Spoilers Leonard And Penny Season 7 *spoiler* Discussion Thread

[Guest]

Penny's birthday is most likely November 30 (Kaley's birthday). Its the other choice that fulfills the astrology number calculation from season 1 that numbers of the month and date added together equal 5.

 

Wikipedia says December 2, but okay.

[terriblewaitress]

I don't think the fling thing is necessarily true if you consider Zack must of happen after they broke up.

The first time a fling was ineffective of removing her feelings for another guy 

 

 I know this becoming Mrs Johnson was no betrayal, she was just confused/drunk/incompetent and she knew it and she fixed as soon as she could.

She didn't even become Mrs Johnson. She just stayed Miss Penny Whatevertheeffherlastnameis, if she never changed her name she never even was Penny Johnson. 

[hamerman55]

It's definitely all in her head. And believe it or not there is no doubt in my mind that Sheldon will be the one to convince her.

It would be cool, as some have mentioned, if we had a similar episode to "The Recombination Hypothesis" inside Penny's head. They were able to trick us as the show tends to be told through Leonard viewpoint, but they could do something very different with Penny. How does she see the relationship? Further, having Sheldon talk to her about her relationship with Leonard would be a nice continuation of the "tlaking to" he gave her when she was thinking of breaking up with Leonard. We know he cares for both Leonard and Penny, so having them stable would fit into his concept of homeostasis.

[hamerman55]

A random thought. Both Penny and Leonard have similar full names. Penny's real first name is Penelope, from season two (Penny is also the nickname from Penelope). Leonard should be called Lenny, especially being from NJ. If he were "cool", that's what he would be known by, but his uptight family successfully resisted the nickname. If Penny had been raised by the Hofstadters, she would be Penelope. I suspect that Beverly used all her psychological skills in controlling and molding Leonard into her idea of a proper child, in spite of herself. I'm sure she didn't just let Leonard develop naturally, as should be done by a pure observational scientist. She is part of the experiment, and will affect it. As Leonard noted, naming him Leonard (and insisting on him being called that is the subtext) and putting him in AP claases wasn't getting him beat up enough. He had to take cello lessons too. Given how smart he is, the latter two are things he surely enjoyed, but are not good ways to be cool. Carrying a briefcase to school for books wouldn't either (nor would carrying books, for that matter).

I wonder if part of the reason Penny is drawn to Leonard is that, being pretty smart herself, she would have liked some of the opportunities Leonard had. Properly nutured, she might have enjoyed AP classes and violin lessons (although given her most notable interest, she may have been more of a clarinet enthusiast). Both Leonard and Penny seemed to be compliant with their folks, as growing up on a farm would mean that excelling at junior rodeo would be highly approved. Not the sort of upbringing and skills that would appeal in the long run to girl that might find more intellectual pursuits interesting. I like the implication from the book episode that Penny and Leonard do things they both like, as in both going to lectures and documentaries, and sports bars to watch football.

Edited November 10, 2013 by hamerman55

[djsurrey]

A random thought. Both Penny and Leonard have similar full names. Penny's real first name is Penelope, from season two (Penny is also the nickname from Penelope). Leonard should be called Lenny, especially being from NJ. If he were "cool", that's what he would be known by, but his uptight family successfully resisted the nickname. If Penny had been raised by the Hofstadters, she would be Penelope. I suspect that Beverly used all her psychological skills in controlling and molding Leonard into her idea of a proper child, in spite of herself. I'm sure she didn't just let Leonard develop naturally, as should be done by a pure observational scientist. She is part of the experiment, and will affect it. As Leonard noted, naming him Leonard (and insisting on him being called that is the subtext) and putting him in AP claases wasn't getting him beat up enough. He had to take cello lessons too. Given how smart he is, the latter two are things he surely enjoyed, but are not good ways to be cool. Carrying a briefcase to school for books wouldn't either (nor would carrying books, for that matter).

I wonder if part of the reason Penny is drawn to Leonard is that, being pretty smart herself, she would have liked some of the opportunities Leoanrd had. Properly nutured, she might have enjoyed AP classes and violin lessons (although given her most notable interest, she may have been more of a clarinet enthusiast). Both Leonard and Penny seemed to be compliant with their folks, as growing up on a farm would mean that excelling ar junior rodeo would be highly approved. Not the sort of upbringing and skills that would appeal in the long run to girl that might find more intellectual pursuits interesting. I like the implication from the book episode that Penny and Leonard do things they both like, as in both going to lectures and documentaries, and sports bars to watch football.

 

The part about Penny seems to be quite a stretch to me. As it turns out her Dad may have treated her like a boy but that is not some general truth about girls growing up on a ranch. Nor did I ever get the impression that Penny was generally a complaint child. There was the "not pregnant" scene in s3e22 and her lying to her Dad about her relationship with Leonard.s4e9.

 

 

I think Penny likes Leonard because generally he is a nice, caring guy and most of the guys she has know have not been. Leonard is not the kind of guy Penny was historically drawn to at all.

[Tensor]

Nor did I ever get the impression that Penny was generally a complaint child. There was the "not pregnant" scene in s3e22 and her lying to her Dad about her relationship with Leonard.s4e9.

 

Don't forget her potpourri.

[I.Am.Molly]

Okay, so, what i think might be cool right now is to focus on some of the positives that have come out of this season, since IMO, for us Lenny's it is one of the best yet. I think some of you might be getting a little hung up on what you see as bad things happening with them through overthinking every single thing and situation. The bottom line is, these two are doing brilliantly this season. We have had small fights, such as in The Scavenger Vortex and what's going to come up in the Thanksgiving episode, but so far, nothing detremental has happened. The writers are painting a pretty good picture of two people who love each other and are going through natural stages in relationships, it cant be all happy and fluffy all the time! The point to focus on is that no fight is lasting past the one episode. Even in the thanksgiving one they are shown to have made up by the end of it.

 

Penny's growth has been the one thing i think has been repeatedly shown through this season so i honestly dont get why she still recieves so much crap on here. I mean from the very first episode we have her openly talking about how much she is missing Leonard, this from the girl who refused to admit at the end of season two why she had given him that really long hug and that snuggie. The same girl that would only talk about how much she regretted breaking up with him when she was drunk. Penny doesn't talk about this kind of stuff, yet from the outset we have her visibly upset over not having him around and talking about it.

 

The Deception Verification was great for us too, having Leonard come home early especially for Penny and having her so fricken excited about seeing him was adorable. It just shows how much of a sweetheart Leonard is really, even if being 'romantic' wasnt all that fuelled that early homecoming.

 

The Scavenger Vortex didnt have much for us, but the fact that they were able to have a bit of an argument without it turning into something huge was a pretty big deal for them.

 

Ahh, now episode four; The Raiders Minimization.  Yup, this one. <33

Still one of my favourites of the whole season so far. I loved seeing that natural shift in behaviour from Penny, from finding Leonards mothers book and good naturedly ribbing him (as, IMO, anyone close to you would) about it, to having that moment where she realised he was still genuinely upset about his childhood and doing anything in her power to make him feel better, showed great growth from her. She knew when to stop teasing him and in the end her efforts to make him feel better became manipulated. Not that we can blame him, he enjoyed the attention and wanted to milk it a bit, i think most of us in our life have done that at one point or another. But despite their fight, by the next episode they were snuggling on the couch together, watching as their friends around them had the lovers spats that they would usually have. They fought and forgave, big smiles all around.

And her hands are under the blanket. IM JUST SAYING!

 

Episode six. adgklajrlorkjndlkjgak;djlfgn;laerng. EPISODE SIX! This episode was brilliant in giving some sort of an insight into their relationship off screen. The trip to the bed and breakfast (I wonder what happened there....), the rose that Leonard put on her windscreen 'just because', the pregnancy test that Penny took that Leonard didnt know about but was obviously significant enough to her to keep a hold of, the fact that Leonard managed to write an eleven page letter to her saying thank you for sleeping with him the first time. This episode showed that despite the fights we often see between them on the show, that in between those fights they are a happy couple, as well as showing us that Penny never let go of Leonard. She could have thrown away that letter after they broke up, as well as the pregnancy test that im just gonna assume was taken during season three. But she never, she kept them all there in her closet, because it's him 

 

 

Adorable. Oh and lets not forget that for the most part of the episode she was trying to be romantic for him, and trying to show him just how much she loved him, like he always manages to effortlessly show her. She didn't quite manage it the way she hoped, but she tried and obviously put a lot of thought into picking out that book. So, she may have missed the fact that he had already bought it for himself. Maybe she was just so excited about the fact that she had thought of a gift that she completely forgot, or maybe she was just half asleep in that used book store, thinking of shoes and clothes while he was buying it, i know i would be! In the end it was the fact that she had messed up her original idea that led her to show him that box, which proved to be the most romantic thing she could have done, and that was evident in Leonards reaction to it. But the point to remember in this episode is that Penny was willing to step it up a gear, she was ready to push herself out of her comfort zone to show him she cared about him, if thats not growth on Pennys part i dont know what is.

 

The Proton Displacement didnt have much in the way of lenny, unless you include the fact that in one of the last scenes she was seen walking out from his room, wonder what they were doing. hehe. The same goes for the itchy brain episode but i think the fact that Penny at one point is 'obviously wanting to make out' is pretty cool. She is still hot for this man, even when he is wearing a silly jumper!

 

The point im making is that in all of these episodes, whether they have started out good and ended bad or started bad and ended good, they have all shown just how far these two have come in dealing with problems, so why should we expect any less from the thanksgiving one? We find out Penny made a stupid mistake during a wild drunken night in Vegas, while she was seperated from Leonard, and the episode takes us through them bickering over it (like any couple would) and ending up with them holding hands and Penny telling him the next time she gets married it will be for love. She knows she made a mistake, but is highlighting the fact that she is no longer that silly girl she once was in her early twenties. She's growing up, and knows now that marriage is no joke and that she only wants to be married to someone she loves. Or someone who is rich We have no idea what is going to happen in the episode after that one, but im sure, just as it has all season, it will be forgotten about.

 

There really are so many positives to focus on this season, i dont see why we continue to fixate on the negatives. The writers aren't showing us a couple on the rocks, they are showing us a couple adjusting to dealing with a real relationship, one that neither of them have really been in before. And lets not forget, they are fricken adorable!! I did plan on adding more gifs and stuff to this post but it was taking forever so I gave up! I think i made my point anyway

 

Come on guys.

Edited November 10, 2013 by I.Am.Molly

[hamerman55]

The part about Penny seems to be quite a stretch to me. As it turns out her Dad may have treated her like a boy but that is not some general truth about girls growing up on a ranch. Nor did I ever get the impression that Penny was generally a complaint child. There was the "not pregnant" scene in s3e22 and her lying to her Dad about her relationship with Leonard.s4e9.

 

 

I think Penny likes Leonard because generally he is a nice, caring guy and most of the guys she has know have not been. Leonard is not the kind of guy Penny was historically drawn to at all.

I was thinking about younger Penny. Where they diverged was in their teenage years. Being a cowgirl is ok in western areas, especially if you are pretty and like sex. Leonard got zero points for being short, physically light and really smart. All three disqualify you in our society. He was picked on and bullied. I'm Penny had legions of defenders if needed, to te point where she was a bully. Zack is nice and kind, strong, but dumb as a box of rocks. If all Penny was looking for was nice and kind, Zack qualifies. I think Penny big turn on is the brains with the nice and kind. The Halloween episode last fall pointed that out.

It is sort of funny that Leonard thought he needed to trick Penny into sex, when it seems he can get if quite honestly and at will by showing Penny cool science (not that she was ever hard to convince anyway).

[Guest]

Okay, so, what i think might be cool right now is to focus on some of the positives that have come out of this season..............

 

Theres nothing more to say.

[DaisyJane]

From the little we know about Penny's family, we've heard she has a mom who smoked pot while she was pregnant with her, a sister who shot her husband, and a Walter White brother. So she really wasn't rebellious, as it sounds like she had few positive examples in the first place. Rather than defiant, I'd say she's someone who was bored out of her mind. If she had a upbringing more like Leonard's, I think she has the same potential as he did, but lacked the incentive to reach it until now. 

Edited November 10, 2013 by DaisyJane

[Nogravitasatall]

The first time a fling was ineffective of removing her feelings for another guy 

 

She didn't even become Mrs Johnson. She just stayed Miss Penny Whatevertheeffherlastnameis, if she never changed her name she never even was Penny Johnson.

"Notionally"... I understand it was "notionally" Mrs . And she'd be mortified. It's just as Molly said and we all know, they are having a good run now and this was a big speed bump and she fixed it and it's funny. I'm liking all this good stuff and I greedily want more of it. My initial reaction, however was, Leonard doesn't get to be her first husband and that's sad. Because in my head that was one of the things he could say only he had. At some point in the future he could look back and say to himself, "wow! What a ride. But now we have this unique thing." He can still say that, but it has a little qualification attached.

So I care too much. Sorry.

[DaisyJane]

No little qualifications needed, I still see Leonard as being Penny's first and only husband. Once the annulment happens, the law won't consider as having been married the last four years anymore than Penny did. Counting this as Penny being previously married would be like considering me married to my childhood friend because of the big princess ceremony I had when we were seven. The marriage was never valid in the first place, hence why they're getting it annulled rather than divorcing. I felt the same way you did when I first read it, but I've rationalized it and now I doubt they'll even need to bring it up again when recalling their life together. The problem was realized and settled within twenty-four hours. 

Edited November 10, 2013 by DaisyJane

[Nogravitasatall]

No little qualifications needed, I still see Leonard as being Penny's first and only husband. Once the annulment happens, the law won't consider as having been married the last four years anymore than Penny did. Counting this as Penny being previously married would be like considering me married to my childhood friend because of the big princess ceremony I had when we were seven. The marriage was never valid in the first place, hence why they're getting it annulled rather than divorcing. I felt the same way you did when I first read it, but I've rationalized it and now I doubt they'll even need to bring it up again when recalling their life together. The problem was realized and settled within twenty-four hours.

All true. R u expecting me to be reasonable? Heheheh I think Im recovered now. And we sort of knew Penny isn't a " read the labels " kind of person. That resonates too. Onwards to next pot hole, with much fun in the car between jolts.

[djsurrey]

From the little we know about Penny's family, we've heard she has a mom who smoked pot while she was pregnant with her, a sister who shot her husband, and a Walter White brother. So she really wasn't rebellious, as it sounds like she had few positive examples in the first place. Rather than defiant, I'd say she's someone who was bored out of her mind. If she had a upbringing more like Leonard's, I think she has the same potential as he did, but lacked the incentive to reach it until now. 

 

Interesting point. I'm not sure how her Dad, who we actually got to see in s4, fits that history.

[Tensor]

Interesting point. I'm not sure how her Dad, who we actually got to see in s4, fits that history.

How he is now, does not necessarily mean he and his wife were good parents then. He would have pretty much had to have know his wife was smoking pot while pregnant, (Hmmmmmm, he's a farmer, right? ). Maybe Penny started when she found her parents stash. With a family history like that, Penny seems to have come out of it relatively unscathed. And maybe that is his motivation. Penny's relatively normal, compared to the rest of the family, and Leonard is the best shot any of his kids has.

[3ku11]

Were not really considering the idea just because Penny does not put effort into her relationship, that automatically means she possibly doesent love Leonard? Know one here was definate about that, but some people are suggesting it. Like people have said its a 21 minute show they just cannot possibily fit in every story to suit everyones personal preferances. I am too getting sick of this never ending joke about Penny rejecting Leonards proposals, lets be honest has Leonard ever proposed to Penny in a serious way? He did it in the S5 finalie while they were in bed, come on give Penny some credit, she has always had intimacy issues and been a work in progress, it took her six years to tell Leonard she loves him, so I dont know why everyone is so surprised she still has insecurities with her relationship with Leonard. We saw them last season with Alex, I feel Penny even though she is generally very very happy in he relationship with Leonard, but she came to Pasadena to be a big movie star, it obviousley diddnt work out so I think she has some failures in career. Although she is studying psychology to find a new passion, she originally wanted to be an actress so it must still hurt it hasent worked out. Looking at all her other relationships the guys she dated gym types, although seemed great when it started out, but they always ended up mistreating her. I remember in S3 Pennys response to Leonards ILY, was that she had said it too soon so many times, and it diddnt work out well. People seem to think from the moment they meet Penny had to suffocate Leonard, or tell Leonard she loves him every single day, and anything short of that is not good enough lol.

 

Up to Leonard most of Pennys relationships were physical, she never had to work on those relationships because they werent those type of relationships, that and like I said either the guys mistreated her or things got too intense. I also think Penny has been used to very dramatic relationships, a lot of shouting matches, a lot of drama. She even admitted this last year, she was almost bored this was till Bernadette told her to make more of an effort, what you put into a relationship is what you get out of. TBH though post season 2 you could tell the beginning of Penny getting sick of the same old relationships, Zac really is a representation of her past relationships and who she was but not who she is now, when you really think about it, this whole thing has showed how far Penny has grown. Back in S3 if this arised, Leonard would either push too much or not enough, and Penny would "hulk" out and slam the door in Leonards face, but in the end; Penny: Next time I get married it well be for love, or money Leonard: I'm sorry too. Leonard no longer pushing it just letting things be, to be honest I have said this before Lenny are so good right now, I beleive the writers are causing perceived issues in their relationship, as a plot device to drag the engagement out.

 

I think when Penny was younger like 21 her ideals and values when it came to her friends and guys she dated, were very shallow and superficial, looking at Amy and Bernadette, you could argue the friends she had more in common with socially, werent really her real friends. She also dated tall guys with big muscles haha because she was blinded by wanting to find this guy who would look after her, but she found out those guys mistreated her. With time comes experience and Pennys ideals, values, and self actulization has been deconstructed, she is no longer looking for a certain type, Leonard intellectually challenges her like no guy has ever done, it is her best relationship, Leonard is potentially the love of her life. But she is not perfect she has flaws, she is now repenting for the serious mistakes that she has made in her life, but thats the thing people say Leonard only loves Penny for her looks, I dont think anyone can say that about him now, he clearly loves Penny all of her. I have never thought it was justified to have a go at Penny for her rejection of Leonards proposals, what proposal he has been serious about it, it has always been in the spur of the moment he is as bad as Penny in that regard. I Think Penny since Season 5 has put a lot of effort into her relationship with Leonard, but this just proves Lenny are still a way off an engagement, I would just like an episode where Leonard sits Penny down and tells her I love you when your looking your best with a dress, and I love you when your in sweats lol. 

Edited November 10, 2013 by 3ku11

[Chrismo]

"Notionally"... I understand it was "notionally" Mrs . And she'd be mortified. It's just as Molly said and we all know, they are having a good run now and this was a big speed bump and she fixed it and it's funny. I'm liking all this good stuff and I greedily want more of it. My initial reaction, however was, Leonard doesn't get to be her first husband and that's sad. Because in my head that was one of the things he could say only he had. At some point in the future he could look back and say to himself, "wow! What a ride. But now we have this unique thing." He can still say that, but it has a little qualification attached.

So I care too much. Sorry.

 

No little qualifications needed, I still see Leonard as being Penny's first and only husband. Once the annulment happens, the law won't consider as having been married the last four years anymore than Penny did. Counting this as Penny being previously married would be like considering me married to my childhood friend because of the big princess ceremony I had when we were seven. The marriage was never valid in the first place, hence why they're getting it annulled rather than divorcing. I felt the same way you did when I first read it, but I've rationalized it and now I doubt they'll even need to bring it up again when recalling their life together. The problem was realized and settled within twenty-four hours. 

I know I mentioned this before but again my feeling is that the wedding was never official. Reason 1-  We went from finding out Penny was "married", Amy looking up how to get annulment, Leonard printing out the annulment, Penny calling Zack, and Zack coming over to sign the  annulment all within a matter of hours (actually before Thanksgiving dinner). Reason 2- What proof is there? I'm no expert but there must be a marriage license. As Penny seems to hang on to a lot of things I would think she would have it. Why didn't she go check when they were at L/S apartment before leaving for the party? The whole situation has more questions than has answers. The easiest way IMO to solve all this is to say it never happened that it was fake. There would be no record of a marriage.Then Penny and Leonard would be each others first spouse.

[Occam's Chainsaw]

From the little we know about Penny's family, we've heard she has a mom who smoked pot while she was pregnant with her, a sister who shot her husband, and a Walter White brother. So she really wasn't rebellious, as it sounds like she had few positive examples in the first place. Rather than defiant, I'd say she's someone who was bored out of her mind. If she had a upbringing more like Leonard's, I think she has the same potential as he did, but lacked the incentive to reach it until now. 

Penny's brother is probably more Jessie Pinkman than Walter White, but other than that I agree with your assessment.

 

How he is now, does not necessarily mean he and his wife were good parents then. He would have pretty much had to have know his wife was smoking pot while pregnant, (Hmmmmmm, he's a farmer, right? ). Maybe Penny started when she found her parents stash. With a family history like that, Penny seems to have come out of it relatively unscathed. And maybe that is his motivation. Penny's relatively normal, compared to the rest of the family, and Leonard is the best shot any of his kids has.

I don't think Wyatt was a bad father even back when Penny was growing up, clearly her other siblings got into some serious trouble, but as far as we know Penny was never into anything that bad. Add in that she was the middle child and she probably didn't get all that much attention because her parents had to deal with her brother and sister, so what trouble she did get in was more through a lack of guidance. This also explains why in S2 when Penny talks to Beverly it seems like her father wanted her to be a boy, the only way to get him to spend time on her was by doing something he would want to be involved in anyways, like Junior Rodeo or football. He never was disappointed in Penny for not being a boy, she just saw it that way since the only positive attention she got from him  was from doing guy things.

[3ku11]

Penny's brother is probably more Jessie Pinkman than Walter White, but other than that I agree with your assessment.

 

I don't think Wyatt was a bad father even back when Penny was growing up, clearly her other siblings got into some serious trouble, but as far as we know Penny was never into anything that bad. Add in that she was the middle child and she probably didn't get all that much attention because her parents had to deal with her brother and sister, so what trouble she did get in was more through a lack of guidance. This also explains why in S2 when Penny talks to Beverly it seems like her father wanted her to be a boy, the only way to get him to spend time on her was by doing something he would want to be involved in anyways, like Junior Rodeo or football. He never was disappointed in Penny for not being a boy, she just saw it that way since the only positive attention she got from him  was from doing guy things.

We saw that in S4 when he came to visit, he revealed that Penny dated a lot of loosers. You even saw Penny with those guys, she is way more affectionate and intimate with Leonard then she has been with any guy, in a way they are perfect for each other. Penny is the socially independent girl next door, but who is also so down to earth and sweet, but is not perfect in any means whos almost the complete opposite of his mother, Penny gives him love and approval, maybe Leonard should start doing the same for Penny just a thought. And Leonard is the guy who she has been looking for her, her self actulization early on just go in the way of seeing that. 

Edited November 10, 2013 by 3ku11

[3ku11]

Besides Wyatt may have a say when it comes to an engagement. 

Edited November 10, 2013 by 3ku11

[Nogravitasatall]

Please note I'm not worried. I should just roll with it as i am firmly in the "they will work it out" camp. Just some of the odd bumps unsettle me and I really, really appreciate the joyousness when we get it. And sometimes life reflects art and your partner gives not quite the right gift and then it comes up on the show, similarly. Even if you gave her a note and a specification. Lol. So, relatable.

Leonard is such a good guy. Even about the flavour packet, for which I would go "didn't you read the instructions? That is why he is the better guy. This adventure was the same, writ large. She did nothing wrong, as there was no intent and it was reversible, almost entirely. She just hadn't read the instructions. Heheheh .

[3ku11]

Please note I'm not worried. I should just roll with it as i am firmly in the "they will work it out" camp. Just some of the odd bumps unsettle me and I really, really appreciate the joyousness when we get it. And sometimes life reflects art and your partner gives not quite the right gift and then it comes up on the show, similarly. Even if you gave her a note and a specification. Lol. So, relatable.

Leonard is such a good guy. Even about the flavour packet, for which I would go "didn't you read the instructions? That is why he is the better guy. This adventure was the same, writ large. She did nothing wrong, as there was no intent and it was reversible, almost entirely. She just hadn't read the instructions. Heheheh .

I said this in the S7 Spoiler thread but maybe they should iron out those bumps with a vacay . And maybe come back after talking through their issues and are stronger and fresher as a consequence. Say they leave for 3 weeks Penny could work on her tan while Leonard works on his swimming technique (thats if he swims), and Sheldon has to rely on Amy to survive, poor Amy lol.

Edited November 11, 2013 by 3ku11

[mjc45]

Okay, so, what i think might be cool right now is to focus on some of the positives that have come out of this season, since IMO, for us Lenny's it is one of the best yet. I think some of you might be getting a little hung up on what you see as bad things happening with them through overthinking every single thing and situation. The bottom line is, these two are doing brilliantly this season. We have had small fights, such as in The Scavenger Vortex and what's going to come up in the Thanksgiving episode, but so far, nothing detremental has happened. The writers are painting a pretty good picture of two people who love each other and are going through natural stages in relationships, it cant be all happy and fluffy all the time! The point to focus on is that no fight is lasting past the one episode. Even in the thanksgiving one they are shown to have made up by the end of it.

 

Penny's growth has been the one thing i think has been repeatedly shown through this season so i honestly dont get why she still recieves so much crap on here. I mean from the very first episode we have her openly talking about how much she is missing Leonard, this from the girl who refused to admit at the end of season two why she had given him that really long hug and that snuggie. The same girl that would only talk about how much she regretted breaking up with him when she was drunk. Penny doesn't talk about this kind of stuff, yet from the outset we have her visibly upset over not having him around and talking about it.

 

The Deception Verification was great for us too, having Leonard come home early especially for Penny and having her so fricken excited about seeing him was adorable. It just shows how much of a sweetheart Leonard is really, even if being 'romantic' wasnt all that fuelled that early homecoming.

 

The Scavenger Vortex didnt have much for us, but the fact that they were able to have a bit of an argument without it turning into something huge was a pretty big deal for them.

 

Ahh, now episode four; The Raiders Minimization.  Yup, this one. <33

Still one of my favourites of the whole season so far. I loved seeing that natural shift in behaviour from Penny, from finding Leonards mothers book and good naturedly ribbing him (as, IMO, anyone close to you would) about it, to having that moment where she realised he was still genuinely upset about his childhood and doing anything in her power to make him feel better, showed great growth from her. She knew when to stop teasing him and in the end her efforts to make him feel better became manipulated. Not that we can blame him, he enjoyed the attention and wanted to milk it a bit, i think most of us in our life have done that at one point or another. But despite their fight, by the next episode they were snuggling on the couch together, watching as their friends around them had the lovers spats that they would usually have. They fought and forgave, big smiles all around.

And her hands are under the blanket. IM JUST SAYING!

 

Episode six. adgklajrlorkjndlkjgak;djlfgn;laerng. EPISODE SIX! This episode was brilliant in giving some sort of an insight into their relationship off screen. The trip to the bed and breakfast (I wonder what happened there....), the rose that Leonard put on her windscreen 'just because', the pregnancy test that Penny took that Leonard didnt know about but was obviously significant enough to her to keep a hold of, the fact that Leonard managed to write an eleven page letter to her saying thank you for sleeping with him the first time. This episode showed that despite the fights we often see between them on the show, that in between those fights they are a happy couple, as well as showing us that Penny never let go of Leonard. She could have thrown away that letter after they broke up, as well as the pregnancy test that im just gonna assume was taken during season three. But she never, she kept them all there in her closet, because it's him 

 

 

Adorable. Oh and lets not forget that for the most part of the episode she was trying to be romantic for him, and trying to show him just how much she loved him, like he always manages to effortlessly show her. She didn't quite manage it the way she hoped, but she tried and obviously put a lot of thought into picking out that book. So, she may have missed the fact that he had already bought it for himself. Maybe she was just so excited about the fact that she had thought of a gift that she completely forgot, or maybe she was just half asleep in that used book store, thinking of shoes and clothes while he was buying it, i know i would be! In the end it was the fact that she had messed up her original idea that led her to show him that box, which proved to be the most romantic thing she could have done, and that was evident in Leonards reaction to it. But the point to remember in this episode is that Penny was willing to step it up a gear, she was ready to push herself out of her comfort zone to show him she cared about him, if thats not growth on Pennys part i dont know what is.

 

The Proton Displacement didnt have much in the way of lenny, unless you include the fact that in one of the last scenes she was seen walking out from his room, wonder what they were doing. hehe. The same goes for the itchy brain episode but i think the fact that Penny at one point is 'obviously wanting to make out' is pretty cool. She is still hot for this man, even when he is wearing a silly jumper!

 

The point im making is that in all of these episodes, whether they have started out good and ended bad or started bad and ended good, they have all shown just how far these two have come in dealing with problems, so why should we expect any less from the thanksgiving one? We find out Penny made a stupid mistake during a wild drunken night in Vegas, while she was seperated from Leonard, and the episode takes us through them bickering over it (like any couple would) and ending up with them holding hands and Penny telling him the next time she gets married it will be for love. She knows she made a mistake, but is highlighting the fact that she is no longer that silly girl she once was in her early twenties. She's growing up, and knows now that marriage is no joke and that she only wants to be married to someone she loves. Or someone who is rich We have no idea what is going to happen in the episode after that one, but im sure, just as it has all season, it will be forgotten about.

 

There really are so many positives to focus on this season, i dont see why we continue to fixate on the negatives. The writers aren't showing us a couple on the rocks, they are showing us a couple adjusting to dealing with a real relationship, one that neither of them have really been in before. And lets not forget, they are fricken adorable!! I did plan on adding more gifs and stuff to this post but it was taking forever so I gave up! I think i made my point anyway

 

Come on guys.

you are the best. we know what her

hands are doing.(just a little smut)

[Occam's Chainsaw]

you are the best. we know what her

hands are doing.(just a little smut)

Yes, they are staying warm because Sheldon keeps the thermostat too low.

[hamerman55]

I am actually quite happy with this season. I really didn't expect an obvious escalation of Leonard and Penny this soon. The Las Vegas weding is Penny's gaffe for the fall, as Leonard not immediately picking her for the scavenger hunt and playing with her regarding his Mom's book were his. So they will be mostly even in the mistake game.

I do think Leonard is overly vilified for manipulating Penny over his Mom's book. I think the fact that he told Penny to a. pick another book, please, or barring that, b. don't talk to him about it. She refused to do neither, and sort of picked on him a little. Personally, she was due for some payback. Her response really was out of line, but maybe she is worried that Leonard will outsmart her. She probably was glad Howard was such a sleeze and a wuss.

I believe part of the reason us Lennys are so excitable is that the writers screw with Leonard and Penny too much, and act like messing with the Shamy is a third rail. Lenny is the only couple that broke up for an extended period of time. Bernie and Howard never really got started before heir breakup, and Shamy broke up for about a week (25 cats!). I prefer to see more episodes such as where Leonard and Penny are sitting on the couch offering comments while the Shamy takes an extended turn in bad relationship land.