S8 Discussion Thread

[Chrismo]

Plus Leonard saying "he's always scared". What the hell was that about? Jesus! They're engaged, right? As a former Lenny, it hurts to hear that...

it's an old line the writers have been using for awhile. It's suppose to be funny?

[phantagrae]

it's an old line the writers have been using for awhile. It's suppose to be funny?

Maybe it really is still part of Leonard's character. Even though he has the girl of his dreams, there's always going to be that underlying current of insecurity because that's just his personality. Just because she said yes doesn't mean that he's some kind of confident superhero now.

These guys are always going to be some version of who they've always been. Leonard's going to be insecure to some degree, Sheldon's going to be arrogant, etc.

[Chaliceinnana]

The next four episodes feel like something i am going to have to endure rather than something I am looking forward to based on the taping reports. I may have to go spoiler free so I'll want to start watching again...

[Martin Pollard]

I'm avoiding this thread completely until the histrionics have died down, because if I roll my eyes any harder, they're going to fall out of my head. Have fun, folks.

[Chrismo]

Maybe it really is still part of Leonard's character. Even though he has the girl of his dreams, there's always going to be that underlying current of insecurity because that's just his personality. Just because she said yes doesn't mean that he's some kind of confident superhero now.

These guys are always going to be some version of who they've always been. Leonard's going to be insecure to some degree, Sheldon's going to be arrogant, etc.

i agree with you on that though I disgree on Sheldon's motivation for the experiment. he'always thought of himself highly and points it out on a regular basis. IMO Amy who does it less frequently generally to make herself feel better.

[frankie]

Disappointed more about the writers coitusing with us with the title "Intimacy Acceleration" than with the actual episode. The love experiment is kind of interesting, and was back in the news because of a cute New York Times "Modern Love" article that referenced the experiment and was trending online: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/fashion/modern-love-to-fall-in-love-with-anyone-do-this.html?_r=0

 

I like the idea of Howard and Bernie having an emotional storyline, but why the urn? Cremation is very much frowned upon in the Jewish religion. I highly doubt Mrs. W. had that in her will. But I guess they needed that for the urn in the bedroom joke from Bernadette. 

 

Whoops, someone posted the link already. 

Edited January 28, 2015 by frankie

[tmp]

Two quick observations before I have to head off to class:

 

1.  In response to all the people who thought the title was misleading or manipulative:  we weren't supposed to know it ahead of time!!!!  Nobody is purposely messing with us.  We got hold of some information we weren't really supposed to have, and some of us assumed we knew what the title meant.  That's not the fault of anyone associated with the show; that's 100% on us.

 

2.  I liked the Sheldon/Penny plot.  I thought it was a sweet friendship moment between the two of them.  I also liked the Howard/Bernie plot, too.  Bernie used her bullying for good rather than evil this time.  I'm not sure about the weird zombie game.  We'll see how it plays out.   

Edited January 28, 2015 by tmp

[Tomasina]

My main issues is that this whole experiment could have been used to reveal Sheldon and Penny's deep feelings about their respective relationships. Penny could have opened up about fears about getting married. Sheldon could have opened up about fears about intimacy or taking the relationship further. They could have helped each other to epiphanies about their respective relationships. But instead it was just a giant nail in the coffin of Shenny. Which I'm fine with, I guess, since the writers doused the coffin in gasoline and set it on fire and jettisoned it to the sun. But I feel like we could have done that while still serving the greater stories of Lenny and Shamy along the way.

Then again, what do I know, I'm just a fool with an atom tattooed on my face.

I've haven't gotten to read anything past this yet but I agree. Besides, I thought the I love you made it clear to shennies it wasn't going to happen. this just sounds like the writers were being mean without accomplishing anything else. Edited January 28, 2015 by Tomasina

[frankie]

Two quick observations before I have to head off to class:

 

1.  In response to all the people who thought the title was misleading or manipulative:  we weren't supposed to know it ahead of time!!!!  Nobody is purposely messing with us.  We got hold of some information we weren't really supposed to have, and some of us assumed we knew what the title meant.  That's not the fault of anyone associated with the show; that's 100% on us.

 

2.  I liked the Sheldon/Penny plot.  I thought it was a sweet friendship moment between the two of them.  I also liked the Howard/Bernie plot, too.  Bernie used her bullying for good rather than evil this time.  I'm not sure about the weird zombie game.  We'll see how it plays out.   

That's not exactly true: back when I was unspoiled, I would look at the episode guide on my DVR to see what the title of the upcoming episode was. I would know about a week ahead of time instead of a month. 

[IAteAButterfly]

Regardless of all of this, I've still missed my show and I'm glad it's back tomorrow. This hiatus felt longer than the holiday one.

[kimbee73]

Okay I am coming late to the party and I may repeat some of the sentiments here but I think this episode will be fine.

I am not worried about whether Sheldon was flirting or not. We all know he is a perfectionist and wants to get everything right on a test so this would be no different. He probably was trying to get her to "fall in love" just to prove it was malarkey. He isn't remotely interested in Penny. Nor her him. We all know that.

Amy and Leonard know that as well.  The whole thing was to prove it was ridiculous. Sheldon has declared his love for Amy and has said more than one time.

I think they did the third take on who do you think made the French toast because they want to show us he has future plans with her. Even if they use the she's long dead, he was talking about traveling to the future so maybe she is, not that big of a deal. We know he wants to make himself into a robot(S4) and live longer than everyone.

I was worried before I read the report because I read comments first, after reading the report, I am not worried. Everyone loves each other. Now if we can only get them to show some affection.

Maybe I am not as upset because even though I hoped the title meant something more, I was not getting my hopes up.

 

And as far as Shenny shippers they will use this as they will, who cares. It is their choice to ship them. Remember people we are talking about fictional characters here. I am just as guilty as everyone to make them real life but they really aren't. I don't care who you pair even if it doesn't make sense. It is for fun.....

 

So all in all I am looking forward to this episode just like I look forward to each and every new one. I hope one day we all get what we want out of these relationships but the writers will do what they want with their characters.

[tmp]

That's not exactly true: back when I was unspoiled, I would look at the episode guide on my DVR to see what the title of the upcoming episode was. I would know about a week ahead of time instead of a month. 

 

Doesn't a brief description of the episode usually accompany the title?  It always does on my DVR.

[Anita Rez]

I found the Howardette storyline very interesting.

 

They may not have kept kosher and are Reformed (least religious) but it surprised the hell out of me that Mrs. W. would be cremated.  I'm guessing they did this because it's less intense and emotional for everyone involved with the show and I don't blame them.

 

He could've taken the box with the urn in it as a carry-on because this is what my SIL did when she brought my MIL to VA for a visit.  All you have to do is show the airport personnel the paperwork from the funeral home.

 

This had to have taken place maybe 1 1/2-2 weeks after she passed away because Jews are buried ASAP unless it's a holiday or the Sabbath.  You spend time with family but a lot of that is spent eating.  At least in my experience and I've been to a lot of Jewish funerals.

 

I'm wondering if they're going to have him wear a black button with a partially cut ribbon or even refer to it but I doubt it.

[rachelshamyfan]

Its 7 hours later and I'm still like wtf did tptb go "there" for

Baffling and to quote my own comment last week on here

"Freaking out right now"

[Irene]

I'm going to reserve judgement until the episode airs, and final edits are done. Given the number of scenes in this one, I can't imagine them fitting it all in to the 20-ish minutes. (If they do it's gonna be one choppy episode!)

But overall I think Lio nailed it in her comments. And I have to say I don't think there's ANYTHING that the show can create that will be a "final nail in the coffin" for ardent Shennies. Shipping and rational analysis or connection to "reality" (canon) don't always go together.

I hope none of the Howard storyline is cut in the edits, as it seemed to me the strongest material.

[tbhf]

On this we can agree. Certainly in Australia, channel nine will have a field day with this and I'll have all my non obsessed BBT friends a hassling me about what is going on with Sheldon and Penny.

Channel 9s ads are insane I remember for Cooper Extraction they milked the laundry scene so much, and First Pitch was like will Lenny break up?! Yesh they go crazy for them - my fav was last years Valentine's day and how they kept talking about "THE KISS" so loud so powerful so hilarious

[bbtfan07]

The increase in closeness between one of the couples on the show does not come about as the title might suggest. Like the title of a book, the episode title is used to get people to watch the show and sometimes the hook of the title dosen't live up to the story that the title insinuates. Sheldon and Penny may have become closer, however, it would have been better if the Shamy had had the relationship movement. Not with a big bang, but with a fizzle.

[Andy_90's_generation]

Oh, dear. I have so many things to quote. Guys, stop writing so much!!!

 

 

 

Wow way to upset a mass ship

Penny and Sheldon conduct an experiment to see if they can artificially fall in love 

 

I bet my favourite pair of shoes (lol) that this plot came from that tweet Bill got the other day. i won't hear otherwise.

 

 

 

 

Michy just came in chat. The whole experiement was stupid and silly, not threatning at all. Sheldon and Penny just stared each other awkwardly. Then came to the conclusion they are not in love. Sounds like it is the writers putting the whole idea of Shenny to bed.

 

 

Guys, you know that Sheldon working on his relationship issues can only be good for Shamy in the long run, and Penny is like his big sister. If he's asking her for advice or asking questions about what it means for him to be in a relationship, especially if he's wondering about intimacy (contemplating it), then again, it can only be good for him and Amy in the long run.

If the "experiment" entails answering questions, you know it's going to be funny, not sexual, between Sheldon and Penny.

This is what happens when people let their imaginations run wild... 

I'm not saying people shouldn't speculate and have fun with that, but then they also shouldn't get mad if things don't go the way they imagined.

It would be nice if it was a discussion between Sheldon and Amy, but sometimes you need to talk to an outside party to get perspective. 

 

No, but. We have to wait and see how they look at each other! the whole opposites atract each other, y'know. there must be something there, i'm sure. LOL 

 

 

 

 

I really don't think it's that big a deal for them to kind of mock that article, or whatever. Not every episode has to be monumental or earth-shattering.

From what little I know it sounds amusing. Maybe it's not as funny as some others, but that doesn't mean it's a wasted episode

 

I know i'll be lmao watching it. For two reasons: one, because even thought i don't ship shenny, not even in my wildest nightmares, i do enjoy Jim/Kaley interaction, they are a fun pair, just like when Sheldon used to do the 'knock x3, Penny!' thing. Two, because it'll result funny to me to see how these two realize they are not mean to be. From the safe place of knowing shenny's a mirage a couple fan saw once, and that's all it is, was and will be.

So, i'm looking forward to this episode.

 

 

 

 

First two takes had Sheldon saying, "It's the future, she's long dead." Pick up had Sheldon saying, "Who do you think made the French toast?"

 

O.M.G! i hate you TPTB, so much, how could this ppl even think of putting that line there?! ugh!

 

 

 

Two quick observations before I have to head off to class:

 

1.  In response to all the people who thought the title was misleading or manipulative:  we weren't supposed to know it ahead of time!!!!  Nobody is purposely messing with us.  We got hold of some information we weren't really supposed to have, and some of us assumed we knew what the title meant.  That's not the fault of anyone associated with the show; that's 100% on us.

 

2.  I liked the Sheldon/Penny plot.  I thought it was a sweet friendship moment between the two of them.  I also liked the Howard/Bernie plot, too.  Bernie used her bullying for good rather than evil this time.  I'm not sure about the weird zombie game.  We'll see how it plays out.   

 

100% agree.

 

 

thanks for the report. i really want to watch it. ^^

Edited January 28, 2015 by Andy_90's_generation

[kazzie]

Hey guys!

Sorry for being so inactive recently! My real life has caught up with me.. BUM :/

 

In all honesty.. this episode does not bug me as much as suspected...If theres anyone I feel sorry for, It's the Lenny's and lack of focus on them after their engagement... And Im saying that as a die hard Shamy. Shamy fans have had a bloody good season (so far) We have had some gold episodes and some serious strides.

 

We got a title.. Assumed the best and got nothing much from it. But look at what was taped last week! we can't have it all (as much as I wish).

 

This plot for me is ok. We finally can put the Shenny to rest, Sheldon did say he loved Amy and lastly the plot with Howard is focusing on Mrs Wolowitz. Sheldon and Penny mix well together in the eyes of comedy (what this show is). I think its cute they have established seeing one another as like siblings. 

 

Take care all

 

And as always.. Thanks to Michykins for the report! *chucks Kinda your way* 

Edited January 28, 2015 by kazzie

[wowbagger]

frankie, Anita, those are very interesting remarks, and nice catch about the cremation. I was hoping that they would devote some time to a leave-taking for Mrs W with the whole gang (apart from the brief one from a previous episode). It's an unpopular opinion, I know, but I actually like it when the show is willing to go properly into dramatic territory. You have a talented cast, show! They can handle it! The laughs are richer if you're willing to acknowledge pathos (cf. Professor Proton's funeral, with Leonard and Penny's gentle, sweet joy in each other, and Sheldon's isolation and pain).

[tmp]

If you don't like the Sheldon/Penny friendship, this episode is obviously not going to be your cup of tea, but I like what I've read of it.  It reminded me of 7.01, when the two of them were hanging out together and each shared something personal.  Penny has had some insecurities in the past about whether she was smart enough for Leonard, but this time she essentially revealed that she felt out of place that way with as the rest of their group of friends.  For someone like Penny, that's not an easy admission to make.  After the initial obligatory joke, Sheldon was mature enough to reassure her that she has a brand of intelligence he does not.  

 

We've always said on this forum that S/P feel like siblings, but for them to admit it was very sweet.  I'm close to my brothers so the brother-sister dynamic in fiction always speaks to me.  (I loved Ross and Monica on Friends, and I actually said on here last night I liked seeing Priya and Raj together.)  There's a special trust and affection (at least there can be) between opposite-sex siblings, where you don't act overtly affectionate most of the time but you always have each other's backs.  Sheldon and Penny usually razz each other like my brother and I do, but this was one of the sincere moments that show the trust between them. I find the Sheldon/Penny friendship very touching from that perspective.

 

I now hold up my shield to protect from the barrage of rotten tomatoes that are headed my way in response to this post.  I need a gif of JP hiding behind his Shakespearesque cape when Ellen Degeneres was barraging him with nerf "bullets" and water from a super soaker.

Edited January 28, 2015 by tmp

[ShamyBabboos]

Hey guys!

Sorry for being so inactive recently! My real life has caught up with me.. BUM :/

 

In all honesty.. this episode does not bug me as much as suspected...If theres anyone I feel sorry for, It's the Lenny's and lack of focus on them after their engagement... And Im saying that as a die hard Shamy. Shamy fans have had a bloody good season (so far) We have had some gold episodes and some serious strides.

 

We got a title.. Assumed the best and got nothing much from it. But look at what was taped last week! we can't have it all (as much as I wish).

 

This plot for me is ok. We finally can put the Shenny to rest, Sheldon did say he loved Amy and lastly the plot with Howard is focusing on Mrs Wolowitz. Sheldon and Penny mix well together in the eyes of comedy (what this show it). I think its cute they have established seeing one another as like siblings. 

 

Take care all

 

And as always.. Thanks to Michykins for the report! *chucks Kinda your way* 

This.

 

100% this. Like really, having Shenny in there was a funny way to put Shenny to rest. It had no double-meaning. It was simply what the writers wanted to do to show that Shenny is incapable of happening.

 

i agree I would've liked the episode to go the way we assumed, but we have so much already. I mean, how many of us thought that we'd get an "I love you" so soon (in Shamy standards)? i'm sure a lot of us were thinking S9 for that. We also have a shirtless-Sheldon coming up.

remember, the season isn't over yet! We still have plenty of episodes left!

[phantagrae]

This is why I think that the episode is a bit of a waste, and just unnecessary: I really don't think that the writers can stop people shipping Shenny as their preference if that's what people want to do, and how they feel about it. It has always been a ship that required a twisted sense of viewing comprehension skills to believe would be a real thing that would ever happen on the show since season 4, and Amy's arrival. Before that, I do think that it's *possible* it could have been done, although only with some finesse of the characters and over quite a period of time after she and Leonard broke up, and a lot of the Shenny shipping comes from that particular time period.

 

But if people want to ship Shenny, I don't think that there's a lot that the writers can do to stop it, even with episodes like this. To me, it's unnecessary to go this far to "disprove" Shenny as a possibility, and comes across very aggressively from the writers. I mean, I can almost feel their mocking and anger and the fact they've reached the end of their rope on fans pressuring them to "make Shenny happen" in it. So they are taking a big huge piss on it.

 

However, I think it's more effective to show Leonard & Penny, and Sheldon & Amy, as strong couples who love each other and are having a good time in each other's company and enjoying their relationships as a "Shenny antidote" than to pull something like this. It's also more respectful to the fans; this episode was pure Shenny bashing, and a lot of those fans have been into the show since the very beginning and part of what grew the fanbase. I'm really not sold on the idea it's okay to dish out a serving of "this is how impossible your ship is now, get a clue" due to a few wackadoodles on Twitter who I doubt represent the whole fanbase.

 

So while it is funny, and since I do like Penny and Sheldon's scenes and their dynamic, there's a very obvious subtext to it which is a direct shutdown to Shenny fans which wouldn't even be an issue except for the writer's frustration with the very vocal ones. I don't hate it, but I have misgivings about the entire thing.

 

 

But none of them took it remotely seriously. Penny and Sheldon were not "willing to fall in love with each other," they went into it for their own motivations. Penny because she loves to dig up the dirt on people, and Sheldon because it's a scientific experiment and he might get a lousy tee shirt and ride out of it. And Leonard and Amy both knew their mates well enough not to be remotely threatened by it. Not a single person involved in the entire thing went into it, or viewed it as a serious attempt nor possibility for either to fall in love. And as it turned out by the end, they were all completely correct in their assumption. Sounds like they know themselves better than some of the fans do. And while it would have been nice for Amy and Leonard to be talked about more, maybe, we all know that that's NOT the relationships that these people have, nor who these people are.

 

And moreover, that's not who these writers are. They are rarely going to have Sheldon be sappy, and if he is, like talking about what he loves about Amy, he's going to follow that up with, "now let's go find her a present that will make her miserable and guilty."

 

Because these writers are trying to pen a comedy. COM.A.DEE. They want to make people laugh, not dwell too much on the romantic stuff or lovey-dovey things except very briefly, on special milestones.

 

Also, to dial this back to something that has been talked about a lot this season, and a bit this past week: A lot of people are upset about the lack of Lenny's progress, and the lack of sweetness or sexy time with them. And weirdly, there was chat last week about lack of Lenny progress - or Shamy progress - for the sake of "character growth."

 

I would like to put forward that it is definitely NOT "character growth" which is causing the "something missing" this season, or lack of Lenny romance. In fact, it's the opposite: it's deliberate stonewalling of the storyline in order to drag things out. Molaro said in interviews this summer that he wanted to step away from Lenny now that they are engaged, and they are doing so. They do not want to rush Leonard and Penny to the alter, but at the same time I don't think that they want to pop up some huge and meaningless arguments between them either. If this was a sitcom driven by character development or character-driven plots, Leonard and Penny would be talking about and planning their wedding and living arrangements. But I think that having the living arrangements change is something that the writers don't want to deal with as of yet (and so they are carefully sprinkling seeds about it, as with last week, Sheldon and Leonard actually talking about it again) and so things are being delayed. Leonard is off getting surgery on his deviated septum and chasing birds in clean rooms, while Penny has this episode with Sheldon, or her plotline about getting a new job. Or her and Emily hating each other.

 

We are meant to believe that all is simply happy "status quo" for the most part, and that the relationships are all moving along fine, and everyone is happy, unless we are shown differently. We're meant to assume that things are fine, and lovey-dovey stuff is happening, while they are not being shown on screen in favor of situation comedy like birds showing up in the clean room, or Sheldon sleeping on the couch while he goes through separation anxiety attacks.

 

They did this sort of thing when Leonard and Penny split up the first time, and honestly, it's a lot of what lead to Shenny speculation. At that time, in season 3, when Leonard and Penny broke up, they started having plot lines where Penny and Sheldon were doing something and the 3 boys doing something else. That's the whole basis to Adhesive Ducks, for instance. It was a ploy to keep Leonard and Penny apart, and not talking about their relationship or doing much to fueling their relationship issues, but giving them some cooling off time. They are clearly doing the same thing this season; they are putting Leonard and Penny's forward progression in their relationship (which obviously is their wedding) off and keeping them involved in other zany plots so they don't have to deal with the issue. They are also going through having Sheldon and Leonard work out their friendship too, probably to give us happy memories of their bromance before splitting them up.

 

This is not really character-driven stuff - all of those types of plots get picked up and dropped without another word like crazy. Howard wanting to get his PhD - what happened to that? Raj is in a successful long-term relationship which is going to be coming up on lasting almost a year pretty soon, but we barely see Emily on screen. So none of the things which should be plot-driven by Raj is really coming up either. They are developing Sheldon and Amy through their "I love you," which is great for all Shamy fans. Sheldon and Amy are obviously in a great place in their relationship right now, but as usual it's slow going if you're only holding onto their ship to find out when they are going to come around to coitus. Which, if that's their driving issue, is also not going to be addressed much so far this season.

 

AND NO ONE IS KISSING. WTH with THAT, writers?

 

PS. Where is phanta with her, "I'm not bothered by this" when we need her?

 

I'm right here, baby, not at all bothered by this.

 

I agree that the reason we're not seeing L/P picking out wedding stuff is that TPTB aren't ready to start down that path yet.  With the show slated to bo another 2 seasons--at least!--they're not going to have Penny looking at dresses for 2 years, and they're not going to get married right away, so what would be the point in teasing the audience with wedding details if the wedding is still way down the pike?

 

Same thing with Shamy coitus.  They BARELY kiss.  If they start tumbling down that slope too quickly, they'll get there before TPTB are ready to put them there--they'd have to make up random excuses to back them away from it.

 

So, the storylines focus on other things.  I'm glad they took the time to deal with Howard's mother.  That's a valid story to tell, given the circumstances, and it gives them something else to focus on, something for Howard to grow through and deal with that's not just him stumblebumbling around some random issue.

 

I was just thinking about this earlier this morning (yes, I contemplate TBBT as I'm getting ready for work...)  L/P are climbing a pretty big mountain and they've struggled to reach this plateau.  For now, they're happy, they're committed, they're looking forward to their future together, but since they aren't going to be tackling the summit for a while, they're just camping out on the plateau, like Everest climbers acclimating at one of the base camps.  In due time they'll put on their gear and tackle the summit.

 

The same thing holds true for Sheldon & Amy, in many ways.  I think they're definitely at a lower altitude, if you will, than the other couples, but they'll eventually take on that mountain.

 

In the meantime, as Lio said, there are plenty of silly, funny things they can all get up to, and Raj's relationship with Emily is another factor that can provide some distraction.  Since Raj's relationship, like Howard's, isn't one of the big suspenseful issues for the show, TPTB can play around with it and move them along faster than Lenny and Shamy, without messing with the BIG MOMENTS that are to come, and it's yet another disctraction from wedding preparation and virgin coitus.

 

And again, the reason Penny and Sheldon weren't waxing romantic on how they feel about their respective SOs is that those aren't the kinds of questions in that relationship test.  It isn't about asking, "How do you feel about your boyfriend/girlfriend?" so that you can get all sappy, it's for people who are NOT in relationships so that they can assess whoever they're taking the test with as a potential SO.

 

If I were taking the test with some guy, I wouldn't be asking him to tell me all about his last girlfriend and how much he loved her.

 

Anyway, mountains out of molehills.  "I'm not bothered by this."

 

[Guest Loyal to SPQR and Shamy]

This.

 

100% this. Like really, having Shenny in there was a funny way to put Shenny to rest. It had no double-meaning. It was simply what the writers wanted to do to show that Shenny is incapable of happening.

 

i agree I would've liked the episode to go the way we assumed, but we have so much already. I mean, how many of us thought that we'd get an "I love you" so soon (in Shamy standards)? i'm sure a lot of us were thinking S9 for that. We also have a shirtless-Sheldon coming up.

remember, the season isn't over yet! We still have plenty of episodes left!

 

You're absolutely right. We need to remain positive and upbeat in the face of this. After all, this season has been a gift for us Shamies. More will come, we have 8 more eps this season. If we have survived through Shamy almost-breakups, selfish, hurtful comments from Sheldon, and the 'one step forward, two steps back' thing, we can live through this. We're moving forward by leaps and bounds, and that's good.

 

Lenny should have some spotlight too, and I think it will be addressed more down the line.

[bigbangsheldon]

 

i just found there's a repeat on the 12th? why cbs monkeys