S8 Discussion Thread

[Nogravitasatall]

It will just be painful until TPTB have reason to move L/P forward. It's a structural problem from the show's longevity and Sheldon's inexplicable-to-me popularity.  L/P have missed the wave. Paddling from behind won't catch L/P up. Shamy dropped in on L/P and its just going to be a slog now for them to get to the beach.

 

Expectations adjusted! Which means I could be delightfully suprised at any uptick.But I wont hold my breath.

[Tomasina]

I'd like to see an episode where Emily is hanging out with HER friends and Raj ends up in the next room with a bunch of men he doesn't know-either feeling horribly out of place or Ending up charming them all. I don't think she spends all her time either working or sitting in a room by herself when Raj isn't there (lucy), and she seems like the kind of girl who would already have her own social group. It would explain some why she hardly ever spends time with raj's group. Even if she is a serial killer, it can't take up all her time.

[meka3000]

No, it won't, because they'll just move the goalposts and find something else to complain about.

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SO MUCH THIS!  Nature abhors a vacuum, if it's not one thing; it'll EVENTUALLY BE ANOTHER.

 

Also reading these last three pages I've facepalmed THIS MANY TIMES reading the fickleness that has been spewed.  The thing that actually makes me groan the most is that members here are throwing Leonard and/or Penny under the bus; BASED ON SECOND HAND INFORMATION.  The info that we have gotten from these tapings MIGHT turn out differently then what is reported.  Not to mention some scenes MIGHT GET ALTERED or edited to give off different impressions.

I don't mean to offend any member who did these reports; but I'm sure you all can attest to how many things can change between the taping AND the ACTUAL finished product.

 

I feel we as members need to stop making snap judgments based on the first thing we read.  How about we wait till the actual FINISHED PRODUCT comes out THEN we can cast judgement. 

I think at times too much is made of Penny's and Sheldon's friendship. It's not obvious but I do think looking stupid in front of Leonard bothers her. That's why i don't think she's always asks Leonard for his opinion. I think Leonard at this point wants Penny to keep her job thus Penny tricked him into going along with the audition to begin with by mentioning money. Logic hasn't always been her best friend. In regards to Alex I don't think she's coming back but I know I mentioned this earlier but a Leonard/ Emily friendship would be more effective. Penny knew Alex liked Leonard but Leonard and Emily hanging together would bother both Penny and Raj.

Not to mention if we go by what was established before this then Penny has ALREADY had Leonard's opinion.  And judging by her dialogue here, it seems like some of what Leonard said DID get through to her, like how she was anxious, and depressed last season.

 

Again how about WE WAIT to see how "Penny tricked Leonard" plays out ON SCREEN BEFORE we cast judgement.

[meka3000]

running to Sheldon for things with very little regard for Leonard other than to put him down in a negative fashion

 

 

OH PLEASE this is the first time we've gotten Penny going to Sheldon for advice this season.  As for the put downs, thats playful teasing, not put downs.  Majority if not ALL OF THOSE THINGS were played for laughs.  I've seen absolutely ZERO malice coming from Penny towards Leonard during those moments.

 

Are we REALLY losing our abilities to see what an actual joke is, and what is actual malice?

Edited March 26, 2015 by meka3000

[Chrismo]

I agree there's a little too much Penny/Sheldon stuff and not enough Lenny. I want them to talk more as a COUPLE - Shamy talks more, and they're not even engaged. Definitely need to clean up the Lenny front. 

 

Penny is in no way malicious, so she would never trick Leonard into doing anything. I think it just came up as a spur of the moment.

 

Alex isn't coming back.

 

Edit: WOOHOO! My 100th Post talking about one of my favorite ships!

trick might been the wrong word. She just went with the quickest way for Leonard to go along with the audition. That's why she mentioned the money and the investing.

OH PLEASE this is the first time we've gotten Penny going to Sheldon for advice this season.  As for the put downs, thats playful teasing, not put downs.  Majority if not ALL OF THOSE THINGS were played for laughs.  I've seen absolutely ZERO malice coming from Penny towards Leonard during those moments.

 

Are we REALLY losing our abilities to see what an actual joke is, and what is actual malice?

your right about the malice IMO. The thing is when you repeatingly tease it's just no longer funny.

[meka3000]

The thing is when you repeatingly tease it's just no longer funny.

 

Says who?

and penny does not even want his advice... awful couple....recipe for disaster....

no redeeming qualities in leonard are present... penny should break up with him....

 

Penny GOT HIS ADVICE ALREADY, your just looking for excuses to hate him.  Leonard has PROVEN to HAVE PLENTY of redeeming qualities.  Your interpretation has ZERO NUANCE.

it's pretty clear to me that she does not love him....

 

Why just because they fight sometimes? No couple is perfect.

oh and i forgot to mention the sex seems to pretty awful in case of leonard and penny...said so or implied so by penny herself... A number of times too....

 

So you ignore ALL OF THE TIMES when it isn't just to fit your point (like the canvas episode)?  See what I mean by your interpretation being without nuance?  You need to stop taking EVERYTHING the characters say as 100% face value and learn to READ BETWEEN THE LINES.

[tmp]

Why is it a problem that Penny sought Sheldon's advice?  Don't we all need friends in addition to our significant others?  In this case in particular, Sheldon was the one who encouraged her when she quit the CF to pursue acting, so it makes sense that she would want that perspective again.  

[rachelshamyfan]

Meka

Over analyzing stuff on here is what we do best and your trying to tell people how they should feel....not a good idea

[meka3000]

Meka

Over analyzing stuff on here is what we do best and your trying to tell people how they should feel....not a good id

 

I'm not trying to tell people how they should act, merely suggesting that over analyzing SECOND HAND INFORMATION that ISN'T a complete product seems foolish IMO.

 

I mean you might as well take ALL THE TABLOIDS that say Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting and Ryan Sweeting's marriage is in hot water based on them arguing, at 100% face value while you're at it.

Edited March 26, 2015 by meka3000

[rachelshamyfan]

I'm not trying to tell people how they should act, merely suggesting that over analyzing SECOND HAND INFORMATION that ISN'T a complete product seems foolish IMO.

I mean you might as well take ALL THE TABLOIDS that say Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting and Ryan Sweeting's marriage is in hot water based on them arguing, at 100% face value while you're at it.

Look, the people that do the taping reports always report back very well and its like your criticizing them as well as everyone who is showing unease or dislike for certain thing happening

And as for Kaley and Ryan that's nothing to do with this!

[Nogravitasatall]

I'm not trying to tell people how they should act, merely suggesting that over analyzing SECOND HAND INFORMATION that ISN'T a complete product seems foolish IMO.

I mean you might as well take ALL THE TABLOIDS that say Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting and Ryan Sweeting's marriage is in hot water based on them arguing, at 100% face value while you're at it.

Your caps are sticking . Heheh. Chill. It's only a show.

[Judge-Apatow]

It seems like a lot of people are of the opinion that Penny is too good for Leonard? I disagree. I think quite the opposite. I like Lenny but I feel (and to some degree I have always felt) like Leonard could do better. Leonard is a sweet, brilliant man who has always worked really hard to make Penny happy. Is he perfect? No, but he sure has a lot of endearing qualities that a lot of women would love and appreciate. Penny has been good to Leonard too in many ways. However, the way she has treated him from time to time is disheartening.

[Tonstar17]

The thing that annoys me about Penny going to Sheldon for advise is that Leonard is the one that is going to pick up the pieces when things fail for her. Penny makes rash desicion's while Leonard thinks about the consequences. If they are going to spend the rest of their lives together then they need to make decisions together. It's fine for Sheldon to say follow your dreams or do this and that but he is not the one that is there for her when things go wrong. Just look at the episode when penny's car broke down and she ran to Leonard. Did Sheldon care one bit. No. Penny was distressed and all he wanted to do was play some stupid game.

Leonard cares about penny welfare and now they are engaged to be married any decision penny make will affect Leonard and vice versa. but Sheldon just tells her what she want to her he doesn't think of the consequences because he doesn't give a damm and it's not his problem. And who does she run to when things don't work out. Poor Leonard.

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[Martin Pollard]

Look, the people that do the taping reports always report back very well and its like your criticizing them as well as everyone who is showing unease or dislike for certain thing happening

 

I'm sorry, but I didn't see where meka3000 was in any way critical of the people who write the taping reports. Meka simply mentioned that they can attest to how things written in the reports can be wildly misinterpreted by people reading them, as they often can end up coming across completely different on the screen. That's not criticism in any way, shape, or form.

[tmp]

The thing that annoys me about Penny going to Sheldon for advise is that Leonard is the one that is going to pick up the pieces when things fail for her. Penny makes rash desicion's while Leonard thinks about the consequences. If they are going to spend the rest of their lives together then they need to make decisions together. It's fine for Sheldon to say follow your dreams or do this and that but he is not the one that is there for her when things go wrong. Just look at the episode when penny's car broke down and she ran to Leonard. Did Sheldon care one bit. No. Penny was distressed and all he wanted to do was play some stupid game.

Leonard cares about penny welfare and now they are engaged to be married any decision penny make will affect Leonard and vice versa. but Sheldon just tells her what she want to her he doesn't think of the consequences because he doesn't give a damm and it's not his problem. And who does she run to when things don't work out. Poor Leonard.

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I see your point, and I agree that couples in committed relationships should make decisions together.  However, I still think we all seek advice from other friends as well.  The final decision should be between Lenny, but I don't see the harm in either of them getting input from other people as part of the process.

[Tonstar17]

I totally agree it doesn't hurt to get a 2nd opinion from a friend. My issue with the whole thing is that it wasn't a joint decision. Penny just went ahead and did what she wants as usual. To me that shows she is not committed to Leonard as he is to her.

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[djsurrey]

Flaws in the characters and their actions is a mainstay of sitcoms. It sets up some of the humor.

 

Penny has often had some difficulty in discussing things directly with Leonard.

Leonard often says what he thinks she wants to hear.

 

I don't find any of this surprising.

[nickelette424]

Why are we talking about the fact that Leonard wasn't supportive of her when she wanted to audition? This goes both ways. Unless Penny haphazardly quit her job before knowing if she got the part I see nothing wrong with going to audition just so she can weigh he options? I don't think Penny did anything wrong here at all.

[SRAM]

Why are we talking about the fact that Leonard wasn't supportive of her when she wanted to audition? This goes both ways. Unless Penny haphazardly quit her job before knowing if she got the part I see nothing wrong with going to audition just so she can weigh he options? I don't think Penny did anything wrong here at all.

You mean like she quit the Cheesecake Factory last season with no acting job in her future. Wouldn't you expect that a normal person who has seen her do that once would think she would do the same thing again. After all she doesn't talk to him about her plans, she just dumps on him what she is going to do. It seems the only one she discusses things with is Sheldon, like she did last season.

[nibbler747]

I feel bad for Leonard.  She doesn't discuss things with with him like a real partner should.  Perhaps she just thinks he won't be supportive of her, like when she quit her job at Cheesecake Factory.  Frankly, I agree with Leonard on that front; she quit her Cheesecake job with no plan, which wasn't good.  I don't think he was against her quitting, but thought that she should have a plan in place.  It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

This situation is a bit different, cause she could audition, and it doesn't mean she needs to quit her pharm job.  I wonder during the conversation with Sheldon, she will say if she likes or dislikes her current job.  They've shown her to be quite good at it, and generally seems to be liking her new job.  But acting is her dream, so I think she would ultimately like to do that.  I also think it would make for more interesting situations on TV if she did get a acting "gig".

[MTBigBangTheoryFan]

I would think she would talk to Amy or Bernadette about some of these things before Sheldon or another Female like a sister if she has one.

Wasn't that part of the reason Amy and Bernadette were borough on in the first place? 
 

Edited March 26, 2015 by MTBigBangTheoryFan

[djsurrey]

One advantage of Sheldon for this is he is normally not afraid to say what he actually thinks. He does not worry about how it will make someone feel.

[kerrycec03]

Penny is 100% closer to Sheldon than Bernie & Amy.  Plus, I think just like with Leonard, Penny doesn't want to admit failure to Amy & Bernie either.  Sheldon again with his no filter, tell it like it is attitude she probably prefers.  They are sutto siblings Penny & Sheldon.  I have never once got the impression Amy/Bernadette/Penny have a sister-like relationship.  Are they close, sure at times, but not in the same way.

[SRAM]

Or is it that Bernadette and Amy would feel the same way as Leonard, therefore Penny doesn't want an honest opinion, she just wants someone to support her wild ideas. A good SO will tell you when you are doing something stupid, but maybe she just wants someone to agree with her, because we all know she hates criticism, when she does stupid things, like when she got married, as an example.

[vasu]

Your analysis is so harsh and vitriolic, it brought tears to the eyes of this Leonard fan.  

I wonder why you have Leonard as your avitar and did you ever like him?

well if you cry by reading some opinions(by some random person on the internet) that you do not seem to like.. then I can't do anything lol

I found that gif cute ...so i kept it as my avatar...no other reason as simple as that....

 

In Season 1 Leonard was a short, timid, asthmatic, lactose intolerant nerd who often ended his sentences with  a question mark.

In Season 8 he's still a short, timid, asthmatic, lactose intolerant nerd who has grown a lot since Season 1.

He's more confident, more assertive and more socially adept.

Will he ever confront his enemies and tormentors like the Hulk?

No, confrontation isn't easy or natural for everyone and some people have trouble standing up for themselves.

Other people snap at the very least provocation, wrecking havoc along their path with their rage.

Some may find the perfect balance over a lifetime, but it's tricky IMO.

Nah , I think earlier he was shy and awkward...

but now he is just pathetic... one of the reason behind this is there is no characterization of his character at all in the last few seasons...

it is always about penny and sheldon... leonard just seems to be a passenger in their stories..

his character seems to the least number of plots...

 

I see many redeeming qualities in Leonard which is why Penny loves him.

He's sweet, loving, generous, loyal, funny, cute and very, very smart.   

She fought the attraction for years, but she was drawn to him, as they say, like a moth to a flame.

Are they done and doomed? I don't think so and I'm not attending the Lenny funeral.

I rarely see any attraction...be it the actress or the character...

Penny constantly criticizes leonard and makes fun of him in every aspect...and leonard being the pathetic guy he has become takes everything..

last season I thought leonard was standing up to penny when she suddenly quit her job and pursued acting...but he reverted to the pathetic self again...

 

In terms of being a character who helps the story work, I think Leonard's nature, his character traits make him a perfect roommate for Sheldon. Who else?

Finally, I think we could make mince meat out of any of the characters by showcasing their imperfections, which we know the writers usually exaggerate for the joke.

i think leonard is exactly what you are saying.... a perfect roommate for sheldon... a wimp for a bully

and same in the relationship...wimp and a bully....

but if the only thing left out a character are exaggeration for the jokes...then the characters do not look good.....

I wish penny would just dump leonard... probably then leonard's character would get some good plots...or else he will have to wallow in the feet of penny and sheldon...

and penny's character would probably be more happier and cheerful if she were not together with leonard...

Edited March 26, 2015 by vasu