01-25-2016, 01:12 AM
I just rewatched The Codpiece Topology and it struck me how much more human Sheldon used to be. I suppose this is something that applies to pretty much any sitcom character during the early seasons (I can think of like two sitcoms were the characters weren't flanderised to hell when the show ran on after season three), but it stands out so much more here because of all the talk of how much of a robot Sheldon used to be.
But he wasn't, though. At the end of that episode, when he accidentally breaks up Leslie and Leonard over loop vs. string theory (here's a plot point that wouldn't happen these days), he sits down next to dejected Leonard on the couch and tells him "look on the bright side... only nine more months to Comic Con". The punchline is, of course, that Leonard actually does find that a cheering thought - and I think Sheldon knew that, because he was smiling along. That, to me, was more meaningful than a whole episode of Amy training him into empathy that he OBVIOUSLY ALREADY POSSESSED. He was a much better friend to Leonard and Penny back in the day, even if he said awkward things or "misbehaved". Similarly, the others didn't let him get away with shit and trample over them, but they also weren't constantly spitting venom his way. It was just so much more light-hearted and actually believable as friendships; nowadays, Sheldon has been relegated to genius toddler status, and their relationships are consequently completely uneven.
But he wasn't, though. At the end of that episode, when he accidentally breaks up Leslie and Leonard over loop vs. string theory (here's a plot point that wouldn't happen these days), he sits down next to dejected Leonard on the couch and tells him "look on the bright side... only nine more months to Comic Con". The punchline is, of course, that Leonard actually does find that a cheering thought - and I think Sheldon knew that, because he was smiling along. That, to me, was more meaningful than a whole episode of Amy training him into empathy that he OBVIOUSLY ALREADY POSSESSED. He was a much better friend to Leonard and Penny back in the day, even if he said awkward things or "misbehaved". Similarly, the others didn't let him get away with shit and trample over them, but they also weren't constantly spitting venom his way. It was just so much more light-hearted and actually believable as friendships; nowadays, Sheldon has been relegated to genius toddler status, and their relationships are consequently completely uneven.