Review: The Big Bang Theory

I was excited to watch the season premiere of the Big Bang Theory. I have loyally followed the series from the beginning and have seen every episode that has aired up to the season premiere. Recently I had seen some reruns of the first season and curiously found that in the first season one can clearly see that the characters were still being developed that early in the series. The character of Sheldon who, by now, is very well defined and his actions and words matching his characteristics, early on in the first season, makes some slightly crude jokes that I couldn’t even imagine him saying now. Now, he is entirely oblivious to such things. Not to say that he wouldn’t understand such a situation, simply that he wouldn’t make a joke about it.

However, when I watched the season premiere last week, I was somewhat seriously put off by the amount of crude jokes and references that were present in the episode. I understand that it would be a logical place to go with Howard dating Bernadette, Sheldon paired with Amy, Leonard dating Preeta and Raj hooking up with Penny. But, but, but…

I miss my dorky, super-smart scientist geek group! Sure, they’re guys, and all guys are obsessed with girls, but really, did the entire episode have to be crude jokes? Where was the science and logic and geekness? I miss when Sheldon made charts about complicated science and math and argued with Leonard over whether it was correct or who had it right. I miss when they guys sat around and played Monopoly with rupees or when Sheldon made fun of Howard for not having a real degree.

Now I suppose I’m not saying that I will stop watching the Big Bang Theory. I just suppose, I feel like I knew these guys, these characters so well, and then the writer’s went and changed them a bit too much… Maybe, I feel like this:

When there is a group of guys, and at least one girl, the guys tend to act more well behaved. When there are no girls, they guys are little more loose with their language and manner in general. I used to feel like the Big Bang Theory was the first scenario, but now with the new season, I feel like it is the second scenario, and I’m not sure I’m entirely happy with that.

I have heard that Raj finally meets a girl he can have a semi-normal conversation with, and this situation would be a long time coming, so I’m looking forward to the next episode! We will see whether I will still love this series as much as I have. Hopefully, it’s not run too long, for I really wouldn’t want it to end.

ABC's New Series Pan Am

In the first episode of the new ABC series Pan Am, the copilot says to the pilot in reference to the Pan Am stewardesses, “You see that table over there? That is natural selection at work my friend. They don’t know that they’re a new breed of women. They just had an impulse to take flight.”

I take this series as a romanticized period piece of the 60's, somewhat like Mad Men. I think women have taken many steps in American society to be equal to men, but sometimes have a ways to go. Okay, so women should be just as independent and respected as men, but have you ever noticed, we are still living in a patriarchal society. However, as long as shows such as Mad Men and Pan Am are taken as period pieces, I'm fine with them.

I actually like that one of the four main stewardess characters, Lauren, decided to break free of her life controlled by her mother, run away from her wedding and travel the world as a stewardess becoming independent. The sad thing is that the stewardesses have a rigid dress code and will be grounded for breaking it, are weighed, and are not allowed to be stewardesses once they are married.

Lauren's sister, Kate, was already a stewardess and seems to be a disappointment to her mother, however, she is an inspiration to Lauren. Kate is invited to be a CIA spy and she accepts. Her confidence in herself makes her the most outgoing of the four.

The french girl, Colette, finds herself on the same flight as a man (and his wife and son) who she thought she was in a relationship with and was in love with, but on the flight found out he was married. I feel sorry for her as she was so happy, but naive. The man is sorry the situation is ruined, but unapologetic, though he does lip service a "sorry". The wife seems to be unaware until she makes a parting comment to Collete implying that Collette is a home wreaker.

The final stewardess is Maggie, who lives in The Village--is she bohemian then? She is grounded for breaking the dress code, not wearing a girdle, having a ripped stocking. However, when there is a last minute stewardess need on the flight, which is flying for the first time, she is called in. The Pan Am guys in charge even send a helicopter to make sure she is at the airport on time. Is this because she is a great flight attendant, or because Pan Am cannot cancel a flight? Hopefully, it is both.

I am looking forward to watching the future episodes, which air on ABC Sundays 10|9c