The Hate The Direction Of The Show Club

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

With Kurt she was in pretty deep. If he wasn't such a macho asshole towards the little nerdy people, she would still be with him.

are you forgetting the part where he cheated on her?

[Ar Diem]

As for Penny's friends at the football game episode disappearing - the producers probably don't like paying extras on the show budget! But I do take the point........IRL girls like Penny get a lot of attention wherever they go and are generally in a position to 'choose' their friends - whereas your average Nerd / unattractive girl, generally (not inevitably) spend time with a few friends or alone.

 

Not just IRL but in the show.  We know she gets attention but there is now no evidence of it.  It comes back to this... the addition of the 2 female cast members is hampering the show.  If they give Raj a permanent partner the show will be attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis,

 

[The Lash]

Not just IRL but in the show.  We know she gets attention but there is now no evidence of it.  It comes back to this... the addition of the 2 female cast members is hampering the show.  If they give Raj a permanent partner the show will be attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis,

 

Do you mean the show will be coitused?

[Anomaly]

Definitely sign me up for any & all Hate the Direction of the Show Clubs that exist in this or any other past, present or future realities or dimensions.

[Pomita]

I never totally understood why Penny was friends with Amy and Bernadette

anyway. There is no reason she would be. She's so different to them and

sometimes it seems weird that she's always hanging with them.

 

For the same reason as she's friends with Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard?

 

Because she's comfortable around nerdy people now, after her years of experience with them?

 

Because they're better friends than the Whore of Omaha or the collection of people in the Halloween party who didn't even seem to care when Kurt was bullying Leonard and Sheldon, which shows they were just casual acquaintances?

 

Because it's natural to hang out with partners of your friends, provided you get along?

 

Because she probably does have a few other friends, but the show doesn't feel the need to show that because it's not relevant to the storylines? Just as we hardly ever get to see the several work-related contacts and interactions these people must be having at their jobs, and just as we hardly ever saw Penny having any other acquaintances even in earlier seasons, except in a couple of episodes where it was needed as a plot device.

 

 

Honestly, I'm not surprised there's a hate thread. That's a lot of built-up angst you guys have, and I'm actually glad you're discussing it quietly in your own thread instead of venting it on us all over the forum.  What surprises me is that the first 'hate issue' coming up here is that of Penny's outside friendships, which really seems like a non-issue to me. I would have thought that 'oh, they have ruined Sheldon' and 'Amy is so hateful' would be the first and foremost topics to be raised here, seeing that those seem to be the most 'popular' cribs. 

[Moonbase]

For the same reason as she's friends with Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard?

 

Because she's comfortable around nerdy people now, after her years of experience with them?

 

Because they're better friends than the Whore of Omaha or the collection of people in the Halloween party who didn't even seem to care when Kurt was bullying Leonard and Sheldon, which shows they were just casual acquaintances?

 

Because it's natural to hang out with partners of your friends, provided you get along?

 

Because she probably does have a few other friends, but the show doesn't feel the need to show that because it's not relevant to the storylines? Just as we hardly ever get to see the several work-related contacts and interactions these people must be having at their jobs, and just as we hardly ever saw Penny having any other acquaintances even in earlier seasons, except in a couple of episodes where it was needed as a plot device.

 

 

Honestly, I'm not surprised there's a hate thread. That's a lot of built-up angst you guys have, and I'm actually glad you're discussing it quietly in your own thread instead of venting it on us all over the forum.  What surprises me is that the first 'hate issue' coming up here is that of Penny's outside friendships, which really seems like a non-issue to me. I would have thought that 'oh, they have ruined Sheldon' and 'Amy is so hateful' would be the first and foremost topics to be raised here, seeing that those seem to be the most 'popular' cribs. 

 

 

Yeah us guys will just stay here then because we're such a darn nuisance.

The writers have a limited palette, so I understand that in order to bring Bernadette and Amy in, they have had to make them friends with Penny but it's an uncomfortable fit at times. I don't get why not a single girl will admit this. You can say things are not always perfect, the sky won't drop on you. Prady won't come round and take back your DVDs.

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

I don't agree. People are not always friends with people exactly like them, especially later in life. Also, is not like Penny is not friends with the guys too. Like Pom say, if you're gonna question her friendship with Amy & Bernadette, then you should be questioning her friendship with the guys too, because the premise is the same "why is she friends with them, if they're so different?".

Edited January 24, 2013 by Sursonica

[Pomita]

 The writers have a limited palette, so I understand that in order to bring Bernadette and Amy in, they have had to make them friends with

Penny but it's an uncomfortable fit at times. I don't get why not a single girl will admit this. You can say things are not always perfect,

the sky won't drop on you. Prady won't come round and take back your DVDs.

 

I won't admit it because I don't feel it. Of course things are not always perfect, but the Penny/Amy/Bernadette interactions are very often some of my favorite scenes on the show. You asked for arguments as to why they're friends, and I gave some (I see that none of you even bothered to reply to my points). I have no idea why you're trying to put words in my mouth and try to make me say something I don't agree with, getting snarky and attacking me personally if I don't. 

 

In the OP, it was written that you wanted some factual answers from those who like the show. Clearly you don't, you just want to attack anyone who disagrees with you in this thread. That's fine, but please change the OP and clarify that only those who dislike the show are allowed in this thread. No-one has any issues with that.

 

Kind of like you gals swooning and "awwwwwwing" over Shamy all over the forum? Sauce for the goose.

 

You will notice that we mostly restrict the swooning to the Shamy thread. That's why it was created.

 

I'm out of here.

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

Yeah us guys will just stay here then because we're such a darn nuisance.

The writers have a limited palette, so I understand that in order to bring Bernadette and Amy in, they have had to make them friends with Penny but it's an uncomfortable fit at times. I don't get why not a single girl will admit this. You can say things are not always perfect, the sky won't drop on you. Prady won't come round and take back your DVDs.

 

Why would I say that when is not true? Things are not perfect, at all, I'm one of the ones who is always annoyed with LP and Raj's situation of the show. But the girls friendship IS one of my favorite aspects of the show. It's really refreshing to me to see female friendship FINALLY portrayed in a positive manner where they really do care for each other despite their obvious differences and not as a group of bitches betraying each other over some men or speaking crap of the other behind their backs which is how it is always shown on TV. I'm sorry you find it "uncomfortable" but that's your perception and not everybody's.

[Ar Diem]

For the same reason as she's friends with Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard?

 

I would not classify her friendship with Sheldon, Raj, or Howard as close friends though.  Other than a few moments here and there I have always gotten the sense she tolerates them more than anything. 

 

She is friends with the two girls because they exist.  If they weren't all friends it would be harder to give them all screen time.  If they weren't around she would still have some of her other friends and more of her original identity.

[Europa]

I would not classify her friendship with Sheldon, Raj, or Howard as close friends though.  Other than a few moments here and there I have always gotten the sense she tolerates them more than anything. 

 

She is friends with the two girls because they exist.  If they weren't all friends it would be harder to give them all screen time.  If they weren't around she would still have some of her other friends and more of her original identity.

I don't know... she was quick to go to the hospital when Howard's mom was there, and guilted Sheldon into going too.  Called Howard her friend and everything.

 

You make a fair point except for one thing... who else has she ever been "close friends" with on the show? I can't think of anyone who appeared for more than a few seconds. Haven't heard her mention anyone.  As you say, it's the nature of the show and giving everyone screen time, but I would argue that she hasn't experiened any character-growth-stunting because of the addition of Amy and Bernie as her friends, since before she knew them we practically never see her being friends with anyone else.

[Pomita]

And in the discussion of every single episode that has any Shamy in it.

 

Of course if we review an episode, it's going to include what we like about it, which for many of us often includes the Shamy vignettes. That's valid in the episode threads, just as criticizing a particular episode or having issues with certain aspects of it is valid. Any extensive analyses of the relationship (or what you can 'squealing') happens mostly in the earmarked thread. 

 

 If they weren't around she would still have some of her other friends and more of her original identity.

 

Do you really think the depiction of her original identity on the show ever included outside friendships? I can't remember a single instance, in the first three seasons, where we saw her sharing confidences or even good times with other steady female friends. We've hardly even seen any other friends, except for a couple of parties (where she never talked to anyone else) and one time when she went out for a dance. 

 

Also, the whole idea is that her original identity has evolved, too, just as the guys' has, through the mutual interactions of their worlds over so many years. That's basically the 'big bang' in the title.

[phantagrae]

I would not classify her friendship with Sheldon, Raj, or Howard as close friends though.  Other than a few moments here and there I have always gotten the sense she tolerates them more than anything. 

 

She is friends with the two girls because they exist.  If they weren't all friends it would be harder to give them all screen time.  If they weren't around she would still have some of her other friends and more of her original identity.

 

I think she became friends with Amy the same way she became friends with the guys. Amy was there, Penny's a friendly person.  She was obviously friends with Bernie from work.  Even if they weren't close friends, they obviously knew each other.  Once Bernie and Howard hit it off, Penny had more reason to become better friends with Bernadette.

With Amy, once Amy became more integrated into the group, hanging out with Sheldon or whatever, she kind of began to fixate on Penny, especially once Penny began to befriend her.  Amy quickly glommed onto the idea that she and Penny would become best friends, apparently because Amy didn't really have any friends or a social life outside of her friendship with Sheldon, which led to her getting to know Penny.

In the same way that Penny was kind to the two strange young men that lived across the hall from her and their two even geekier friends, she was kind to Amy.

 

That the three of them have become closer and better friends is a very natural progression, even if they don't have every single thing in life in common.  They talk about girl stuff, they talk about the guys they talk about whatever is going on in their lives.  That's how you become friends--you share.

[Ar Diem]

I don't know... she was quick to go to the hospital when Howard's mom was there, and guilted Sheldon into going too.  Called Howard her friend and everything.

 

You make a fair point except for one thing... who else has she ever been "close friends" with on the show? I can't think of anyone who appeared for more than a few seconds. Haven't heard her mention anyone.  As you say, it's the nature of the show and giving everyone screen time, but I would argue that she hasn't experiened any character-growth-stunting because of the addition of Amy and Bernie as her friends, since before she knew them we practically never see her being friends with anyone else.

 

 

In the past I feel like they did enough to allow us to assume she had a very active social life which we would assume included some close friends.  It is just like we can go many episodes without seeing her briefly at work but we assume she works 8 hour shifts on a regular basis.

 

We now have a new deal of her coming and going to various activities with only Bernie and Amy.  They are in her apartment so much they should probably help with the rent.  I could try and assume she still has other friends but it feels like I am supposed to believe it is just the two now.

[Moonbase]

I won't admit it because I don't feel it. Of course things are not always perfect, but the Penny/Amy/Bernadette interactions are very often some of my favorite scenes on the show. You asked for arguments as to why they're friends, and I gave some (I see that none of you even bothered to reply to my points). I have no idea why you're trying to put words in my mouth and try to make me say something I don't agree with, getting snarky and attacking me personally if I don't. 

 

Hey all I said was it is an uncomfortable fit at times the rest of it was meant as lighthearted. Sorry I honestly wasn't attacking.

 

The writers have to keep the group tight. This is the real reason it's been done. Penny isn't really friends with Leonards nerdy mates, her connnection is with him and they just come with the package. Amy and Bernadette are different, she's choosing to be friends with them. Its not like I don't like any of the girls scenes because I do. An episode where Penny realises her previous friends were not as good for her, as Amy and Bernadette might answer this.

[BBT23]

Dear Shippers and love TBBT the way it is nowers.  If anything you read here is factually wrong please jump in and correct.  If you can answer a question factually please do.  We would rather not debate opinions with you though.  Thanks.

 

Ok.  So we don't hate everything because we are still watching but I have seen enough posts that many people agree with me that the show is not the same quality as it was in the beginning.

 

To get things going...

 

Remember when Penny had an apartment full of friends to watch the football game?  What happened there?  Where did all of her friends go?  I hate that by adding 2 more female characters Penny has to limited to them now.  I don't care how you slice it, losing an apartment full of friends is not character growth.  While I would agree that you do lose friends to marriage and kids as you get older you don't lose them all.

 

I hate the boys in one apartment and the girls in the other routine.  Is that a Friends thing?  I never watched that show.  To me it is like an old fashioned gender separation where the men retire to the den after dinner to have a brandy and the ladies to the drawing room for tea.

ratings show the show's doing just fine

[viddy9]

'The Hate The Direction of the Show Club'. Well, I suppose I'm partially in that club, though I think Season 6 has been a lot better than Season 5. First of all, Season 5 and 6 Amy is completely different from Season 4 Amy, which I dislike a lot. I think that she could have still kept a level head while being friends with Penny. I don't mind the friendship at all between Penny, Amy and Bernadette, though I do think that we should see the whole group together. I don't think they should split the genders up at all. My reason for saying this is because I think the male characters and the female characters have a lot to talk about. Just look at the first four seasons - Penny was always having dinner with Sheldon, Raj, Leonard and Howard. And then look at Bernadette - she had a lot in common with Leonard and everyone else for that matter when it came to science. And Amy has a lot in common with Sheldon. So I don't know why they segregate them.

 

They've definitely changed Sheldon, coming to the 'famous' point. He's a bit better in Season 6 than he was in Season 5, but he's definitely changed for the worse.

 

I don't know why there's been so much tension in this forum. There must be some reason that people who 'hate the direction of the show' still watch it, so I don't know why people who like the direction of the show are telling them to stop watching it. Furthermore, if people who like the direction of the show dislike what they see here, then they should stop coming into this forum, perhaps, if we're drawing parallels. It's a forum after all, people are free to voice their opinions.

[netmouse]

I don't know why there's been so much tension in this forum. There must be some reason that people who 'hate the direction of the show' still watch it,

The same question has been asked numerous times in the past, viddy, trust me.

[Pomita]

 Furthermore, if people who like the direction of the show dislike what they see here, then they should stop coming into this forum, perhaps

 

Honestly, I wouldn't have ventured into this thread but for the fact that the first line of the first post began by addressing the 'dear shippers and love-the-show-the-way-it-is-now-ers', i.e. us.

 

Moonbase - ok, cool.

[Shel_Ra_Ho_Le]

Let me be clear I am NOT in the Hate The Direction Club but I will express my opinion on the matter.  So OP dont take people visiting/posting in here as a 'Hate' member.  Just saying..

 

Ok, now continue onto your badgering.

Edited January 26, 2013 by Shel_Ra_Ho_Le

[Kutra]

Thing is...it's a TV situation comedy!

 

In 'real life' there is no way a girl like Penny would even tolerate guys and girls like Leonard / Amy and Co. She would probably acknowledge them in the hallway, but invite them into her aprtment and subsequently her life? Not a chance.

 

But the premise of the show is girl meets Nerds and the juxtaposition is the joke. (Remember Will & Grace? Gay guy / straight girl romance?)

 

As for Penny's friends at the football game episode disappearing - the producers probably don't like paying extras on the show budget! But I do take the point........IRL girls like Penny get a lot of attention wherever they go and are generally in a position to 'choose' their friends - whereas your average Nerd / unattractive girl, generally (not inevitably) spend time with a few friends or alone.

 

But apply that. and you have no show!

 

When they are young and hot.Eventually they end up in a trailor as they grow old and the hotness diaapears

 

.The nerds will still have their education and career.

[tbbt73]

I'm sorry Ar Diem but I totally disagree with you. I think they added Bernadette and Penny to make Penny fit in more with the guys and I love that. And the episode with Penny's friends was only one episode. The guys were Penny's friends from the start.

[Ar Diem]

Honestly, I wouldn't have ventured into this thread but for the fact that the first line of the first post began by addressing the 'dear shippers and love-the-show-the-way-it-is-now-ers', i.e. us.

 

Moonbase - ok, cool.

 

Interesting that you stop the quote there instead of after the part where I asked for self-restraint in debating our opinions which happens everywhere else.  I was hoping to move on through a few more subjects by now but I guess that is too much to ask. 

 

I see I have the power to delete this thread.  I probably should.

[Pomita]

Interesting that you stop the quote there instead of after the part where I asked for self-restraint in debating our opinions which happens everywhere else.  I was hoping to move on through a few more subjects by now but I guess that is too much to ask. 

 

I see I have the power to delete this thread.  I probably should.

 

I quoted what was needed to show that this thread had apparently welcomed factual comments from us. I don't remember being 'unrestrained', whatever that means. You asked why Penny is friends with Amy and Bernadette now, and some of us tried to reply.

 

That's your choice. My suggestion is that you should have a thread exclusively for the HTDOTS Club (I mean this sincerely).

[Nogravitasatall]

I respect your right to free expression and only regret that you chose that label. Hate oppression, have strong feelings about light entertainment, maybe.

But just my view. Sail on, Captain.