05-19-2014, 11:34 AM
I know I am a bit late with this but I re-watched the episode today.
While the Howard/Bernadette/Howard's Mom storyline was definitely nothing new, the humor wasn't as cringeworthy as it has been in the past. It was sort of amusing and largely forgettable, add Stuart at the end bonding with "Debbie" and it made a good B story to counter the heavier story involving Sheldon's breakdown.
It was nice to see serious Sheldon back again. His carefully controlled world is coming apart and I found his response to be pretty spot on for someone with his myriad social and anxiety issues. Contrary to people who think that he is just throwing a tantrum because he isn't getting his way, loosing this control is a big deal to him- its how he deals with the world around him. Not to mention these are not small problems to anyone, socially aware or not. Having to face a career crisis(especially for someone like Sheldon whose identity is his career) and a change in living arraignments at the same time would be a pretty big blow to most people. That Amy, who supposedly cares about him, saw this as an opportunity to push her agenda does nothing to elevate her character. Then she turns and blames Leonard for his running off. Yeah.
The train station. Jim, Kaley, and Johnny conveyed the emotions in the scene without being maudlin The dynamics were pretty spot on too. Leonard cares for Sheldon, but his way of handling him is to cajole and manipulate him. He wasn't really listening to what Sheldon was saying. Penny on the other hand usually takes Sheldon as he comes. If he gets on her nerves she tells him. If he is being too much she tells him. She also tends to listen to him and notice when he is having problems. So it is right that she was the one that really looked at him and listened to what he was saying and convinced Leonard that letting him go was what needed to happen. As Penny said more that once, he is a grown man. As others have said, Penny hugging Sheldon and kissing his cheek, so sweet.
The tag scene with Amy attacking Leonard. Ugh. So his girlfriend who has seen him go through a bit of a career crisis this season and, as a neurobiologist, should know a lot about Sheldon's pathologies attacks Leonard because he didn't stop a grown man from making his own decisions. Not thinking, as Penny and Leonard were, that this would be good for him and he could figure out what direction he wants his life to go next. No that would be wrong because she wouldn't be there to influence that decision. But of course the worst sin of all was that Sheldon sounded happy and he was happy without her. And people accuse Sheldon of being a self-centered jerk.
This is the first season finale I have enjoyed in several seasons
While the Howard/Bernadette/Howard's Mom storyline was definitely nothing new, the humor wasn't as cringeworthy as it has been in the past. It was sort of amusing and largely forgettable, add Stuart at the end bonding with "Debbie" and it made a good B story to counter the heavier story involving Sheldon's breakdown.
It was nice to see serious Sheldon back again. His carefully controlled world is coming apart and I found his response to be pretty spot on for someone with his myriad social and anxiety issues. Contrary to people who think that he is just throwing a tantrum because he isn't getting his way, loosing this control is a big deal to him- its how he deals with the world around him. Not to mention these are not small problems to anyone, socially aware or not. Having to face a career crisis(especially for someone like Sheldon whose identity is his career) and a change in living arraignments at the same time would be a pretty big blow to most people. That Amy, who supposedly cares about him, saw this as an opportunity to push her agenda does nothing to elevate her character. Then she turns and blames Leonard for his running off. Yeah.
The train station. Jim, Kaley, and Johnny conveyed the emotions in the scene without being maudlin The dynamics were pretty spot on too. Leonard cares for Sheldon, but his way of handling him is to cajole and manipulate him. He wasn't really listening to what Sheldon was saying. Penny on the other hand usually takes Sheldon as he comes. If he gets on her nerves she tells him. If he is being too much she tells him. She also tends to listen to him and notice when he is having problems. So it is right that she was the one that really looked at him and listened to what he was saying and convinced Leonard that letting him go was what needed to happen. As Penny said more that once, he is a grown man. As others have said, Penny hugging Sheldon and kissing his cheek, so sweet.
The tag scene with Amy attacking Leonard. Ugh. So his girlfriend who has seen him go through a bit of a career crisis this season and, as a neurobiologist, should know a lot about Sheldon's pathologies attacks Leonard because he didn't stop a grown man from making his own decisions. Not thinking, as Penny and Leonard were, that this would be good for him and he could figure out what direction he wants his life to go next. No that would be wrong because she wouldn't be there to influence that decision. But of course the worst sin of all was that Sheldon sounded happy and he was happy without her. And people accuse Sheldon of being a self-centered jerk.
This is the first season finale I have enjoyed in several seasons
Oh wow, oh wow, what an adventure.