The fate of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory is up in the air after the season 7 finale, with uncertainty about whether he got on the train or not.
Some new insight came out not too long ago from executive producer Steve Molaro, who detailed the process of creating the plot.
“We thought it would be interesting to take an episode and sort of systematically chip away at Sheldon and break him down to the point where he just needed to leave to process everything,” he said.
Sheldon was confronted by the university forcing him to stick with a field of study, Leonard and Penny getting engaged, Leonard suggesting that he should move out, and the comic book store burning down.
Molaro said that he and other producers will return to the writers’ room soon, but revealed what Sheldon is doing. “As of now, he is off riding the rails like a hobo.”
And for anyone who thinks that Sheldon isn’t affected by what happened, Molaro issued a correction: “It will have some effect on him.”
Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon, recently discussed his character’s future with TVLine, which mused that Sheldon possibly didn’t even get on the train.
“I never thought of that, but you’re right — he could show back up at home immediately, couldn’t he?” Parsons said, noting that despite pressing his bosses about the whereabouts of Sheldon, he couldn’t get an answer.
“Nobody will tell me. I don’t know if they know yet. They may know, but I really don’t know if they do.”
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If/when he does reunite with everyone, Parsons hopes that Sheldon and Amy’s romance will move forward.
“I don’t know that we’re headed for the bedroom or the altar any time soon,” he said. “But, whatever… The writers have been so good with the pace of it, just bring more is all I would say.”
Fans are publishing their own theories about what’s going to happen to Sheldon on a forum. Check some of them out below.
Kathr2611
I think AT LEAST 2-3 weeks. He did leave with just the clothes on his back and whatever was in his bag. I also think when he does come back, his wardrobe will be a little more “mature.”
I think he‘ll stay in contact with Amy. I think they’ll talk out most of their problems and misunderstandings (most of it anyway) off camera. And when he returns, their relationship will be a little more even. I keep picturing their relationship now as a car that’s just coasting. Put it in drive without giving it any gas. Season 8, the car will still go slow but the gas pedal will be pressed.
I also think their idea of living together is completely off from each other. Amy seems to think she can take Leonard’s old room (she mentioned measuring it to make sure her waterbed would fit in The Spoiler Alert) and Sheldon’s thinking (and probably preferring) his room but he’s not ready for that yet. And if he lets her move in, staying in Leonard’s room, that’s still too much pressure for Sheldon.
If he does stay in 4A and Lenny go to 4B, he‘ll live alone for awhile, maybe have Amy sleep over (Platonically....whether in Leonard’s room or with Sheldon in his room) as an experiment. Eventually, he’ll have her move in. I can see them having sex in the season 8 finale. Especially if she’s living with him by then.
As for his career? I have no idea. I don’t think string theory is dead yet in reality is it?
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TheShamyShipper
I can’t quite see Shamy having sex yet in season 8, although I wouldn’t be opposed to it as long as the plotlines got them to them place believably. I think it will be season 9 before coitus. But I can definitely see them living together before season 8 ends. And I agree that I think they will be fine. They'll work through their issues. I really like Kathr2611’s analogy of the gas pedal being pressed. This is how I see it as well.
As for his career, I can see him either sticking with string theory, or possibly getting funding from an outside source (Hawking perhaps?) to go into another field.
I keep thinking he'll be gone for about 2 months, but it’s really anyone’s guess.
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Chiany
Coitus is off the table for season 8 in my mind, that will not happen until season 9 or 10 I think.
I expect him to be gone for little over a month, and when he does come back, he will be allowed to switch fields of study. Maybe to the field he wanted to in the season finale.
Or maybe he get’s help from Amy to be allowed to join her studies, or maybe even start a new project together? That would also help the writers explain why she still works there, since they never used it in a big way imho.
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kerrycec03
I think he will go back to string theory but will have a different approach to it now that he'll have a clearer head. Something will happen on his journey to reinforce that it’s not a dead end (really not sure what). He will remain at Caltech.
Regarding Amy I have written my theories so many times but I love this couple. They won’t break up and I hope she is the first person he sees when he returns (I too think he'll be gone for about 2 months). She will be a bit standoffish in the first few episodes towards him but something big will happen that he will step up and commit.
By the end of season 8 after trials of bad interviews for roommates and him attempting to live alone, he will realize he wants her there, he will ask her to move into 4a.
No sex for them in season 8. I see it more of a season 9 plot. Yes more intimacy will occur but that final proof in a way is much further down the road. I think he'll finds 2nd base and they start more aggressive (aka open mouth) kissing.
The first big change he will accept is Leonard moving on in a way. No movement of anyone until middle of the season
