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The importance of Sheldon
posted by wonder2wonderSTAFFMOD on February 12, 2017 at 7:03 AM
In episode 7.11 "The Cooper Extraction" it is explained how indispensable Sheldon is to them all.
Sheldon accepts Leonard as his roommate (episode 3.22 "The Staircase Implementation") in 2003.
Several years later, in 2007, Penny moves into the opposite appartment and they meet (episode 1.01 "Pilot").
Leonard and Penny go on a couple of dates in season 1 and 2, but that lead to nothing.
Until Leonard, Howard and Raj go to the North Pole to help Sheldon with his project (episode 2.23 "The Monopolar Expedition").
Penny misses Leonard so much (and vice versa), that when he returns, she kisses him and decides to take the relationship to the next level (episode 3.01 "The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation").
Penny asks Bernadette to go on a double date with her, Leonard and Howard (episode 3.05 "The Creepy Candy").
Howard and Ray arrange a date for Sheldon with Amy (episode 3.23 "The Lunar Excitation").
Finally in episode 7.17 "The Friendship Turbulence", while walking Amy to her car, Raj is asked about his online dating. Later he checks a girl's profile (Emily).
Asking Penny on a date in The Cheesecake Factory is not an option. Still, maybe there is another way for Leonard and Penny to meet and date without ever knowing Sheldon. But how?
It is interesting that Amy is the one to have mentioned the importance of Sheldon for their relationships. Of course for us as viewers there would be no tv show without him.
On a side note: in the episode 7.04 "The Raiders Minimization" she stated that Indiana Jones was not necessary for the plot. But for us as viewers, would there have been a movie without Indiana Jones?
Reply by FormerlyKnownAs
on March 10, 2017 at 1:40 AM
The 'Kevin Bacon Theory'...a/k/a 'Six Degrees Of Separation'.
Reply by znexyish
on March 10, 2017 at 8:40 AM
1 > Asking Penny on a date in The Cheesecake Factory is not an option. Still, maybe there is another way for Leonard and Penny to meet and date without ever knowing Sheldon. But how?
2 > On a side note, in the episode 7.04 "The Raiders Minimization" she stated that Indiana Jones was not necessary for the plot. But for us as viewers, would there have been a movie without Indiana Jones?
1 - Without Sheldon, Leonard and Penny would not have met successfully. When Leonard and Sheldon met Penny in the hallway she was in a friendly mood and wearing shorts and a fun top. If Leonard for some reason went to the Cheesecake Factory and had Penny as a waitress she would have been in waitress mode and all business. Leonard also would not have went to the Cheesecake Factory if not knowing that Penny was working there. Sheldon also could be seen as a silent wingman whose presence allowed Leonard to relax enough for him to talk to Penny. The only other places Leonard and Penny might have crossed paths was at places where one might be at and not the other. Penny would not go to Cal Tech or at a lecture or conference or at the comic book store or some geeky related place that Leonard might be at. Leonard would not have gone to a bar or night club or acting related location such as a play that Penny would be at. Now when Penny met all the guys Leonard might have had the notion that he alone would have a chance, Howard being too direct, Raj not being able to talk to her, and Sheldon not even being interested. Later Sheldon would let Leonard know that among the guys he is the veritable mack daddy. This would given Leonard the confidence to pursue Penny.
2 - Indiana Jones might not be necessary for the plot but necessary for the story. Without Indiana we have a story of Nazis who try to track down a fabled treasure and fail. With Indiana Jones we have a cool guy in a hat who we identify with and root for as he follows the bad guys around. Indiana Jones acts as an avatar in that sense, he is who we live the story through. Without him there is nothing.
Reply by Taylorfirst1
on March 10, 2017 at 11:25 PM
Without Indiana Jones, the girl would have been tortured and killed by the Nazi's in that snow bound bar.