01-25-2017, 03:32 AM
Okay, so maybe this has come up somewhere else on this forum (if so, please tell me where), but does anyone else find the whole idea of Howard & Bernadette having a baby absolutely ludicrous? Not to mention, the introduction of an infant is usually a pretty good indication that a show has jumped the shark (like we didn't know that for five years already). So here are my issues with that storyline:
1) In the show, we found out several seasons ago that Bernie hates kids. Not just dislikes them, but loathes them. She never wanted any of her own. At the time, she was dating Howard, who did want kids, but from his upbringing probably assumed that their mother would dote on them and do everything for them. Bernie was clearly not the woman to fill that role. After some discussion, she reluctantly admitted she might consider having kids someday if Howard would be willing to put his career on hold to raise them. Of course, he was appalled at the idea, and that put an end to the conversation.
After the actress who voiced Howard’s mom passed away and TPTB decided to have Howard’s mother die in canon as well, I can understand that Bernie might have had something of a change of heart. After all, her husband probably now felt very alone, even though he since found out he has a brother, not to mention his countless cousins. My problem with that theory is that it was never mentioned at all on the show. Bernie never said or indicated that she had changed her mind about kids.
2) So how did Bernie "accidentally" get knocked up? With no concrete proof that Bernie softened at all about having kids, why the hell are she and Howard still using condoms as birth control? It makes no sense. Not only is the experience better for both parties without condoms, but if you’re sure you don’t want to get pregnant, do you really want to use a form of birth control you have to think about every time? Not only that, but then we are offered the unbelievable story line that the condom broke, but Howard was somehow unaware of it and Bernie didn’t tell him, leading to the ridiculous scenario of “Oops, the condom broke and now we’re pregnant.”
3) Neither Bernie or Howard are ready to be parents. Bernie is an extremely reluctant, disinterested mother and Howard is a lazy, irresponsible father. It's like they want this poor kid to be damaged for life. Howard has shown no interest in holding up his end of the bargain and staying home with the baby, and all Bernadette cares about is how this is going to affect her career and how she is perceived in the workplace. Does anyone really want to watch this storyline play out? It would have been much better if they had just never introduced the idea. I don’t think any of the characters are anywhere near mature enough to raise a child.
1) In the show, we found out several seasons ago that Bernie hates kids. Not just dislikes them, but loathes them. She never wanted any of her own. At the time, she was dating Howard, who did want kids, but from his upbringing probably assumed that their mother would dote on them and do everything for them. Bernie was clearly not the woman to fill that role. After some discussion, she reluctantly admitted she might consider having kids someday if Howard would be willing to put his career on hold to raise them. Of course, he was appalled at the idea, and that put an end to the conversation.
After the actress who voiced Howard’s mom passed away and TPTB decided to have Howard’s mother die in canon as well, I can understand that Bernie might have had something of a change of heart. After all, her husband probably now felt very alone, even though he since found out he has a brother, not to mention his countless cousins. My problem with that theory is that it was never mentioned at all on the show. Bernie never said or indicated that she had changed her mind about kids.
2) So how did Bernie "accidentally" get knocked up? With no concrete proof that Bernie softened at all about having kids, why the hell are she and Howard still using condoms as birth control? It makes no sense. Not only is the experience better for both parties without condoms, but if you’re sure you don’t want to get pregnant, do you really want to use a form of birth control you have to think about every time? Not only that, but then we are offered the unbelievable story line that the condom broke, but Howard was somehow unaware of it and Bernie didn’t tell him, leading to the ridiculous scenario of “Oops, the condom broke and now we’re pregnant.”
3) Neither Bernie or Howard are ready to be parents. Bernie is an extremely reluctant, disinterested mother and Howard is a lazy, irresponsible father. It's like they want this poor kid to be damaged for life. Howard has shown no interest in holding up his end of the bargain and staying home with the baby, and all Bernadette cares about is how this is going to affect her career and how she is perceived in the workplace. Does anyone really want to watch this storyline play out? It would have been much better if they had just never introduced the idea. I don’t think any of the characters are anywhere near mature enough to raise a child.
Love your Shenny fics.
