04-17-2015, 10:28 AM
Tonight's episode was a mixture of messages that I doubt TPTB were aware they were making. For instance, in the Raj plotline both he and Leonard come to the conclusion that Sheldon and Howard are alphas and that they're omegas. It takes them forever to come up with a decent idea and when they do it's one that Howard and Sheldon have already come up with.
This plot is almost like finding Professor Plum in the Lounge with the Revolver when it comes to how TPTB have reformulated the show and the results. Sheldon and Howard were driving forces of comedy while Raj and Leonard were reactionary. By subverting and neutering Howard and Sheldon TPTB have destroyed the joke balance. Why have they done this? Because they've hitched the show to an omega to lead the way. Leonard is the hero and is overshadowed by Sheldon thus Sheldon had to be cut down so Leonard could be dominant. As for Howard, he's in a relationship that not only keeps him in check but is also weird enough to make Leonard and Penny seem mature and balanced as opposed to boringly unfunny and completely incompatible. I've never seen a show that actively breaks up its comedic timing in order to lower its character development in order to assert an artificial dynamic.
Additionally, in more recent seasons we're seen repeated plot points and recycled jokes (Fig Newtons, anyone?) from the first three seasons dragged into the light. I had debated whether this was due to laziness or desperation but whatever the cause these recycled bits both enhance the power of the original scenes/jokes even as they demonstrate how poor the execution of the scenes/jokes are nowadays. Raj's punch line that his pooch pissed in his slippers is repeated at the end of the scene in order to maximize the humour of the comment. On its own it doesn't stand up but if repeated for emphasis it makes it better, right? Of course if they actually crafted a proper joke to begin with they wouldn't need repetition as a punch line.
The second plot had Penny ponder whether she should put her pharma job aside in order to audition for a movie. She wonderfully manoeuvres Sheldon into giving her advice, demonstrating her understanding of how Sheldon's world works. The reversal of The Knock was delightful in that it was as close to Vintage Sheldon as we've seen this season who answered. The smugness, the eyebrow wiggle, it was all there. There was no infantile actions or idiotic comments. Sheldon and Penny communicated in a way they only can. Why? Because they actually listen to each other. They actually think about what they're hearing and give advice that addresses both dreams as well as practicalities.
More importantly, their advice doesn't come with added insecurities and doubts—which was the point of Penny's impression of Leonard. She knows that he couldn't even fathom why Penny would be genuinely torn between her job and an audition because he's not a dreamer, plain and simple. In fact, Leonard's such a bucket of neuroses he really is laughable if one were to take him seriously.
When Sheldon and Penny laughed at Leonard it was a genuine moment between two friends who know Leonard's naysayer disposition best. Some viewers might not like this but I'd like to point out that Sheldon and Penny have been the butt of their friends and significant others' deprecating and belittling jokes for over three seasons.
But if I were to really put my money on why this moment bothered some people—besides the fact that the Kaley/Jim connection solidified the scene—it's simply that Penny showed that Leonard isn't her answer to everything. He isn't her be all and end all, the someone she rushes to to show her The Way. That there is a critical part of Penny that Leonard just doesn't get. And the knife in the gut is that Sheldon does and she knows it.
The Sheldon/Penny connection isn't something that we Shennys concocted. It's irrelevant how one labels it; the fact remains that it's the most genuine relationship on the show. And TPTB know it.
This plot is almost like finding Professor Plum in the Lounge with the Revolver when it comes to how TPTB have reformulated the show and the results. Sheldon and Howard were driving forces of comedy while Raj and Leonard were reactionary. By subverting and neutering Howard and Sheldon TPTB have destroyed the joke balance. Why have they done this? Because they've hitched the show to an omega to lead the way. Leonard is the hero and is overshadowed by Sheldon thus Sheldon had to be cut down so Leonard could be dominant. As for Howard, he's in a relationship that not only keeps him in check but is also weird enough to make Leonard and Penny seem mature and balanced as opposed to boringly unfunny and completely incompatible. I've never seen a show that actively breaks up its comedic timing in order to lower its character development in order to assert an artificial dynamic.
Additionally, in more recent seasons we're seen repeated plot points and recycled jokes (Fig Newtons, anyone?) from the first three seasons dragged into the light. I had debated whether this was due to laziness or desperation but whatever the cause these recycled bits both enhance the power of the original scenes/jokes even as they demonstrate how poor the execution of the scenes/jokes are nowadays. Raj's punch line that his pooch pissed in his slippers is repeated at the end of the scene in order to maximize the humour of the comment. On its own it doesn't stand up but if repeated for emphasis it makes it better, right? Of course if they actually crafted a proper joke to begin with they wouldn't need repetition as a punch line.
The second plot had Penny ponder whether she should put her pharma job aside in order to audition for a movie. She wonderfully manoeuvres Sheldon into giving her advice, demonstrating her understanding of how Sheldon's world works. The reversal of The Knock was delightful in that it was as close to Vintage Sheldon as we've seen this season who answered. The smugness, the eyebrow wiggle, it was all there. There was no infantile actions or idiotic comments. Sheldon and Penny communicated in a way they only can. Why? Because they actually listen to each other. They actually think about what they're hearing and give advice that addresses both dreams as well as practicalities.
More importantly, their advice doesn't come with added insecurities and doubts—which was the point of Penny's impression of Leonard. She knows that he couldn't even fathom why Penny would be genuinely torn between her job and an audition because he's not a dreamer, plain and simple. In fact, Leonard's such a bucket of neuroses he really is laughable if one were to take him seriously.
When Sheldon and Penny laughed at Leonard it was a genuine moment between two friends who know Leonard's naysayer disposition best. Some viewers might not like this but I'd like to point out that Sheldon and Penny have been the butt of their friends and significant others' deprecating and belittling jokes for over three seasons.
But if I were to really put my money on why this moment bothered some people—besides the fact that the Kaley/Jim connection solidified the scene—it's simply that Penny showed that Leonard isn't her answer to everything. He isn't her be all and end all, the someone she rushes to to show her The Way. That there is a critical part of Penny that Leonard just doesn't get. And the knife in the gut is that Sheldon does and she knows it.
The Sheldon/Penny connection isn't something that we Shennys concocted. It's irrelevant how one labels it; the fact remains that it's the most genuine relationship on the show. And TPTB know it.
Let's go exploring!