09-27-2016, 12:08 AM
I think for me the problem with how Shamy scenes come across is a combined lack of dignity and partnership. Through dialogue, we are TOLD Sheldon and Amy are equals--riding still on the early seasons coattails of him being uber smart, thus making Amy homo novus, too--but if you listen to how they converse with each other, it's always a superior talking to a subordinate. i.e. Sheldon is a douche or Amy's angry/plotting something. Yes, Sheldon and Penny had a battle of wills, but the thing was, I never felt the power struggle. Penny knew that Sheldon was on his high horse and, to an extent (because he didn't say it), Penny is a blonde monkey, but they were always equals because there was dignity involved in their exchange. Even when Sheldon was all hands behind the back, raised on toes and a tsked, 'Penny, Penny, Penny', there was always a sassy, 'Sheldon, Sheldon, Sheldon', in response. It was a give and get that was a part of their rapport as opposed to words used with an agenda or invective push behind them. Part of this boils down to character rapport and chemistry, but ultimately this is a result of poor/lazy writing. It's as if the writers have lost respect for their characters and are having them do and say any old thing just to get the script over with and the paycheque in the bank account. Or is it that the characters are getting the brunt of the writers having lost respect for the viewers as they seem to be satisfied with pap over substance?
Let's go exploring!