[Spoilers] Season 11 Discussion Thread

[April]

2 minutes ago, JE7 said:

bernie also has the option to get "fixed" if she is done having children 

It's a much easier and less risky procedure for men though.

Either way though, judging by Howard's reaction to the news of the 2nd baby I think it's a mutual decision and not Bernie's alone.

[mirs1]

16 minutes ago, JE7 said:

There was/is no need for him to give up his work no more than Bernadette should give up hers, Haley is in daycare at Cal Tech. 

I agree, I think that was one of those throw away lines that stuck with the audience more than with the writers; in fact Howard and Bernie didn't mention that pact any more in their subsequent conversation about babies...Thanks goodness, I might add, it was silly that one of them had to give up their work for raising a kid (or two).

18 minutes ago, JE7 said:

And "time to send him for the snip" is just demeaning  (he's not her pet) and frankly sexist bernie also has the option to get "fixed" if she is done having children why should howard be "sent" instead of her?

Not for taking a stand for either type of permanent birth control method, but a vasectomy is a less invasive procedure than a tubal ligation, unless you make it on the occasion of a C-section.

4 minutes ago, April said:

It's a much easier and less risky procedure for men though.

Either way though, judging by Howard's reaction to the news of the 2nd baby I think it's a mutual decision and not Bernie's alone.

It's clear that the classical birth control methods don't work for them, since both children were a "surprise", so probably they decided for something more drastic for that reason, LOL!

[Chrismo]

4 hours ago, April said:

Most people probably don't even remember the pilot...

Thus most people aren't really fans of the show? Or just don't remember the first  three seasons?

 

15 minutes ago, April said:

It's a much easier and less risky procedure for men though.

Either way though, judging by Howard's reaction to the news of the 2nd baby I think it's a mutual decision and not Bernie's alone.

Kind of shows the writers were lucky Melissa got pregnant since it's obvious they had no other plans for Howard and Bernsdette.. If she hadn't this storyline would of never happened.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Chrismo

[April]

1 minute ago, mirs1 said:

It's clear that the classical birth control methods don't work for them, since both children were a "surprise", so probably they decided for something more drastic for that reason, LOL!

Well, if 10x23 is any indication then Bernie had the idea to make a baby  and they knew exactly when and where it happened so I guess it was a lot less of a surprise with Halley than with baby #2 now where they were "careful" (whatever that means lol).

[3ku11]

I think it's silly the writers are having another pregnancy so early after th first one. Is this all this show is now. 12 month pregnancies to set up "Amy's birthday sex" jokes? . The plot lines so far this season as far as the taping shows go. Leave a little to be desired. Pretty bland. I guess having a two year renewal. Was probably the last thing the show needed. As it was already getting stale. But I think they have become even more complacent. I mean the last episode I liked, solid. But it's like tying together garbage. And then nothing happens at the end of the episode. Recycled stories. 

In any case. Howard should of had a vasectomy after the last baby. Tbh it seems this second pregnancy is predicated around Mels real life pregnancy. Without it, it wouldent be happening most likely. 

Edited October 4, 2017 by 3ku11

[mirs1]

1 minute ago, April said:

Well, if 10x23 is any indication then Bernie had the idea to make a baby  and they knew exactly when and where it happened so I guess it was a lot less of a surprise with Halley than with baby #2 now where they were "careful" (whatever that means lol).

Well, they were reckless when they conceived Halley, so the birth control method they used didn't work for them, in the sense they forgot to use it, LOL! 

[Jonny]

19 minutes ago, April said:

It's a much easier and less risky procedure for men though.

Either way though, judging by Howard's reaction to the news of the 2nd baby I think it's a mutual decision and not Bernie's alone.

This news if true makes sense judging from his reaction to the second baby. Yeah you might not see it but I suspect it's a mutual decision and of course he could get it reversed at a later time if they change their mind about having more kids.

I'm sure Simon will be absolutely hilarious with this storyline (if indeed it is true).

Talking about something else, the BTS picture of Sheldon dressed as Proton coupled with the news that Newhart was going to appear made me think that Sheldon is going to try his hand at doing a science show. The episode title IMO pretty much confirms it.

I might be the only one who says this but I think we all expect that Sheldon trying his hand at this will likely be a disaster done for comedy purposes, but I actually kind of hope that he tries his hand at it and enjoys it and he isn't that bad at it. I'm sure a lot of the die-hard old school Sheldon fans might see it Sheldon perhaps being dumbed-down, but he's clearly in a bit of a career rut right now and maybe doing something a bit different might be good for him? So yeah if he is giving it a go I really hope it works, but I strongly suspect it's going to be a 'one episode he's tried it he's not good at it, oh let's laugh at it and him kind of deal.'

Sometimes seeing the unexpected, less predictable outcome is more interesting and makes for a better story.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Jonny

[Chrismo]

1 hour ago, joyceraye said:

Indeed. As soon as he had Bernie for a real girlfriend his eye stopped wandering.  He was proud he'd been saddled and bridled. Remember how he called the models 'Mrs Wolowitz' ? What he wanted all along was to be married. Being unfaithful has never seriously crossed his mind. Even when he was panicking over the first pregnancy he was frightened at the thought of a pretty nanny.

I seem to remember Howard being jealous of the Raj/Penny hook up. Stating something like  that could of been me.

[Stephen Hawking]

17 hours ago, spidergirl said:

You were thinking of something like a time machine? It would be a crazy plot but a reasonable solution for putting all kids together,  LOL! 

 

Shouldn't that be into the past?

[April]

3 minutes ago, Jonny said:

Talking about something else, the BTS picture of Sheldon dressed as Proton coupled with the news that Newhart was going to appear made me think that Sheldon is going to try his hand at doing a science show. The episode title IMO pretty much confirms it.

I might be the only one who says this but I think we all expect that Sheldon trying his hand at this will likely be a disaster done for comedy purposes, but I actually kind of hope that he tries his hand at it and enjoys it and he isn't that bad at it. I'm sure a lot of the die-hard old school Sheldon fans might see it Sheldon perhaps being dumbed-down, but he's clearly in a bit of a career rut right now and maybe doing something a bit different might be good for him? So yeah if he is giving it a go I really hope it works, but I strongly suspect it's going to be a 'one episode he's tried it he's not good at it, oh let's laugh at it and him kind of deal.'

Sometimes seeing the unexpected, less predictable outcome is more interesting and makes fot a better story.

I would like that as well. It could tie wonderfully with their career issue arc as it would be a bit "back to the roots" for Sheldon and reignite his passion for physics and science in general after feeling so down about it in yesterday's episode. Fingers crossed!

[Jonny]

4 minutes ago, April said:

I would like that as well. It could tie wonderfully with their career issue arc as it would be a bit "back to the roots" for Sheldon and reignite his passion for physics and science in general after feeling so down about it in yesterday's episode. Fingers crossed!

I really want this to happen, don't think it will but want it lol

[veejay]

11 minutes ago, Jonny said:

I really want this to happen, don't think it will but want it lol

...and not to forget that he could/would be able to call on a gifted and well known acting teacher.

Edited October 4, 2017 by veejay
(no weird Shenny intention, please)

[mirs1]

11 minutes ago, veejay said:

...and not to forget that he could/would be able to call on a gifted and well known acting teacher.

Oh, don't worry @veejay, we wouldn't ever accuse you of "weird Shenny intentions", or of "weird intentions" altogether, LOL!

[Die Zimtzicke]

8 hours ago, Carlos said:

Neither does it make it right.

I totally agree. But I am not the one in charge. So I don't expect that to be a priority.

5 hours ago, April said:

Most people probably don't even remember the pilot...

THANK YOU! Not everyone who watches is fixated on everything that ever happened. They can't possibly be.

4 hours ago, spidergirl said:

Really? Howard had not given reasons for Bernie could not trust him about other women. And I have watched all episodes for state my opinion.

No one said anything about him cheating.And he could still cheat with a vasectomy. Probably easier. I think this is a reference to sharing te responsibility for making sure they don't have any more kids.

1 hour ago, JE7 said:

There was/is no need for him to give up his work no more than Bernadette should give up hers, Haley is in daycare at Cal Tech. 

Except he promised to do it and broke his promise, and now there is another baby to consider.

[joyceraye]

2 hours ago, JE7 said:

There was/is no need for him to give up his work no more than Bernadette should give up hers, Haley is in daycare at Cal Tech. 

And "time to send him for the snip" is just demeaning  (he's not her pet) and frankly sexist bernie also has the option to get "fixed" if she is done having children why should howard be "sent" instead of her?

Men go for the snip because it's something they can do for their wives' sake. They want to spare their wives an invasive abdominal operation after they've been through pregnancies and births. It also means the wives don't have to take the pill for the rest of their childbearing years.

Halley is in what looks to be a loving,stimulating environment at the Caltech nursery. However, she wasn't even weaned when she started there and Bernadette's heart wasn't in it. Howard should have honoured her motherly instinct and kept his promise when he could. It was a serious pact made so that he didn't break off the engagement. 

At the same time, I don't get why they are so bothered about having their children close together. Considering Bernadette's age and how late she was able to begin a career worthy of her education, completing the family in one go seems the best idea. After this maternity leave she won't have to interrupt her work again. She can carry on up the career ladder for the next thirty years or  more. 

[spidergirl]

38 minutes ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

No one said anything about him cheating.And he could still cheat with a vasectomy. Probably easier. I think this is a reference to sharing te responsibility for making sure they don't have any more kids.

And curiously the user I quoted did not  denied it. So I got it was implied the cheating when was mentioned Bernie could not trust in Howard.

[April]

2 minutes ago, joyceraye said:

At the same time, I don't get why they are so bothered about having their children close together. Considering Bernadette's age and how late she was able to begin a career worthy of her education, completing the family in one go seems the best idea. After this maternity leave she won't have to interrupt her work again. She can carry on up the career ladder for the next thirty years or  more. 

The biggest issue is certainly that it wasn't planned so they're mostly just in shock. Give it time and they might see the advantages.

[Stephen Hawking]

6 hours ago, bfm said:

to me it looks like Sheldon is trying to make a Professor Proton (Jr.) video

Of course, Sheldon has previously been Professor Proton Junior.

[joyceraye]

10 minutes ago, Stephen Hawking said:

Of course, Sheldon has previously been Professor Proton Junior.

And he was the one P.P. Senior asked to stand in for him.

[Stephen Hawking]

Just now, joyceraye said:

And he was the one P.P. Senior asked to stand in for him.

Correct.  

[Tensor]

 

8 hours ago, JE7 said:

There was/is no need for him to give up his work no more than Bernadette should give up hers, Haley is in daycare at Cal Tech. 

And "time to send him for the snip" is just demeaning  (he's not her pet) and frankly sexist bernie also has the option to get "fixed" if she is done having children why should howard be "sent" instead of her?

6 hours ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

Except he promised to do it and broke his promise, and now there is another baby to consider.

 

Hmmmmmm, I would think the following, by you, applies here...

Quote

THANK YOU! Not everyone who watches is fixated on everything that ever happened. They can't possibly be.

Yep, most pick and choose what they fixate on.  

Broke his promise?  Or, they had a discussion and they decided to put Halley in day care at Cal Tech?

[Carlos]

6 hours ago, joyceraye said:

I don't know what that means, Skull. Millions of men do it when their family's complete so the wife doesn't have to take The Pill for another twenty years.

Or get her tubes tied, or get an IUD. The pill is not the only contraceptive method available to women. However I must say that I think what Howard did is great because there is no reason that men shouldn't share in the "burden" of being an active participant  in the method of contraception used by the couple. I would hope he at least talked it over with Bernie

Edited October 4, 2017 by Carlos
Clarification

[Shelldon]

The only reason Howard is getting a vasectomy is because the writers don't want to write a 3rd kid storyline, especially when they're already scrambling to try to find a way to make the 2nd kid invisible.

Should've waited until they learned more about this 2nd kid before a vasectomy.

How many more Proton episodes can they do? They've run out of concepts for him. I don't find the hallucinations funny.

Hopefully Shamy invites Wheaton to the wedding.

[Carlos]

7 hours ago, April said:

You're the only one I see doing that. lol

I don't harp on it, but it would be important to me if it was referenced in the finale or there was a story arc in reference to it before the show ends. That being said I don't trust the writers to do it. It would be, IMO, one more way to butcher the overall story, but hey...it is what it is.

[HeWolf]

7 hours ago, 3ku11 said:

Alot of people remember the pilot. IT is on Netflix for hecks sake ;). Why do you think people harp on about "Our babies well be smart and beautiful"

I remember the pilot quite well. Including the cold opening that most stations no longer air. 

There's a lot of talk in this thread concerning Bernadette, Howard and maternity/paternity leave. I realize that a lot of the forum members come from countries with differing perspectives, policies, and cultural norms concerning these issues but, in the United States, the law requires a firm such as Bernadette's to provide her with a minimum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave. California, has a law that requires her employer to pay her at least a partial amount of her salary. She could, of course, utilize any accrued personal time, but since she just came back from maternity leave there would likely not be much of a balance of such time available. Howard is also eligible for unpaid time off and, since they're in California, up to six weeks leave at partial pay. How much such time the Wallowitz's can afford would have to play into the amount of time either, or both, take.

Edited October 4, 2017 by HeWolf