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It has to be said.. @ 10:47 pm
Have you ever had one of those moments that you just feel like writing? I found a subject that I feel needs to be addressed as I am well known for NOT expressing my opinion on this subject. I don't critique, I don't judge and I don't write long winded reviews or posts but tonight is MY turn to express my side of things. I've always kept my mouth shut as far as wholeheartedly expressing myself. I always go with a nonchalant approach and just enjoy what others say but now I feel I need to let something out.
I love The Big Bang Theory and I know that I am not the only one. I am one of about 16 million at least as far as ratings are concerned. Why do people dwell on ratings and what the networks say so much? So many good shows got the boot because they didn't get enough attention or advertising and believe it or not BBT started out on the same track as some of those great canceled shows. However they slowly gained their place and fans. They even had to endure the writers strike back in 2008. It is a rare case for a pilot to overcome that and still live another day. For 4 months we didn't know if the show would return. Its like what Jim Parsons said during his Golden Globe acceptance speech. "Is anyone going to come back from a prolonged writers strike. You're waiting and waiting and suddenly you are at the Golden Globes with your cast and crew." You just never know with these network TV shows. Big Bang Theory had a lucky hand and DID return with a vengeance when they returned for season 1 episode 9. Coincidentally the episode was about 'fighting', well they fought their way through that writers strike. Season 1 ended on a good note and with a great follow up of season 2. Most fans would agree with me that season 2 was probably their best season up to date. They'd argue that it had the core 5 characters of Leonard Hofstadter, Sheldon Cooper, Penny, Rajesh Koothrappali, and Howard Wolowitz and ONLY them. The show was fresh and flowed beautifully and if you ask a majority of the fans for their favorite episode/s they'd most-likely choose ones from season 2.
Every TV show including situation comedies and dramas go through this peek to transition periods. Friends did with season 4 or 5 depending on whom you ask. That '70s Show too which was very popular when it was on FOX had their best season/s in 2 and 5 again depending on whom you ask. Every TV show even drama shows have their best seasons earlier on in the series. Shows grow and evolve, add and change. Its just the way it is. My all time favorite TV show was and will always be The West Wing. It was the best awarded drama TV series on NBC. It won over 90 awards in its day and most if not all were gathered at its earlier years. It won best drama series 4 years in a row for its first 4 seasons. Many of those actors won Emmy's as well even the late John Spencer. To this day I miss John and the show greatly. But moving on to the bedrock to my purpose of writing this, I wanted to focus on my thoughts for Big Bang's changes.
First let me give you a little insight as to why I enjoyed the first two seasons. To simplify, it was geeky, nerdy and fun to watch. It started and continued to develop the characters and friendships. I enjoyed the chemistry between Sheldon and Leonard and even Penny. And they seemed friendly and nice to each other for the most part. Yes, there was banter and even 'wars' but all was considered friendly.
Season 1 was the develop, intro and tested year. Penny started out as a nice character she didn't seem too full of herself. Sheldon was more human relating and a normal nerdy scientist. Leonard was tolerant and not so angry all the time.
Season 2 was a refreshing, relaxed year. It was enjoyable and the actors probably were so glad to be back in full after having to deal with season one's writers strike. It developed more, honed in on science and the nerdiness. They established nights of certain activities. Examples of 'anything can happen Thursday' or 'Klingon Boggle' and Wednesday's 'Halo Night'. It still stayed on the friendly side and would be stated as the year of the best writing. I would consider about half of the season as my all time favorite episodes.
Here is where I might get bitten by some but I am not a fan of Leonard and Penny. They tested that theory in season 2 and it worked AT that time as short lived as it was but then they developed the relationship in season 3, unfortunately it was just a bore as far as I was concerned. I will be beaten by the LP shippers on this but I don't mind. I feel they were only about sex and alcohol and using each other to rant their frustrations due to family issues or just to get back at their childhood neglections. It just seemed their relationship was all based on sex. I didn't feel there was any 'love' to speak of between them. The actors DO have chemistry and its probably a lot to do with their real life relationship and closeness but I was able to tell when they were no longer together and it reflected through their acting. Those who either don't pay attention to the media or lived under a rock at the time, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco DID date in real life. In fact they were together for two years and it was Kaley that spilled the beans about it in 2010 even though they broke up officially in December of 2009.
Anyway, season 3 lacked development and styles that emulated seasons 1 and 2. They just didn't have as good of story-lines. Something was amiss the entire season. Yes, there were some good episodes but nothing fabulous really, not in my honest opinion. I'd categorize it as their weakest. I did enjoy episodes such as The Adhesive Duck Deficiency, and The Excelsior Acquisition, which for the first time ever, that I can remember reminisces on a previous episode. It was about when Penny fell in her bathtub and dislocated her shoulder (The Adhesive Duck Deficiency) it was an aftermath of Sheldon receiving a ticket for speeding and having to go to court/jail for it (The Excelsior Acquisition.) The Pants Alternative is actually a special one for me as is the Staircase Implementation since I was able to see it film live. [In fact it was Pants Alternative I found out more about the Johnny/Kaley relationship.] Staircase Implementation was about how Sheldon and Leonard met and how Sheldon saved Leonard's life. But all and all those are the only ones I can remember the best and felt were refreshing and fun to watch over and over. The transition started in season 3, which some would argue changed their opinion on the show. Fans come and go all the time as a series/show grows old but season 3 was when I first watched it religiously. I wish I knew about it in season 2 so I was able to see how great the reviews were. But I still found something magical about it. I have a strong inkling that it has to a lot to do with Jim Parsons who remains my favorite current actor. Sheldon Lee Cooper will go down in history as one of the most interesting and favorite characters. Jim Parsons gained the respects from Hollywood after season 3 by winning an Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He continued to shine and win more accolades for season 4 as well. In fact he's won 3 major awards (2 Emmy's, 1 Golden Globe) in a span of 14 months. Not too shabby! He has an unmeasurable talent in comedy timing, perfecting monologue type lines and face expressions that very few hold in a lifetime. Sheldon is probably the most developed character in the series but even his character changed and transitioned as the series went on. He became 'meaner', 'whinier' and child like starting in season 3. Another peeve of mine that has bothered me but again I've always been quiet about. Sheldon and Leonard seemed to have lost that magic they once had as well. Penny and Sheldon fought a lot and had less screen time with each other because the show found two more talents that were introduced in season 3 in Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) and Mayim Bialik (Amy) Including those two new characters changed the screen chemistry's between Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard and Raj and gave them less screen time. When Amy was introduced on the season finale she was thought of as Sheldon's clone at first and was not accepted with open arms. Bernadette was introduced earlier on in the season as Howard's love interest and friend/co-worker of Penny's. She (Melissa) disappeared with no explanation suddenly so most thought she was done for. Which did bother some fans.
Season 4 is when they permanently added characters of Bernadette Marianne Rostenkowski and Amy Farrah Fowler and then added Priya Koothrappali (Aarti Mann) Leonard's girlfriend which again messed up the screen time with the core 5. In fact it showed less of Penny. So many fans were very unhappy with that. I believe that Amy and Bernadette were not only added for Sheldon and Howard but also to give Penny more of a stabilized storyline. It was also shown later in the season that Amy was her own person. She developed into 'a unique young woman' as Sheldon's mother Mary {Laurie Metcalf) would say but it did take some time to establish her existence as fans we were not sure if this was a good addition (well I will discount myself as I liked Amy from the start) and there was a lot of lashing out and back and forth against this character. I couldn't understand why Bernadette was so welcomed but Amy was bashed? I couldn't understand why they didn't like the thought of Sheldon having a love interest or relationship with said Amy? Many took a long time warming up to Mayim's character but she seemed to get better and better with every episode. Obviously she became popular enough to make her and Melissa regular cast members.
I'd judge season 5 but we are still early to even go there. I will say I am very much enjoying it so far!
Let's break down the chemistry and relationships.
As it stands right now I think Sheldon and Amy's chemistry and story-lines are the best of the series. I misunderstand some of the reasons for liking this relationship with other fans. I see many like it to remain just a friendship NOT a romantic relationship. But why? I have conflicts too however I am more aimed at the romance side. I feel that maybe Sheldon would gain more respect from the guys and he wouldn't be so 'left out' if he did experience as they like to phrase it 'coitus.' Not that I think that completes or consummates a relationship but maybe his 'ruts' would lessen. I don't understand why people want to see the same thing for a character and not allow them to evolve? I don't understand the problem with him evolving and joining the real world. He can't be stuck in this non reality forever. I really don't think the writers would make the same mistakes as Friends with Ross/Rachel or any of the 'common' sitcoms as many fear. I think they will still have their little dramas but only temporary messes and they would be minimal compared to the norms. But with all the clues they have been throwing in episodes as of late, the fact that Amy seems to be falling for him every single episode, its bound to happen. Why are people thinking the show would jump shark if this happened for Sheldon? He could still experience coitus and still be the same pigheaded, stubborn little pain in the ass we all know and love. But its inevitable it's going to happen eventually. I would like it if they take this slowly and not just have them jump into the sack with each other but talking about it and thinking about it doesn't hurt anyone. It's doubtful and unlikely that these two would find anyone better. They are in some ways soul-mates and work so well together. They have similar interests and traits and they have different ways of expressing their like or love for each other. Opposites attract as differences find interest. I speak this way as a SHAMY shipper so forgive my bias opinion on that.
I'm not a huge fan of the Howard/Bernadette relationship/engagement however Melissa and Simon have great chemistry. I find their scenes a bit boring though.
As I explained earlier I am not liking the Leonard/Penny developments. Its not working for me. They have so many issues between and within. How can they ever be together if they can't even hang out together? Now maybe things will change as the season/series goes on but right now I don't like even the thought of them getting back together.
Sheldon and Leonard have a weird friendship right now. I can understand Leonard 'putting up' with Sheldon since he is forever indebted to him for saving his life but get the hell over your outside angers! He can be so mean. Sheldon is already set in his ways and Leonard knew that going in and agreed with the 'Roommate Agreement' why the hell did he allow Priya to interfere with their agreement? Sometimes they like each other, sometimes they don't but their screen time was virtually non-existent in season 4. I like how they are getting their scenes together in season 5 now.
We barely get to see scenes with Sheldon, Leonard and Penny like we used to and maybe that is a big gripe of fans. They don't have the screen-time like before. In fact many think the show is turning into the Sheldon show. I don't agree entirely but if your star character is the one gathering all these awards why not showcase him more? He's the most interesting/entertaining if you check the polls running on this.
Howard and Raj were like brothers in the earlier years but they barely hang out like they used to as Howard's attention has altered toward Bernadette, his fiance. Raj is still not able to speak to women without being drunk and many are complaining that that little trait is becoming boring. I too hope they find a cure or a way for Kunal to have more lines and screen-time. He is really a good actor and it shows when you look at the episodes that center around his character, as few and far between they are.
The core 5 as we name them (Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard and Raj) has now become the 'fab' 7 with Amy and Bernadette joining in the group. That was a quick acceptance for them. They just kind of fell into place. Not necessarily for everyone if you ask some of the viewers.
There are so many shippings to consider and think about and maybe that is part of the problem. Its too much chaos and too many options. However I would think that would be a good thing since a show should have that privilege.
If you haven't fallen asleep yet, lastly, people can't live on 's2' forever. It probably will never be the same since it has a different flavor and more characters to distribute airtime for. If bbt became an hour long we might have a better show but only so much time for each character and plot. I wouldn't use 's2' as a wish anymore, its just a waste of time and effort. Is it because it was fresh? Every show goes through that and as it ages it changes, nothing you can do. Are you telling me that every show you shipped or were a fanatic for stayed the same all through out the entire series? If your answer is no then why expect this to be any different? My point is, don't dwell on something that will never be again. Do I wish it was focused on things like in s2? Sure, as I explained up above. But I am not ditching the show or even considering doing so just because it doesn't go the way I WANT.
If its not been said already, I trust the writers and tptb since they are the experts, not us fans and apparently so does majority of close to 16 million.
bouncy
cheerful