03-09-2014, 09:22 AM
I'm inclined to believe he has high aesthetic standards on a personal level, owing to the quasi-philosophical and literary quality of his Vanity Cards. Whether he allows much (or any) of this to permeate his commercial television decision-making process is up for debate.
They might even be completely detached. Like a swan flying over the mudflats. Or a retina.
I suspect it's Molaro who dislikes and misunderstands Sheldon. After all, the Vintage Sheldon that we esteem is, horrible to contemplate or not, a Lorre creation. Although I'd say a good 70-80% of Sheldon's success and appeal is down to Parsons' portrayal. It's a difficult character to spin without coming off as either a sociopath or a pantomime. Unfortunately, as everybody here has noted, that's precisely what Sheldon resembles now. Parsons' considerable shift in the manner in which he plays Sheldon aside (and that's a whole other baffling kettle of fish), he can do nothing if the core writing for the character has collapsed into caricature. Forced artificial "growth", wild veering between infantilism and sexified fan-service, standardised "jerk of a boyfriend" sitcom behaviour, pointless unSheldonic malice...
This breaking up of the peculiar but honest friendship between Penny and Sheldon is particularly abhorrent. It's a disaster for both their characters. Penny kept Sheldon in touch with a warmth and humanity the other characters (particularly Amy) simply do not possess, and Sheldon kept Penny in the sphere of high-mindedness, abstracts, intellect, and something other than her godawful job and the limited, materialistic world she is sunk in. Leonard is a number of things, but high-minded and idealistic aren't amongst them.
If they must have these ghastly relationships, the very least they could do as damage control is keep the friendship between Penny and Sheldon intact. It's the most redeeming and honourable aspect of the show. It's also the most popular, if you go by well nigh every single damn poll ever created on the topic. All the great, iconic scenes that casual viewers remember are all Sheldon and Penny ones. If I were the showrunner, I'd market the hell out of them...
But I'm not. I'm a bloody philosophical allegorist with an unhealthy interest in Laphroaig, swords and Buster Keaton...I don't think I'd even be allowed on the set...
They might even be completely detached. Like a swan flying over the mudflats. Or a retina.
I suspect it's Molaro who dislikes and misunderstands Sheldon. After all, the Vintage Sheldon that we esteem is, horrible to contemplate or not, a Lorre creation. Although I'd say a good 70-80% of Sheldon's success and appeal is down to Parsons' portrayal. It's a difficult character to spin without coming off as either a sociopath or a pantomime. Unfortunately, as everybody here has noted, that's precisely what Sheldon resembles now. Parsons' considerable shift in the manner in which he plays Sheldon aside (and that's a whole other baffling kettle of fish), he can do nothing if the core writing for the character has collapsed into caricature. Forced artificial "growth", wild veering between infantilism and sexified fan-service, standardised "jerk of a boyfriend" sitcom behaviour, pointless unSheldonic malice...
This breaking up of the peculiar but honest friendship between Penny and Sheldon is particularly abhorrent. It's a disaster for both their characters. Penny kept Sheldon in touch with a warmth and humanity the other characters (particularly Amy) simply do not possess, and Sheldon kept Penny in the sphere of high-mindedness, abstracts, intellect, and something other than her godawful job and the limited, materialistic world she is sunk in. Leonard is a number of things, but high-minded and idealistic aren't amongst them.
If they must have these ghastly relationships, the very least they could do as damage control is keep the friendship between Penny and Sheldon intact. It's the most redeeming and honourable aspect of the show. It's also the most popular, if you go by well nigh every single damn poll ever created on the topic. All the great, iconic scenes that casual viewers remember are all Sheldon and Penny ones. If I were the showrunner, I'd market the hell out of them...
But I'm not. I'm a bloody philosophical allegorist with an unhealthy interest in Laphroaig, swords and Buster Keaton...I don't think I'd even be allowed on the set...
"WHERE THE HELL'S MY PARACHUTE?"