Emily And Raj, Pro Or Con And Why

[phantagrae]

Personally, the character of Emily doesn't resonate well and I would prefer to see Raj break up with her. There's nothing wrong with being different or weird, but I just don't think she and Raj are well suited. She genuinely scares him, and if they've been together for what - a year? - and she's still scaring him like that, they probably shouldn't be together. I don't think she fits in with the rest of the group either - like in the prom episode, even Bernadette, who is "nice to everyone", struggled to get along with her. 

 

I thought Raj and Lucy were far better together. In just a short time, Lucy had such an impact on Raj that he was finally able to talk to women. I think it was a big confidence boost for Raj to be with someone who had bigger social problems than he did, and if they had have been together longer I truly believe he could have helped Lucy overcome her own issues. They were a joy to watch together. And Steve Molaro hasn't ruled out Lucy coming back either, so fingers crossed on my end. 

 

I think Emily would/will fit in with the gang much more than Lucy ever would have.  Lucy was too soft and unable to stand up for herself and she wouldn't have lasted a day with the gang.  Never mind the fact that she was too nervous to even meet them.

 

Emily is educated and in the sciences like the rest of the gang, except Penny.  And Penny fits in because she has street smarts and a strong personality and lots of confidence.  Even if she sometimes doesn't get the "sciencey stuff", she's not stupid and she's not vulnerable.  She can give as good as she may get.

 

I hope that Laura Spencer is more available next season so the writers can truly explore her character and integrate her more into the gang.  I think she fit in well when she went with Raj and Amy and Leonard to go do the puzzle-solving game (with the zombie).  We didn't see much of their individual personalities in those few scenes, but she obviously fit in well--I think it was even her idea to go do it.

 

We haven't really seen her at dinner with the gang except in the one episode and she's never been part of girls night.  I think those are the places where the writers would really have a chance to have her joining in the conversation, being part of the gang, etc..

 

I just don't know if there's any room for her to sit...

[Mislav]

I find Raj & Emily fascinating Mislav. My fondness for them stems from Raj's rather dark sexual attraction, sorry Sheldon but this right here is your 'moth to the flame' situation.

The attraction of fear is a strange and primal one, at the very basest level there's that remnant of the primitive instinct that dangerous individuals provide protection and provision and (in Freudian terms) fear and sexual arousal are interrelated by hormonal changes and exhilaration.

It's a common trope, from Twilight to Gone With The Wind, the dangerous boy/girl casts an irresistible lure. In RL too, we expect our brains to override unhealthy impulses but, in reality, we are wired to value the unpredictable reward above that which is anticipated, again another prehistoric survival necessity that lingers unhelpfully.

I am actually a fan of darker relationship somehow, but not in the way it is portrayed between Raj and Emily. The type I like is where a certain character has a dark side in a way that he/she is willing to risk a lot and in order to get what he/she wants or is even willing to harm another person, but despite the possibly dangerous or wrong actions both characters actually do fight for the good cause or a greater cause so to say. (No I don't ship Batman and Robin). Or when the person's intent isn't to actually do good but he/she is evil due to his or hers own selfish reasons but we do get an actual understanding in the person's motives, see the person's good side at times, and his/her partner comes to accept him/her instead of being afraid. I know that it is complicated but that is the best I can explain, I just don't think that Raj/Emily relationship is developing right even if they want to make it dark. I can see why others would like it but I don't. Not to mention that I don't see Emily's dark side as fitting in a sitcom and the whole is she/isn't she vibe the writers are giving us regarding that.

[SRAM]

Am I the only one that doesn't think Raj was trying to break up with Emily? I may be biased because I love the two of them together, but I feel like he really was trying to tell her he loved her from the beginning. It was just a combination of his inexperience and awkardness that led him to screw it up so badly. Just because they're very different people doesn't mean they can't love each other. Isn't love supposed to be loving every part of the other person and not trying to change them? That's what so great about the two of them. They accept each other without trying to force the other to become someone else. I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say he really did mean to say he loved her from the beginning but just went about it the wrong way. People panick when things don't go their way, especially a romantic speech that gets taken the wrong way.

 

Isn't it romantic to take a girl out to do something she really likes and profess your love that way? Maybe I'm reaching, but Raj has also been very proud of his caramel skin and maybe compareing her dark inside to his dark outside was his way of trying to reach her. I'm just not so certain that Raj really was trying to back out of the relationship like so many people assume he was trying to do. He never said he was going to do it, only that he was thinking about it. I think he decided he loved her despite their differences.

Is it me or is the Raj and Emily relationship the fastest one of the group? It seems to have moved much quicker than the others, so wouldn't it shake things up if they got married in Las Vegas, Raj maybe reluctantly. They could have them married for a season, then divorce, that would be a new twist in the show and it would go with Raj's character of always being the one who loses out.

[jenafan]

Is it me or is the Raj and Emily relationship the fastest one of the group? It seems to have moved much quicker than the others, so wouldn't it shake things up if they got married in Las Vegas, Raj maybe reluctantly. They could have them married for a season, then divorce, that would be a new twist in the show and it would go with Raj's character of always being the one who loses out.

It is not just you. I think they have the most unhealthy relationship on the show, and I didn't like Lucy any better. The poor man gets the short end of the stick as far as women are concerned, and he is such a nice and caring person. Like Bernie said, any woman would be lucky to have him.

I liked Yvette a lot. I wonder why that never went anywhere.

[Martin Pollard]

I liked Yvette a lot. I wonder why that never went anywhere.

 

I figure that either the producers wanted to go in a different direction (i.e. Emily), or the actress who played Yvette (Tania Raymonde) wasn't interested in continuing the role, even on a recurring basis.

[Tensor]

I figure that either the producers wanted to go in a different direction (i.e. Emily), or the actress who played Yvette (Tania Raymonde) wasn't interested in continuing the role, even on a recurring basis.

It's also possible it was felt she wasn't a good fit with the cast.

[jenafan]

It's also possible it was felt she wasn't a good fit with the cast.

Good point.

As far as her on screen character, she wasn't exactly hitting it off with Lenny. I got the same impression about Lucy. Raj liked her, but I couldn't see her meshing with the group.

[Chrismo]

It The poor man gets the short end of the stick as far as women are concerned, and he is such a nice and caring person. Like Bernie said, any woman would be lucky to have him. .

you must of missed the season 4 finale.

[jenafan]

you must of missed the season 4 finale.

We learn in S5 that he still didn't get the girl. I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused by your comment.

[Chrismo]

We learn in S5 that he still didn't get the girl. I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused by your comment.

he was a nice and caring person who tried to take advantage of a drunk Penny?

[jenafan]

he was a nice and caring person who tried to take advantage of a drunk Penny?

While, I see your point, he was drunk, too. It seemed to be consensual between two drunk individuals in the moment.

If Raj were uncaring, he could have chosen to never tell Penny what really happened, which was nothing. Instead, he chose humility and told her the truth.

[Martin Pollard]

It's also possible it was felt she wasn't a good fit with the cast.

 

That, too. I thought I implied that with my "different direction" comment, but the connection must have only been in my head.

[nibbler747]

I think for Raj to be in a relationship that people were invested in, they would need to pair him with someone who he kind of spars with at first.  Someone he fights with...finds annoying, and slowly develop their relationship from there.  With Raj immediately sickenly sweet all the time, it's hard to find a proper match that people get invested in.

 

Bring back Raj that is a bit of an ass.  Then bring a girl that calls him out on his crap.  I think that would be interesting to watch.

 

I did like Emily.  I think she had potential to be a really good character, but was not developed very much on the show.  They took her down the creepy path, that doesn't seem to mesh well with Raj being uber romantic.

 

Side note:  I never thought too much of Raj, but then I saw him at the taping.  Wow....what a good looking guy!  They really tone down his hotness for the show.

[jenafan]

I think for Raj to be in a relationship that people were invested in, they would need to pair him with someone who he kind of spars with at first. Someone he fights with...finds annoying, and slowly develop their relationship from there. With Raj immediately sickenly sweet all the time, it's hard to find a proper match that people get invested in.

Bring back Raj that is a bit of an ass. Then bring a girl that calls him out on his crap. I think that would be interesting to watch.

I did like Emily. I think she had potential to be a really good character, but was not developed very much on the show. They took her down the creepy path, that doesn't seem to mesh well with Raj being uber romantic.

Side note: I never thought too much of Raj, but then I saw him at the taping. Wow....what a good looking guy! They really tone down his hotness for the show.

I always thought Raj was a very nice looking guy. I also love the way he talks and his India accent. I love the way the writers have kept him true to his heritage in the way he expresses himself. It is very poetic.

It is Howard that I never thought too much of on the good-looking side, but he more than makes up for it with his heart, wit, and humorous personality.

Edited May 14, 2015 by jenafan

[nibbler747]

I think we must be on the same wavelength!  Howard is one of my favourite characters.  His character is so funny and endearing.  I loved that episode when he sang that song to Bernie when she was in isolation at the hospital.  The scenes he is in are always lots of fun to watch.

 

Raj is a very underutilized character.  It would be nice to see him a bit more on the show.  He can be quite a jerk when he wants to....I find that Raj funnier than the sappy Raj.  I thought it would have been funny, when he finally was able to talk to girls without alcohol, that it went to his head, and acted like God's gift all of a sudden.

 

I like your comment about how the writers kept him true to his heritage in the way he expresses himself.  He can be quite charming.  I found his sister Priya to be extremely grating though.  Maybe cause she was constantly trying to "improve" Leonard.  Lol...and I'm saying that as an Indian woman myself! = )

Edited May 14, 2015 by tthomas77

[phantagrae]

I hope that now that Emily has heard Raj air a little bit of misgiving about their differences that maybe she will explore that a little further.

 

She's obviously been kind of in the driver's seat with the two of them, with Raj just kind of going along.

 

I think that early on they showed that the two of them were on more or less the same wavelength until they started emphasizing her creepy side.

I would like to see him kind of call her out on that more and be honest about how it bothers him.

 

I think he has sort of overlooked that, or let it go, because he didn't want to lose her or have her think less of him.  But I hope that he finds the courage to be more honest with her.

One of the things I liked about them as a couple early on was that he was able to be vulnerable with her instead of trying to be macho all the time, like he has in the past.

But in later episodes we saw the other Raj who does whatever it takes to go along so that she'll still sleep with him, etc.

 

I'd like to see some tension, maybe they actually break up for a bit, or maybe he talks her into doing stuff he likes for a change.

[Chelle]

Raj is my third favorite character. I love a smart, sweet, and sensitive guy. I've always had this thought of a Sheldon-Amy-Rajesh love triangle.

 

I think he deserves someone better. That's just me. Nothing against Emily or Laura.

[Oldnavy]

I like Emily. I wish that they would lighten up on the creepy stuff, like sex in the cemetery. I do like her character overall. I think that she and Raj make a nice couple. I also like her so much better than Lucy.

[nibbler747]

I couldn't stand Lucy.  She just made me want to change the channel.

[Mislav]

I couldn't stand Lucy. She just made me want to change the channel.

I liked Lucy. Just as a character, not with Raj though. I think that she would make a good match with Stuart. It kinda surprises me how many fans seem to dislike her.

[gwhh]

They don't make a good couple.  They have little in common and don't have much chemistry on set also! 

[Mislav]

They don't make a good couple. They have little in common and don't have much chemistry on set also!

Amen.

By this point they are using her the most for comedy effect, to show how desperate Raj is to be with someone and willing to put up with anything.

Unfortunately, Howard and Bernadette seem to be heading down that road too.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Mislav

[Stephen Hawking]

I'm OK with Emily, but I kind of wish they'd left him with Lucy.

 

She's so vulnerably sweet and gentle, matching his own timid nature.

 

They could have grown so much together, rather like Sheldon and Amy have.

 

It's difficult to see much Raj and Emily have in common.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Stephen Hawking

[Mislav]

I'm OK with Emily, but I kind of wish they'd left him with Lucy.

She's so vulnerably sweet and gentle, matching his own timid nature.

They could have grown so much together, rather like Sheldon and Amy have.

It's difficult to see much Raj and Emily have in common.

That's because they have nothing in common.

[nibbler747]

I liked Lucy. Just as a character, not with Raj though. I think that she would make a good match with Stuart. It kinda surprises me how many fans seem to dislike her.

 

I think it's something about the way she spoke...so whiny and the tone...ugh...it was like nails on the chalkboard for me.  I know she was supposed to be anxious, but watching her was making me feel stressed out.   I don't think she would mesh well with the group either.

 

I still think Raj needs someone he has a bit of conflict with at first.  Then develop the relationship.  If he justs meets a sweet girl, and everything is hunky dory, then why would an audience get invested in it.  We need a bit of drama!