7.16 The Table Polarization

[Moonbase]

What an incredibly…weird episode. On the one hand you had an aspect of Vintage Sheldon present in the form of Super Villain Sheldon (with a few extra Jiminy-isms thrown in)….but only the superficial mannerisms were there, because ultimately he was manipulated left right and centre, so it looked like a child playing Super Villain dress-up.

Another episode, also, which seems to demonstrate Sheldon’s complete lack of interest in Amy romantically, or even deeply emotionally. He sees her as someone ON HIS SIDE and as an intellectual playmate, but as soon as that balance is altered, he’s willing to jettison her, as he’s threatened several times before. He's FOND of her, but he's also fond of Trains and Wil Wheaton (and Gollum), it is not a romantic connection, no matter how many times he repeats the word "girlfriend". Bar that ridiculous moment last episode, it comes across as a pre-school friendship if anything. And what the hell is wrong with him merely having a friend? Why force these two poor (once unique) sods into such an arbitrary and conventional scenario?

They live in completely separate worlds. She understands enough of his to be able to predict and alter his behaviour, as is shown over and over again, but the fact that throughout all these alterations he thinks something quite different is going on, makes the relationship somewhat akin to one of those Interrogation Boxes with the two-way mirror. Sheldon lives in his own world, populated by reflected versions of himself (and the occasional intruder like Penny), and Amy stands outside watching him, and dicking around with the controls. Except that instead of merely changing the temperature, lighting and possibly oxygen content, until he’s more manageable, she’s levering the very delicate controls of his psyche.

What the hell does she get out of this? In some episodes she does seem genuinely fond of him, but in others she seems barely able to stand his “quirks”. There’s a fairly obvious dichotomy between her image of Sheldon and the actual Sheldon.

Is she in love with the concept of a “Boyfriend” in the same way that Sheldon has accepted the protocol of having a “Girlfriend”? Any groupie would have worked for him. He was delighted with Ramona until she started curtailing his funtime, which I’m sure Amy would love to do if she had the testicular fortitude. If I have to hear one more bloody comment about “stupid space movies”….

Sheldon signed the Relationship Agreement to gain exclusivity over her company, because he likes control, is jealous, and possessive of his “things”, which to him includes human beings. She’s just another object to order and structure around him (like the routines we see bugger all about nowadays), the fact that most of time she’s ordering and structuring HIM, doesn’t alter how it works in Sheldon’s head.

Sheldon frets terribly over perceived betrayals, allegiances, and time spent with anyone else other than Sheldon. This applies to everyone he knows. There is no distinction with how he treats Amy. If anything he seems to act like he’s in a relationship with LEONARD. Episode 7.2 was just a blatant, extended “lovers’ spat” for chrissake!

And at least he bought him a pretty hat!



Bah. I'm in a terrible mood. I'll go away and see if I can think of something positive to say. It probably won't be about this episode though. If I were a "Vintage Shamy" fan I'd be bloody furious as well. She was meant to be his equal, not the goddamn Puppet-Master! And as for PENNY...Jesus Mary and Joseph what have they DONE to her...! What a humourless bastard she's turning into!
NNRRGHH!

(Those blossoms are meant to be the equivalent of Naboo's kitten picture, if anyone knows what the hell I'm talking about)

In the mean, speaking of Praying Mantis Puppets....




DESTROY THE PUNY MORTALS SHELDON!

Yeah they tried to throw us off with the science quote in the beginning, which was great but then Leonard took the mickey out of him and what followed was dig after dig. To hear him say he'd become a more affectionate person because of Amy was unbearable. He's not affectionate tbh I wouldn't mind that so much but I just hate the way Amy is constantly being labelled as his great saviour.

Last season was saved for me by 43 but so far this season hasn't had a single great nerd episode. Guest stars don't count.