Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
If Sheldon Cooper's character arc has been focused on anything over the course of The Big Bang Theory's nine seasons, it's been Sheldon's efforts to open up, learn how to relate to others and stop being so damned selfish all the time. "The Empathy Optimization" captured that arc in microcosm. Sheldon managed to alienate his entire circle of friends in one fell swoop, forcing him to dig deep and seek forgiveness. The result was a conflict that started off on shaky footing but eventually developed into something special.
Early on, this episode suffered from the fact that sickly Sheldon was too obnoxious and abrasive. Yes, a great deal of this show's humor stems from the fact that he's a self-centered jerk and everyone else just sort of grins and bears it. But usually that abrasive quality is tempered by the fact that Sheldon is naive and ultimately well-meaning. He offends others because he doesn't understand how to connect with them. But in the opening montage scene, Sheldon's bratty behavior was way over-the-top. There was nothing funny about him childishly refusing Leonard's offer of chicken soup or lobbing vaguely racist insults at Raj. It just made you question why these people have put up with this nonsense for so man years.
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Continue reading...
If Sheldon Cooper's character arc has been focused on anything over the course of The Big Bang Theory's nine seasons, it's been Sheldon's efforts to open up, learn how to relate to others and stop being so damned selfish all the time. "The Empathy Optimization" captured that arc in microcosm. Sheldon managed to alienate his entire circle of friends in one fell swoop, forcing him to dig deep and seek forgiveness. The result was a conflict that started off on shaky footing but eventually developed into something special.
Early on, this episode suffered from the fact that sickly Sheldon was too obnoxious and abrasive. Yes, a great deal of this show's humor stems from the fact that he's a self-centered jerk and everyone else just sort of grins and bears it. But usually that abrasive quality is tempered by the fact that Sheldon is naive and ultimately well-meaning. He offends others because he doesn't understand how to connect with them. But in the opening montage scene, Sheldon's bratty behavior was way over-the-top. There was nothing funny about him childishly refusing Leonard's offer of chicken soup or lobbing vaguely racist insults at Raj. It just made you question why these people have put up with this nonsense for so man years.
Continue reading…
Continue reading...