11-18-2014, 03:39 AM
Monk retreated into severe OCD as a response to the murder of his wife, I believe. Regression into obsessive behaviours as a coping response to trauma. Hmm...
Sheldon's early behaviours seemed to me to be more of a coping mechanism than genuine phobia - his actual backstory as originally presented had someone who had been accelerated academically to the detriment of his socialisation. Identifying with robots, aliens and solitary superheroes was all totally in keeping with a kid who didn't understand why he kept catching hell wherever he found himself, be it at home, school or around intellectual peers who were several years older than himself. He was trying to create a framework to live in. Sadly, he ended up with the worst possible bunco of people as social role models.
Now, he's just an idiot. This Sheldon is utterly unconvincing as someone who could gain academic credentials or employment. The less said about the Abomination foisted upon us all, the better. Innocence has tipped over in gormless stupidity, and the cheerful enthusiasm has become mawkish and infantile.
Sheldon's early behaviours seemed to me to be more of a coping mechanism than genuine phobia - his actual backstory as originally presented had someone who had been accelerated academically to the detriment of his socialisation. Identifying with robots, aliens and solitary superheroes was all totally in keeping with a kid who didn't understand why he kept catching hell wherever he found himself, be it at home, school or around intellectual peers who were several years older than himself. He was trying to create a framework to live in. Sadly, he ended up with the worst possible bunco of people as social role models.
Now, he's just an idiot. This Sheldon is utterly unconvincing as someone who could gain academic credentials or employment. The less said about the Abomination foisted upon us all, the better. Innocence has tipped over in gormless stupidity, and the cheerful enthusiasm has become mawkish and infantile.