CBS's The Big Bang Theory explores a question in "The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition" that fans ponder frequently: what is the deal between Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik)? Stuart (Kevin Sussman) asks Leonard (Johnny Galecki) if it would be okay to ask Amy out. Leonard approaches Sheldon about the subject, and Sheldon reacts with total indifference. Even after Amy accepts the date, and all of Sheldon's friends keep pressing him to see how he feels, he pretends he has not one concern about it. However, his real emotions peek out when he crashes Amy and Stuart's movie to ask Amy to be his girlfriend. She accepts, then finishes the date with Stuart.
Comments over the past year, especially lately, make it seem that Sheldon and Amy are an item. But then when Amy tries to force Sheldon to cuddle on the couch, and he won't, the signals get mixed. While Leonard and Penny's (Kaley Cuoco) relationship plays out largely in the background while they date, that's OK for them, because viewers can piece together their own clues about what is happening fairly easily. They are normal, relatable characters. This is not the case with Sheldon and Amy, who are both pretty odd people, and their connection becomes quite an enigma.
"The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition" clearly sends the message that, while the pair spend much time together, they are not boyfriend and girlfriend. Part of this is because Sheldon does not want to be physically intimate in the slightest, not even desiring to hold hands. Amy obviously feels very differently about that arrangement, propositioning Sheldon for sex on multiple occasions. So they do not have a traditional dating relationship. But then, what about Sheldon is traditional?
Things take a big step forward for them this week, when Sheldon hesitantly asks Amy to be his girlfriend, then proceeds to make up a thirty-plus page contract neatly defining what that means. She agrees readily, apparently caring enough about him to be willing to take his eccentricities. And why not? He is the male version of her in many ways, and makes an ideal mate if the goal is incredibly intelligent offspring. Plus, she enjoys being around him.
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Article comments
1 - M.
I love how the realtionship builds up slowly. It's amazig that Amy, who was characterised in the start as: the female version of Sheldon, did not become a flat character, but really a 3-dimensional person. (As far as can be expected from a sitcom) The sideplot was thrown in so nice and neat, and Steward is, again, amazingly worked out for a simple regular. They should not just throw him a bone, but find a unbelieveably crazy story revolving around him.
Don't understand the people that caracterize big bang theory characters as 'flat'