17 minutes ago, appositival said:
Are we sure that Sheldon's data base is a 'failure'? There may be some technical glitch that is preventing access to the data base, or that prevented the announcement from being distributed or read or that is preventing the results from being reported properly. Perhaps no one has needed a grant over the past two days.
Also, some things just take time to become popular.
Yes, I was surprised at where this conversation between Sheldon and Dr. Sturgis went . . .
- [SHELDON] I don't understand. The code is perfect. It should have worked.
- [DR. STURGIS] Well, the problem isn't that it didn't work, the problem is that nobody wanted to use it.
- [SHELDON] So, you're saying we didn't fail, the public failed us.
- No, we failed.
- [SHELDON] And you've also failed at cheering me up, so good job.
- [DR. STURGIS] Here's a thought. I've been toying around with this new plasma confinement idea. Why don't we work on that and, uh, take your mind off the database?
I was sure that Dr. Sturgis was going to address the issue of the public not being aware of the database by pointing out Sheldon's failure to "market" the database via scientific publications, Usenet chats, and even the university's connections, etc.
Dr. Sturgis's advice to move onto another endeavor (and his attempts at uplifting song and dance) were valid, but a scientific approach would also focus on the lack of audience response——whether technical or psychological.
But I guess the writers rightly figured that the Young Sheldon audience is weary of the database story (perhaps in part because the writers themselves were tired of the database arc) and so are dropping it.
And so, instead of, perhaps, Will Wheaton appearing as a hacker sabotaging of the database, we have:
Missy In Peril!
——which is a legitimate story for a show with an audience including young people.
