Ship Zone [Spoilers] Shamy: Season 9

[AnnJ]

7 minutes ago, Einstein Von Brainstorm said:

There is a thread for that here:

 

If you wanna come and join in the chat there  

 

Whoops!

[Einstein Von Brainstorm]

5 minutes ago, AnnJ said:

Whoops!

No whoops at all, I'm inviting you (and everyone!) over there to join in  

[2L344]

2 hours ago, Einstein Von Brainstorm said:

*any excuse to post this*

Aaaaand here comes that short clip of "Darlin'" that's gonna bounce around my head for the next hour, thanks!

Edited January 31, 2016 by 2L344

[jlove]

4 hours ago, bluebird said:

Now it might me who's beating the poor, dead horse since I recall this discussion happening at least once or twice, so I apologize in advance.  
He'd been working through his issues with intimacy ever since he met Amy. It was a slowly process, but he was making progress at his own pace. I believe he was really close at getting there in 8x24. The break up was probably the final trigger that sealed the deal, because he realized the true value of Amy and their relationship and most of all, was finally confronting his own feelings instead of running away from them or trying to suppress them. He already had Amy back, unconditionally in 9x10 and there was no pressure to have coitus on Amy's part. In the aquarium episode Amy kinda confirmed to us and to Sheldon that the break up wasn't about sex. It might have played a small role in it alongside with other issues, but it wasn't the main point. So I don't see the coitus as a sacrifice in order to keep her around. For me, it was always about him showing her how much he loves her and trusts her. That he trusts her so much that he was ready to be all in and not holding back anymore, despite of his issues with intimacy.  During the break up he had to face his own feelings and the fact that he can't be "Spock". I think it also helped him accept his urges and desires. And when they reconciliated, he was ready to take that next step with her. Not for her.

So I see it as a 5 year long journey for him which slowly led to the 9x11, not something that happened suddenly or was just a way to keep Amy from leaving. Why was it the next episode after reconciliation? It probably had more to do with the SW, than anything else. Of course, everyone can make up their own minds about it, this is just how I see it and why it makes sense to me.

 

ETA: I see many of you beat me to the punch. Sorry for repeating the same points!

Yep, y'all know I agree with you and April and all the other folks who think this is a logical progression in Sheldon's years-long effort to "work on" his issues because of his love for Amy.  And the writers have clearly shown us them progressing physically and Sheldon being comfortable with it.  And what is really great about Opening Night is that we don't have to wonder about everything going on in Sheldon's head because we get an actual sneak peek through Professor Proton.  The writers were very clear to point out that PP is just in fact Sheldon's unconscious mind.  So what was Sheldon worried about the night before he and Amy consummated their relationship?

That he woudn't be able to do it because the thought of sex with Amy doesn't do it for him?

That he would find it disgusting and not be able to follow through?

That she would be able to tell he didn't really want to do it and was just doing it for her?

That she would realize he was just doing it to keep her around?

Nope.

The only fear he vocalized (within his own mind) about the "important night for us" was that the would "be overwhelmed and ruin everything."  And the only reassurance he needed to go forward in seemingly near-perfect calmness and happiness was a reminder (again, from himself, something he ALREADY knew) that Amy is "the right person."  That's it.  Just that, and he was all in to the point that he was genuinely surprised that she was even nervous.  Man, I love how this storyline turned out.  Happy sigh...

BTW, something I've been thinking of lately.  What does "overwhelmed" mean?  We don't exactly know, but the asteroid ep made me think of an interesting possibility.  We now know that Sheldon has synesthesia.  What if it isn't only about numbers?  We know for sure it involves colors, taste and smells for him in some way.  What if it is even more all-encompassing?  What if touching is difficult because touch isn't just touch?  What if every touch also means getting audio or visual or smell or taste sensations?  What if sound comes in color, too?  What if smells cause you to hear music?  What if your brain is constantly processing a barrage of different inputs where everyone else's is focused on a single one?  How might you have to prepare yourself for an entirely new experience that involves already-intense emotional and physical sensations.  New sights, sounds, touches, tastes, and smells all together with intense emotions and the desire to not disappoint someone else (or better, to make sure she's more than happy with the experience!) as well?  Sounds like something you might be a little afraid to jump into.  Pure specualtion, of course, but interesting to imagine.

Edited January 31, 2016 by jlove

[vonmar]

From Glamour's Jessica Radloff....

Jessica Radloff ‏@JRadloff  2m2 minutes ago

I'll have new #BigBangTheory scoop coming this week thx to Kunal and Mayim! #RoadToTheTwoHundreth

[Einstein Von Brainstorm]

1 hour ago, 2L344 said:

Aaaaand here comes that short clip of "Darlin'" that's gonna bounce around my head for the next hour, thanks!

You. Are. WELCOME! *does the double gun hands thing* 

[joyceraye]

10 hours ago, Stephen Hawking said:

You think it might be Amy who proposes?

That idea didn't work too well, for Phoebe and Mike, in Friends, did it?

I didn't know that. Friends was more or less a children's programme here so I hardly ever saw it. Youngish adults who were just old enough to know better acting the fool - very popular with children and teenagers, although I must say I was surprised it was on at children's viewing time, judged by some of the few scenes I caught. I was a Frasier fan myself. It was aimed at an older audience and I liked it. A friend  got me hooked on it and now her daughter has me hooked on TBBT. I did download Joey and watch it though. I thought it was good.

I hope they don't have Amy proposing but I have a horror that they might : she'd just have time to organise a wedding with all the trimmings in time for her four years to be up. Bernadette could give birth on the same day and they could name the baby Rose or Lily or whatever is the main flower in Amy's bouquet which Raj will catch. 

[Einstein Von Brainstorm]

29 minutes ago, jlove said:

Yep, y'all know I agree with you and April and all the other folks who think this is a logical progression in Sheldon's years-long effort to "work on" his issues because of his love for Amy.  And the writers have clearly shown us them progressing physically and Sheldon being comfortable with it.  And what is really great about Opening Night is that we don't have to wonder about everything going on in Sheldon's head because we get an actual sneak peek through Professor Proton.  The writers were very clear to point out that PP is just in fact Sheldon's unconscious mind.  So what was Sheldon worried about the night before he and Amy consummated their relationship?

That he woudn't be able to do it because the thought of sex with Amy doesn't do it for him?

That he would find it disgusting and not be able to follow through?

That she would be able to tell he didn't really want to do it and was just doing it for her?

That she would realize he was just doing it to keep her around?

Nope.

The only fear he vocalized (within his own mind) about the "important night for us" was that the would "be overwhelmed and ruin everything."  And the only reassurance he needed to go forward in seemingly near-perfect calmness and happiness was a reminder (again, from himself, something he ALREADY knew) that Amy is "the right person."  That's it.  Just that, and he was all in to the point that he was genuinely surprised that she was even nervous.  Man, I love how this storyline turned out.  Happy sigh...

BTW, something I've been thinking of lately.  What does "overwhelmed" mean?  We don't exactly know, but the asteroid ep made me think of an interesting possibility.  We now know that Sheldon has synethesia.  What if it isn't only about numbers?  We know for sure it involves colors, taste and smells for him in some way.  What if it is even more all-encompassing?  What if touching is difficult because touch isn't just touch?  What if every touch also means getting audio or visual or smell or taste sensations?  What if sound comes in color, too?  What if smells cause you to hear music?  What if your brain is constantly processing a barrage of different inputs where everyone else's is focused on a single one?  How might you have to prepare yourself for an entirely new experience that involves already-intense emotional and physical sensations.  New sights, sounds, touches, tastes, and smells all together with intense emotions and the desire to not disappoint someone else (or better, to make sure she's more than happy with the experience!) as well?  Sounds like something you might be a little afraid to jump into.  Pure specualtion, of course, but interesting to imagine.

Bolded =  

Sex for someone with synesthesia sounds awesome! - http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-is-sex-like-for-someone-with-synesthesia-6277170/?no-ist

[EvilStewie]

4 minutes ago, Einstein Von Brainstorm said:

Bolded =  

Sex for someone with synesthesia sounds awesome! - http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-is-sex-like-for-someone-with-synesthesia-6277170/?no-ist

Yeah it does, I should add that to my other post 

[joyceraye]

28 minutes ago, jlove said:

 What if it is even more all-encompassing?  What if touching is difficult because touch isn't just touch?  What if every touch also means getting audio or visual or smell or taste sensations?

 

What a brilliant suggestion ! I think you've got it !  It could explain so much. So simple and yet I wonder how many of us thought of it ? I know I didn't.

Building on that : it'd be interesting to see how many numbers, colours, days of the week etc  he and Amy have in common. Is Monday red for both of them, for instance, and does chocolate taste like seven for both of them, or are their colours and numbers different ? Does the same type of wallpaper pattern make them both itch ?

[Einstein Von Brainstorm]

35 minutes ago, joyceraye said:

I didn't know that. Friends was more or less a children's programme here so I hardly ever saw it. Youngish adults who were just old enough to know better acting the fool - very popular with children and teenagers, although I must say I was surprised it was on at children's viewing time, judged by some of the few scenes I caught. I was a Frasier fan myself. It was aimed at an older audience and I liked it. A friend  got me hooked on it and now her daughter has me hooked on TBBT. I did download Joey and watch it though. I thought it was good.

I hope they don't have Amy proposing but I have a horror that they might : she'd just have time to organise a wedding with all the trimmings in time for her four years to be up. Bernadette could give birth on the same day and they could name the baby Rose or Lily or whatever is the main flower in Amy's bouquet which Raj will catch. 

Where are you from that a show about 20-somethings trying to get laid was a children's show?!

[CuriousMeans]

58 minutes ago, jlove said:

Yep, y'all know I agree with you and April and all the other folks who think this is a logical progression in Sheldon's years-long effort to "work on" his issues because of his love for Amy.  And the writers have clearly shown us them progressing physically and Sheldon being comfortable with it.  And what is really great about Opening Night is that we don't have to wonder about everything going on in Sheldon's head because we get an actual sneak peek through Professor Proton.  The writers were very clear to point out that PP is just in fact Sheldon's unconscious mind.  So what was Sheldon worried about the night before he and Amy consummated their relationship?

That he woudn't be able to do it because the thought of sex with Amy doesn't do it for him?

That he would find it disgusting and not be able to follow through?

That she would be able to tell he didn't really want to do it and was just doing it for her?

That she would realize he was just doing it to keep her around?

Nope.

The only fear he vocalized (within his own mind) about the "important night for us" was that the would "be overwhelmed and ruin everything."  And the only reassurance he needed to go forward in seemingly near-perfect calmness and happiness was a reminder (again, from himself, something he ALREADY knew) that Amy is "the right person."  That's it.  Just that, and he was all in to the point that he was genuinely surprised that she was even nervous.  Man, I love how this storyline turned out.  Happy sigh...

BTW, something I've been thinking of lately.  What does "overwhelmed" mean?  We don't exactly know, but the asteroid ep made me think of an interesting possibility.  We now know that Sheldon has synesthesia.  What if it isn't only about numbers?  We know for sure it involves colors, taste and smells for him in some way.  What if it is even more all-encompassing?  What if touching is difficult because touch isn't just touch?  What if every touch also means getting audio or visual or smell or taste sensations?  What if sound comes in color, too?  What if smells cause you to hear music?  What if your brain is constantly processing a barrage of different inputs where everyone else's is focused on a single one?  How might you have to prepare yourself for an entirely new experience that involves already-intense emotional and physical sensations.  New sights, sounds, touches, tastes, and smells all together with intense emotions and the desire to not disappoint someone else (or better, to make sure she's more than happy with the experience!) as well?  Sounds like something you might be a little afraid to jump into.  Pure specualtion, of course, but interesting to imagine.

I've always thought that it could mean multiple things for Sheldon, and if we're accepting that he has synesthesia now, even more. Up until that episode, I had assumed that sensory overload was a large contributor to it because of how it's handled in the show (or how Parsons plays it). And, I mean, that's going to be part of the issue with synesthesia, too, so. . .Either no fun (without a lot of prep and what not) or that Smithsonian article.

Edited January 31, 2016 by CuriousMeans
ETA: The Friends cast was under 30 years old???

[Einstein Von Brainstorm]

6 minutes ago, CuriousMeans said:

I've always thought that it could mean multiple things for Sheldon, and if we're accepting that he has synesthesia now, even more. Up until that episode, I had assumed that sensory overload was a large contributor to it because of how it's handled in the show (or how Parsons plays it). And, I mean, that's going to be part of the issue with synesthesia, too, so. . .Either no fun (without a lot of prep and what not) or that Smithsonian article.

I can't quote the edit lol

Yes they were. Rachael turned 30 in season 7 (2004) and I believe she was the youngest of the bunch, they all remember their 30th birthday's in that episode  

[joyceraye]

28 minutes ago, Einstein Von Brainstorm said:

Where are you from that a show about 20-somethings trying to get laid was a children's show?!

I'm from  nineteen - fifties Wales  and remember when teatime TV was always a children's zone. Channel 4 (Can't speak for S4Cymru as we couldn't get it in my part of England until last year) donkeys' years ago broke the convention of post-9pm by putting Friends on at children's traditional viewing time. Naturally it became popular with children, as does anything with a bit of rudery in it. Where Ch4 were coming from, goodness knows.  In the years since then we've had digital TV arrive and there have been separate children's channels developed so there hardly seems to be a concept of a 'watershed' any more. BBC and ITV have moved all their children's programmes across to CBBC and CITV. What's happened to Schools Broadcasting I don't know.

Ch4 shows Frasier in the morning even during school holidays (used to be after 10 pm ) and Ch4E shows The Big Bang Theory throughout the day (I've given up housework for ever) with Ch4 showing it late Saturday mornings.  I have noticed, though, that in the daytime some lines such as 'I went to the library to find out what a whore did' and 'This store gives you genital warts' get altered or are omitted from TBBT but are included in the later evening editions. Even so, there's some risqué stuff left in that wouldn't have been allowed when I was growing up - not that we had daytime TV apart from Schools' programming then. Good job. I'd have been a perpetual truant.

[camelliayao]

I knew this probably had been discussed before but I just thought of this.

In 902, Sheldon said Amy made him a birthday cake once ("Let's talk about the time Moldova made Romania a birthday cake, and Romania said it tasted good even though it didn't"). Considering before 8x16, nobody knew Sheldon's birthday and it was less than one year between 816 and 902, we could assume that Amy made him a birthday cake in 8x16 after Penny told (or texted) everyone about Sheldon's birthday. And there really was a cake on the table in 8x16.

However, the love experiment only took a few hours, at most. And the question that made Sheldon reveal his birthday was NO. 33. How could Amy make a cake in a hour or two? Maybe it would make more sense that Amy, Leonard, Emily and Raj bought a cake on their way home.

I don't know where I'm going with this lol...Guess what I'm trying to say is that it's ridiculous that Amy didn't know Sheldon's birthday before 8x16.

Edited January 31, 2016 by camelliayao

[910]

15 hours ago, camelliayao said:

I knew this probably had been discussed before but I just thought of this.

In 902, Sheldon said Amy made him a birthday cake once ("Let's talk about the time Moldova made Romania a birthday cake, and Romania said it tasted good even though it didn't"). Considering before 8x16, nobody knew Sheldon's birthday and it was less than one year between 816 and 902, we could assume that Amy made him a birthday cake in 8x16 after Penny told (or texted) everyone about Sheldon's birthday. And there really was a cake on the table in 8x16.

However, the love experiment only took a few hours, at most. And the question that made Sheldon revealed his birthday was NO. 33. How could Amy make a cake in a hour or two? Maybe it would make more sense that Amy, Leonard, Emily and Raj bought a cake on their way home.

I don't know where I'm going with this lol...Guess what I'm trying to say is that it's ridiculous that Amy didn't know Sheldon's birthday before 8x16.

 Yeah, I hate the inconsistency.  Also, Amy is willing to defend herself against Mee-Maw, but empathizes with Kripke and Raj, who insinuate she dated immediately and slept with others, even though she did not.  Why doesn't Amy defend herself, rather than just trying to cut them off?

[3ku11]

Penny also diddnt know Leonard's bday lol. They have that in common. 

[910]

37 minutes ago, 3ku11 said:

Penny also diddnt know Leonard's bday lol. They have that in common. 

Penny did know Leonard's birthday early in the series and gave him a surprise birthday party (when Howard ate peanuts).  However, I do find it weird that Penny doesn't remember Leonard's birthday, gloats when she learns Sheldon's birthday that supposedly Amy doesn't even know despite being his emergency contact, and also knows Amy's birthday will conflict with the Star Wars premiere.

[mirs1]

22 minutes ago, Touche said:

Penny did know Leonard's birthday early in the series and gave him a surprise birthday party (when Howard ate peanuts).  However, I do find it weird that Penny doesn't remember Leonard's birthday, gloats when she learns Sheldon's birthday that supposedly Amy doesn't even know despite being his emergency contact, and also knows Amy's birthday will conflict with the Star Wars premiere.

I agree, sometimes I think we as fans know the show way better than the writers. I don't mind some "little" inconsistencies here and there, it's impossible for people who are so engaged in their works not to make mistakes once in a while, or maybe to slightly  "adapt" the past in order to fit it with new directions of the show or with a joke. Sometimes, like with Sheldon's and Leonard's birthday, they go a little too far, but it is all for the sake of comedy. Penny forgetting Leonard's birthday (totally unbelievable since she perfectly remembered it in back Season 1 and she remembers Amy's one, so it is not her habit to forget birthdays in general and Leonard's one in particular) gave us the "Naughty carrot" dance, that was really hilarious, and Sheldon keeping the secret about his birthday (totally unbelievable since Sheldon can't keep a secret, he's been living with Leonard for more than 10 years so for Leonard it would be impossible to not know his birthday and as all people in love in this world Amy could not have refrained herself to know his date of birth) was a way to show his friendship with Penny, which was the goal of that episode. It was a stupid line, I agree, but all things considered, that was a sweet episode. 

[Stephen Hawking]

8 hours ago, joyceraye said:

I was a Frasier fan myself

Me too. I did watch Friends, but I preferred Frasier.

8 hours ago, joyceraye said:

she'd just have time to organise a wedding with all the trimmings in time for her four years to be up.. 

I really do hope they stick to the four years.

8 hours ago, joyceraye said:

in Amy's bouquet which Raj will catch. 

I thought only the women, were supposed to try to catch it?

Edited January 31, 2016 by Stephen Hawking

[Stephen Hawking]

7 hours ago, CuriousMeans said:

I had assumed that sensory overload was a large contributor to it because of how it's handled in the show (or how Parsons plays it)

We see the effect of it, in The Guitarist Amplification.

I assumed it was just the result of his parents arguments, but maybe it was also sensory overload.

[joyceraye]

13 minutes ago, Stephen Hawking said:

Me too. I did watch Friends, but I preferred Frasier.

I really do hope they stick to the four years.

I thought only the women, were supposed to try to catch it?

Yes they are. That's why I thought it would be funny for Raj to catch it. If it came in his direction his cricketer's instinct might kick in. (He could of course then hand it to whichever lady he'd brought with him. )

[Stephen Hawking]

2 hours ago, 3ku11 said:

Penny also diddnt know Leonard's bday lol. They have that in common. 

Penny must know Leonard's birthday, since she organised a "kick-ass" birthday party for him, in The Peanut Reaction.

She knew it was his birthday, because she did his Horoscope.

18 minutes ago, joyceraye said:

If it came in his direction his cricketer's instinct might kick in.   )

To quote Raj:-

Dude, can you even open your mouth without spewing a cultural stereotype?  

1 hour ago, mirs1 said:

or maybe to slightly  "adapt" the past in order to fit it with new directions of the show or with a joke.. 

You mean like how Leonard couldn't drink wine (because of the Sulphites) but now can?

[camelliayao]

1 hour ago, mirs1 said:

 Sheldon keeping the secret about his birthday (totally unbelievable since Sheldon can't keep a secret, he's been living with Leonard for more than 10 years so for Leonard it would be impossible to not know his birthday and as all people in love in this world Amy could not have refrained herself to know his date of birth) was a way to show his friendship with Penny, which was the goal of that episode. It was a stupid line, I agree, but all things considered, that was a sweet episode. 

I'm sorry if that's the goal, the plot would be Sheldon kept his birthday a secret from everyone but when Penny asked him, he told her.

However, in the show, Sheldon revealed his birthday for the sake of the experiment. Actually I just checked, the exact line was "The point of this experiment is to be completely honest with each other", if anything, I think Sheldon keeping the secret about his birthday was a way to show he's a man of science lol. Sorry that line and a large part of that episode to me was just the writers catering for the needs of some shippers whose name I won't say.

And there're plenty of ways to do a sweet friendship episode without being ridiculous. Also even if Penny didn't forget Leonard birthday, there could still be other explanations for him to read her diary, which leads to him wearing that carror suit.

[joyceraye]

1 hour ago, Touche said:

Penny did know Leonard's birthday early in the series and gave him a surprise birthday party (when Howard ate peanuts).  However, I do find it weird that Penny doesn't remember Leonard's birthday, gloats when she learns Sheldon's birthday that supposedly Amy doesn't even know despite being his emergency contact, and also knows Amy's birthday will conflict with the Star Wars premiere.

I find mistakes in TV series irritating when I know an actor has been playing a part for years and could have said something when s/he saw the script. Perhaps I'm being fanciful in believing  all actors know their character.

 It was  Amy who eventually taught Sheldon to drive. She would have had to check and declare his details on her car insurance. If he'd told her to say she didn't know his birthday, it would do no good because the others were there when Sheldon filled in the form for his learner's permit.   Amy is also his emergency contact and would need to give his DOB if she phoned a hospital or anything.

Surely Penny had been courting Leonard long enough to remember his birthday every year, even if she forgot the date of the surprise party ? It would be on her own marriage certificate anyway.