04-08-2015, 08:01 AM
I honestly think that the word 'growth' is a catchall to explain away anything that TPTB are called out on by their critics. Why is there less geekiness on the show? Growth. Less science? Growth. More of an emphasis on relationships? Growth. Major alterations to character portrayals? Growth.
It's the great side-step--there are no continuity problems with the early to late seasons; what we're seeing is a progression, an evolution. Aside from the obvious that the writers have run out of ideas this progression is part of the reason why we're seeing old jokes/plots reused. As the basic points by which we judge the 'framework' of a show (i.e. characters, settings, etc) are now askew there needs to be a way to keep these links between the seasons 'alive'. The Penny fig Newtons joke worked, so let's use it again so we can add nostalgia to the face value of the joke. The sentimentality and good will generated by the early seasons is hopefully tapped to keep the ratings high.
Ultimately their idea of Growth is lazy and it's rather sad that critics/interviewers don't call them out on it. If everything they do is Growth then the willingness/ability to discern the quality of the show is lost. That is what has me steamed. Yes, I agree that the characters have changed and like Ricardo I believe that we were seeing change in them in the early seasons, only it being done at their own pace. But what undoes this whole Growth bullshit we're being fed as being only a positive force is how the humour on the show has changed. It's now mean-spirited and no where near as complex as the early jokes were. Growth in humour isn't calling someone a 'Sexy toddler' (as it invokes an uncomfortable humour, a knee-jerk reactionary humour) it's calling someone a robot and expanding that into a brilliant scene intro involving Asimov and Jenga. It catches Sheldon, Howard and Raj in all their brilliance and character nuances with a good-natured tease given a genuine mulling over. The characters bring out the joke as opposed to now where the joke is the characters.
The proof is in the pudding and the verdict by a greater number of people is that season 8 is just not funny.
But by gosh there's Growth!
It's the great side-step--there are no continuity problems with the early to late seasons; what we're seeing is a progression, an evolution. Aside from the obvious that the writers have run out of ideas this progression is part of the reason why we're seeing old jokes/plots reused. As the basic points by which we judge the 'framework' of a show (i.e. characters, settings, etc) are now askew there needs to be a way to keep these links between the seasons 'alive'. The Penny fig Newtons joke worked, so let's use it again so we can add nostalgia to the face value of the joke. The sentimentality and good will generated by the early seasons is hopefully tapped to keep the ratings high.
Ultimately their idea of Growth is lazy and it's rather sad that critics/interviewers don't call them out on it. If everything they do is Growth then the willingness/ability to discern the quality of the show is lost. That is what has me steamed. Yes, I agree that the characters have changed and like Ricardo I believe that we were seeing change in them in the early seasons, only it being done at their own pace. But what undoes this whole Growth bullshit we're being fed as being only a positive force is how the humour on the show has changed. It's now mean-spirited and no where near as complex as the early jokes were. Growth in humour isn't calling someone a 'Sexy toddler' (as it invokes an uncomfortable humour, a knee-jerk reactionary humour) it's calling someone a robot and expanding that into a brilliant scene intro involving Asimov and Jenga. It catches Sheldon, Howard and Raj in all their brilliance and character nuances with a good-natured tease given a genuine mulling over. The characters bring out the joke as opposed to now where the joke is the characters.
The proof is in the pudding and the verdict by a greater number of people is that season 8 is just not funny.
But by gosh there's Growth!
Let's go exploring!