The way Penny’s narrative was mishandled in The Big Bang Theory occurred long before the surprising pregnancy twist in the series finale. From the very start of the sitcom, Penny has undeniably been a central character, with her growth impacting the storyline as significantly as that of Leonard and Sheldon. However, the misrepresentation of Penny in Season 1 did not aid in solidifying her importance.
While every member of the original group had the opportunity to evolve or have their narrative transformed by The Big Bang Theory, Penny’s journey abruptly halted with the unexpected pregnancy twist, leaving her change of heart about motherhood unexplained. To make matters worse, The Big Bang Theory had already undermined Penny’s character development due to one character’s unacceptable actions in Season 7.
The Big Bang Theory Overlooked Penny’s Aspiration To Act Due To Leonard’s Insufficient Support For Her
Penny’s aspiration to be an actress was alluded to in the earlier seasons of the sitcom, although it seemed to fade away by the time of The Big Bang Theory’s series finale. Yet, it was only briefly mentioned through auditions or acting classes until Season 7, when the cutting of her scenes in a well-known TV show motivated her to fully commit to her acting career.
Penny’s recent determination to break into the acting world by dedicating all her time to auditions was merely seen as a plot device for other narratives in The Big Bang Theory Season 7, such as the engagement between Penny and Leonard by the season’s end.
This was particularly highlighted by Leonard’s support for Penny’s acting, which was expressed through words rather than tangible actions. Amidst his attempts to craft statements that could persuade Penny of his support and his eventual admission of misunderstanding her visit to the Cheesecake Factory as a desire to reclaim her job.
It became clear that Leonard did not back Penny’s choice to pursue acting without the security of her waitressing position. His lack of support ran deeper than mere disbelief in Penny. The rejection of Penny’s aspirations wasn’t solely due to her absence from The Big Bang Theory in Season 7, episodes 12, 13, and 17.
Rather, it stemmed from Leonard’s ongoing disapproval of Penny’s decisions during their time together, as he failed to grasp her viewpoint. Even the gesture of buying Penny a car came only after Leonard urged her to take the role in Serial Ape-ist 2.
What Leonard’s Actions In Season 7 Discloses About Their Relationship ?
Leonard and Penny made several notable relationship blunders in The Big Bang Theory, often highlighted as their premature romance and the unexpected pregnancy twist in Season 12. Yet, it was Leonard’s self-centeredness that emerged as a significant flaw, leading to numerous conflicts between them.
This issue was particularly clear during Penny’s acting career storyline in Season 7, although it had been present in earlier seasons as well. Similar to how Leonard’s discovery of Penny enrolling in a history course became centered around his own feelings in Season 6, his primary concern regarding Penny’s career trajectory was its impact on him.
His humor and casual remarks revealed that Leonard was more focused on how her decisions would influence his life rather than genuinely caring about her aspirations. Sheldon’s reaction of unwavering support for Penny’s decision further highlighted the contrast.
In fact, even though he often disregarded matters outside his area of expertise, Sheldon acknowledged and commended Penny’s choice, recognizing that it reflected her commitment to pursuing her dream. This clearly indicated that Sheldon’s feelings for Penny were more genuine and less self-interested than those of Leonard.
Leonard’s tendency to prioritize his own feelings and fears is evident in Penny’s character development during Season 7, as well as in their Season 12 disputes regarding starting a family.
This highlights a significant issue in their relationship that The Big Bang Theory could have addressed following their engagement, yet chose not to, resulting in stagnation and ultimately leaving Penny in a more difficult position.