Spoilers Leonard And Penny Season 7 *spoiler* Discussion Thread

[3ku11]

He did play Frodo in the Middle Earth Paradigm. And Frodo, didn't willingly gives it up in the end. Maybe Sheldon is really Gollum and will ultimately sacrifice himself to keep it from Bernadette.

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I Think Leonard sent it back to Peter Jackson and New Zealand I know I have it with me right now haha, either that or Penny still has it.

[JonRS92]

You know I could actually see Leonard accidently finding the ring before she does it and her getting mad at him for ruining it. but by the end of the episode getting engaged.

If Leonard were to find out early I think he'd try and pretend he doesn't know as to not ruin it for her but then his excitement t gets the better of him and tries to force it. Then the truth comes out.

Just to chime in on the past topic of how we'll find out. I kind of imagined Penny going into a jewelry store and the salesperson asks if she needs help. She says she's looking for an engagement ring and the salesperson asks where her fiancé is assuming he will buy the ring for her. She says he's not there and it is going to be a surprise. The salesperson says okay and offers her a few to try on. She says, "oh, it's not for me it's for my boyfriend." The salesperson is taken aback and asks her if she knows his ring size. Penny thinks for a minute and says, "dammit" and cut to credits.

[3ku11]

If Leonard were to find out early I think he'd try and pretend he doesn't know as to not ruin it for her but then his excitement t gets the better of him and tries to force it. Then the truth comes out.

Just to chime in on the past topic of how we'll find out. I kind of imagined Penny going into a jewelry store and the salesperson asks if she needs help. She says she's looking for an engagement ring and the salesperson asks where her fiancé is assuming he will buy the ring for her. She says he's not there and it is going to be a surprise. The salesperson says okay and offers her a few to try on. She says, "oh, it's not for me it's for my boyfriend." The salesperson is taken aback and asks her if she knows his ring size. Penny thinks for a minute and says, "dammit" and cut to credits.

Or Penny chases down the LOTR ring prop, and before the credit's "The one ring that I promised myself I would never touch ever again" haha. It's a bit unconventional though, Penny proposing, that's what make's it so unique, most sitcom's it is expected from society that the guy proposes, so you see it in most sitcom's, the guy is expected to propose. I mean you diddn't see Monica propose, I guess that was different though she was was committed she was waiting to see if Chandler was all in, funny thing is Penny and Chandler have very similar role's in their relationship, almost like Penny is Chandler and Leonard is Monica haha. Leonard said though he want's to be sweeped off his feet, but considering how off beat their relationship is, a conventional roses, petals, a meticlous walk up the stair's for Leonard doesen't seem right for Lenny. Like I said it has always been an offbeat relationship, and a lot of their big moment's like Penny realizing the depth of her feelings for Leonard in the Season 2 finalie, and Penny professing her love for Leonard in S6, have existed in the parameters of the hallway, maybe a special clip show montaging all the milestones in their relationship from the pilot, and maybe they get stuck in the elevator, say it is now working but it stops half way, and say they're in a middle of an argument and that's when it ends with a proposal, just thinking out loud here. I've said before too IMO I beleive they have to be living together, but seeing an engagement at this point is based on Sheldon, if Leonard and Sheldon are still living together at the end of the season, not sure the writer's can really get Lenny engaged without messing with the premise of the show, Leonard and Sheldon living across from Penny, so Penny may have to move in with Leonard and Sheldon, then maybe an engagement some time next season, people are expecting an engagement this season, so the writer's may drag it out, it need's to be meticulous and well thought out, it's a big moment for the show.

Edited October 22, 2013 by 3ku11

[eirwinrommel]

You'd think that Bernadette would have taken it back by now.

What does Bernadette have to do with the 'one ring'? Did you mean Penny? Leonard gave it to Penny to hold, and she gave it back to Leonard. The last time we saw it was when Sheldon and Leonard were fighting over it, after Sheldon had tried to steal it from Leonard. Bernadette wasn't in the episode. In fact it falls in the gap between episode 3-15 and 4-04 when she and Howard were broken up.

Edited October 22, 2013 by eirwinrommel

[hamerman55]

What does Bernadette have to do with the 'one ring'? Did you mean Penny? Leonard gave it to Penny to hold, and she gave it back to Leonard. The last time we saw it was when Sheldon and Leonard were fighting over it, after Sheldon had tried to steal it from Leonard. Bernadette wasn't in the episode. In fact it falls in the gap between episode 3-15 and 4-04 when she and Howard were broken up.

My assumption is Bernadette = Sauron, from the comment, but I could be reading something into Tensor's comment that isn't there.

[Tensor]

The one ring is described as being completely evil, by Gandalf. It was a play on Bernadette going into her evil psychotic mode.

[Occam's Chainsaw]

How about this, Penny asks Leonard if he was serious about her being the one to propose Leonard takes it to mean she's ready to get engaged but he really wants to be the one to propose so his answer is kind of vague, but Penny is asking because she doesn't want to go to the trouble of setting something up if he wasn't serious about it. Penny and Leonard both begin planning the perfect proposal, but by going to others for help they both accidentally reveal that they are planning to propose to each other and the whole thing turns into a race of who can complete their plan first and propose.

[hamerman55]

Didn't it seem kind of interesting that the last episode just stopped? The Sheldon/Amy conflict didn't end. While the writers often drop plot lines, it seems too out there to have no happy ending for the Shamy.

[Tensor]

Didn't it seem kind of interesting that the last episode just stopped? The Sheldon/Amy conflict didn't end. While the writers often drop plot lines, it seems too out there to have no happy ending for the Shamy.

Well, there wasn't a resolution to Howard and Bernadette either, but from the taping report for the next episode, it doesn't seem and if anything is wrong between the two couples.

[3ku11]

Well, there wasn't a resolution to Howard and Bernadette either, but from the taping report for the next episode, it doesn't seem and if anything is wrong between the two couples.

Most of the lack of/or resolution is used for a plot device, look at Lenny in Raider's their was no resolution in that episode, when Penny used Beverley, but it was more used for a gag for the episode. Next episode they are fine it's a comedy their doesen't have to thing's to be learnt or resolution's, TBBT has never been the show that the boat flip's, maybe rocked the boat but eventually settles by the next episode.

Edited October 22, 2013 by 3ku11

[eirwinrommel]

The one ring is described as being completely evil, by Gandalf. It was a play on Bernadette going into her evil psychotic mode.

I don't think Bernie's evil. I think the times she's gone off on Howard were justified. I do agree she was over the top with Leonard on the scavenger hunt, but that was for comic effect, and not really evil. 

[Tensor]

I don't think Bernie's evil. I think the times she's gone off on Howard were justified. I do agree she was over the top with Leonard on the scavenger hunt, but that was for comic effect, and not really evil.

There are several comments from her that indicate, in a funny way, her evil side. The crushing of micro-organisms in "The Closure Alternative", for instance, but the best one was in "The Engagement Reaction" when she said she couldn't be friends with Howard if they broke up and when asked why, she said, "I'm a very vengeful person, with access to weaponized smallpox." That sounds like a pretty funny evil to me.

[Occam's Chainsaw]

There are several comments from her that indicate, in a funny way, her evil side. The crushing of micro-organisms in "The Closure Alternative", for instance, but the best one was in "The Engagement Reaction" when she said she couldn't be friends with Howard if they broke up and when asked why, she said, "I'm a very vengeful person, with access to weaponized smallpox." That sounds like a pretty funny evil to me.

Yep, Bernie, like Sheldon, is one lab accident away from being a super-villain. Until then though she's just a cute quirky blonde.

[3ku11]

Yep, Bernie, like Sheldon, is one lab accident away from being a super-villain. Until then though she's just a cute quirky blonde.

Someone in the writer's room really mixed in the wrong amount of good and evil potion, when they wrote these character's lol, hence Bernadette and Sheldon.

[silverangel]

  little out of the topic, and I'm not so often guest here but I'm watching now Recombination Hypothesis and I really love that episode and I that line...

" Not some kind of nerd..I'm the king of nerds..." and it was really great moment that Leonard and Penny wanted to be together again, and they put really hard work through season 5 and 6,  that their relationship has become what it is now and so many wonderful things have happened between them, I really want them to be happy. They both deserve that. It's just my little digression.

[Nogravitasatall]

  little out of the topic, and I'm not so often guest here but I'm watching now Recombination Hypothesis and I really love that episode and I that line...

" Not some kind of nerd..I'm the king of nerds..." and it was really great moment that Leonard and Penny wanted to be together again, and they put really hard work through season 5 and 6,  that their relationship has become what it is now and so many wonderful things have happened between them, I really want them to be happy. They both deserve that. It's just my little digression.

I think this is lovely thing to say. We do need to see more happiness. The poor beggars have suffered quite a bit in the past. Not that many couples in TVsitcomdom have had the beatings these two have had IMO (but I'd like to see the list of those that come close).

[3ku11]

I think this is lovely thing to say. We do need to see more happiness. The poor beggars have suffered quite a bit in the past. Not that many couples in TVsitcomdom have had the beatings these two have had IMO (but I'd like to see the list of those that come close).

Ross and Rachel but Friend's was more a show about cohesion, TBBT is more about collision, so Penny and Leonard's relationship at time's has been like the Land of the Lost Aka The Nerd's world clashing with Barbie Land, and the King and Queen who inhabit them is Penny and Leonard lol. So with obstacles come challenges, and with challenges come rewards. No one know's this better then Leonard and Penny, Ross and Rachel went through beating's, but they had a lot more in common and their relationship was more skin deep, due to their very similar identities, Friend's was a very relationship driven show. TBBT is a show about the collisions of two world's, I guess that is what make's Lenny so unique, and why you could argue they are so important. As why it is cute to see Leonard chase down Penny, if they never got together it would get to the point, when you would be like how many time's must we see Leonard pine after Penny, because when your in your 5th, 6th, 7th season you need something to root for. With Friend's you had Ross and Rachel, Cheer's it was Ted and Diane (was it forgot her name wasen't born around then lol), Seinfeild you had Jerry and Elaine (although they diddn't end up together), Taahm you could say Charlie and Rose but not really haha, and with TBBT that couple is Leonard and Penny, and what's really important is Penny would of not of matured and be where she is in her life right now socially, emotionally, and work wise if it wasen't for meeting Leonard in the pilot, oh the irony in another world who know's maybe Sheldon is a mackdaddy .

Edited October 22, 2013 by 3ku11

[hamerman55]

In Friends, it seemed like Ross and Rachel almost worked hard at staying apart, while Penny and Leonard worked hard at staying together. Ross and Rachel were a much more believable couple from the beginning, having gone to the same high school and knew each other from then. In the first episode, Ross and Rachel had a history, common friends, and even a common neighborhood. In a sense, their own immaturity kept them apart. While I like Friends, the Ross-Rachel thing really started to annoy me. It was clear the writers kept them apart just to drag it out.

Penny and Leonard had to start cold, with no shared background at all. Vastly different educational levels and home backgrounds. A farm girl from Nebraska and a Ph.D. from a double professor family in Princeton? It would be hard to imagine a larger gap to bridge, but fairly early they start working on it because there is a connection. While it is no surprise that Leonard would be attracted to the actress hot girl across the hall, Penny is quickly attracted to the scientist. She starts showing it when Leonard hooks up with another girl, and it just amps up from there until where we are today.

It has always been believable to keep Penny and Leonard apart when they did, because they are a less believable couple, for the reasons I mentioned above. They will always have to work to be together. I can't imagine that Ross and Rachel had much adjustment to do, especially as they even had a child together several seasons before they finally accepted they belonged as a couple. To me, that's what makes the relationship aspect of TBBT work. You see two people putting in a lot of work to be together, in spite of the difficulties and personal flaws. They have deep emotional issues that have to be addressed and accepted. They are trying to be together, and are learning how to make a functional mature relationship. Sheldon and Amy are the contrast, in that Sheldon is making little or no effort to meet Amy halfway. and if anything, having her as a girlfriend is making him more narcissistic. He's convinced he is God's gift to her (to the extent that he believes in God) and she frequently feeds his ego. But they should work as the backgrounds and education are very similar. Sheldon just won't bend. Howard and Bernadette also should work. They were a perfect match, and the issues are fairly normal in their marriage. Howard just needs to stop being a 15 year old. I don't recall Bernie getting mad at him without just cause.

One thing that came out in the last episode that was telling is that Raj is fully aware that his parents hate each other. This is likely the root of his issues, and his apparent sexual ambivalence is due to having a bad parental model to work from.

In the end, the situations that draw me in are the courageousness of Penny and Leonard for hanging there, and finally starting to see some rewards, and the science-nerd aspect. The other relationships and people are fun, and I do root for them, but I am invested in Penny and Leonard succeeding.

[eirwinrommel]

There are several comments from her that indicate, in a funny way, her evil side. The crushing of micro-organisms in "The Closure Alternative", for instance, but the best one was in "The Engagement Reaction" when she said she couldn't be friends with Howard if they broke up and when asked why, she said, "I'm a very vengeful person, with access to weaponized smallpox." That sounds like a pretty funny evil to me.

I believe you have the wrong episode. That was from Season 5 episode 13 The Recombination Hypothesis, and was part of Leonard's imagined getting back together with Penny.

 

Bernadette: Boy, I don’t know if I could be friends with Howie if we broke up.

Howard: Why not?

Bernadette: I’m a very vengeful person.

Howard: Really?

Bernadette: With access to weaponised smallpox.

The closest thing to real evil Bernie's done are the 'experiments' she mentions. Combining ebola and the common cold, unethical human experiments on death row inmates etc., VERY poor biohazard protocols.

[Disgusted]

  little out of the topic, and I'm not so often guest here but I'm watching now Recombination Hypothesis and I really love that episode and I that line...

" Not some kind of nerd..I'm the king of nerds..." and it was really great moment that Leonard and Penny wanted to be together again, and they put really hard work through season 5 and 6,  that their relationship has become what it is now and so many wonderful things have happened between them, I really want them to be happy. They both deserve that. It's just my little digression.

 

Definitely a top 10 Lenny moment, even if it was only a dream.

[ArmyGirl]

  little out of the topic, and I'm not so often guest here but I'm watching now Recombination Hypothesis and I really love that episode and I that line...

" Not some kind of nerd..I'm the king of nerds..." and it was really great moment that Leonard and Penny wanted to be together again, and they put really hard work through season 5 and 6,  that their relationship has become what it is now and so many wonderful things have happened between them, I really want them to be happy. They both deserve that. It's just my little digression.

 

 

I love this scene and it was a great moment for Leonard and Penny, just wish it had been real and not in Leonard's imagination while overthinking about him and Penny.

 

 

eta: a and change "get" to "great" 

Edited October 22, 2013 by ArmyGirl

[Occam's Chainsaw]

I love this scene and it was get moment for Leonard and Penny, just wish it had been real and not in Leonard's imagination while overthinking about him and Penny.

I like to think that it really did happen on the third (fourth?) first date which we didn't see between "Recombination" and "Beta Test"

[ArmyGirl]

I like to think that it really did happen on the third (fourth?) first date which we didn't see between "Recombination" and "Beta Test"

 

I could go for this too.

 

eta: the word "for"

Edited October 22, 2013 by ArmyGirl

[Chiara]

It seems to me that the writers are actively aware of what hamerman55 pointed out in terms of the two different types of couples in TBBT; the "similars" (Howard/Bernadette; Sheldon/Amy) and the "dissimilars" (Leonard/Penny). So aware, in fact, that they attribute the weekly "crisis" accordingly which produces some interesting balancing act from episode to episode : whenever the Lenny is fine, the other two couples eat dirt; whenever the Shamy and the Hernadette are cruising relatively smoothly, it is bumpy time for the Lenny. 

 

It is quite rare for all three couples to face a similar crisis simultaneously and equally uncommon for the Lenny to encounter a problem at the same time as the Hernadette or the Shamy do. In that regard, the restaurant scene in The Tangible Affection Proof was almost a textbook example : as Howard and Bernadette were fighting, Penny and Leonard tried to calm them down. Then the Lenny started disintegrating while the Hernadette reconciliated.

 

The "similars" and the "dissimilars" are different species, in a way, so they operate on different time scales and have different issues. 

Basically, we have to keep a watchful eye on the other two couples... The moment they start being "too" happy, we have to brace ourselves !

 

 

PS Thank you so very much, hamerman55, Carlos and eirwinrommel (amazing choice of songs, my friend) for the birthday wishes. They were lovely and very appreciated.

[hamerman55]

Has any one caught the promos for this week's episode? You'd think Leonard and Penny weren't in it at all. from the taping report, you'd think the Sheldon plot would be the "B" plot. I guess this will be like the last episode, where Leonard and Penny are quietly furthering their relationship, while Sheldon spirals off in his own world.