The longer a series continues the more pressure there is on
writers to come up with story ideas that feel natural and relevant to the
series and to the characters they’ve created. ‘The Space Probe Disintegration’
did this perfectly, with Penny bemoaning the fact that she and Bernadette
always get stuck playing the extended edition of Lord of the Rings Risk instead
of them getting to enjoy activities they like to do. The only problem with a
series being on as long as The Big Bang Theory and having a storyline like this
is that it feels like it should have happened about five years ago, back when
Penny and Leonard first started dating. The series has demonstrated time and
time again that Penny is much more self-absorbed in terms of her commitment to
her and Leonard’s relationship (as well as in general), so it seems quite
bizarre that for the entirety of there relationship, on and off, that Penny has
just willingly accepted to do whatever Leonard (which often means Sheldon)
wants to do for fun.
After adjusting to this idea the episode eventually became
much more enjoyable. It didn’t necessarily provide the laughs that I’d want
from an episode of the series, but another pro to having such a long running
series is that viewers are very much invested in the characters lives. So when
Penny realises that Amy does whatever she wants in order to maintain their
friendship and Penny proposes that they do what she wants for once, even if it
is basket weaving at the craft museum, we go ‘Aww’ and feel all warm inside.
The same can be said for Sheldon and Leonard’s discussion of compromise in
their relationship as they waited for Penny and Amy as they cloths shopped. I
understand it’s not what’s required, or even wanted, from a standard sitcom but
I love it when writers aren’t afraid to have their characters get deeply
serious with one another. Even if it was just for a second before they had to
lighten the mood I enjoyed Leonard being candid with Sheldon for once and
explaining to him the hindrance he can be in Leonard’s life, particularly in
regards to the development of his relationship with Penny.
I feel that the writers may have been trying to garner a
similar emotional response with the B-plot involving Howard’s attempt to stop
Raj from worrying about the survival of a space probe he’d launched years
earlier. It fell flat, however, the story seemingly materialising out of
nowhere – along with Raj’s sudden interest in Hindu religion (which even Howard
explicitly noted in the episode). In may have worked had it had more time to
develop, but as a subplot it really ended up being pointless.
In typical The Big Bang Theory style though, the progression
of Leonard and Penny’s relationship, as well as Sheldon’s own personal growth,
had a well-earned development at the end of the episode. Sheldon compromised to
Leonard moving out of the apartment and staying at Penny’s one night a week –
with Sheldon joining him and sleeping on the couch. Things may be changing at a
snail’s pace, but The Big Bang Theory is a good sitcom that will be on for at
least several more years to come, so it can afford to take its time.
Rating: 2.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment