[Spoilers] Discussion Topic: Season 9

[Luna18]

Penny is not going to encourage Amy to get back with Sheldon if she doesn't think Amy is getting what she needs out of the relationship   If Shamy can work it out, Penny will be cheering on the sidelines, but in the meantime she is going to encourage Amy to take advantage of her current status.

We all know that sex is very important to Penny.   In her mind, there is something wrong with a relationship where sex is not present.  She has Sheldon convinced he lost Amy because he hasn't put out.     She is pushing Amy into a direction of opportunity here.    I don't think she means any harm by it, she is just trying to guide Amy on what she thinks is wrong with their relationship and pushing her toward a resolution based on her conclusions.

This is JMO, and I concede that I could be extremely far-fetched in my thinking here.

I can foresee some possible tension between Sheldon and Penny over all of this and Leonard being caught in the middle.

i agree it's sad and she has been a hige Shamy shipper, but Penny has also pushed Amy a lot when it comes to Sheldon. In Flaming Spitoon Penny was the one who said "you don't have a boyfriend, you have a Sheldon" and pushed her to date Stuart. Then in The Weekend Vortex she's the one who pushed Amy to stand up for herself to Sheldon and make a scene. I don't it surprising in the least that she pushed Amy to move on and tell her mom. 

Does it sadden me? Yes. Do I like it? No. But do I think Penny's out of character? No.

Yes I can agree with both these points. Penny is a good friend who cares for both Sheldon and Amy but her relationship experiences are so unlike what Shamy have that it's hard for her to empathize. Therefore she can't offer them good advice. I just wanna see Sheldon and Amy figure this whole thing out by themselves and decide that what they have is unique and special. I want Amy to stop caring about what other people say and to admit that she values Sheldon-romance over novel-romance.

[Beckyseyedoc]

 

Yes I can agree with both these points. Penny is a good friend who cares for both Sheldon and Amy but her relationship experiences are so unlike what Shamy have that it's hard for her to empathize. Therefore she can't offer them good advice. I just wanna see Sheldon and Amy figure this whole thing out by themselves and decide that what they have is unique and special. I want Amy to stop caring about what other people say and to admit that she values Sheldon-romance over novel-romance.

THIS x 1000. And maybe that's not enough.

As much as I love the character of Amy, and I agree that Sheldon's failings are many, this is my main concern with Amy. She thinks of romance much as a fourteen-year-old girl does -- all hearts and flowers and chocolates. Amy needs to find a way to work past novel-romance, and learn to accept her partner (yes, I am optimistic it will be Sheldon) for who he is and as he is. Blessings, failings, and all.

[Luna18]

THIS x 1000. And maybe that's not enough.

As much as I love the character of Amy, and I agree that Sheldon's failings are many, this is my main concern with Amy. She thinks of romance much as a fourteen-year-old girl does -- all hearts and flowers and chocolates. Amy needs to find a way to work past novel-romance, and learn to accept her partner (yes, I am optimistic it will be Sheldon) for who he is and as he is. Blessings, failings, and all.

Well Amy has been said many times to have the mindset of a teenage girl. It's time for her to mature a bit. Sheldon too. This is my biggest wish for the outcome of this breakup.

[A Shamy gal]

 

Yes I can agree with both these points. Penny is a good friend who cares for both Sheldon and Amy but her relationship experiences are so unlike what Shamy have that it's hard for her to empathize. Therefore she can't offer them good advice. I just wanna see Sheldon and Amy figure this whole thing out by themselves and decide that what they have is unique and special. I want Amy to stop caring about what other people say and to admit that she values Sheldon-romance over novel-romance.

I'm still not convinced that Amy has ever really wanted novel-romance.   It just doesn't tie in with her saying that she thought the RA was romantic for me. 

[Luna18]

I'm still not convinced that Amy has ever really wanted novel-romance.   It just doesn't tie in with her saying that she thought the RA was romantic for me. 

I don't think that they're necessarily mutually exclusive. But I think that deep down she values one (Sheldon-romance) over the other (traditional romance) but she needs to figure that out.

[koops]

I honestly don't see Penny as some kind of monster or horrible friend here (closet thing aside! LOL). I don't even think that her pushing Amy to tell her mom had anything to do with her wanting to push her away from Sheldon as much as with getting back at Amy for forcing her to tell her dad about the wedding. Similarly, I think that the point of Bernie calling her out on her FB status isn't so much to push her away from Sheldon as more of a "what are you doing here?". I think the vibe we are meant to get is that Amy is not ready to embrace this breakup at all and they are just confused as to what's going on. Maybe Trina can explain in more detail, but that's the vibe I'm getting.

I do also think there's an element of P/B not getting it. As much as Penny ships the Shamy, she also doesn't really understand their relationship and I agree that she is looking at this with the mindset of the general audience really: the main problem being Amy wants to be physical and Sheldon doesn't seem to. She's been pushing the 'sex' button on the two of them for a long time, and while that's often light-hearted teasing, it's also a sign of not being able to understand where they're coming from or what the issues really are. Penny and Bernadette are regular people with regular romances and regular ex romances, they're seeing things from their own perspective and trying to be helpful from their own perspective and seeing the problems that they would have a problem with. It would indeed be nice if the result of this whole story isn't just for Sheldon and Amy to learn to appreciate what they have instead of striving to copy what the others do, but for the show to make a statement via contrasting Shamy's brand of romance with the other's through this conflict that there's no one right way to do this and the important thing is what works for each pairing. If the show prides itself so much on celebrating differences, it would be great if they could show that this isn't just a plot device to drag things out but a plot device to make a broader statement about how it's ok to be different.

[A Shamy gal]

I don't think that they're necessarily mutually exclusive. But I think that deep down she values one (Sheldon-romance) over the other (traditional romance) but she needs to figure that out.

She does need to figure, I agree.  I think she does know, but is getting confused by her friends.

.

I honestly don't see Penny as some kind of monster or horrible friend here (closet thing aside! LOL). I don't even think that her pushing Amy to tell her mom had anything to do with her wanting to push her away from Sheldon as much as with getting back at Amy for forcing her to tell her dad about the wedding. Similarly, I think that the point of Bernie calling her out on her FB status isn't so much to push her away from Sheldon as more of a "what are you doing here?". I think the vibe we are meant to get is that Amy is not ready to embrace this breakup at all and they are just confused as to what's going on. Maybe Trina can explain in more detail, but that's the vibe I'm getting.

I do also think there's an element of P/B not getting it. As much as Penny ships the Shamy, she also doesn't really understand their relationship and I agree that she is looking at this with the mindset of the general audience really: the main problem being Amy wants to be physical and Sheldon doesn't seem to. She's been pushing the 'sex' button on the two of them for a long time, and while that's often light-hearted teasing, it's also a sign of not being able to understand where they're coming from or what the issues really are. Penny and Bernadette are regular people with regular romances and regular ex romances, they're seeing things from their own perspective and trying to be helpful from their own perspective and seeing the problems that they would have a problem with. It would indeed be nice if the result of this whole story isn't just for Sheldon and Amy to learn to appreciate what they have instead of striving to copy what the others do, but for the show to make a statement via contrasting Shamy's brand of romance with the other's through this conflict that there's no one right way to do this and the important thing is what works for each pairing. If the show prides itself so much on celebrating differences, it would be great if they could show that this isn't just a plot device to drag things out but a plot device to make a broader statement about how it's ok to be different.

Totally agree.

Edited August 26, 2015 by A Shamy gal

[Trinabeana78]

The Bachelor Party Corrosion

Sheldon and Leonard are eating. Raj & Howard show up and tell Leonard they’re kidnapping him for a bachelor weekend to a surprise since he eloped and they didn’t have a chance to before the wedding. Sheldon thinks if it’s a real kidnapping they would have kidnapped Leonard, held him for ransom, called up Sheldon and said they would kill Leonard if he didn’t pay them by this time. Then Sheldon could hang up the phone and say, I’m too old for this crud. Leonard is so ready to go. They tell Sheldon that he’s coming too. He wonders how they plan on getting him to go anywhere, then we see the guys carrying a bound Sheldon with his mouth duck taped to a waiting van.

The guys are in Paul Fineman’s van (he’s one of Sheldon’s favorite physicists). Hearing this gets Sheldon excited. It’s a really sketchy looking van and one of the guys mentions that Fineman must have picked up a lot of co-eds in that van. Sheldon imagines that they must have talked about so much physics. Raj teases Leonard that they’re going somewhere with spicy food that will give you diarrhea. Leonard guesses India, and Raj is like, uh obviously it’s somewhere we can drive to. It’s Mehico, according to Raj.  Leonard is excited, he’s never been.  Sheldon points out that Mehico is Spanish for Mexico and Leonard should be looking for ways to jump out of the van. They ask what’s wrong with Mexico and Sheldon basically hates everything about it. But they’re staying in Fineman’s house down there and he finds this out, Sheldon is excited again, and even speaks a bit of Spanish.

Bernadette asks Penny if she’s sure she doesn’t want a stripper. But Penny points out that if she wants to see a naked dancing man, she’ll just flush the toilet while Leonard’s in the shower. Amy comes in bearing penis shaped cookies. Penny looks at them and is impressed by how anatomically correct they are. Amy is proud and said she used gummy worms for the veins. Bernadette looks at them and notes that there are Jewish (circumcised) and Gentile (uncircumcised) represented. Amy says she had extra dough. Bernadette hopes the guys don’t get too wild and crazy. Penny jokes about Sheldon lecturing them on some subject and Amy says, yeah that was a long night for her.

Sheldon wants to make sure everyone has their shots before they get to Mexico. He himself got a yellow fever shot before he went to Epcot last year.

Girls discussing what married life is like for Penny. She says it’s great but she wishes Leonard would get up the courage to tell Sheldon he’s moving into her place. She just knows one night Sheldon’s going to get scared and go into Leonard’s room and discover that the Leonard shaped lump of pillows in the bed isn’t wheezing and in fact Leonard isn’t even there. They ask Amy how single life is treating her. She says it’s ok. She’s focusing on herself for now. She’s was thinking about making a wardrobe change. Penny & Bernadette respond with a very enthusiastic YES! Amy gives them a look and says but then she thought about it and decided she didn’t want to change herself just because of a man. The girls respond with a much more subdued yay. But Amy does want to make one change. Shoes, glasses, sweaters ask Penny and Bernadette? No, Amy wants to pierce her ears. Why has she never done it before? Well her Mom always said pierced ears were only for whores, pirates, or genies. But Amy is a grown woman now, she can do what she wants says Penny. Well, Sheldon had a clause in the Relationship Agreement that there would be no cosmetic surgery except if one was changing into a Klingon.  Penny says she can pierce Amy’s ears for her, she’s done it dozens of times. Amy is unsure, but Penny begs Amy to let her take her ear virginity while stroking Amy’s ear. Bernadette gives them a look and declares that this is a weird party.

Guys still in the van to Mexico. Leonard wants to make sure Howard doesn’t speed. Howard says its fine, if they get pulled over they’ll put Raj in the driver’s seat and put a sombrero on him. Raj asks Howard how many races he can insult in one sentence. Howard replies he doesn’t know, has Raj ever watched the Olympics with him? Sheldon is excited to be in Fineman’s van. Feeling Fineman’s butt dent cupping his own has his creative juices flowing. Howard says he has to return the van and for Sheldon to keep his juices in his pants.

Penny is piercing Amy’s ears. Bernadette mentions that she noticed Amy hasn’t changed her Facebook status yet. Amy sarcastically comments that yeah, maybe she should let all of her Facebook friends know about the change. She turns to Penny and says, Penny, I’m no longer in a relationship. Bernadette also noticed Penny hasn’t changed her status to married. It’s because Penny hasn’t told everyone in her life about her big change yet. Namely her Dad, Mom, or anyone in her family.  Even though her family loves Leonard, they’d be so disappointed because her Dad wanted a Father/Daughter dance at her wedding. He missed it at her sister’s wedding because her water broke before they could do it. Penny figures her Dad isn’t getting any younger. She’ll just wait awhile and then tell him he walked her down the aisle and it was beautiful.

The van to Mexico has broken down on the side of the road. It has a flat tire. Howard is fixing it, taking the lug nuts off while Sheldon is trying to make sure he doesn’t run into any Scorpions.

Amy is admiring her pierced ears. She says if her Mom could see her now….she’d lock her in the sin closet. Bernie thinks that has to be a joke right? Amy says the joke was on her, she could still see the TV through the slats. Penny is starting to see why Amy and her Mom aren’t close. Bernadette says well at least she told her Mom about breaking up with Sheldon, unlike you and your family. Amy says, not exactly. Penny wonders why, would her Mom put her in the breakup drawer? Penny says if she tells her Dad, Amy has to tell her Mom.  Amy says easy for you to say, you didn't have to watch 60 Minutes like this, while moving her head up and down pretending to look through slats. Penny calls her Dad to tell him. She says she married Leonard last week and it was spur of the moment and she’s so sorry she didn’t tell them. He asks if she’s happy. She’s so happy, and gushes about how great Leonard is.  Then her Dad is happy for her. She’s relieved he’s not upset. Well, he has something to tell her. He got a new blade for his tractor and well, he ran over Penny’s pet pig Moondance. She’s shocked, you killed my pig? No, the vet took care of that, but he messed him up pretty bad. How long ago did this happen? About 10 or 12 months. She can’t believe he waited a year to tell her. He notes that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh?

The guys are trying to get on stubborn lug nut off to change the tire. They’re all trying to turn the lever, and Raj is doing some Lamaze breathing that isn’t helping at all.  They can figure this out, it’s just a physics problem. Sheldon quotes something about give me a lever and a fulcrum long enough and you can move anything.  They need to find stuff to make a lever. Sheldon says first things first, we need to decide if it’s lee-ver or leh-ver.  And frankly, anyone who thinks it’s anything but lee-ver is a crazy person.  Basically Sheldon and Raj are team lee-ver, and Howard and Leonard are team leh-ver. Howard says really, is Reading Rainbow hosted by Lee-var Burton? Sheldon says they need to roll up their sleeves, not slehves and figure this out. Leonard says they’re going to be here for ee-ver.

Penny is sad about her pig. Bernadette wonders did they eat the pig. Penny is shocked and says of course not, Moondance was a valued member of the family. Bernadette wonders what family, the breakfast meat family? Penny changes the subject, says its Amy’s turn. Amy says she suffered too much blood loss from the ear piercing, she doesn’t know what Penny is talking about (obviously stalling).  Penny is insistent. Amy picks up her phone and pretends to dial and talk to her Mom, but Penny’s not buying it. Amy finally just calls her Mom. She makes small talk for a while, not in any hurry to bring up her and Sheldon.  Penny finally grabs the phone and tells Amy’s Mom that Amy broke up with Sheldon, got her ears pierced and made them eat penis cookies. She pauses, then hands the phone to Amy and tells her that her Mom wants to speak with her.

The guys are discussing how they can get the lug nut off. Maybe call the hulk and have him hulk smash it off. Or maybe the Flash can speed turn it. Or the green lantern can somehow use his lantern to get it off of there. Leonard says that since they can’t realistically call the Avengers to come and help them out they need to use science to get it done. They then flash through various scientific principles to get the lug nut removed. First is percussive force. They’re hammering against the lug nut to hopefully force it off. Raj starts singing We Will Rock You to the beat of the hammering, and Howard joins in. All of a sudden, Sheldon breaks in with the “buddy you’re a boy make a big noise, playin’ in the street gonna make a big man someday….” part, singing it in a high pitched voice to the end. The guys just look at him and he says sometimes his eidetic memory can be a curse.  Next is exothermic, accelerated corrosive and a couple other. Finally, Howard lights a match to some iron shavings and hopes it will burn the lug nut off. Next we see, the guys are staring stunned at the van going up in flames. Someone notes that at least the lug nut is finally off.

The tag scene is Penny heading to do her laundry while Leonard and Sheldon come up the stairs from their Mexico trip. Penny asks what happened. Leonard says they had a flat tire and had to come back. Penny is sympathetic and says if it makes you feel any better, we pierced Amy’s ears and her Mom made us lock her in my closet. Sheldon looks startled at this, then says they burned up Fineman’s van. Penny says her Dad killed her pet pig. Leonard says, well I had to spend the night in Mexico with Sheldon. Penny declares Leonard the winner and goes to do her laundry.

[kerrycec03]

very true Koops with the whole sex thing & Penny.  In Pennys world, that's an important factor of a relationship.  As Raj said, its her only quiver... So in Pennys eyes "taking Amy's ear virginity" is a way of getting her to move forward in that world. 

 

I think the main thing in regards to Shamy in this episode is they are both seriously still in love with each other.  And that's huge.  Honestly the whole FB status thing proves she isn't ready to let go.  More than we go in the previous episodes.

[Mislav]

It sounds even worse in the taping report.

[Luna18]

Thank Trina for this detailed TR  It sounds like a really fun one!

[April]

The Bachelor Party Corrosion

[snip]

Thank you so much for the super detailed report!! <3

[Trinabeana78]

Oh and the girls were all drinking wine, but I wouldn't say they were drunk. I'm not sure about Penny's motivations, but I don't think she was being a monster or anything. They were just joking around, having fun. To me, Amy is obviously very reluctant to make any declarations that make her break up with Sheldon seem permanent and Penny is just trying to be a supportive friend.

[Luna18]

Oh and the girls were all drinking wine, but I wouldn't say they were drunk. I'm not sure about Penny's motivations, but I don't think she was being a monster or anything. They were just joking around, having fun. To me, Amy is obviously very reluctant to make any declarations that make her break up with Sheldon seem permanent and Penny is just trying to be a supportive friend.

Thank goodness for that! 

[Irene]

I agree don't watch it but I don't think it will knock sense into the writers. They have a story they want to tell and they will tell it. They are signed for two years. I for one have to see things play out on tv before I judge. I have to say I agree with Bill Prady on this one. What you read is not always what you see on TV. But this is my opinion and I respect everyone on here that won't watch because you don't like what you have read. This new episode sounds light hearted after two very drama filled episodes and I remember last week people asking if this was a comedy. I can totally see the guys not knowing how to,change a tire on a car. Should they probably but who would have taught them? It's not something that everyone knows how to do. I will watch and if it is silly or ridiculous so be it. I will still watch because I trust the writers. They can't have a great episode every week. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

while I can see Sheldon, Leonard and Raj not knowing how to change a tire--perhaps--I cannot see howard, an engineer with a masters from MIT designing stuff for space--unable to do so. But consistency isn't the writers strong suit. Didn't we just have Amy with "unnaturally brittle ankles" unable to go skating last year, talk about going skating???? 

 

 

[Trinabeana78]

Howard was changing the tire and said he knew how. The other guys didn't. The problem was they just couldn't get that one lug nut off, that's what caused the problems.

[Soopysue]

Oh and the girls were all drinking wine, but I wouldn't say they were drunk. I'm not sure about Penny's motivations, but I don't think she was being a monster or anything. They were just joking around, having fun. To me, Amy is obviously very reluctant to make any declarations that make her break up with Sheldon seem permanent and Penny is just trying to be a supportive friend.

thank you for all the info  

[Amy Fowler]

I think the main thing in regards to Shamy in this episode is they are both seriously still in love with each other.  And that's huge.  Honestly the whole FB status thing proves she isn't ready to let go.  More than we go in the previous episodes.

this makes me so happy!

Oh and the girls were all drinking wine, but I wouldn't say they were drunk. I'm not sure about Penny's motivations, but I don't think she was being a monster or anything. They were just joking around, having fun. To me, Amy is obviously very reluctant to make any declarations that make her break up with Sheldon seem permanent and Penny is just trying to be a supportive friend.

Good, I didn't want to black mark Penny

Thanks again though. Nice to see a new light on the ep

[hokie3457]

Trina, was Keith Carradine on camera or was it just his voice?

[Luna18]

It's always amazing how one simple sentence or clarification can make the episode seem that much more positive 

[kimbee73]

while I can see Sheldon, Leonard and Raj not knowing how to change a tire--perhaps--I cannot see howard, an engineer with a masters from MIT designing stuff for space--unable to do so. But consistency isn't the writers strong suit. Didn't we just have Amy with "unnaturally brittle ankles" unable to go skating last year, talk about going skating???? 

 

 

Oh the writers are definitely inconsistent....the brittle ankles and her hips not opening when she can run down stairs. But Howard not knowing also.....he has been proven to not be a very good engineer,( remember the helicopter and space toilet?) In Love Car Displacement, Penny was in car one because in case of a breakdown he Nebraska upbringing and man hands would help the, survive. Bernadette was in the other car and I'm sure they thought she could handle it. If they knew her background as having a father who was a cop, that's one of the first things my father taught me to do once I started driving. This is just my thoughts though. But the writers are very inconsistent. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[kimbee73]

Howard was changing the tire and said he knew how. The other guys didn't. The problem was they just couldn't get that one lug nut off, that's what caused the problems.

I stand corrected, Howard knew how. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Juni]

The Bachelor Party Corrosion

Thank you very much, Trina! You're the best!

[shamy_vixen]

Thanks Trinabeana78. I think I might just enjoy this episode

[Trinabeana78]

Yeah Penny's Dad is seen on camera, in his living room talking on the phone to her. He was there in person at the taping.