817 The Colonization Application (March 5)

[djsurrey]

Dena wasn't saying Amy was a doormat.  She was responding sarcastically to someone else's assertion to that effect.

 

I think he would see them as two unrelated things.  Investing in the comic book store is just about money.  He wasn't asking her permission, as I recall, but simply telling her he was thinking about it.  I think he even implied that he expected her to agree with him about it. (Don't remember the dialog offhand.)

 

But in this case, he's focused on it, as he said, as a scientist and wasn't thinking in terms of couplehood and how being physically apart would affect their relationship.  If he's not dependent upon her physical presence (or so he thinks), then he might not consider the change it would mean, going from date nights to skype nights, or whatever might be possible from Mars (delayed skype?)

It would not be a good "skype" experience. At any given time it could take from 8 minutes to 48 minutes for the return message (depending on where the planets happen to be in respective orbits -- the 8 minutes includes the 4 minutes it takes for a one way signal and the 4 minutes it takes before one could see/hear the reaction and that is when the earth is closest to mars).

see http://blogs.esa.int/mex/2012/08/05/time-delay-between-mars-and-earth/

Most likely then one would send a video message and get a video message in reply.

 

I think that he was so eager to apply, making his goofy video and all that, and thinking of it in terms of scientific frontiers, that he perhaps assumed that Amy would be just as enthusiastic about the prospect.  Even if his friends advised him otherwise, he apparently didn't believe them.  After all, he not only thinks he knows best, he thinks he knows that Amy would support his idea.

That's why he's kind of flummoxed that she gets upset about it.  He's not thinking about what it would mean in regard to their future together.  I think that he still doesn't think a lot about a future with Amy, like marriage, kids, etc., so he still kind of compartmentalizes his life in that regard.  He's happy with her right now, but the future is sort of a blank slate.  It's not that he doesn't want to continue to be with Amy, but if he's never imagined getting married to anyone or having children with anyone, then that kind of thinking still isn't in his mental vocabulary.

 

But he was trying hard to understand her POV and to appease her in some way.  It just took him a while and a round of hashing it out with her for him to finally get it right.  And then he was enthusiastic about the solution they found.

 

So this is the fun part of the exchange. Put in the context of having the first martian children he warms up to the idea. Will that effect persist into future episodes?

Edited March 6, 2015 by djsurrey

[Cecilia]

Excellent episode. Lenny holding hands while Shamy had big news to say was everything. The line of the episode was once again Leonard's: "please go to Mars". I loved Johnny's delivery. I liked that we got to see Emily again and of course I loved the Shamy.

[Itwasdestined]

Loved this episode. Not the funniest but enjoyed all the couples getting alone time together.

Lenny was great. I wrote in Lenny thread how it was the response to all that was wrong this season with this couple. They're back. Now writers can we keep it that way, please for both the good of the show and the wellbeing of Lennies on this forum[emoji12]

Since I'm a fan of everyone, I had no problems with the Shamy plot. Newsflash- the writers aren't consistent with anyone, especially Shelly. Growth, regress, growth regress. Nice to Amy, inconsiderate to Amy. We really should give up on fighting this reality. One thing I'll say and it could just be me. I can pick which Sheldon is going to appear from the tone and tempo of Jim's voice. Sheldon can be many things - arrogant, rude, self centred, playful, genuinely loving and concerned ( yeah some will never see that one) confused, confident, serious and clueless. I sense different tones and tempos for each Sheldon and in this episode I got the genuinely clueless voice. For me, he really had no idea his decisions about Mars concerning Amy were a problem. For all his genius, this cluelessness is ingrained in his psyche. Self centred Sheldon would not have had the conversation he had with Amy. He would have been dismissive of Amy's complaints. But Clueless Sheldon listened to Amy, gradually sensed the reasoning behind her pain and it all ended well. And loved the video. genuinely laughed at slapstick pie in face definition of humour in His mind. And that after Shamy decided to redo the video with Amy in it, Sheldon still saw that Leonard bit as vital. Sheldon had obviously been continuing his analysis of humour from Season 7 and come up with 1920s silent movie slapstick as the key!

Loved the first real Remily/Rajily ( have we got a decision on this one yet?) plot for the season. Slowly defining Emily as not an ACTUAL creep but just someone who finds humour in creepiness. Throughout the show's eight seasons, behind all the insecurity and confusion, Raj had always been a bit of a pot stirrer and I think it's good that he has found kindred spirit. Loved the final scene with them. They're good together.

Bernadette was the scene stealer for me. She was queen of the snappy one liner in this episode. And that's almost her role now. Which I like. She just sits in the background waiting to strike and then bang! Instant laughter.

Watching Howardette was liking watching my marriage, ashamed to admit it. The wife at the table doing the important stuff while I sit on the couch chilling out ( don't judge me[emoji12]). But eventually together having fun too. Lenny connected to my marriage too with the whole realisation we've got a bit boring and stale lets do something about that.

So for me, very good ( not consistently laugh out loud enough for excellent) episode. I like ones I can personally connect to. And because I like everyone, I don't get hung up about who's getting more airtime. Plus I've given up on consistency in writing relationships so, yeah,.... All good in my viewing world.

[ajond]

YAY, I finally got to vote Good.

[Guest]

YAY, I finally got to vote Good.

 

What on earth has to happen to make it excellent for you?

[phantagrae]

Great episode.  So the whole point of the body painting episode was to spic up Leonard's and Penny's sex life and to show how "boring" their sex life is...yet they still love each other?

 

Anyway, was the purpose of Emily's smile at the end...just another example of her messing around with Raj OR will it turn more interesting and Emily really does have some dark elements in her life?  

 

There was no bigger "purpose" in the body painting stuff than to show them trying to have a spicy moment only to find they aren't as wild, at least in their body movements during sex, as they thought they might be.  But I don't think it was meant to say anything about them as a couple.  Of course they love each other.  One doesn't really have anything to do with the other.

 

It reminds me of this commercial for those KY lubricants where this plain vanilla couple (ooh! They did it with the lights on once!!) talks about how using the KY has spiced up their love life.  Then they have the guy coming to the door and telling his wife he's there to fix the pool, trying to role play.  It's funny and goofy.  And so was this.  Just fun.

 

I think Emily was just yanking Raj's chain.  Maybe giving him an extra tweak for snooping in her apartment.

[gwhh]

Did anyone else think Penny bath robe rocked?

[Chrismo]

 Anyway, was the purpose of Emily's smile at the end...just another example of her messing around with Raj OR will it turn more interesting and Emily really does have some dark elements in her life?

She was messing with Raj. If Raj had gone in the closet and saw something that bad he wouldn't of stuck around.

[SRAM]

Remember Emily told Raj that the movies creeped her out too, but they turned her on, so she is not dangerous, just a little bit of a freak. She talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. Also that sly smile she had at the end I think meant she was screwing with him.

[Martin Pollard]

Anyway, was the purpose of Emily's smile at the end...just another example of her messing around with Raj OR will it turn more interesting and Emily really does have some dark elements in her life?  

 

Nah, she's just messing with him, very likely as payback for snooping in her nightstand. That was definitely a "gotcha!" smile. Bet he'll never make that mistake again.

[djsurrey]

Nah, she's just messing with him, very likely as payback for snooping in her nightstand. That was definitely a "gotcha!" smile. Bet he'll never make that mistake again.

 

I would not count on that. {I mean he may make the mistake again...}

Edited March 7, 2015 by djsurrey

[wowbagger]

Still haven't seen the episode, but popping by to express my delight at Galecki's line-readings:

 

When Sheldon's making his application video and showing his impish sense of fun (full-body shudder) and steering Leonard towards the jar of peanut brittle, Leonard sighs 'You mean this weirdly suspicious jar?'. Then he opens the jar, notes that it's just brittle, and gets a pie in the face. Wiping his glasses he says 'Please go to Mars'.

 

I can't put my finger on what I loved about Galecki during that entire sequence, but I'll try: he packed years' worth of exasperation into both readings, but with this gorgeous undercurrent of affection. Just lovely.

[CentralPerk]

Still haven't seen the episode, but popping by to express my delight at Galecki's line-readings:

 

When Sheldon's making his application video and showing his impish sense of fun (full-body shudder) and steering Leonard towards the jar of peanut brittle, Leonard sighs 'You mean this weirdly suspicious jar?'. Then he opens the jar, notes that it's just brittle, and gets a pie in the face. Wiping his glasses he says 'Please go to Mars'.

 

I can't put my finger on what I loved about Galecki during that entire sequence, but I'll try: he packed years' worth of exasperation into both readings, but with this gorgeous undercurrent of affection. Just lovely.

 

This gag is easy but it made me a good laugh ! Especially with Leonard's reaction. :D

 

 

One question about an other subject :  they say on the internet that in this episode there is a tribute at Leonard Nimoy. Where, when ?

Edited March 7, 2015 by CentralPerk

[BigBangWeary]

I'm tired of the Shamy and Lenny, frankly. But I realize the writers are intent on forcing these four to be couples, so there's no point complaining about it.

So .... except for the pie in the face ... I didn't care for this episode at all. The whole turtle premise was stupid.

[Tensor]

One question about an other subject :  they say on the internet that in this episode there is a tribute at Leonard Nimoy. Where, when ?

.

At the end of the show. Chuck's vanity card

[Martin Pollard]

I would not count on that. {I mean he may make the mistake again...}

 

Nah, he'll go on to make new mistakes.

[mjc45]

love the episode, lots of laughs.

 

great joy to see a 4 couples having

a good time with each other.

 

how about emily? maybe we do not see

her in very episode, but she is growing

on me. love the end we are going to see

the dark side of her.

[CentralPerk]

.

At the end of the show. Chuck's vanity card

 

oh ok, thanks. I had misunderstood. I thought it was in the episode and not the note.

[djsurrey]

Nah, he'll go on to make new mistakes.

They are not mutually exclusive. He can to both.

[mphs95]

I just caught something while I watched this episode for the 15th time.  In the scene where Sheldon pours them tea, he gives her the blue mug and he has a brown one.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the blue mug go to Sheldon while Ames gets the yellow one?  Just something I noticed.

[gwhh]

Will we see the "love rug" on sheldron wall in future epiodes?!

[Tensor]

Off topic posts have been moved:

The discussion of Amy appearance has been moved to

The general discussion of the show and the relationships is

A few have been moved into the season 8 discussion thread

 

For those who were wondering, they were grouped to keep like topics together. If you have questions please PM or asking in The Site, so we don't have this go off topic again.  

 

 

 

Tensor

[tmp]

I posted this in the spoilers thread a few days ago but I think it's worth posting here--both because it's funny and it may get the discussion back on track.  Apparently the Mars application was a real thing, and this is a compilation of rejected videos.  Seriously, these people make Sheldon look like a well-adjusted middle-of-the-bell-curve kind of guy.

 

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/02/19/erin-pkg-moos-mars-rejects-audition-tapes.cnn

[meka3000]

I might owe Amy and the Shamy's an apology.  On a second viewing when Sheldon asks Amy if she wants him to withdraw his application, Amy's answer is, "What I want is for us to plan our future together."  Which in essence IS the message we want Sheldon to consider from her.  So I admit I shortchanged Amy accepting Sheldon's apology, and what she actually said.  Now if he does something like this again and doesn't learn from this, I'll be annoyed.

 

The episode wasn't perfect.  The Shamy story could've been condensed.  Lenny lost some of the thematic message from editing if the taping report is anything to go by.  Also Emily is still a woefully underdeveloped character.  They could've fleshed her out here, but they didn't for some reason.  I'm not sure she's good for Raj in the long run, as I don't feel EITHER of them make each other better people unlike with the other 3 couples.

[Nogravitasatall]

... Also Emily is still a woefully underdeveloped character. They could've fleshed her out here, but they didn't for some reason. I'm not sure she's good for Raj in the long run, as I don't feel EITHER of them make each other better people unlike with the other 3 couples.

I had a run at Raj for his less than stellar attitude to women. He struck me as, at times, less than upfront and even predatory - the great Roommate Transmogrification, his fantasising about Howard's death and his subsequent imagined relationship with Bernadette and then him getting all excited about Amy for 39 seconds being examples. I'm reading Emily as an ironical, slightly deviant just desert. Let him tremble a bit. I do think she is harmless, but its satisfying that she is no pushover. And it might be good for him not to be able to take her for granted.