10-30-2014, 01:09 PM
IMO, this show could've done a lot more interesting things with Raj's mutism. I'm amazed there was never an epiosode where he's trapped in an all-female environment for some reason and has to navigate that situation. (Giving a lecture at a women's college, maybe?) It also might've been fun to have an ep. where his mutism unexpectedly turns out to be an advantage instead of a detriment. Yes, that would be pretty contrived, but funny.
I haven't watched the ep. where Raj finally speaks, and I don't know the details, (and don't care to), but it sounds like it was not handled well. (shock, amaze.)
If it were up to me, I'd have him very slowly and gradually make some progress in that area, but not just suddenly have a breakthrough and recover overnight. That's phony. It smacks of "well, people are tired of this joke, so let's just abruptly ditch it." And yet, they hadn't fully explored all the possible scenarios with that joke, IMO. Not even close.
There could've been some really funny stuff, with a bit of underlying analysis/satire about the nature of communication, especially in the context of technology. Is texting or e-mailing someone the same as actually speaking to them? Et cetera. They could've used Raj's condition to explore, in a funny way, the question of "what counts as real, authentic communication, and has technology ruined interpersonal communication, does it make us more connected to each other or less connected", etc.
I've said it before, but if this show had ended after just 2 or 3 seasons, I'd be fine with no changes whatsoever and little or no attempt at "character development."
If it ended after four or five seasons (and this is assuming four or five GOOD seasons with just the original 5 characters and no shark-jumping incidents), then maybe Raj could make *some* progress towards overcoming that problem, but I still wouldn't have him recover entirely, because then the joke is gone. After four or five seasons, (again, four or five GOOD seasons), it would make sense to me if Raj could speak with women he already knew and trusted, like Penny, but not with strangers, for example. Or maybe he could speak to them on the phone, but not in person. There could've been a much more natural and low-key way to gradually phase-out that joke, instead of "boom! he is cured."
Again, I'm amazed there was never an ep. where Raj has some important piece of information which the whole plot hinges on, but can't convey it to anyone because of his mutism. That would've been both funny and endearing, poor guy. Yes, that type of "comedy of errors" is a bit Three's Company-ish, but it *can* be done well.
Raj whispering in Howard's ear is just such a precious thing that I'd never want to eliminate it entirely.
I haven't watched the ep. where Raj finally speaks, and I don't know the details, (and don't care to), but it sounds like it was not handled well. (shock, amaze.)
If it were up to me, I'd have him very slowly and gradually make some progress in that area, but not just suddenly have a breakthrough and recover overnight. That's phony. It smacks of "well, people are tired of this joke, so let's just abruptly ditch it." And yet, they hadn't fully explored all the possible scenarios with that joke, IMO. Not even close.
There could've been some really funny stuff, with a bit of underlying analysis/satire about the nature of communication, especially in the context of technology. Is texting or e-mailing someone the same as actually speaking to them? Et cetera. They could've used Raj's condition to explore, in a funny way, the question of "what counts as real, authentic communication, and has technology ruined interpersonal communication, does it make us more connected to each other or less connected", etc.
I've said it before, but if this show had ended after just 2 or 3 seasons, I'd be fine with no changes whatsoever and little or no attempt at "character development."
If it ended after four or five seasons (and this is assuming four or five GOOD seasons with just the original 5 characters and no shark-jumping incidents), then maybe Raj could make *some* progress towards overcoming that problem, but I still wouldn't have him recover entirely, because then the joke is gone. After four or five seasons, (again, four or five GOOD seasons), it would make sense to me if Raj could speak with women he already knew and trusted, like Penny, but not with strangers, for example. Or maybe he could speak to them on the phone, but not in person. There could've been a much more natural and low-key way to gradually phase-out that joke, instead of "boom! he is cured."
Again, I'm amazed there was never an ep. where Raj has some important piece of information which the whole plot hinges on, but can't convey it to anyone because of his mutism. That would've been both funny and endearing, poor guy. Yes, that type of "comedy of errors" is a bit Three's Company-ish, but it *can* be done well.
Raj whispering in Howard's ear is just such a precious thing that I'd never want to eliminate it entirely.