Ship Zone [Spoilers] Shamy: Season 10

[April]

14 minutes ago, rachelshamyfan said:

At the moment I'm not excited about the new season, idk why, usually by now in the past I am going crazy with anticipation, maybe its because shamy finished the season in a pretty good place and plus I've been busy but not long to go now

The SDCC writer's panel is this Friday - maybe that'll help to ignite the anticipation! :D

[mirs1]

20 minutes ago, rachelshamyfan said:

At the moment I'm not excited about the new season, idk why, usually by now in the past I am going crazy with anticipation, maybe its because shamy finished the season in a pretty good place and plus I've been busy but not long to go now

It looks like we have perfectly received the writers' message about "cooling out jets", LOL! But April is right,  SDCC is like the light at the end of the tunnel, the hiatus is almost over! 

[serena_1995]

On 7/5/2016 at 5:51 PM, mirs1 said:

It's pretty funny to notice how, before any milestone for Sheldon and Shamy, the writers kind of test the waters in some previous episodes; there were Martha and the "kiss" with Leonard's mother before Amy appeared, then there was Herb Garden before the first kiss with Amy, in S. 7 there were a couple of mentions to a kiss before Sheldon kissed Amy, and the first half of S.9 was full of hints about a "sexualized" Sheldon. Watching the old seasons makes me see those patterns.  

Still not sure why they did this -

It looks painful, like Jim and Christine got fat lips after the kiss..But I think the writers were testing waters about what kind of potential love interest would be suitable for Sheldon. Because only a few episodes later it was Amy's first appearance in The Lunar Excitation.

And how they decided on the first Shamy kiss.

Edited July 18, 2016 by serena_nyc1995

[3ku11]

3 hours ago, serena_nyc1995 said:

Still not sure why they did this -

t looks painful, like Jim and Christine got fat lips after the kiss..But I think the writers were testing waters about what kind of potential love interest would be suitable for Sheldon. Because only a few episodes later it was Amy's first appearance in The Lunar Excitation.

And how they decided on the first Shamy kiss.

I don't normally post here. But the two are correlated? Could be wrong but I Don't think Sheldon's kiss with Bev/Christine has any baring or meaning. And it wasen't a few episodes later to Luna Excitation, Season 3 finalie. IT was 12 episodes. So alot of time happened their. And it took a long time before Shamy had their first kiss. I don't count that as Amy was drunk. I count the Locomotive Manipulation ala SIK. In any case I Don't think they were testing the waters re Sheldon being in a relationship. I just think Bev was experimenting haha. Even the TPTB said, they had no idea how long Amy was going to last. SO I Don't think they any plans or anything. 

Edited July 18, 2016 by 3ku11

[kerrycec03]

reading back Shamy fanfics...want our couple back on air STAT!!!

[Soopysue]

11 hours ago, kerrycec03 said:

reading back Shamy fanfics...want our couple back on air STAT!!!

Me too !!!!! I'm re reading lots of fics ! - some for the third or fourth time ! 

Need them back ASAP  

[Jonny]

Hopefully we get some nice rumors on Friday, though usually it's a case of this might be an idea that may or may not happen. Shamy developments do seem to come at a glacial pace though they did speed it up a little in Season 9 only to then slow it down again. The engagement storyline for sure is what I am eager to hear about.

[April]

10 minutes ago, Jonny83 said:

Hopefully we get some nice rumors on Friday, though usually it's a case of this might be an idea that may or may not happen. Shamy developments do seem to come at a glacial pace though they did speed it up a little in Season 9 only to then slow it down again. The engagement storyline for sure is what I am eager to hear about.

Yeah, whatever comes out of the panel I'll take with a grain of salt. Just like last year there was some remark about getting more on Amy's family that was then blown up on here as "OMG We'll finally get the big Amy story!!!" and then nothing came out of it save for the phone-call in 9x03 and another anecdote of Amy's hilariously terrible childhood. So yeah...

My wishlist from the end of last season still stands: intimacy, moving in together, engagement. I'm eager to hear about any of these things. <3
 

[mirs1]

43 minutes ago, April said:

Yeah, whatever comes out of the panel I'll take with a grain of salt. Just like last year there was some remark about getting more on Amy's family that was then blown up on here as "OMG We'll finally get the big Amy story!!!" and then nothing came out of it save for the phone-call in 9x03 and another anecdote of Amy's hilariously terrible childhood. So yeah...

My wishlist from the end of last season still stands: intimacy, moving in together, engagement. I'm eager to hear about any of these things. <3
 

Oh yes, I remember last year, after that hint to Amy's family, we all started going crazy, speculating about how finally we could have known something about her father, who should have been casted for the part, whether the actress that played her mother in S. 4 would have played the role again...That was fun, even if the desire for some good news misled us a bit, LOL! Not sure I can convince myself  not doing that again, if there's the chance, LOL!!! I hope in a very funny panel, with some "surprise" guess and a lot of Shamy oriented questions...and I hope in a few clues (on which having the same blow up we got last year, hopefully with a different outcome, LOL!) by the writers that something is in store for them! 

[April]

1 hour ago, mirs1 said:

Oh yes, I remember last year, after that hint to Amy's family, we all started going crazy, speculating about how finally we could have known something about her father, who should have been casted for the part, whether the actress that played her mother in S. 4 would have played the role again...That was fun, even if the desire for some good news misled us a bit, LOL! Not sure I can convince myself  not doing that again, if there's the chance, LOL!!! I hope in a very funny panel, with some "surprise" guess and a lot of Shamy oriented questions...and I hope in a few clues (on which having the same blow up we got last year, hopefully with a different outcome, LOL!) by the writers that something is in store for them! 

LOL Yeah, it's easy to get carried away with speculations like this.

Fingers crossed for something nice from SDCC!! :D

[rachelshamyfan]

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know why they didn't explore the friendship only potential that Sheldon wanted to do in platonic, I know ultimately they got back together and had coitus within the next few episodes but it's a valid point

[April]

1 hour ago, rachelshamyfan said:

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know why they didn't explore the friendship only potential that Sheldon wanted to do in platonic, I know ultimately they got back together and had coitus within the next few episodes but it's a valid point

Yeah, I wonder that, too.

Though of course if you're strictly looking at their master plan then 9x11 would have always been their "the force awakens (nudge nudge wink wink)" story and everything in the first half of the season would have to be scheduled accordingly. So with that in mind, if they wanted to explore the "just friends" angle they would have to have them trying to be friends again an episode or two before 9x09. But I guess once the committed to the whole dating business they just didn't have time for that.

[mirs1]

I also think timing was a big factor; with the first four episodes set in a very short period of time (because they had to take care of Lenny's marriage and give a "reasonable" explanation for not changing the living arrangements) and the idea of exploring Amy's and, at a certain degree, Sheldon's dating life after the break up, simply there wasn't time left for anything else. But for me there was also a "shocking value" in Shamy reconciling so abruptly, after they had agreed in being just friends.  9.09  could have been the set up for a  will they/won't they classic sit-com trope. But the writers surprised us in the very next episode (and, again, in 9.11) with  something completely unexpected. It's true that this "shocking value" was a bit lost (luckily not for us,  thanks to the TRs  we were a couple of weeks ahead with respect to the casual viewers, so the feels were really strong after 9.10 spoilers, LOL!) because of the huge advertising of 9.11 which started before 9.10 aired, but maybe the promoting strategy was an afterthought.

[Jonny]

3 hours ago, rachelshamyfan said:

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know why they didn't explore the friendship only potential that Sheldon wanted to do in platonic, I know ultimately they got back together and had coitus within the next few episodes but it's a valid point

I don't know why the writers didn't (I guess they thought the breakup had gone on long enough and had plans for the rest of the season- but would agree with April's theory that they planned Opening Night/Star Wars perhaps some time in advance) but deep down I would imagine it wasn't what the characters wanted. Amy agreed to try the friendship thing but in Platonic it stirred up feelings she still had for Sheldon and as you saw at the end of the episode she wanted to get back together. Sheldon resisted until the following episode when he decided he felt the same way.

The love between them was too strong to be just friends.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Jonny83

[April]

31 minutes ago, Jonny83 said:

(I guess they thought the breakup had gone on long enough and had plans for the rest of the season- but would agree with April's theory that they planned Opening Night/Star Wars perhaps some time in advance)

Molaro actually confirmed that they planned 9x11 for quite some time and there were a few major elements that they wanted to sync in this: Amy's birthday (because he really liked the "next year" joke more than it deserves lol)  and the Star Wars tie in, complete with Jedi Professor Proton to give Sheldon advice. He was very happy that all of this was coming together so perfectly in the end. (As we all are, I presume! ;D)

[rachelshamyfan]

Oh yes I'm happy they got back together, was just curious about if they had gone a different way, though I hated the break up, I may of expressed my feelings on that many times!

[Jonny]

2 hours ago, April said:

Molaro actually confirmed that they planned 9x11 for quite some time and there were a few major elements that they wanted to sync in this: Amy's birthday (because he really liked the "next year" joke more than it deserves lol)  and the Star Wars tie in, complete with Jedi Professor Proton to give Sheldon advice. He was very happy that all of this was coming together so perfectly in the end. (As we all are, I presume! ;D)

Molaro should be blowing his trumpet lol it was a brilliant episode executed to perfection. I think we are all very happy the episode played out like it did 

[April]

Previously on my pre-S10 rewatch: [S1-3] [S4] [S5]

And now the continuation: Season 6! :D

6x01:
- "casual physical contact that a disinterested onlooker might mistake for intimacy" is now a thing, as determined by the RA LOL
- Oh Sheldon, still ruining those date nights, eh?
- Ugh, Raj, get lost!
- "Dessert is served!" omg Sheldon, I love you but you're an idiot sometimes
- Despite everything I think the paraphrased Spiderman speech is a good save. I mean, this is Sheldon at a point where he has a hard time understanding his emotions and what this relationship is doing to him. So even tough it's borrowed from a movie this speech about that conflict of feeling "stronger and weaker"/"excited and terrified" at the same time is a truthful reflection of what is going on and with the "I know what kind of man I want to be" you get a first glimpse of him maybe kinda sorta actually thinking about becoming a better man for her. But it's a long road ahead...

6x02:
- Marrying Sheldon in exactly 4 years...? I think you need to reschedule that, Amy.
- ahh yes, more of that "casual physical contact": mandatory hand holding at the movies! <3
- lol the Transformers analogy and Leonard's interpretation is gold: "The guy who seems like an emotionless robot is you. But your relationship with Amy is causing you to transform into a red-blooded man with sexual desires." LOL Bless you, Leonard, for snooping around the writers' room and giving us a glimpse of what is to come. hahaha
- First time we see Amy's bedroom but it looks different than the one we're used to now. Interesting... hmmm...

6x03:
- Sheldon's mom sends him a box of old journals. Plus, in some earlier episode she sends him some old gaming stuff. God knows what else is stored down in Texas! It's one of those things that easily makes me buy the whole Solder Excursion scenario.
- Amy being alarmed by Alex makes for a fun change from Sheldon being the jealous one haha

6x04:
- Aww Mayim awkwardly hiding her injury. She's a trooper but damn, poor gal! :C
- I love it when they just have the PALS hang out and do fun stuff! <3

6x05:
- Couples costumes! OMG you two are terrible at this - how hard is it to pick a romantic couple from a sci-fi movie? There, problem solved!

6x07:
- FWF! Yay! The one with Wil Wheaton though.
- Ugh, yeah, sign me up for team "Amy, get your shit together!" JFC, gurl, what are you doing?!?? I'm also really not a big fan of this "hen-pecked man has to side with his woman no matter what" trope.
- The best I could say about it is that at least it shows that Amy has a lot to learn as well, I just wish it would have been acknowledged a bit more in the story here.
- I like when Sheldon is baffled that Amy and Wil don't like each other despite their similarities such as: "...I like them, which indicates they're bright and interesting..." aww
- Also: "Amy deserves better. [...] I'm a callous egomaniac. She's gonna leave me." Right on the mark, Sheldon... If only late S8/early S9 you could hear that.
- Drunk Sheldon at WW's house is hilarious though. lol

6x09:
- OMG the parking lot fight with Bernie and Amy going all in about their men - holy shit! LOL
- And then Bernie goes low down: "...like Sheldon's work, your sex life is also theoretical?" Well, remembering what I wrote in my S5 post, she is not wrong though: We'll get back to more theoretical sex, this time D&D style, by the end of the season!
- "Boy, that's a lot of band-aids!" LOL
- Poor Penny! omg
- "Revenge is a dish best served nude!" ahahaha

6x10:
- aww, poor sick Amy!
- "I made a commitment in writing to comfort you in times like this. And, additionally, you are my girlfriend and I care about your well-being." AWWW Good boy, Sheldon! <3
- Sheldon taking care of Amy is so sweet. Also, this episode is Exhibit A for whenever anyone is getting all "But Sheldon is always freaking out about germs!!" No, he's not - not when it's Amy.
- "For some reason that vapo-rub gets you all fired up." LOL
- Oh Amy, you're such a bad girl... Not a big fan of the spanking (it's a bit of an old timey trope) but then again, if that's their kink who am I to judge?? lol

6x11:
- "Oh great, I always wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons!" I forgot that Amy was actually excited about D&D. Oh Amy, you'll be even more excited about this game later on! :D

6x14:
- aww Sheldon's so upset about Kripke's work being superior
- "May I offer you a consoling hug?" One of my fave scenes! Especially with him putting his hand on her arm during the cuddle. <3

- "Yes. That is the reason. My work is suffering because of all the laid I'm getting." LMAO the whole thing is just gold!
- "If Kripke asks tell him my coitus with Amy is frequent, intense and whimsically inventive." Okay buddy, I'm sure you managed the "intense and whimsically inventive" by now, you still gotta work on the "frequent"! lol
- This whole scene when he explains to Lenny his stance on physical intimacy is so important, IMHO, cause there were a lot of ideas out there about why he just doesn't seem to be interested in sex. And here now he's specifically asked about it and he's specifically pointing to his issues with physical contact. And furthermore he's explaining how he's working on it and we've seen him make progress on it - like earlier in this very episode when he clearly finds Amy's hug comforting. And to top it all off, after Penny asks for clarification if all of that will lead to sex with Amy someday, he admits "It's a possibility."

6x15:
- Leonard, how the hell did you avoid the Dumbledore spoiler??!? I just...??? HOW??
- Surprisingly, I quite like the living together conflict at this point in the show and that it's not just on Sheldon. Penny barely said ILY for the first time a few episodes ago so I buy it's too fast for her, and Shamy are even further away from that point. So it makes sense.

6x16:
- Aww, the Valentine's presents! <3

6x21:
- Amy helps Sheldon with his closure issues. This episodes is such a two edged sword for me. Like, on one hand: Yay, practical applications for Amy's neurological knowledge! Yay, Shamy do experiments together!! On the other: Oh Amy, you're way too pushy with this. No wonder it doesn't work. ugh
- Makes me love 9x19 even more cause while the situation is similar in that Sheldon has a problem that Amy could help him with but this time she isn't pushing the matter and merely offers her help if Sheldon wants it. <3

6x23:
- Finally the episode where a lot of this seasons themes for our couple come together: D&D, a long overdue heartfelt talk and theoretical sex! YAY! lol
- As an aside: OMG HOW GREAT IS SIMON IN THIS?? Shower him with awards, please!
- I love how the gang has a ton of fun playing together - well, at least until things take a bit of a mean turn.
- Their scene in Sheldon's room is so tender and wonderful. As much as the gang makes fun of them all the time I love how Sheldon reassures Amy here in a very vulnerable moment between them and then goes even one step further and initiates the D&D game even though Amy already offered to go back outside. Awww.

General Observations:
- So then this season is the beginning of those episodes when Amy is more pushy and Sheldon is more resistant which feels somewhat conflicting with the progress that every other episode shows. And thus we get our beloved "two steps forward, one step back" dance. Oh well... sigh. In defence though I will say that a lot of this behaviour seems to be the result of the pressure on both to have a "normal" relationship and their differences in character let them have correlating reactions to that.
- On Amy's side I feel it's apparent that especially with episodes like 6x23 the occasional mockery of their relationship causes a lot of insecurity in her. As she wants to catch up with all the things she missed out during high school the idea that her relationship is not "real" because thanks to Sheldon it follows its own norm-defying pace stings and makes her seek or sometimes even demand more affirmation than she'd probably do under different circumstances. I don't think she needs Sheldon to be the perfect boyfriend at all time but her inexperience and her friends' comments lead her to have a skewed perspective on relationships.
- On Sheldon's side of things it's obvious that he's just not ready for more intimacy, yet. This is the first time he's ever had any interest in anyone on that level so it takes him a long time to figure this out. What's bothering him is exactly when he's pushed too far and too fast into a direction he isn't comfortable with which is causing him to resist. Overall though he is less prone to feel pressured for not having a "normal" relationship in general as he usually does not care what other people think. So while Amy worries that others see their relationship as a joke because of the lack of physical intimacy Sheldon is secure in his decision to see this through but insists on doing it at his own pace.
- All in all I felt the season had quite a bit of much needed progress even though I feel a lot of Shamy fans have a negative opinion about S6 & S7 because of the "pushy Amy/resistant Sheldon" dynamic that seems to be prominent in some stories. I'm not a big fan of that myself either but looking back at S6 it didn't feel like it took over their storyline. I'll keep an eye on that in the next season.

With that said: S7 here we go! :D

Edited July 21, 2016 by April

[heres2U]

April, I'm loving your season reviews!!!!!!!!  Season 6 is when I really got into TBBT and Shamy.  Did it feel like they were moving our couple forward pretty rapidly in S6?  Cause a lot of the episodes seemed to have pretty major Shamy stories.  Then it seemed as though they really slowed down the relationship after S6.

I'm now afraid that TPTB are putting the brakes on Shamy after all the big events of S9.  They certainly did that in the second half of last season.  Everyone is feeling like we may go past S 10.  But with the bust at the Emmys, perhaps the actors, directors, producers, etc. will be wanting to move on.

[April]

1 hour ago, heres2U said:

April, I'm loving your season reviews!!!!!!!!  Season 6 is when I really got into TBBT and Shamy.  Did it feel like they were moving our couple forward pretty rapidly in S6?  Cause a lot of the episodes seemed to have pretty major Shamy stories.  Then it seemed as though they really slowed down the relationship after S6.

Aww, thank you! <3

Watching all these episodes in short succession probably skews my perspective on this as compared to someone watching all this live back in the day which may let the progress appear more excruciatingly slow at times and make certain episodes even more disappointing. But with this rewatch I think their pace as a couple has been steady overall while the writing seems to concentrate on different aspects of their relationship each season.

In S4 they are still getting to know each other and we see the first stirrings of unexpected feelings cropping up that they have to deal with (25 cats, drunk flirting/dancing/kissing etc.). But most prominently Amy being a new character the writers do their best to integrate her into Sheldon's life and later the whole gang.

In S5 we have the whole process of them becoming an official couple and the first growing pains that arise with that as they settle into their contractually agreed upon boyfriend/girlfriend duties. It's a new situation for both and especially with Sheldon being a bit thick in terms of social interaction Amy sometimes has a hard time dealing with the disappointment.

In S6 they're putting out the idea that Sheldon actively wants to change for Amy and to make their relationship work (as illustrated with the Spiderman speech, the confession to Lenny, and when he reassures Amy with the D&D game)  which is indeed a huge step. It's a slow process and it will continue during the other seasons as well.

As for putting the brakes on, there are still quite a few times the writers seem to do that during seasons. Early/mid S4 still had Sheldon go back and forth on the whole Amy thing (Zazzy, Desperation, Alien Parasite) . S5 had a few episodes where Sheldon was the bad boyfriend that Amy had to deal with (Shiny Trinket, Weekend Vortex). S6 had this push/resist dynamic at times (Spoiler Alert, Closure). Sprinkled in between all of these are of course Sheldon's trademark careless comments that kinda put a damper on quite a few moments before they get too hippie-dippie. lol

I'll have to see for myself as S7 fares by comparison. From my last rewatch I remember things ramping up dramatically during the later half for Sheldon due to all the big changes and the addition of regular kissing and the deepening feelings between him and Amy up to his realisation that she loves him was surely part of that. I'm not sure how much that actually slows things down for Shamy. But it's been a while since I watched it last time so...

Quote

I'm now afraid that TPTB are putting the brakes on Shamy after all the big events of S9.  They certainly did that in the second half of last season.  Everyone is feeling like we may go past S 10.  But with the bust at the Emmys, perhaps the actors, directors, producers, etc. will be wanting to move on.

I thought they had a decent pace for Shamy during the second half of S9 until 9x20 and then it all kinda went a bit haywire. After the reconciliation trilogy I felt they were concentrating on the emotional aspects of their relationship and strengthening their bond again. And then suddenly you had episodes like 9x21 or 9x23 that had everyone worrying "OMG Are we back to square one again??? WTF writers!?" Looking at the big picture though it really seems to be a bit of a recurring pattern in that they always had a few episodes or moments that seem like a bit bummer for Shamy fans at times. But then the next season carried on with more positive development anyway. So for S10 I expect much of the same: We'll get the next developments all the while there are surely still some bumpers on the road left. But in the end it'll be fine.

I don't know if they will make any decisions based on the Emmy snub. The show was never that big on the Emmys anyway - many nominations, sure, but save for Jim's streak not that many prestigious wins.

Edited July 20, 2016 by April

[Jonny]

It has always been like that for Shamy, you get a bit of progress sometimes major and then it slows down again and Season 9 was no different.

I can understand perhaps the slow down a bit more this season because it was a heavily dominated Sheldon and Amy season early on as they tried to come to terms with being broken up and doing their own thing. Then we had the much rejoiced reconciliation, a huge development a major secret reveal and then slowed down again. The writers then decided to focus on other storylines like the Howardette pregnancy and the guidance system plot which is fair enough as the writers have to come up with a way that provides screen time and storylines for all the characters with just 20 mins each week and only 24 episodes to do it in.

Great Shamy season review again April, looking forward to your Season 7 retrospective take. Season 6 provided some very good moments but also a few one step forward two steps back moments. Which is fair enough as it was still early relationship stuff and them trying to find ways to advance their relationship (Amy in particular) but also dealing with the resistance and challenges. But you clearly see their relationship starting to really blossom overall but still some challenges ahead.

Like you pointed out we had a few moments where the rest of the gang were ridiculing their relationship a bit most noticeably in the D&D episode, that does come up again a few more times in later seasons most noticeably in Season 8 which may or may not have played a part in their breakup with Amy thinking maybe people like Bernadette had a point. I think there is always going to be some ridicule from some of the members of the gang because it's not really that sort of conventional relationship, it's pretty unique. But I don't think that bothers them overall especially Sheldon and if we continue to get more progress and growth in their relationship then that will and should be put to bed.

[Soopysue]

Just catching up here - I'm super glad they didn't explore Shamy as "friends" after platonic , I don't think my Shamy heart could of taken a longer split !!!

April , I'm loving your re watch and review !!! It's fab reliving all the eps with your notes - spot on . Thank you .

We've got less than a month now till they start back to work, right ?? And comicon this week - exciting times ahead !! - I'm looking forward to chatting with you all again x

Edited July 20, 2016 by Soopysue

[Stephen Hawking]

11 hours ago, April said:

So with that in mind, if they wanted to explore the "just friends" angle they would have to have them trying to be friends again an episode or two before 9x09.

Which wouldn't have left much time, for Amy to date Dave Gibbs.

3 hours ago, April said:

- First time we see Amy's bedroom but it looks different than the one we're used to now.

Is it really all the different?

I know the headboard has changed, but I don't see much else that has.

Indeed, in that episode, I'm not sure we see much of her bedroom, beyond the bed and the Night Stand.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Stephen Hawking

[Tensor]

 

10 hours ago, April said:

6x08:
- OMG the parking lot fight with Bernie and Amy going all in about their men - holy shit! LOL
- And then Bernie goes low down: "...like Sheldon's work, your sex life is also theoretical?" Well, remembering what I wrote in my S5 post, she is not wrong though: We'll get back to more theoretical sex, this time D&D style, by the end of the season!
- "Boy, that's a lot of band-aids!" LOL
- Poor Penny! omg
- "Revenge is a dish best served nude!" ahahaha

 

April, what you have labeled as 6x08, is really 6x09.   6x08 is The 43 Peculiarity, and neither Amy or Bernadette were in the episode. 

[Lady in Red]

Thank you, April, for your reviews of the earlier seasons as we all await Season 10.  I would like to add that Jim won his third Emmy for his performance in 6x07, the FWF-Wil Wheaton episode.