03-05-2016, 08:24 AM
Drifting past to fling my tuppence at the topic...
Completely ignoring the gradual stripping of every single original Sheldonic trait (routines, germ phobia, lack of romantic or sexual interest, GENIUS, self-sufficiency, multi-talents such as languages, theremin, throat singing etc, haughtiness, dignity, detachment...) in favour of this new bland bumbling toddler boyfriend Sheldon, I'll just note;
For people who don't like being touched, it does not get easier or more pleasant magically. It certainly doesn't get more desirable, and sex under those circumstances is utterly preposterous. Ergo, either they've whisked away yet another Sheldonic trait, or sex was indeed a duty carried out by this new Sheldon in an effort to keep another constant in his life. Either option is unpleasant.
The only plausible way for Sheldon to have sex, in my opinion, whilst keeping in character, would be with somebody he was passionate about, indeed borderline obsessed with, thus this passion overules both the logical, rational objection and the inherent, instinctive repulsion.
When he was obsessed with finding the Toad of Truth he flung himself into a communal ballpit, an act no self-respecting germaphobe would even contemplate.
The problem is he's never, in 5 years, been shown to be at ALL passionate about the girlfriend they've given him. He never initiates anything, he spent several years essentially ignoring her, and he's always on a completely different planet when it comes to innuendo. What Amy talks about, or thinks is going on, or thinks Sheldon thinks is going on, is NEVER what Sheldon is thinking. As PJ said, the "joke" of their relationship is mixed signals. Sexually frustrated Amy, oblivious Sheldon. Repeat. Ad nauseam. So much nauseam.
Sheldon is (or was) characterized by passion above all things. He doesn't half-arse anything. Why would this not extend to love as well? I do most certainly think the character as he is portrayed currently (from what little I've seen) loves Amy, indeed. But IN love? Not in the slightest.
And unfortunately for me (and others), Sheldon IN love, consumed by an obsession, is the only manner I wish to see the character engage in any sort of sexuality, not as some sort of tepid obligation.
But that boat has sailed as regards Amy. The relationship has always been tepid, similar to Penny's comment about her and Leonard being "a new boring type of love". Which might be realistic, but I don't care to watch it.
Penny I could have seen Sheldon engage sexually with, principally because their early interactions were VERY passionate. They infuriated each other, and wound each other up. They have always had a very vivid relationship. I would have personally still preferred them to remain friends, but in another version of the show, certainly that relationship could have become sexual very easily.
It's still there, that old verve between them, and it wouldn't take much to have Sheldon and Penny finally realise this. As PJ said, Penny would have to see Sheldon in a new light (the suit-buying in Pants Alternative is a classic example of this trope), and Sheldon...well Sheldon was prepared to fall in love with her LAST season, as part of an experiment. He also mentioned her as a dating option when he was single a few months ago. So sister my arse. He already tells her things he tells bugger all anybody else. So a handful more "She's remarkable" and "We're dreamers" moments and the damn thing writes itself.
But the writers don't want to, and that's grand. We've known that from the beginning. Shipping has fuckall to do with what happens on any given show. It's about CHARACTERS. Which ones you think complement each other, or whose interactions you find the most intriguing. If your interests are different from the writers', then you have to ship "off-world" so to speak. But it certainly doesn't invalidate that pairing. It just makes it hypothetical.
In the case of TBBT, this lack of intention is the only thing stopping Sheldon and Penny from being a viable (and incredibly bloody interesting) relationship. The characters themselves are eminently suitable.
Personally I stopped watching the show last season. Not because I "finally accepted that Shenny wasn't going to happen" (as we've seen a few bizarre comments about), because as I keep banging on about, I prefer Sheldon to remain SINGLE. Rather, I stopped watching because I don't like the way Parsons is being made to play Sheldon these past few years. I don't find the character either funny or interesting. Certainly not the bloody hero worship I still have for Sheldon Seasons 1-4. I put up with bumbling, foolish, boyfriend-Sheldon because he occasionally still had scenes with Penny, and in those moments he seemed to revert back to the old quick-witted, smug, rather alien Sheldon that drew me to the show in the first place.
But if HE'S gone AND there are no more Penny/Sheldon scenes to conjure Vintage Sheldon up, then to hell in a handbasket with it.
Completely ignoring the gradual stripping of every single original Sheldonic trait (routines, germ phobia, lack of romantic or sexual interest, GENIUS, self-sufficiency, multi-talents such as languages, theremin, throat singing etc, haughtiness, dignity, detachment...) in favour of this new bland bumbling toddler boyfriend Sheldon, I'll just note;
For people who don't like being touched, it does not get easier or more pleasant magically. It certainly doesn't get more desirable, and sex under those circumstances is utterly preposterous. Ergo, either they've whisked away yet another Sheldonic trait, or sex was indeed a duty carried out by this new Sheldon in an effort to keep another constant in his life. Either option is unpleasant.
The only plausible way for Sheldon to have sex, in my opinion, whilst keeping in character, would be with somebody he was passionate about, indeed borderline obsessed with, thus this passion overules both the logical, rational objection and the inherent, instinctive repulsion.
When he was obsessed with finding the Toad of Truth he flung himself into a communal ballpit, an act no self-respecting germaphobe would even contemplate.
The problem is he's never, in 5 years, been shown to be at ALL passionate about the girlfriend they've given him. He never initiates anything, he spent several years essentially ignoring her, and he's always on a completely different planet when it comes to innuendo. What Amy talks about, or thinks is going on, or thinks Sheldon thinks is going on, is NEVER what Sheldon is thinking. As PJ said, the "joke" of their relationship is mixed signals. Sexually frustrated Amy, oblivious Sheldon. Repeat. Ad nauseam. So much nauseam.
Sheldon is (or was) characterized by passion above all things. He doesn't half-arse anything. Why would this not extend to love as well? I do most certainly think the character as he is portrayed currently (from what little I've seen) loves Amy, indeed. But IN love? Not in the slightest.
And unfortunately for me (and others), Sheldon IN love, consumed by an obsession, is the only manner I wish to see the character engage in any sort of sexuality, not as some sort of tepid obligation.
But that boat has sailed as regards Amy. The relationship has always been tepid, similar to Penny's comment about her and Leonard being "a new boring type of love". Which might be realistic, but I don't care to watch it.
Penny I could have seen Sheldon engage sexually with, principally because their early interactions were VERY passionate. They infuriated each other, and wound each other up. They have always had a very vivid relationship. I would have personally still preferred them to remain friends, but in another version of the show, certainly that relationship could have become sexual very easily.
It's still there, that old verve between them, and it wouldn't take much to have Sheldon and Penny finally realise this. As PJ said, Penny would have to see Sheldon in a new light (the suit-buying in Pants Alternative is a classic example of this trope), and Sheldon...well Sheldon was prepared to fall in love with her LAST season, as part of an experiment. He also mentioned her as a dating option when he was single a few months ago. So sister my arse. He already tells her things he tells bugger all anybody else. So a handful more "She's remarkable" and "We're dreamers" moments and the damn thing writes itself.
But the writers don't want to, and that's grand. We've known that from the beginning. Shipping has fuckall to do with what happens on any given show. It's about CHARACTERS. Which ones you think complement each other, or whose interactions you find the most intriguing. If your interests are different from the writers', then you have to ship "off-world" so to speak. But it certainly doesn't invalidate that pairing. It just makes it hypothetical.
In the case of TBBT, this lack of intention is the only thing stopping Sheldon and Penny from being a viable (and incredibly bloody interesting) relationship. The characters themselves are eminently suitable.
Personally I stopped watching the show last season. Not because I "finally accepted that Shenny wasn't going to happen" (as we've seen a few bizarre comments about), because as I keep banging on about, I prefer Sheldon to remain SINGLE. Rather, I stopped watching because I don't like the way Parsons is being made to play Sheldon these past few years. I don't find the character either funny or interesting. Certainly not the bloody hero worship I still have for Sheldon Seasons 1-4. I put up with bumbling, foolish, boyfriend-Sheldon because he occasionally still had scenes with Penny, and in those moments he seemed to revert back to the old quick-witted, smug, rather alien Sheldon that drew me to the show in the first place.
But if HE'S gone AND there are no more Penny/Sheldon scenes to conjure Vintage Sheldon up, then to hell in a handbasket with it.
"WHERE THE HELL'S MY PARACHUTE?"