Quote: Aaron @ September 21 2013, 9:44 AM BSTAnd I'm saying that's wholly wrong! Sheldon's great, but without the contrast of Leonard he would lose his impact; and without the variety of Leonard's semi-normal relations with the non-geek world against his, quickly become incredibly repetitive and tiresome. And, frankly, there is very little mileage in him as a central plot character. What can you do with someone who has no ability to interact with anyone else and move a story on?
He *needs* characters like Leonard and Penny
Without the others you've no plots, you've no 'normal' to contrast with; you've no show.
Absolutely - I don't dispute that the character needs a foil. All monster characters need a foil.
What I am saying is that the performances of Cuoco and Galecki are not as irreplaceable as that of Parsons.
If absolutely necessary, other actors could do just as good a job as them. They are competent actors who play standard sitcom characters competently. Parsons inhabits that role in a way that is pretty unique.
I really wonder where they are going to go with these characters now, because everyone (with the exception of Sheldon and possibly Amy) now has their "need" - to be loved.