@SpecialFlowers said:

What are your thoughts on Raj having an arranged marriage?

It might be his best hope of finding female companionship, if he can get through 6 dates without blowing it. Huge "if" there.

This was one of the longest episodes in quite a while! Almost 21 minutes!

If Raj's father knows him very well, it could turn out just fine. After all, Sheldon and Amy were basically "arranged" too. First by Howard and Raj finding Amy, and then by all of them keeping them together until Sheldon realized she was perfect for him. Sheldon never would have gotten there on his own.

I don't remember noticing the HAL 9000 "eye" panel next to the door of the comic book store, before. Too bad it didn't have the reddish glow.

And I've seen who they got for Raj's arranged wife. Not impressed.

When presented with their "thank-you note," Leonard and/or Penny should have just said "Oh, we don't do that. Thanks anyway."

Also the wifi password thing is, and always has been, BS. I never use wifi to start with, and wired connections don't have a password. But even for people who do use wifi, all it takes is factory-resetting the modem/router and the original default password is restored.

And even if Leonard/Penny are going to let Sheldon/Amy continue using their wifi, they should have long ago set up a second/"guest" access password which cannot be used to change its own or any other password. Based on early episodes, something like "Sheldongetyourownwifi (no spaces)" comes to mind.

I have no issue with the arranged marriage, and supported it on the old board. It may seem unnatural in our culture, but Raj was raised in another culture where this was perfectly acceptable (and maybe even the norm). I think if the writers perform proper research (which I don't have great confidence in), they can present a scenario that would be mind-opening for American viewers to the culture of another country. The main question for me here is not will the marriage work, but, will these writers drop this story by next week, the same way they do every other story for Raj?

Enjoyed the Regifting Scavenger Hunt.

First, I think regifting is really tacky. Think it's better to donate the item than to re-wrap it and give it to someone else.

Even so, enjoyed that Sheldon and Amy were able to put such a positive spin (and have so much fun doing it) on something that was meant frustrate and annoy (which it did for a minute). Also, they got their revenge (though unknowingly); payback is a "B".!

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

Enjoyed the Regifting Scavenger Hunt.

First, I think regifting is really tacky. Think it's better to donate the item than to re-wrap it and give it to someone else.

Even so, enjoyed that Sheldon and Amy were able to put such a positive spin (and have so much fun doing it) on something that was meant frustrate and annoy (which it did for a minute). Also, they got their revenge (though unknowingly); payback is a "B".!

We may find later that their "revenge" was indeed deliberate. In the past that probably would have been shown at the end of the episode, but instead that was used for "Stuart's Date." They (the writers) can't wait for years though, as with the "Itchy Sweater." Because they don't have that much time left.

@SpecialFlowers said:

I have no issue with the arranged marriage, and supported it on the old board. It may seem unnatural in our culture, but Raj was raised in another culture where this was perfectly acceptable (and maybe even the norm). I think if the writers perform proper research (which I don't have great confidence in), they can present a scenario that would be mind-opening for American viewers to the culture of another country. The main question for me here is not will the marriage work, but, will these writers drop this story by next week, the same way they do every other story for Raj?

It'll be around for at least one more episode. There's a credit for Raj's "arranged fiancé" in next week's episode. As mentioned in a previous post, I looked her up. Not impressed.

@SpecialFlowers said:

I would say this was the best episode in years. I liked every single story line and I genuinely laughed at the show more than I have in a long time. Agree?

What are your thoughts on Raj having an arranged marriage?

Time for him to get married? What kind of stupid nonsense is that!? What; his bio-clock is ticking?

Think Raj should cool it. Raj having someone is not an issue--but, his desperation is an issue.

I think he needs to branch out friends-wise; being around these married folks all the time has left him the odd-man-out. Whether he realizes it or not, all their couple-togetherness can easily work on his psyche. Without realizing it, what they have can seem so attractive that he’ll subconsciously envy them and think he must be missing out by not being married.

When one of your friends get married, you need single friends (which Raj does not have), to cling to (like a drowning man), otherwise the married one’s will “pull you under”.

Raj marrying (in time) will be fine; but let's not rush to put Kripke on standby just yet.

There is no such thing as time for him to get married. (Unless, of course, dad is threatening to redirect his share of the inheritance--which, so far, he is not).

@SpecialFlowers said:

I have no issue with the arranged marriage, and supported it on the old board. It may seem unnatural in our culture, but Raj was raised in another culture where this was perfectly acceptable (and maybe even the norm). I think if the writers perform proper research (which I don't have great confidence in), they can present a scenario that would be mind-opening for American viewers to the culture of another country. The main question for me here is not will the marriage work, but, will these writers drop this story by next week, the same way they do every other story for Raj?

Yeah. It does seem unnatural...but, maybe because “arranged” seems such a harsh word.

I think what we can't get behind is lack of choice. But, lack of choice may not be the absolute it once was. After all, Raj has rejected at least two prospects his parents sent—and at least one of those rejected him.

It doesn’t really matter how two people meet—even if it’s arranged by their parents—as long the decision is theirs to make (something that was missing in the old way--and may still be missing in some places today).

As for screening, who doesn’t? They just do it formally. Didn’t Penny do it for Howard? It’s not as if Bernie was the only girl she knew. And trust me, when you are unattached your relatives, friends, co-workers/ etc. are constantly “vetting” on your behalf.

Beverly forwarded me this for consideration

Blog article on arranged marriages from Psycology Today

Come to think of maybe Beverly could arrange a marriage for Raj. Or Mary Cooper could find him a nice East Texas Cowgirl ? Give everyone a shot at fixing Raj up. I recall on the old board that the poster formerly known as Erika said (in her pre engagement days) that marriage was just a disguised business arrangement or something to that effect

@znexyish said:

Beverly forwarded me this for consideration

Blog article on arranged marriages from Psycology Today

Come to think of maybe Beverly could arrange a marriage for Raj. Or Mary Cooper could find him a nice East Texas Cowgirl ? Give everyone a shot at fixing Raj up. I recall on the old board that the poster formerly known as Erika said (in her pre engagement days) that marriage was just a disguised business arrangement or something to that effect

And don't even get started on what she thought about having kids!

Aren't young people just adorable when they think they already have things figured out?

The problem with setting Raj up with someone is that the show will then have one more character and one that will have less air time than Raj. The situation has dragged on far too long for it to ever become an "Awww, isn't it romantic" conclusion in my opinion.

Also I didn't mean to highlight Ms E's previous marriage based comments in a negative way, although I do remember the vigorous debates she had with some of the older boards other posters on the subject, they were quite the compelling read.

Marriage and the decision to marry can be romantic, mercenary, desperate and many other things.

Quite true. But the whole "That will never happen to ME, because I'm MODERN and BEYOND things like that!" was just too precious.