04-02-2015, 05:47 AM
It can't be a Sheldon & Penny episode! They've already had ONE WHOLE EPISODE together this season. You want ANOTHER? What is this, the PENNY & SHELDON SHOW?
(obviously)
Yes, 21 ShAmy scenes, 16 Lennui, and who knows how many for Howardette...
As for the FRIENDSHIPS of this show (remember those? That the show did and still does so brilliantly) we've had 13 Shelnard scenes, 11 Shenny and what I think is a rather pitiful 6 for Rollowitz...
These figure were written on the back of a racing form, and based off the transcripts only, so don't quote me on them. If you want an absolutely accurate account YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO.
Unlike our friends elsewhere, who appear, rather oddly, to think Season 8 was nothing but a Shenny orgy of scenes, rather than the scant 11 they got OUT OF 300, it is worth further noting that half of these scenes were essentially one extended scene, and that "Shenny" thus appeared in only 5 individual episodes, and most of those scenes were spent discussing AMY.
If the Bechdel test was based on ALL genders' inability to discuss anything other than their "romantic" entanglements, then the friendships and characters in this show fail terribly.
For contrast with the 5 episodes above, in Season 2, "Shenny" appeared in 30 scenes over 17 episodes, not counting all their interactions with others present.
The well loved (and critically respected) Season 2 of TBBT had almost entirely FRIENDSHIP based episodes, with a variety of romantic entanglements sprinkled sparing throughout. Leonard and Penny's "relationship" was the only constant one, and it was never allowed to dominate an episode. Fast forward to Season 8, where relationships dominate 90% of the episodes. Even in groups, they're still in couples.
Which brings us to Predictions.
I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and say it will involve relationships again. Crazy I know...
I can't watch this show regularly anymore BECAUSE of this relentless couples bollocks (I particularly can't abide the Shamy High School cutesy-wutsey ickle-wickiness, and find Amy herself an incredibly unpleasant and manipulative character, so her dominating this season hasn't been PEACHY) so I'm increasingly detached from whatever mojo/animus is powering the season. My predictions, therefore, will probably be quite worthless.
I certainly intend to watch the last two I've read the TR for, 8.21 & 8.22, as they're mercifully free of the two interlopers, sound very amusing, and read like Vintage episodes with the lads all arsing around with inventions, and a bit of S/P interaction even. Amazing!
But I presume this is either a sop or the calm before the bruhaha of couples' dirty laundry brewing.
(untangle that sentence if you will)
So, the 2 cards most likely remaining in their relationship deck -
1) Sheldon is sacrificed to SHE WHO IS MOST DESERVING, relinquishing the last of his autonomy, identity and dignity.
2) What Devil said about Penny rising up in the world/scarpering and Leonard being insecure.
Although, at last year's finale we thought the first horrible possibility was imminent, and they delightfully surprised us with Sheldon running away. What appeared to us as a symbolic effort by the character to run away from his ghastly suburban fate. (The fact that he came back apparently diminished in intelligence, and has spent much of season 8 in a state of loud infantilism is another matter...) So who knows, we may be surprised again!
I can still remember my sheer delight at the Kraken tentacle hauling Leonard off the ship! Very unexpected!
(obviously)Yes, 21 ShAmy scenes, 16 Lennui, and who knows how many for Howardette...
As for the FRIENDSHIPS of this show (remember those? That the show did and still does so brilliantly) we've had 13 Shelnard scenes, 11 Shenny and what I think is a rather pitiful 6 for Rollowitz...
These figure were written on the back of a racing form, and based off the transcripts only, so don't quote me on them. If you want an absolutely accurate account YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO.
Unlike our friends elsewhere, who appear, rather oddly, to think Season 8 was nothing but a Shenny orgy of scenes, rather than the scant 11 they got OUT OF 300, it is worth further noting that half of these scenes were essentially one extended scene, and that "Shenny" thus appeared in only 5 individual episodes, and most of those scenes were spent discussing AMY.
If the Bechdel test was based on ALL genders' inability to discuss anything other than their "romantic" entanglements, then the friendships and characters in this show fail terribly.
For contrast with the 5 episodes above, in Season 2, "Shenny" appeared in 30 scenes over 17 episodes, not counting all their interactions with others present.
The well loved (and critically respected) Season 2 of TBBT had almost entirely FRIENDSHIP based episodes, with a variety of romantic entanglements sprinkled sparing throughout. Leonard and Penny's "relationship" was the only constant one, and it was never allowed to dominate an episode. Fast forward to Season 8, where relationships dominate 90% of the episodes. Even in groups, they're still in couples.
Which brings us to Predictions.
I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and say it will involve relationships again. Crazy I know...
I can't watch this show regularly anymore BECAUSE of this relentless couples bollocks (I particularly can't abide the Shamy High School cutesy-wutsey ickle-wickiness, and find Amy herself an incredibly unpleasant and manipulative character, so her dominating this season hasn't been PEACHY) so I'm increasingly detached from whatever mojo/animus is powering the season. My predictions, therefore, will probably be quite worthless.
I certainly intend to watch the last two I've read the TR for, 8.21 & 8.22, as they're mercifully free of the two interlopers, sound very amusing, and read like Vintage episodes with the lads all arsing around with inventions, and a bit of S/P interaction even. Amazing!
But I presume this is either a sop or the calm before the bruhaha of couples' dirty laundry brewing.
(untangle that sentence if you will)
So, the 2 cards most likely remaining in their relationship deck -
1) Sheldon is sacrificed to SHE WHO IS MOST DESERVING, relinquishing the last of his autonomy, identity and dignity.
2) What Devil said about Penny rising up in the world/scarpering and Leonard being insecure.
Although, at last year's finale we thought the first horrible possibility was imminent, and they delightfully surprised us with Sheldon running away. What appeared to us as a symbolic effort by the character to run away from his ghastly suburban fate. (The fact that he came back apparently diminished in intelligence, and has spent much of season 8 in a state of loud infantilism is another matter...) So who knows, we may be surprised again!
I can still remember my sheer delight at the Kraken tentacle hauling Leonard off the ship! Very unexpected!
"WHERE THE HELL'S MY PARACHUTE?"