Penny may be the black sheep of the "Big Bang" crew, but on at least one occasion, she was
more of a big bully.
Actress Kaley Cuoco played Penny on "The Big Bang Theory" for 12 seasons. In a way, the
entire series is predicated on her entrance into the lives of the show's principal nerds,
and the various ways she lives up to and defies the blonde stereotypes that provide an early
source for the show's unique brand of humor.
"I'm a vegetarian, except for fish, and the occasional steak — I love steak."
"Oh, that's interesting."
Penny makes her debut in the pilot as the beautiful girl who moves in across the hall
from the brilliant but socially awkward Caltech scientists Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter.
Leonard immediately becomes infatuated with The Cheesecake Factory waitress and wannabe
actress. The tough Nebraska farm girl who prefers wine, shoes, and celebrity gossip
to video games and comic books embarks on a nine-year will-they-won't-they relationship
Sheldon, and their friends for being geeks and from her own ditzy and flirty behavior.
Penny and Leonard's unlikely romance is also the butt of countless jokes, reminding the
audience time and again that when opposites attract, wacky and weird hijinks ensue.
However, there are times when it's hard to ignore that Penny and Leonard are woefully
mismatched, infusing the sitcom with moments that can be hard to watch. In fact, Season
7, Episode 12, "The Hesitation Ramification," contains a scene in which fans agree that
Penny goes too far in her mistreatment of Leonard.
"Are you kidding me?"
In Season 7, Episode 12, "The Hesitation Ramification," Penny is cast on an episode of "NCIS." After
her scene is cut, a depressed and drunken Penny tells Leonard she's spent 10 years in
California and she has nothing to show for it. Leonard points out that she has him, and
Penny tells him he's right and proposes.
"Let's get married."
"What?"
When Leonard hesitates, Penny gets upset, takes back the proposal, and storms out of
Leonard's apartment. Leonard begins to question if he and Penny have a future together, and
it's obvious Leonard is heartbroken. Throughout the entire episode, Penny treats Leonard badly,
particularly when he does something she perceives as criticism or rejection.
Fans took to Reddit to discuss this episode and specific scene, and their comments do
not paint a flattering picture of Penny, with everyone firmly on "Team Leonard."
One user wrote,
"I believe Leonard did the right thing by saying no to Penny's drunken proposal. If
he did say yes to the proposal, I think he would feel like he would have been taking
advantage of her in her drunken state."
Another Redditor was particularly unkind in their assessment of Penny, writing,
"Penny is a legitimate alcoholic ... I don't remember an episode where she hasn't had a
drink. Is there one?"
Another user went in on Penny further, writing,
"Penny is selfish, rude and sometimes cruel to the man she's supposed to love. Leonard
doesn't seem to have any dignity left."
It's a pretty harsh take on our towheaded heroine — especially considering the delicate
state the episode finds her in. It's worth noting that Penny has just experienced a major
career disappointment, one that quite reasonably might make her a tad sensitive to any additional
rejection in her life.
Perhaps Penny's reaction to Leonard's hesitation to accept her proposal on "The Big Bang Theory"
would have generated more sympathy from viewers if fans didn't already have issues with their
relationship.
There is no shortage of Reddit chatter devoted to the topic of Penny and Leonard's partnership,
and why Penny is a terrible partner for Leonard. One Reddit thread simply titled "I hate Penny"
consists of ruthless takedowns of the character.
As one user put it,
"She constantly fights with Leonard and walks all over him."
Considering Penny's negative behavior after Leonard doesn't respond the way she wants
him to after she asks him to marry her, this opinion is not without merit. Penny attempts
to exploit Leonard to make herself feel better, while also taking advantage of his feelings
for her.
Leonard actually proposes to Penny long before she pops the question. He first asks her in
"The Big Bang Theory" Season 5, Episode 23, "The Launch Acceleration," and she responds
with frustration and anger, in part because of Leonard's poor timing.
"People say weird things during sex all the time!"
"Okay, well they sure as hell don't say that."
"It's the heat of the moment!"
"The heat of the moment is 'Oh, yeah, just like that,' not 'Will you marry me?'"
As you might be able to guess, she ultimately tells him no. As some disappointed fans interpret
it, in Penny's mind, rejection is only understandable or acceptable if she's the one saying no.
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