8.16 The Intimacy Acceleration (Feb 26)

[Idle Miscreant]

Technically speaking, there's no point in pursuing an experiment in which you are assured of the outcome. Sheldon (let's pretend he's real eh?), in engaging in such activity, is affirming by default the possibility that he and Penny might indeed fall in love, and he proceeds regardless.

If he were so certain of outcome, then as a scientist he wouldn't bother. Penny just wants to pry intimate details out of him - what's HIS excuse?

I'm not going to fall into the murky pit I see so many folk on other forums wade into, of ascribing private motivations to these fictional characters, and then assuming their own "headcanon" is accurate. This is a simple, logical, disinterested observation.

I don't think Sheldon does anything for "deeper reasons" simply because he's not an independent entity of individual, private volition. He's made-up anew every week by six or more people. Very clever people, but ones with differing, possibly conflicting views. Like any group. And I think this transfers to Sheldon sometimes, particularly now that he's not so "Sheldonic", and seems to be able to be drawn in a different light or direction every episode.

Why I prefer the early Sheldon is partially because he adheres more rigidly to a Sheldonic Blueprint, or plan. He has 10 or so charming, defining traits, and he doesn't deviate. This gives him internal consistency, which gives him validity, which gives him LIFE. I believe in early Sheldon because he was consistent. Humans ARE consistent. They don't suddenly veer off and acquire different voices and mannerisms, and do a complete 180 on their previous principles and passions. Unless they've had a head injury, or joined a cult.
This has evidently happened to Sheldon off-screen, because of those 10 traits, he only has about 3 left.


"I ship them for their personalities and happen to think they'd make a more interesting pair. Canon has always been irrelevant to my preference, so why would canon change that?"

I absolutely agree PJ, it's a character ship, not an episode dependent one, and the characters were established brilliantly in the first 3 seasons. The fact that these characters (for whatever unknown but I'll-have-a-stab-in-the-dark reason) have gone in a completely different direction these past few years makes no difference to the original creations.
TPTB (whoever they are) want to turn Sheldon into an infantile manbag? Fine! We'll stick with the original independent genius. These new seasons similarly don't affect the concept of Shenny in the slightest. Therefore the notion of "killing" the Shenny is not only bizarre, but impossible.

I have no interest in Sheldon Mark 2, as he bears only passing resemblance to the character I found so enthralling to begin with. But I do find he returns vaguely to his old self around Penny more than anyone. Then Leonard. Presumably this also has to do with Jim and Kaley's interaction going back a good eight years. Fall into the old rhythm.
So I'm hoping for a brief flash of Vintage Sheldon before he burns out like a firefly in a (matrimonial, suburban) jar...



Anyroad, as Louise said in the Grumblebox, it's all very interesting!