TEAM MINDS: SHIP MANIFESTO

[team_minds]

I. Define the Question: Why do we love Sheldon/Penny?
There are reasons why we ship certain characters. Most are obvious and of the well-worn variety: for the chemistry, for the happy, for the sex, for the sheer, unadulterated pretty; for the feeling of belonging to something larger than the show itself. Sometimes the ship is obvious from the outset. Sometimes it takes one scene, one snappy exchange and wham! the internets are abuzz, the “fan fiction” appears and the “picture spams” manifest.

This report will examine this phenomenon in the context of the relationship that exists (or should exist) between Dr. Sheldon Cooper and Penny of The Big Bang Theory. We will provide evidence, both canon and fanon, from which we can draw conclusions and attempt to prove or disprove the Sheldon/Penny Hypothesis.

II. Necessary Information and Resources

A: Terms

• Canon - The content of the actual television show, everything produced by the writers and actors.
• Fanon - Content produced and generally accepted by the fans of the television show, moive, book, etc.
• Fandom - The community of people that consider themselves “active” fans, those who produce fanon.

B: Subjects

To undertake this project, we require a complete understanding of Subject A (Sheldon Cooper) and Subject B (Penny).

i. Subject A: Sheldon (aka Sheldor the Conqueror )



Sheldon Lee Cooper holds a Masters Degree of Science and two PhDs, and works in the field of theoretical physics at Caltech. Born in Galveston, Texas, he is the winner of several prestigious awards, including the Stevenson Award at the then youngest age of fourteen and a half. With an IQ of 187, Sheldon is regarded as one of the finest minds of his generation, and as a physicist, one who is at the forefront of his field.

Traits/Habits

• Has set routines (meals, tasks, housekeeping, work) that when disrupted cause immediate anxiety and an inability to function until said disruption is either a) negotiated to the point of disappearance, or b) argued against blatantly until the Subject gets his own way. (Note: a common occurrence after much sampling and disgruntled evidence from not-so anonymous sources, namely one Wolowitz, H.)
• Possesses an overabundance of general knowledge, and will argue points of fact on every aspect of the known universe. Likewise regards his position as holder of all wisdom in the genre of science fiction to be unequalled, and will not hesitate to debate facts at random with the staying power of a heavyweight boxer on Ritalin.
• Cannot lie. Period. Known instances of lying under pressure have resulted in convoluted mishaps requiring years of study to unravel. (See miscellaneous - fake cousin)

Likes/Dislikes

• Is an avid reader of comic books, with notable fondness for Superman, The Flash, The Green Lantern, Professor X and Batman. Claims he could emulate, and if required, replace the latter, should the world so require a new hero with two PhDs. (Possesses strong vocal mimicry, but perhaps less physical aptitude.)
• Likes to wear vintage t-shirts screened with characters and logos from the DC comic book universe. Shows little commonly perceived sense of co-ordination by combining said t-shirts with longer undershirts in clashing colors.
• Favorite Catwoman is Julie Newmar.


• Cannot abide incorrect usage of grammar, either written or verbal. Major dislike, for example, being pronunciation of the 't' in 'often'.
• Has little to zero tolerance of caffeine and alcohol, proved from the few noted occasions on record when he has been known to fly at full exertion through the apartment complex dressed in The Flash costume, or having entertained a crowd of guests as an award recipient by singing The Elements song whilst removing articles of clothing. Shows great remorse and shame at these actions when sober.

Miscellaneous

• Was the builder of a homemade nuclear reactor at age thirteen: results unknown and/or unobtainable, due to the fact that activity was halted by Government officials, and that yellowcake uranium is not allowable in aluminium-walled sheds.
• Has a 'fake' cousin called Leo. (See traits/habits - lying)
• Sleeps with luminous goldfish. (Note: evidence does not support continuation; suggest that fish were killed by too much cerebral activity and/or fish flakes.)

Since examining the personal record of Sheldon Cooper, we conclude that it is an ongoing project that would benefit from further investigation. We suggest either six monthly intervals, or when subject is next held for contempt by the local magistrate due to an inability to drive fully licensed and in the correct lane.

ii. Subject B: Penny (aka Queen Penelope)



Penny* was born in Omaha, Nebraska. She moved to California with the sort of dream shared by those with stars in their eyes but not enough start-up capitol to make any reality beyond that of a waitress at the local Cheesecake Factory. However she remains optimistic that an acting career will one day blossom, and in the meantime has a whole other world to contend with in the form of a certain physicist who has less than zero tolerance of the 'casual' standard of cleanliness that reigns supreme in Apartment 4B. Penny is Sheldon's neighbor.

* Despite numerous enquiries, the authors of this report were unable to obtain the surname of Subject B. They would like to stipulate that this remains an aspect of the study that must therefore remain unanswered, to the detriment of the whole.

Traits/Habits

• Demonstrates a bright outlook towards everything and everyone, despite being reminded on a regular basis that without a stratospheric IQ, achieving anything worthy out of life (string theory, klingon boggle) is a near impossibility.
• Possesses the ability to ignore insults (see above). Possesses the even greater ability to turn them back onto the accuser with all the grace of a sword-wielding Warrior Queen (with kick-ass abs).
• Is socially-minded and cares for her friends. Shows true empathy, even in the face of steely-jawed determination on the part of those who resist. (See Subject A - everything)
• Has a casualness towards certain aspects of life (housekeeping, fiscal responsibility, the borrowing of milk out of fridges other than hers) which, depending on whom it affects, is either perfectly normal, or the source of the greatest disquiet this side of the Big Bang. (According to mood; evidence suggests it is sometimes best not to approach subject at all.)

Likes/Dislikes

• Likes Care Bears, Hello Kitty!, bright colors; clothes, shoes, looking at shoes, trying on shoes, buying shoes, coveting shoes she can’t afford; dancing, dancing on Wednesdays, dancing on Thursdays, dancing on any day except for ones when she hasn’t any clean clothes; parties, alcohol, her couch, her bed; her family, home; bringing out the best in others.
• Holds a certain delight in pushing the utterly neurotic, completely crazy buttons of Subject A. If required, will do this Junior Rodeo style.
• Dislikes friends “getting other friends' Care Bears all sweaty”. (Unconfirmed; subject would not elaborate.)
• Endures, but does not like, the fact that she would have totally aced Community College (or anything for that matter), if she didn’t have to work to the bone just to keep up with the minimum wage, pay rent in a state that already has a million more struggling actors than it can support, and maintain a rust bucket of a car.

Miscellaneous

• Built a tractor engine from scratch as a young girl. Often shows linguistic evidence of being brought up in a rural environment, and is not afraid to demonstrate this in the face of an over developed geek culture.
• Is the creator of Penny Blossoms, an online business selling hair barrettes in the form of flowers. (Middling to no success profit-wise; soaring Wall Street-like success self-confidence wise. Achievement made with uncharacteristic generosity on the part of entrepreneurial help from Subject A; suggest such work between the two worthy of a study of its own.)

In conclusion, we firmly believe that the subject has great potential and the ability to realize her ambitions, if she can only resist slipping back into old habits such as choosing to date men who leave their brains at home. Like her regal online persona, she is undoubtedly one to watch out for in the future. Especially if you are in need of a quick beheading.

III. Hypothesis
With the above in mind, and remembering that there is no finer partnership than one with sparkle, wit and fervor at its foundation, we therefore take our two subjects, and propose the following hypothesis:

If Penny and Sheldon were to become involved romantically, then it would be absolutely, unquestionably, every-synonym-under-the-sun fantastic.

By careful means of data collection and analysis, we believe this can, and will, be proven.*

* Okay look, it’s not as if we’re asking for the world here. But as with Newton’s apple, it must surely fall onto someone, at some point, to imagine those possibilities that others fail to see. Or, to misquote another great mind in another time and place... the proof is out there.

IV. Perform Experiment and Collect/Analyze Data
Canon evidence exists as the basis from which all theory and conjecture must return. It can be altered through fanon activity; it can even disprove itself through errors (often accidental) by its makers; but it must remain constant throughout.

Experiment 1: Character Growth through Friendship

The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis



Episode 2.11, The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis, depicts the days leading up to Christmas. When Sheldon notices a gift from Penny bearing his name, he becomes immediately anxious, because in his mind it means an expectation has been created wherein he must offer her a gift of equal value and meaning, both fiscally and emotionally.

Penny: Sheldon, I am very, very sorry.
Sheldon: No. No, I brought this on myself by being such an endearing and important part of your life.

To Sheldon, the consequences of friendship are enormous. The fact that Penny can create such waves in his life shows that she is a force he cannot control; she isn’t an equation on his whiteboard that can be wiped away when it becomes unsolvable. The exchanging of gifts also contains within it the first genuine moment of physical contact. What’s most significant is this hug is initiated by Sheldon, the one least likely to do such a thing. It comes from a genuine realization: what he isn’t able to control or predict won’t necessarily be potential doom and gloom; it can turn into good.

The Work Song Nanocluster



As mentioned earlier, Penny Blossoms, Penny’s online business, came about through the partnership of two equally adept minds: one bringing the idea and the enthusiasm, and the other a business-orientation and entrepreneurial savvy worthy of the dot-com bubble before it burst. Who else but Sheldon could imagine a production line of sparkling petals rolling along to the tune of an old sea shanty?

Penny: Sheldon, hold on. Could you maybe show me how to make more money with this?
Sheldon: Of course I could. (Gets up to leave)
Penny: Sheldon, wait! Will you?

In episode 2.18, The Work Song Nanocluster, through hard work and determination, Penny and Sheldon manage to create a small world for themselves, and in the process show a true working relationship that happens at just the right time in the series. Their ideas bounce off one another and nothing seems to faze them.

And there’s the singing. Which is pretty wonderful.

The Gorilla Experiment



Episode 3.10, The Gorilla Experiment, repeats the situation shown in The Work Song Nanocluster, with Penny once again asking Sheldon for help, and with Sheldon once again agreeing to do so. He is to undertake the herculean task of teaching Penny the fundamentals of physics, so that she can impress her (then) boyfriend, Leonard. But before that happens, there is an exchange of dialogue that shows just how far Penny has come in accepting Sheldon (the previously dubbed whackadoodle) in her life:

Leonard: That’s where Sheldon sits.
Bernadette: He can’t sit somewhere else?
Penny: Oh no, no, you see, in the winter, that seat is close enough to the radiator so that he’s warm, yet not so close that he sweats. In the summer, it’s directly in the path of a cross-breeze created by opening windows there and there. It faces the television at an angle that isn’t direct, so he can still talk to everybody, yet not so wide that the picture looks distorted.
Sheldon: Perhaps there’s hope for you after all.

Perhaps what Sheldon teaches Penny isn’t important. Going back in time thousands of years, even on a college-ruled notebook, doesn’t matter nearly as much as the fact that they are clearly becoming used to each other, comfortable in that association, and more importantly, prepared to do it time and again.

Experiment 2: Relationship Growth through Chemistry (and Animosity)

The Pilot



Episode 1.01, The Pilot, can be viewed separately to the rest of the series; indeed, a lot of it differs quite startlingly from accepted canon. The characterisation of Penny and Sheldon are sketchy at best, but they do provide moments that point to the second of our experiments.

Penny: So you’re like, one of those, beautiful mind genius guys.
Sheldon: Yeah.

It is perhaps a couple of minutes in a whole episode, but there is an undeniable chemistry at play here. If we are to study from the position of dispassionate scientists, then a few moments of eye-contact, a few moments noticing that he’s tall, he’s shy, she’s cute, she likes him, maybe, who knows--what do they really mean?

A lot, as it happens.

The Panty Pinata Polarization



Opposites attract. When it comes to relationships there may be no greater theory than this.

Sheldon: Penny.
Penny: Yes?
Sheldon: Well played.

Arguably, it is episode 2.07, The Panty Pinata Polarization, where Sheldon and Penny make their first real steps towards proving our hypothetical. Arguments, arguments and more arguments are the default setting for these two here, each step in the game of dare almost sizzling with an undercurrent of something much deeper. Like The Work Song Nanocluster, they once again appear to exist entirely in a world of their own, except here the stakes are higher, and feelings run on an edge right up to the final scene. They end on a note of mutual acceptance, but they begin something much greater.

The Adhesive Duck Deficiency


Finally, we come to episode 3.08, The Adhesive Duck Deficiency. The story in itself--Penny slips in the bath, dislocates her shoulder, and Sheldon comes to the rescue--is nothing compared to how it is played. They spend the entire episode apart from the others; they barely leave each others side. They say a lot of things to one another. They realize a lot of things about one another. If The Panty Pinata Polarization was a step, then The Adhesive Duck Deficiency is one giant leap of space flight, and warp speed at that.

Penny: You know, people think you’re this weird robot man who’s so annoying all the time, and you totally are, but then it’s like that movie Wall-E at the end. You’re so full of love, and you can save a plant and get fat people out of the floaty chairs.
Sheldon: That’s a fairly laboured metaphor, but I appreciate the sentiment behind it.

Taking care of each other when sick (though there are often claims to the contrary: Homesick is a kind of sick--Sheldon; Drugged and injured is a kind of sick--Penny) is now firmly established in canon, and on this level, for Sheldon and Penny, it is unique. More importantly, they are also reaching an understanding that however argued cannot stay purely in friendship. It ups the potential, and it enlivens everything.

V. Interpret Data
The next step is to interpret the data. We will do this through fanon evidence.

i. Interpreting the Theory: Building a Better Universe Through Fiction

Canon is essentially restrictive, in that there will always be something that cannot exist fully within its boundaries. Perhaps it is character development, or a seemingly off-the-cuff line of dialogue that gets a laugh onscreen but suggests possibilities which, for whatever reason, we know will never be realized. Fanon reaches past this easily and without effort, by way of its largest medium, fan fiction. In fact, it’s possible to argue that the Sheldon/Penny Hypothesis has its deepest foundations in fiction, and that the universe it creates will stand by itself, whatever happens in canon.

(And we would argue that the sex is pretty hot, too.)

Suggested Reading

Fiction

The Unified Theory of Everything by montycrowley

The Earth Moved 1,117.7 Miles In Our Kitchen by rashaka, art by irrel

The Groundhog Day Assimilation by boonies

The Law of Universal Gravitation (series) by juniperlane, dashakay, allthingsholy and montycrowley

Life, in a Nutshell by damalur

Meta (Or, What’s Life Without a Little Self Promotion)

Meta Match-Up: Canon vs. Fanon by team_minds

ii. Visual Tools: Breaking the Three Minute Barrier

A second aspect of fanon--the fan video--alternates the universe built upon through fiction by telling a visual and aural story through the medium of video and music clip. What might take many words in fiction can be shown in a few minutes, just as effectively.

For the purposes of this report, we would like to highlight two fan videos, while stressing that they are merely a sample of many that exist.

Sweet Disposition (edited by iWish26)

Click to view

Everything (edited by unluckystar)

Click to view

VI. Conclusion
Based on the above findings, we can safely elevate Penny/Sheldon from an Hypothesis to a Theory. It cannot conclusively be proved (at this time), but neither can it be disproved. Rather like a certain scientist’s cat, it is both alive and dead. Although it does not explicitly exist in Canon, the working foundations of a romantic relationship between Subject A and B are there. Fandom, on the other hand, displays an overwhelming support for this Theory.

Plus, there’s the singing. Did we mention the singing?