Once again, I basically agreed with pretty much everything you said, however I'm kind of on the fence about whether Penny represented it to Leonard as guilt-tripping or not. Most of me says no, because Sheldon was already leaving the laundry room, so it wasn't like she had to say anything to get him to go, and her smile when he hugged her was so sweet. But it might be that she thought about it a bit later and then said to LEonard that he had been guilt-tripping her... I don't know! In any case, great breakdown as usual.
I do think that when she explained it to Leonard, Leonard labeled it guilt-tripping and because, yeah, Penny DID want to go to Switzerland (I mean, forget who her boyfriend is, who wouldn't want to go?), she agreed with that and let Leonard run with it. I think that if Sheldon had been privy to the discussion, he would have kept the reality of his reaction in check, and Penny might have stuck to her guns. I'd like to think that Leonard would have then showed at least a little conflict, but uhm, I kinda doubt it.
it would have been nice if he showed more conflict about it
This is what's key to me. Had they kept everything in the episode as is (taking out Leonard's nasty comment that he wouldn't take Sheldon even if there was no one else to take), but had Leonard be actually conflicted about breaking a written promise to his best friend.
Of course the hug delighted me. I like that Penny inspires Sheldon to give in to passionate feeling. She can make him very angry for instance and very happy or touched or grateful.
Thanks for another breakdown and for sharing your wonderful thoughts once again. I enjoyed this episode (I mean the hug was ADORABLE), but one thing bothered me about it and you addressed it here:
Adding insult to injury was the B-story of Howard being such a petty, nasty "friend" to Raj. Tied in with the ridiculous conceit that now that Howard and Leonard have girlfriends, they are no longer miserable (seriously? what does that say about a person that they're miserable unless they have a significant other?), once again we see these supposedly tight friends not very tight at all This was my main problem with it. I feel like this season their friendships have been fragmented, to the point sometimes the characters are quite harsh with one another. I don't need to see all sunshine all the time, but sometimes it just gets to be much. That is why I was thrilled when Raj got to go to Switzerland (not too mention how adorable he was). I really hope that by seasons end we see some resolution to the group dynamics
( ... )
I think this is a key point for many reasons. You are absolutely right when you said there was numerous ways they could have had LP together at the end. Most shows would have done something to bring focus on their OTP, but nope in the end it was all about SP.
YUP. I honestly believe that if LP were meant to last, they would have found a way to end this episode differently. Leonard could have stayed home to take care of her. Or they could have had Sheldon and Penny NOT get sick, and have Sheldon go along for the science parts of the trip and get his own room. Or... or... or... yeah, there's at least a dozen ways to end this in which LP still spend Valentine's Day together.
But nope. Leonard is in Switzerland and Sheldon and Penny are cozy (though mostly miserable) on the couch together.
Thanks for another breakdown and for sharing your wonderful thoughts once again.
Aww, thank you. :)
My main problems was the lack of friendship, and Leonard's lack of conflict. Sigh.
You are absolutely right when you said there was numerous ways they could have had LP together at the end. Most shows would have done something to bring focus on their OTP, but nope in the end it was all about SP.
Yup, and *that* is what I'm holding onto right now.
I always wait so excitedly for the Breakdown, now. It makes a good upper for halfway between Monday and the next Monday. Thank you for another great one! I agreed with pretty much all of it (and I, too, remembered Mother Cooper's use of "lard" in her cobbler, when Sheldon mentioned the pound of Crisco. I love that his ability to cook very well is now canon (and how freaking musical they've made him! I rewatched the "Work Song Nanocluster" recently and noticed the not only has Sheldon been shown playing the recorder, playing the piano, and Tuvan throat singing--he's sung WITH PENNY at least twice. Has Leonard ever relaxed his guard enough to do that?
Per the quotes, though, I'm pretty sure Sheldon's discussing a "turnip light" instead of a "turn up light," hence the root vegetable comment. I only caught that b/c I researched Jack-o-Lanterns once, and they were made of turnips before New World pumpkins became popular.
THANK YOU! I could not for the life of me figure out what the hell Sheldon was saying (the Swiss word), I must have spent fifteen minute trying alternates, Swiss German to English translation, etc. No luck. Turnip did it. I will change it now. Thank you. :)
ETA:
I always wait so excitedly for the Breakdown, now. It makes a good upper for halfway between Monday and the next Monday. Thank you for another great one!
Thank you so much; I appreciate the comment. :)
I, too, remembered Mother Cooper's use of "lard" in her cobbler, when Sheldon mentioned the pound of Crisco.
Hee! Nice to know I'm not the only one who caught that.
Yup, end of discussion. I mean, and even giving him some leeway, a girlfriend on V-Day for the first time, but he still should have at least had some conflict, but nope. Oh, Leonard.
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I do think that when she explained it to Leonard, Leonard labeled it guilt-tripping and because, yeah, Penny DID want to go to Switzerland (I mean, forget who her boyfriend is, who wouldn't want to go?), she agreed with that and let Leonard run with it. I think that if Sheldon had been privy to the discussion, he would have kept the reality of his reaction in check, and Penny might have stuck to her guns. I'd like to think that Leonard would have then showed at least a little conflict, but uhm, I kinda doubt it.
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Woohoo, thank you muchly!
it would have been nice if he showed more conflict about it
This is what's key to me. Had they kept everything in the episode as is (taking out Leonard's nasty comment that he wouldn't take Sheldon even if there was no one else to take), but had Leonard be actually conflicted about breaking a written promise to his best friend.
Of course the hug delighted me. I like that Penny inspires Sheldon to give in to passionate feeling. She can make him very angry for instance and very happy or touched or grateful.
I know. SQUEE!!!
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Adding insult to injury was the B-story of Howard being such a petty, nasty "friend" to Raj. Tied in with the ridiculous conceit that now that Howard and Leonard have girlfriends, they are no longer miserable (seriously? what does that say about a person that they're miserable unless they have a significant other?), once again we see these supposedly tight friends not very tight at all This was my main problem with it. I feel like this season their friendships have been fragmented, to the point sometimes the characters are quite harsh with one another. I don't need to see all sunshine all the time, but sometimes it just gets to be much. That is why I was thrilled when Raj got to go to Switzerland (not too mention how adorable he was). I really hope that by seasons end we see some resolution to the group dynamics ( ... )
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YUP. I honestly believe that if LP were meant to last, they would have found a way to end this episode differently. Leonard could have stayed home to take care of her. Or they could have had Sheldon and Penny NOT get sick, and have Sheldon go along for the science parts of the trip and get his own room. Or... or... or... yeah, there's at least a dozen ways to end this in which LP still spend Valentine's Day together.
But nope. Leonard is in Switzerland and Sheldon and Penny are cozy (though mostly miserable) on the couch together.
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Exactly. That, as I mentioned to tash81 below, is exactly what I'm holding onto from this.
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Aww, thank you. :)
My main problems was the lack of friendship, and Leonard's lack of conflict. Sigh.
You are absolutely right when you said there was numerous ways they could have had LP together at the end. Most shows would have done something to bring focus on their OTP, but nope in the end it was all about SP.
Yup, and *that* is what I'm holding onto right now.
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Per the quotes, though, I'm pretty sure Sheldon's discussing a "turnip light" instead of a "turn up light," hence the root vegetable comment. I only caught that b/c I researched Jack-o-Lanterns once, and they were made of turnips before New World pumpkins became popular.
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ETA:
I always wait so excitedly for the Breakdown, now. It makes a good upper for halfway between Monday and the next Monday. Thank you for another great one!
Thank you so much; I appreciate the comment. :)
I, too, remembered Mother Cooper's use of "lard" in her cobbler, when Sheldon mentioned the pound of Crisco.
Hee! Nice to know I'm not the only one who caught that.
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