Spoilers Leonard And Penny Season 7 *spoiler* Discussion Thread

[DaisyJane]

If she were still as perky as she was in earlier seasons that half the forum would be complaining she's too much of a ditz. Likely the same half that claim she's "bitchy" now for not being like she was at the beginning. 

 

The perky thing, I've noticed, tends to stop being "cute" once you can no longer pass for a coed. 

Edited January 28, 2014 by DaisyJane

[3ku11]

I agree that things have been rough to a point and that she does come across as older but not wiser.  It is true that she has lived on the edge of hoping that she will get her "big break".  However, she also does not appear to want to face the realities of life and what she is trying to do.  For one, by her on admission on more than one occasion she never did her job at TCF well.  She seems to have seen it as really beneath her which is a major character problem.  If she cannot do that job well and put a lot of effort into it.  Second, even though she has taken a few class at the community college she has never given any serious thought to what else she would want to do.  From the episode in season 2 when Leonard confronted Kurt over his not paying Penny back for bailing him out of jail, we learned that she went to California with the idea that she would become a movie or tv star in 6-months. That is not realistic for most people.  Third, she does not seem to want to hear the practical statements that Leonard has offered in that what she is trying to is extremely hard and odds of her becoming a "great actress" are very slim.  Last, though I understand her disappointment in having her scene on NCIS cut, she has really scene it in a professional way.  She assume only one thing, that it was cut because "she did a bad job".  She does not know that.  It could of been cut for another reason that had nothing to do with her.  She fails to hear the positives that Leonard has pointed out in that she did get a part on NCIS, even though it was a very small part it was a part.  Thus, there was no reason for her to panic and quit her only means of support and then assume that anyone who does not agree with her fully does not support her. 

 

I say this because I really hope that they will let Penny not just age, but begin mature and become wiser.     

It is odd that Penny fails to take critisicism, and even when she does get Positive feedback from say Leonard, she feels so insecure about her self she lashes out. She is very practical and grounded, so forcing herself to reevaulate her life cannot be easy. I also agree their could of been many reasons why she was cut from her scene on NCIS, the fact they put her in the episode in the first place, must of meant they liked her initially, most of the time networks cut people from episodes, because its all bout fitting it in a tv schedule, I remember in Friends theirs a lot of uncut episodes on dvd's because they cut out even great stuff they just couldent fit in, who knows maybe she was great, but its like an artist with an album its just diddnt fit in the overall theme. I think Penny is very impulsive in her behaviour and her judgement of things, she has matured a lot but she needs to continue to accept crtisisim, and stop jumping to conclusions its not all black and white. 

[Nogravitasatall]

@Nogra..

 

Were there any hints about the real question here...

 

How is Penny going to pay her bills?

Redux on this.

I caught up with the episode when she quits her job and Leonard refers to her getting further into debt. So it seems she will fund this through a personal loan (or maybe she is mortgaging her soul?). Or he really is running a tab on her.

[eirwinrommel]

Redux on this.

I caught up with the episode when she quits her job and Leonard refers to her getting further into debt. So it seems she will fund this through a personal loan (or maybe she is mortgaging her soul?). Or he really is running a tab on her.

I think Leonard has been helping Penny (in the past) to make sure the basics are covered, but Penny probably has credit card debt. I believe that (credit card debt) is probably what he means. Also I believe one of the reasons the writers had Penny quit TCCF was to give L/P an excuse to move in together.

[Disgusted]

It does seem like life has beaten her down, good observation. Even the episode, last season, where she talked of having a passion seemed a little forced by Penny.

 

That came out of nowhere. If she keeps telling herself that, it might be true one day.

 

I tire of the back and forth sniping. They need to team up and take on the giant windmill that is Sheldon.

[SRAM]

That came out of nowhere. If she keeps telling herself that, it might be true one day.

 

I tire of the back and forth sniping. They need to team up and take on the giant windmill that is Sheldon.

 

Yeah the were so strong together in the tenure episode. 

 

Their sniping gets to me too, there is a fine line between playful banter and an insulting remark.

[hamerman55]

That came out of nowhere. If she keeps telling herself that, it might be true one day.

I tire of the back and forth sniping. They need to team up and take on the giant windmill that is Sheldon.

I tire of this too, and the love affair the writers have with Sheldon. He's actually not been funny this season. I believe the perverted efforts of the writers to avoid the changes that are staring them in the face (Lenny and Shamy both getting a relationship upgrade, revisitng tenure and the results of the North Sea trip, Raj actually talking to a new girl sober) are making them write weird drama rather than lighthearted nerd comedy. Asking Penny to try out for an online Star Wars audition is token nerdism. Get back to science so Leonard can seduce Penny in the laser lab again! Edited January 29, 2014 by hamerman55

[3ku11]

I tire of this too, and the love affair the writers have with Sheldon. He's actually not been funny this season. I believe the perverted efforts of the writers to avoid the changes that are staring them in the face (Lenny and Shamy both getting a relationship upgrade, revisitng tenure and the results of the North Sea trip, Raj actually talking to a new girl sober) are making them write weird drama rather than lighthearted nerd comedy. Asking Penny to try out for an online Star Wars audition is token nerdism. Get back to science so Leonard can seduce Penny in the laser lab again!

I beleive its time for change, IMO from what I have seen Leonard has taken over Sheldon as the main guy in the show, most of the storylines with Penny e.t.c. Have been from his vantage point. I get the change in lighthearted nerdy comedy, I just think the show has evolved so much that its no longer a show about four nerds and the hottie girl next door, the whole culture of the show has changed now, the characters have grown up. As for the writing their's still Science based plots, its more the dialoge that has changed, so I do agree hope too see for light hearted nerdy comedy, problem is the relationships have matured and so have their careers, so guess they have reevaluated their lifes, the self-actulization of the characters being deconstructed has made subtle changes to these characters, particularly Penny. So I think theirs a lack of balance, somehow maintain the maturity in the characters in the show, but write more light hearted nerdy comedy, and keep the drama too integral moments like Lenny engagement. But don't fear looks like next episode is very nerdy .

Edited January 29, 2014 by 3ku11

[DaisyJane]

Even the episode, last season, where she talked of having a passion seemed a little forced by Penny.

That should have been her wake-up call. If her only passion is having friendships and relationships with other people, then you've just about lost it. Leonard could break-up with her, Bernadette and Amy drift apart, and then what should she have? I know a lot of people loved that scene, but I found it depressing. 

Edited January 29, 2014 by DaisyJane

[3ku11]

That should have been her wake-up call. If her only passion is having friendships and relationships with other people, then you've just about lost it. Leonard could break-up with her, Bernadette and Amy drift apart, and then what should we have? I know a lot of people loved that scene, but I found it depressing. 

I get a lot of people found that depressing, but to me I loved it, it showed me regardless of matarials and possessions, she has great friends and relationships and at the end of the day thats all that really matters. Yeah its a bit depressing thats all she has, but at the same time its a far cry from an almost shallow Penny where being a movie star was the be end and end all, S1 or 2 Penny would of never had a ephiphany and begin to deconstruct her self-actulization, and make a statement relationships are the most important thing. Besides the likely hood of her breaking up with Leonard, or drifting apart form Bernadette and Amy seems a bit remote at this point. I also think the writers prob have resisted to change Penny, and made her make more adult decisions and be a bit more adult like the past couple seasons, because its more realistic seeing a pretty blonde struggle as an actress. So she may have had aspirations back in S1-2, and came across more independent, driven, perky e.t.c. But what has been replaced is a more mature Penny, that has been through it all and has realized in her seven years of being in Pasadena and around the community of Hollywood, its not all glitz and glamour its all about work, the gloss and shine has weared off. So if she does make it big or gets a role in a tv show she should appreciate it a bit more. Problem is she has no passion for anything right now, if the acting doesent work out she needs to do something to bring to her relationships. 

Edited January 29, 2014 by 3ku11

[Tensor]

Besides the likely hood of her breaking up with Leonard, or drifting apart form Bernadette and Amy seems a bit remote at this point.

Considering Amy (Mayim) and Bernadette (Melissa) have signed contracts for the next few years and Leonard(Johnny) and Penny (Kaley) are negotiating as a block with Sheldon (Jim), I'd say the possibility of both Leonard breaking up with her and Bernadette and Amy drifting away, is nil.

[cas]

OT slightley: is it just me of does anybody else feel like L/P have lost their amazing chemistry that they had in season 1-3, i mean it just feels different in s7 somehow , any opinion on this?

[vasu]

Redux on this.

I caught up with the episode when she quits her job and Leonard refers to her getting further into debt. So it seems she will fund this through a personal loan (or maybe she is mortgaging her soul?). Or he really is running a tab on her.

 

credit card.....ssss  ????

 

It looks like the next 3 episodes(based on the spoilers we have gotten so far) have nothing about how Penny is paying her bills or how she is going for auditions or how she is trying hard to become an actress

 

instead we seem to have the exact opposite....Penny wasting time on doing mundane things....

Edited January 29, 2014 by vasu

[phantagrae]

credit card.....ssss  ????

 

It looks like the next 3 episodes(based on the spoilers we have gotten so far) have nothing about how Penny is paying her bills or how she is going for auditions or how she is trying hard to become an actress

 

instead we seem to have the exact opposite....Penny wasting time on doing mundane things....

 

 

Just because you don't see her taking auditions during an episode doesn't mean that she's not doing that in the "background".  Just like we don't actually see the guys working all that often--we see them in the cafeteria and we see random whiteboards, but we don't always see them doing their actual work.  Does that mean that they're not working?

We don't see every time they go to the bathroom--does that mean they're not going?

 

I'm sure they'll address Penny's situation at some point, but they don't have to make every episode about it.  Her job isn't the only issue to tell stories about.

[vasu]

Just because you don't see her taking auditions during an episode doesn't mean that she's not doing that in the "background".  Just like we don't actually see the guys working all that often--we see them in the cafeteria and we see random whiteboards, but we don't always see them doing their actual work.  Does that mean that they're not working?

We don't see every time they go to the bathroom--does that mean they're not going?

 

I'm sure they'll address Penny's situation at some point, but they don't have to make every episode about it.  Her job isn't the only issue to tell stories about.

 

Penny just quit her job.... and given her past situations...while having that job she was barely able to pay her bills....so how is she managing now....

 

so what I asked is a perfectly valid question.....given how big a deal Penny made about her career in the previous episodes...

 

and comparing Penny going to auditions or atleast hints of her doing something or how she is paying her bills to us not seeing characters going to bathroom is ridiculous....

Edited January 29, 2014 by vasu

[phantagrae]

Penny just quit her job.... and given her past situations...while having that job she was barely able to pay her bills....so how is she managing now....

 

so what I asked is a perfectly valid question.....given how big a deal Penny made about her career in the previous episodes...

 

and comparing Penny going to auditions or atleast hints of her doing something or how she is paying her bills to us not seeing characters going to bathroom is ridiculous....

 

You must not understand how TV shows work, I guess.

[vasu]

You must not understand how TV shows work, I guess.

 

I guess  that is the only thing you can come up with when a valid point is raised...

[Guest]

So, I asked sprinkles about Leonard and Penny. She said they are completely fine in 7.16, nothing to be worried about. Just saying for those who are interested...

[Tensor]

I guess  that is the only thing you can come up with when a valid point is raised...

But, it's not a valid point. Just because you don't see something on the show, doesn't mean it isn't happening somewhere in the show's fictional universe. For her appearance on NCIS (and though it was cut, she would get paid), she would get about $3800. According to Cheesecake Factory ads for waitresses, that's a bit over months pay as a waitress. Since it hasn't been three weeks yet, since she quit, she still has money from her NCIS pay. As for it appearing she isn't going to auditions, what episode did she audition for the NCIS part? I don't recall seeing anything about that audition. For that matter, what exactly did Leonard do to disprove Sheldon's hypothesis on the superheavy element? Her auditions, Leonard's work, and most of the time, unless it has some comedy to go along with it, going to the bathroom, are things that are unseen.

[DaisyJane]

I guess that is the only thing you can come up with when a valid point is raised...

Why would they devote the little time they have to talk about Penny's finances? They already addressed it briefly when she first quit. It's rude and insulting to ask other people about their finances, so I would hope none of the friends bring it up.

[vasu]

But, it's not a valid point. Just because you don't see something on the show, doesn't mean it isn't happening somewhere in the show's fictional universe. For her appearance on NCIS (and though it was cut, she would get paid), she would get about $3800. According to Cheesecake Factory ads for waitresses, that's a bit over months pay as a waitress. Since it hasn't been three weeks yet, since she quit, she still has money from her NCIS pay. As for it appearing she isn't going to auditions, what episode did she audition for the NCIS part? I don't recall seeing anything about that audition. For that matter, what exactly did Leonard do to disprove Sheldon's hypothesis on the superheavy element? Her auditions, Leonard's work, and most of the time, unless it has some comedy to go along with it, going to the bathroom, are things that are unseen.

 

umm...yeah it is....because a big deal was made by Penny about her devoting her entire time on her career.....so much so that she even quit her job...

 

and as far as her pay is concerned....many many times it has been shown that Penny has troubles paying bills....so when she quits her job ...how Penny is going to pay her bills is the basic question anyone would ask.....

 

as far as comedy.... i thought Penny scene getting cut out and her quitting TCF did not have much comedy to go along with...infact the drama seemed much higher ...

 

it was said in the show that Leonard disproved Sheldon's element...that enough for me... I don't need the details.....but with the spoilers we have got so far I did not see any hints about Penny's acting career or her bills..(not even tiny ones)....

Why would they devote the little time they have to talk about Penny's finances? They already addressed it briefly when she first quit. It's rude and insulting to ask other people about their finances, so I would hope none of the friends bring it up.

 

My point was not just about Penny's finances...it was also about her trying hard to make something happen in her career...

 

And little time?? Penny just quit her job...and looks like they are  going to adult tea parties to prove that they have "grown up"......does'nt sound a lot better than them discussing her next career move or her finances...

[SRAM]

So, I asked sprinkles about Leonard and Penny. She said they are completely fine in 7.16, nothing to be worried about. Just saying for those who are interested...

That is good to hear, however there is always next episode to screw them up again, with these writers.

[Tensor]

umm...yeah it is....because a big deal was made by Penny about her devoting her entire time on her career.....so much so that she even quit her job…

And your point is? Are you saying because she quit to concentrate on her job, that is all they should show of her life? Show nothing but her trudging from audition to audition, with breaks for her getting her head shots redone, going to the gym, and going to acting classes?

 

and as far as her pay is concerned....many many times it has been shown that Penny has troubles paying bills....so when she quits her job ...how Penny is going to pay her bills is the basic question anyone would ask…..

Yeah, if you ignore that fact that her pay from NCIS is more than she makes in a month at TCF, and it's been less than three weeks. Hmmmmm, sounds like she has enough money for at least one more week. You know, come to think of it, I've never seen her getting a check from TCF. No wonder she's had problems with her bills, she never gets paid by TCF.

 

as far as comedy.... i thought Penny scene getting cut out and her quitting TCF did not have much comedy to go along with...infact the drama seemed much higher …

Reread that. I said they don't SHOW people going to the bathroom, unless there is comedy in it. That doesn't mean people in that fictional universe, they don't go to the bathroom I didn't say anything about the scene getting cut or her quitting. And, even though you may not have found comedy in it, the audience was laughing as comments made during those times.

 

it was said in the show that Leonard disproved Sheldon's element...that enough for me... I don't need the details.....but with the spoilers we have got so far I did not see any hints about Penny's acting career or her bills..(not even tiny ones)....

From what you've said, I gather you're saying she isn't actually going to these auditions or working on her career, because they aren't showing those things. What episode did they show her auditioning for the NCIS job? Since that wasn't shown, evidently she didn't actually audition, right?

[Chrismo]

umm...yeah it is....because a big deal was made by Penny about her devoting her entire time on her career.....so much so that she even quit her job...

 

and as far as her pay is concerned....many many times it has been shown that Penny has troubles paying bills....so when she quits her job ...how Penny is going to pay her bills is the basic question anyone would ask.....

 

as far as comedy.... i thought Penny scene getting cut out and her quitting TCF did not have much comedy to go along with...infact the drama seemed much higher ...

 

it was said in the show that Leonard disproved Sheldon's element...that enough for me... I don't need the details.....but with the spoilers we have got so far I did not see any hints about Penny's acting career or her bills..(not even tiny ones)....

 

My point was not just about Penny's finances...it was also about her trying hard to make something happen in her career...

 

And little time?? Penny just quit her job...and looks like they are  going to adult tea parties to prove that they have "grown up"......does'nt sound a lot better than them discussing her next career move or her finances...

You seem to pick and choose what you want to see. You didn't care about seeing Leonard actually disproving Sheldon's element but you want to see Penny waiting at an audition or balancing her checkbook. I'm sorry if they had episodes like that there would be no forum or for that matter no show. I agree with phantagrae above that the topic of money will come up eventually.

Why would they devote the little time they have to talk about Penny's finances? They already addressed it briefly when she first quit. It's rude and insulting to ask other people about their finances, so I would hope none of the friends bring it up.

I don't think it rude for her friends to ask about her finances. She is living by herself with no job. I do agree about devoting time towards it on the show. But if they don't mention her getting an acting gig or something soon they wouldn't be much friends if they didn't ask. Did you think it was rude and insulting when Penny asked Sheldon if the Shamy was ever going to have sex?

[vasu]

And your point is? Are you saying because she quit to concentrate on her job, that is all they should show of her life? Show nothing but her trudging from audition to audition, with breaks for her getting her head shots redone, going to the gym, and going to acting classes?

 

I never said that is what they should show entirely.....but after making such a big deal there should atleast be hints about what she is doing or gonna do....

 

And most importantly , how many of you would have said the same thing , if they actually showed Penny doing something about her career...

 

Yeah, if you ignore that fact that her pay from NCIS is more than she makes in a month at TCF, and it's been less than three weeks. Hmmmmm, sounds like she has enough money for at least one more week. You know, come to think of it, I've never seen her getting a check from TCF. No wonder she's had problems with her bills, she never gets paid by TCF.

 

Again this is as ridiculous as the bathroom point.... we have seen Penny having problems paying her bills even she had a job....so how is going to pay her bills now is a perfectly valid question....as simple as that...

 

and as for the "facts"... I don't know ......not many people outside the industry would know how much Penny might have gotten from her gig at NCIS...

 

 

From what you've said, I gather you're saying she isn't actually going to these auditions or working on her career, because they aren't showing those things. What episode did they show her auditioning for the NCIS job? Since that wasn't shown, evidently she didn't actually audition, right?

 

I simply don't understand....Penny made a big deal about her career in the last episodes....so what is she going to do next is the most important question..... this is not the time for "background" work....IMO of course...because all I would see is Penny wasting her time....as simple as that...

 

she told she got an audition about the ncis part.... it was enough for me...

 

You seem to pick and choose what you want to see. You didn't care about seeing Leonard actually disproving Sheldon's element but you want to see Penny waiting at an audition or balancing her checkbook. I'm sorry if they had episodes like that there would be no forum or for that matter no show. I agree with phantagrae above that the topic of money will come up eventually.

I don't think I'm picking and choosing what I want to see....

If you read my posts you can see that ..... Leonard said he disproved the element and it was enough for me.....similarly Penny never was shown at school but she said she was going to school...so again it was fine...

but now after making such a big deal about her career....not even small hints(based on spoilers...there might be in the actual episode ...we'll have to wait and see).

And I don't how much time happened after Penny quit her job in fictional land but 3 episodes seems like a lot of time...for those questions to be answered.... and this is not the ILY which can be easily ignored...

Edited January 29, 2014 by vasu