03-27-2015, 04:56 PM
Y'know, I don't think I've watched a single frame of S8, not even a Youtube clip, but it's really strange when even the *screencaps* start to have a distinctly different feel to them. Different from Classic BBT, I mean.
The Rewind project has reminded me that those earliest eps had such a feeling of freshness and youthfulness to them. To me, this was a story about young people who are just starting out in life, and now the characters' lives seem to have plateaued, personally and professionally.
(One might say it's a downward spiral, not a plateau, but what I mean is there's a *static* feeling, a feeling that the various story-threads are literally over and yet the show continues to air, like they are literally just killing time now.)
I find that I don't even want to look at screencaps/pictures anymore, if they're recent. This show was always colorful, but the overall look has gotten noticeably pastel, sort of Easter egg-colored. Except for the scenes which are strangely dark and dimly lit, like the Thermalization ep. IDK, am I making sense?
For me, personally, this show is so definitely over, that to see new screencaps/photos is almost surreal and shocking. It's like I've so thoroughly convinced myself the show is over, that it's like "wait, no, what is this?" I mean, I still tend to think Raj has curly hair, for example.
These visual differences brought me to a question: at what point does this "new" show become so thoroughly different that it is really and truly a spin-off, a different animal, so to speak? How many of the recurring jokes/tropes/themes are still in use? Almost none. We could even make a list. (I'm not suggesting this, I'm just saying it's possible.)
If none of the classic, memorable, formative jokes/situations/themes are present anymore, how can they even expect us to consider this the same show? That's not a snarky or rhetorical question, I mean it literally. If TPTB say "This is the Big Bang Theory", on what evidence is that statement founded? That they have the same actors? The same actor can play many different roles in a lifetime; that proves nothing. Anthony Hopkins played CS Lewis but he also played Hannibal Lecter. So what?
Wow, I am rambling a LOT. But I guess my point is, something strange has definitely occurred with this show, if I don't even want to look at photos anymore, even photos where nothing obviously negative is occurring. And it's not simply because the actors are aging*, etc. If I haven't watched a single scene of S8, but I can *feel* that something is awry, then something is awry.
IDK. Maybe this is a sign that I'm starting to let it go. I'd like to think that the characters we loved wouldn't allow themselves to be treated this way.
I'm very glad that the Shennies were able to have 8.16, but even if there was going to be an ep. where something equally momentous happened with *my* favorite characters, I don't think I'd have either the courage or the inclination to watch it, at this point.
*I don't think any of them have aged much except Galecki, but I have a feeling that could change rather suddenly, if we're looking at 2 or 3(!!!) more years. I've heard the saying that people's aging becomes noticeable in ten-year increments.
The Rewind project has reminded me that those earliest eps had such a feeling of freshness and youthfulness to them. To me, this was a story about young people who are just starting out in life, and now the characters' lives seem to have plateaued, personally and professionally.
(One might say it's a downward spiral, not a plateau, but what I mean is there's a *static* feeling, a feeling that the various story-threads are literally over and yet the show continues to air, like they are literally just killing time now.)
I find that I don't even want to look at screencaps/pictures anymore, if they're recent. This show was always colorful, but the overall look has gotten noticeably pastel, sort of Easter egg-colored. Except for the scenes which are strangely dark and dimly lit, like the Thermalization ep. IDK, am I making sense?
For me, personally, this show is so definitely over, that to see new screencaps/photos is almost surreal and shocking. It's like I've so thoroughly convinced myself the show is over, that it's like "wait, no, what is this?" I mean, I still tend to think Raj has curly hair, for example.
These visual differences brought me to a question: at what point does this "new" show become so thoroughly different that it is really and truly a spin-off, a different animal, so to speak? How many of the recurring jokes/tropes/themes are still in use? Almost none. We could even make a list. (I'm not suggesting this, I'm just saying it's possible.)
If none of the classic, memorable, formative jokes/situations/themes are present anymore, how can they even expect us to consider this the same show? That's not a snarky or rhetorical question, I mean it literally. If TPTB say "This is the Big Bang Theory", on what evidence is that statement founded? That they have the same actors? The same actor can play many different roles in a lifetime; that proves nothing. Anthony Hopkins played CS Lewis but he also played Hannibal Lecter. So what?
Wow, I am rambling a LOT. But I guess my point is, something strange has definitely occurred with this show, if I don't even want to look at photos anymore, even photos where nothing obviously negative is occurring. And it's not simply because the actors are aging*, etc. If I haven't watched a single scene of S8, but I can *feel* that something is awry, then something is awry.
IDK. Maybe this is a sign that I'm starting to let it go. I'd like to think that the characters we loved wouldn't allow themselves to be treated this way.
I'm very glad that the Shennies were able to have 8.16, but even if there was going to be an ep. where something equally momentous happened with *my* favorite characters, I don't think I'd have either the courage or the inclination to watch it, at this point.
*I don't think any of them have aged much except Galecki, but I have a feeling that could change rather suddenly, if we're looking at 2 or 3(!!!) more years. I've heard the saying that people's aging becomes noticeable in ten-year increments.