him to a fortune teller who conveniently stated that Amy is the key to his future.

- And finally made Leonard stop attempting to prevent Sheldon from his ride about on trains. When Leonard gave her some push back, she got the "padawan" insult from Sheldon and she said in a stern voice "seriously, let him go". In that scene she dropped her head and stared at Leonard with a "this conversation is over" look.

 

Season 8 will undoubtedly bring us more of the same. Penny will not allow Sheldon to interfere with the Lenny engagement and marriage.

Edited June 19, 2014 by BangerMain

[gsxdoug]

You make some good points, BangerMain. Although I agree with others that the fortune teller visit may have been more for Penny's benefit than Sheldon's.

[Tensor]

Plus, the 200th is a milestone. Even if the writers don't normally plan ahead, a milestone episode is something you'd probably consider in advance.

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Yeah, like the 100th. I got the feeling, from the interviews, that while they may not have had the episode planned out, they planned to get Leonard and Penny back together to see where it went.

[phantagrae]

I think some people confuse "interacting" with "intruding".

He's going to interact with them and it might come at some inconvenient moments, but it's jot that he's trying to actually interfere with their relationship. When L/P first started dating, Sheldon didn't try to break them up, even though he kind of made fun of them. It was mostly about not wanting to hear them having sex, but he wasn't saying that they should t date. He made comments about Penny being dumb or whatever, but he also would make comments about Leonard being inferior, so it wasn't about interfering with them being together.

I think that his griping was mostly about the ways that their behavior interfered with his set-in-stone routines, his spot, etc.

And the time he climbed in the window he wasn't trying to interfere with their relationship. He heard a noise and had no idea that they had made the noise and had no idea what they were about to do until they made it clear to them.

He didn't assume the noise was them engaging in "amorous activities", he assumed it was the burglars returning and he went in through the window because he was afraid to go out into the hallway.

[Nogravitasatall]

Hey Phanta, what I poorly conveyed was that they live intimately with Sheldon at the moment. Every detail of their lives at present is witnessed and affected by Sheldon. From bathroom to breakfast, from sun-up to sun-down. "O God, O God" he has quoted her. He is privy to their every act, including the privy. His difficulties with boundaries and the inmates agreement with Leonard has normalised some freaky weirdness. The jokes about him, say, controlling the size of the remote control, or insisting on Leonard standing behind or at a certain line to pee, will have to go, because they won't be interacting at that level anymore. And if Sheldon continued to dictate such things after Leonard weds then what does that say about Leonard?

I expect the relationship to change, as I can't image a couple putting up with anything like Sheldon intruding as he has on so many aspects of their existence. He really has been intimate, beyond normal flatmate expectations. He's been even beyond sibling intimacies (no sibling of mine would tell me where to stand to pee).

Once they marry I expect them to put some distance between themselves and Sheldon. So some of the stuff on the comedy menu will be gone and have to be replaced, because as I said, it's a very odd way to continue to live once married (it's even a very odd way to live before marriage, as Pryia pointed out).

[3ku11]

Sheldon is boundary challenged case closed , he constantly trys to deconstruct who people are especially his friends, to suit his version of what is "normal". Like trying to modify Penny's behaviour to make his life more convenient, like trying to alter the rhythim and volume of Penny's laugh to an appropriate Level ACCORDING TO DR COOPER. And in accordance Leonard replied in kind "Shut up my weird room mate aka Weird little insect man". Or when Leonard and Sheldon got robbed "Leonard and Penny, Leonard and Penny, Leonard and Penny come join me in my annoying little game called who's wrong first, I will then proced to watch a movie about people being burgled, then run in your room like im 5 years old, Leonard and Penny, Leonard and Penny!". Sheldon means well, but he has just become something or someone everyone especially Leonard and Penny has to deal with. Anyone else Sheldon did all these things, he would have his butt kicked, he is just luckey he has great friends who are willing to oblige to his tyrant behaviour, it comes from a good place he doesn't know any better, he's the anti hero, but I hope as seen in S7 shown more and more Penny outgrowing Sheldon, and being a collective stand with her relationship with Leonard, and less and less tolerating Sheldon and having one of their vintage conversations, with Penny going shoes shoes shoes shoes, and Sheldon I am so smart I am so smart, everyone is so dumb because I am so smart. Penny now responds to Sheldon with a eye roll, she has clearly grown weary of Sheldon and his incessant insults over the years, so while theirs still a friendship their, Sheldon has left a bad taste in Penny's mouth.

Edited June 19, 2014 by 3ku11

[gsxdoug]

His difficulties with boundaries and the inmates agreement with Leonard

Ha!

[SRAM]

I think some people confuse "interacting" with "intruding".

He's going to interact with them and it might come at some inconvenient moments, but it's jot that he's trying to actually interfere with their relationship. When L/P first started dating, Sheldon didn't try to break them up, even though he kind of made fun of them. It was mostly about not wanting to hear them having sex, but he wasn't saying that they should t date. He made comments about Penny being dumb or whatever, but he also would make comments about Leonard being inferior, so it wasn't about interfering with them being together.

I think that his griping was mostly about the ways that their behavior interfered with his set-in-stone routines, his spot, etc.

And the time he climbed in the window he wasn't trying to interfere with their relationship. He heard a noise and had no idea that they had made the noise and had no idea what they were about to do until they made it clear to them.

He didn't assume the noise was them engaging in "amorous activities", he assumed it was the burglars returning and he went in through the window because he was afraid to go out into the hallway.[/quote

Actually Sheldon did break them up after their first official date. Penny went to him because she was insecure and thought she wasn't smart enough for Leonard. Sheldon's arrogance or ignorance (your chose) fed her insecurities and made them much worse, resulting in pushing them apart until the Leonard went away and made her realize how much she missed him and wanted him.

[3ku11]

Yeah no one's saying Sheldon has ultimately degressed their relationship. But he has been a thorn in their lifes at the very least. Sheldon is by no means perfect, none of the characters, but anyone who watches the show well tell you Sheldon has intervened or been intrusive in their relationship, how anyone can say other wise, you have to be watching another show.

[Chiany]

Yeah no one's saying Sheldon has ultimately degressed their relationship. But he has been a thorn in their lifes at the very least. Sheldon is by no means perfect, none of the characters, but anyone who watches the show well tell you Sheldon has intervened or been intrusive in their relationship, how anyone can say other wise, you have to be watching another show.

 

If it bothered them so much, Leonard should have moved away and learned to lock doors.

 

So, really it's kinda their own fault he kept "interfering"

[3ku11]

Ha! Their is a thing called common courtesy, so Leonard and his Friend's have to change the way they live their lifes just because Sheldon is incessant and annoying, and interfers when he is not wanted. That is only Sheldon's fault, how about he change his behaviour and their won't be a problem, but I degress.

[Itwasdestined]

If it bothered them so much, Leonard should have moved away and learned to lock doors.

 

So, really it's kinda their own fault he kept "interfering"

Or maybe it's the writers' fault since they are the ones who decide what these sitcom characters say and do!

( just sayin'. I usually overanalyse everything in this show. Thought I'd keep it simple this time.)