Spoilers S7 Spoilers

[Tensor]

It's going to be the North Sea version of the "Night the Power went off".

[Disgusted]

There's so much more going on in these two episodes--WHY is everyone still talking about the video? 

 

 

We are slaves to our own prurient interests.....      

Edited August 29, 2013 by Disgusted

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

I really don't understand either what the fraking problem with Leonard showing them the movie is after all.

Is not a porn movie, and even if it is a cheesy horror film, Penny made that movie, and movies are made for people to see them. She must surely know that people will see it, that's the whole purpose of it. I don't hink Jamie Lee Curtis worries about people watching Halloween, jeez-.

Sure, some Shennies are claiming "Leonard treats Penny as a trophy girlfriend!" but they always do that, no matter how many times Leonard proves the contrary., so how is that new?

The thing is, Penny made that movie, Leonard is showing it, BIG DEAL.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Sursonica

[I.Am.Molly]

There's so much more going on in these two episodes--WHY is everyone still talking about the video? I doubt it's going to come up that he showed off her video on the boat, since that's the tag scene and those things are usually throwaways.

At some point it could maybe, possibly come up in conversation, but unless it's tied to some kind of major development, which I doubt it would be, it's going to fall into the background and all of this supposition and wringing of hands will be for naught.

Yes! This! I could understand if we were told the video was being shown off in a seriously sleazy, Howard-esque type fashion, but it wasn't. It wasnt even a huge part if the episode. We have been assured that the whole thing is done in a typical innocent Leonard-y way and I really don't understand the need to constantly focus on it. Particularly when, especially for us Lennys, there is so much more stuff - good stuff - to talk about.

[Spaced_up]

I really don't understand either what the fraking problem with Leonard showing them the movie is after all.

Is not a porn movie, and even if it is a cheesy horror film, Penny made that movie, and movies are made for people to see them. She must surely know that people will see it, that's the whole purpose of it. I don't hink Jamie Lee Curtis worries about people watching Halloween, jeez-.

Sure, some Shennies are claiming "Leonard treats Penny as a trophy girlfriend!" but they always do that, no matter how many times Leonard proves the contrary., so how is that new?

The thing is, Penny made that movie, Leonard is showing it, BIG DEAL.

 

Penny obviously didn't want people to know about the movie. Also where are all these examples that Leonard likes Penny for anything but her appearance? When he was asked "what do you talk about?" he had no answer both times. What does Leonard like about Penny? The show has played up the fact he finds her attractive but not much else, so far.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Spaced_up

[SRAM]

Yes! This! I could understand if we were told the video was being shown off in a seriously sleazy, Howard-esque type fashion, but it wasn't. It wasnt even a huge part if the episode. We have been assured that the whole thing is done in a typical innocent Leonard-y way and I really don't understand the need to constantly focus on it. Particularly when, especially for us Lennys, there is so much more stuff - good stuff - to talk about.

Do you really see more good stuff than when he came home from the North Pole? I think his North Pole return had a lot more Lenny stuff than this one. This one is more like he is back, lets have a few days of sex and try to avoid Sheldon, then return back to where we were before.

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

Penny obviously didn't want people to know about the movie. Also where are all these examples that Leonard likes Penny for anything but her appearance? When he was asked "what do you talk about?" he had no answer both times. What does Leonard like about Penny? The show has played up the fact he finds her attractive but not much else, so far.

 

He has said many times that he likes her because "she's warm, affectionate, fun" and many other things. It is really dumb to think he only likes her because of her body and her face, especially after so many years and after he told her he loved her and she broke his heart, such argument is just non-sensical. I don't even like them together, but even I can see that.

 

Also, yes, Penny kept it a secret and didn't want anybody to know about the picture (or so it seems) but she didn't say this to Leonard. How is he supposed to know, she was the one keeping it a secret after all.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Sursonica

[Spaced_up]

He has said many times that he likes her because "she's warm, affectionate, fun" and many other things. It is really dumb to think he only likes her because of her body and her face, especially after so many years and after he told her he loved her and she broke his heart, such argument is just non-sensical. I don't even like them together, but even I can see that.

 

 

I don't recall Leonard ever saying he found Penny warm, affectionate or fun. ???? In fact I don't recall any words about anything other than her looks, not so far. It's all "she's hot".

 

Also, yes, Penny kept it a secret and didn't want anybody to know about the picture (or so it seems) but she didn't say this to Leonard. How is he supposed to know, she was the one keeping it a secret after all.

 

 This is the kind of thing you expect from Howard, not Leonard. It's another "I have a hot girlfriend" gag.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Spaced_up

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

I don't recall Leonard ever saying he found Penny warm, affectionate or fun. ???? In fact I don't recall any words about anything other than her looks, not so far. It's all "she's hot".

 

 

 This is the kind of thing you expect from Howard, not Leonard. It's another "I have a hot girlfriend" gag.

 

one I can think off the top of my head "she’ll be beautiful, and kind and sexy and funny and everything you ever wanted in a woman...and you’ll fall hopelessly in love and give her your heart. And she’ll take it and grind it into pathetic, little pieces."

but of course, you'll only take the "sexy part" and it's fine.

 

Sorry I cannot come up with more, but I really don't care for the Lenny anyway so a Lenny shipper might wanna take it from here. All I was saying is that, again, is really naive to think he only likes her for her body after so many years and after so everything that happened between them.

[terriblewaitress]

I don't recall Leonard ever saying he found Penny warm, affectionate or fun. ???? In fact I don't recall any words about anything other than her looks, not so far. It's all "she's hot".

 

 

 This is the kind of thing you expect from Howard, not Leonard. It's another "I have a hot girlfriend" gag.

 

god forbid leonard is happy he has a hot girlfriend. the horror! 

 

he's proud of her ambition to become an actress, you can see that when he sees her play. and she cares for him like nobodys cared for him before. oh, and when he thinks she finds him childish for being into comic books and all those nerdy collectibles, she tells him that's what she likes about him - she accepts him for who he is, she's not judgemental. she tries to understand his work even though she has no idea about physics. i would write more but i'm not going to write an essay about qualities which attract leonard to penny because you seem very intent on thinking he just finds her hot, so i'll leave it here and get back to writing my lenny fic now.

[Disgusted]

one I can think off the top of my head "she’ll be beautiful, and kind and sexy and funny and everything you ever wanted in a woman...and you’ll fall hopelessly in love and give her your heart. And she’ll take it and grind it into pathetic, little pieces.".....

Sorry I cannot come up with more,

Penny: God, what is wrong with me?

Leonard: Nothing, you're perfect.

Penny: Ach! I'm not perfect.

Leonard: Yes you are.

Penny: You really think so don't you?

 

 

I have seen nothing that indicates that Leonard has changed his mind.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Disgusted

[phantagrae]

Penny obviously didn't want people to know about the movie. Also where are all these examples that Leonard likes Penny for anything but her appearance? When he was asked "what do you talk about?" he had no answer both times. What does Leonard like about Penny? The show has played up the fact he finds her attractive but not much else, so far.

 

I don't think Penny was aware of the movie being online, so I don't think that she was going around trying to burn copies of the film wherever it might be.  Do we know what her reaction was when Sheldon told her that Howard had found it when she first moved in.  Sheldon says that they've seen it, and I don't recall Penny being crushed or anything.  I think that to her it was an embarrasing moment in her early career--and I'm sure all actors have such things in their background--but she wasn't seeking professional help to get over the trauma.  It was a cheaply, probably badly, done slasher movie, not a porno.  She made a novice decision to go along with being topless and she's embarrased about it, but that seems to be the extent of it.  She isn't going to brag about it, and she's happy it never got released, but she's not going to slash her wrists over it.

 

I think that the things they talk about are not things that Leonard goes around trumpeting--they talk about their insecurities, they enjoy each other's company--we see these things when they're eating dinner quietly together, and more lately, in talking about talking to each other.  They're opening up with each other and over the years it's been an organic everyday kind of conversation.

Of course he's not asking her for her thoughts on physics or what he should do about whatever project he's working on.  I imagine that most accountants don't come home and ask their registered nurse wives how to straighten out a client's tax problem, nor does the wife ask her husband how to handle a medical procedure.

 

And obviously the "what do you two talk about" questions are meant to punctuate a funny moment, not to seriously ask Leonard for an explanation.  He doesn't owe anyone an explanation of what it is that draws the two of them together.  And it wouldn't be funny if all of a sudden at the end of a punch line he delivered some speech about all the "how was your day" conversations, or whatever.

That type of question is meant to underscore the differences between them, not to seriously ask that question.

 

Though he was initially drawn to her beauty, she wasn't drawn to him physically.  And if all Penny wanted was sex from a boyfriend, well, she has had plenty of chances for that.  And he probably could have continued to have sex with someone like Dr Stephanie--who was closer to him on an intellecutaly/educational level--if that's all he was looking for, but she obviously wasn't like Penny.  She wanted to change Leonard and pushed her way into his life faster than he wanted to, and she tried to solve all of their issues with sex.  Of course, we didn't see them break up, but it obviously happened after he told her to move back to her own place.

 

I think that "what they talk about" has always been there underneath the top layer of his physical attraction to her.  They've been very good about showing how their friendship has developed, which led her to appreciate him in ways she hadn't considered before, and led him to realize that she's got a different type of intelligence than he's used to dealing with.

 

Of course, they're always going to play up the juxtaposition of nerd/pretty girl, and that punchline is part of it.

Do you really see more good stuff than when he came home from the North Pole? I think his North Pole return had a lot more Lenny stuff than this one. This one is more like he is back, lets have a few days of sex and try to avoid Sheldon, then return back to where we were before.

 

The North Pole return had less together time for them than this one does, since he repeatedly "couldn't catch a break" and then when they finally caught that break, they were weirded out by the sex.

 

In this instance, they're in a strong place in their relationship, they've both been missing each other, and he makes a point of "catching a break" by hiding out at her place in order to afford them the together time they know they won't get once Sheldon knows he's back.

Of course they are found out fairly soon, as I recall, but though we obviously wouldn't see every minute of them hanging out, it is implied that he was there at least one or two days before Sheldon finds out.

 

I think that's much better than the North Pole experience.

 

But of course things are going to go back to more or less where they were before--because Leonard still lives with Sheldon and the focus is almost always on the group as a whole.  Besides, his return involves the whole group, not just Penny.

[rickfromillinois]

I don't recall Leonard ever saying he found Penny warm, affectionate or fun. ???? In fact I don't recall any words about anything other than her looks, not so far. It's all "she's hot".

 

 

 This is the kind of thing you expect from Howard, not Leonard. It's another "I have a hot girlfriend" gag.

How terrible!  Leonard thinks that Penny is good looking.  How could he?   What a low life.   Did Penny do the movie of her own free will?  Did Leonard drug her, take off he clothes, then made a movie of it?  Did he make a movie of her in the shower without her knowledge?  Here's a crazy idea, if you want to blame anyone, blame PENNY for taking off her clothes.   Besides, showing part of her mommy parts in a movie doesn't make her a bimbo.  Both women and men have breasts of various size.  SO WHAT?

[I.Am.Molly]

Do you really see more good stuff than when he came home from the North Pole? I think his North Pole return had a lot more Lenny stuff than this one. This one is more like he is back, lets have a few days of sex and try to avoid Sheldon, then return back to where we were before.

 

You're right there may have been, however back then there were only the guys and Penny to focus on. The writers now have to put scenes in for all the characters, so there is obviously going to be less Lenny stuff, however the scenes we have between them, from what i can tell are good ones. Leonard is home early to spend a few days alone with Penny before announcing his return to Sheldon and the rest of the guys. Its sweet and romantic and yeah probably to do with sex too but come one of course its going to be! Its been four months! haha We even have them relaxing on the sofa flicking through pictures of his time away. Penny is wearing the locket he gave her! Things are good between them in this episode, so why focus on the negatives from the last one? Especially when it is something that, as a few have said, is probably going to be completely forgotten about after the episode airs.

[Tensor]

Besides, showing part of her mommy parts in a movie doesn't make her a bimbo.

Of course it does, I mean look at Hellen Mirren, Judi Dench, or this group . Obviously all a bunch of bimbos...Wait.... Never mind.

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

Of course it does, I mean look at Hellen Mirren, Judi Dench, or this group . Obviously all a bunch of bimbos...Wait.... Never mind.

 

Exactly LOL

 

Helen Mirren was in Caligula. That movie was practically  porn. hum. ok, Helen Mirren was in Caligula and she's still Helen Mirren :D heck, Peter O'Toole was in Caligula!

JOHN GIELGUD WAS IN CALIGULA

Edited August 29, 2013 by Sursonica

[Disgusted]

Exactly LOL

 

Helen Mirren was in Caligula. That movie was practically  porn. hum. ok, Helen Mirren was in Caligula and she's still Helen Mirren :D heck, Peter O'Toole was in Caligula!

JOHN GIELGUD WAS IN CALIGULA

 

In the name of the people, and the senate of Rome, I have no idea what you're talking about.

[SRAM]

I don't think it really is anything about Penny being topless, it is about a secret she didn't tell her boyfriend and him showing it to the crew, when she is ashamed of it.  Add Sheldon to the mix and it could come out at any time, in a future episode, remember this is the same nut case that told Penny, Leonard thought they had disappointing sex.

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

I don't think it really is anything about Penny being topless, it is about a secret she didn't tell her boyfriend and him showing it to the crew, when she is ashamed of it.  Add Sheldon to the mix and it could come out at any time, in a future episode, remember this is the same nut case that told Penny, Leonard thought they had disappointing sex.

 

But Leonard doesn't know that she's ashamed of it.

[SRAM]

But Leonard doesn't know that she's ashamed of it.

 

 

I know, that is what could make it worse.  He mentions it, she doesn't know he saw it, she is ashamed and runs away, there is a fight when he tries to fix things.  How many times have similar things happened in the show.  It caused him and her to stop dating, after one date, when he tried to fix her being ashamed she was not as smart as him.

[Chiara]

But Leonard doesn't know that she's ashamed of it.

Indeed, her feelings about the film and that scene in particular have no bearing as far as Leonard is concerned since he does not know about theme. 

 

I think the problem some of us had/have with Leonard showing that film/scene to his crewmates has to do with the intention behind it. If he is just happy and proud that his girlfriend is an actress and proves it to his colleagues with the only piece of evidence he has (i.e. the film in question), then everything is fine. If, conversely, there is an undertone of "Yeah, I'm hitting that, losers", it becomes a tad more problematic.

There is of course nothing wrong with finding one's SO beautiful and wanting the rest of the world to agree. However, there is a fine line between that and trophy territory. 

 

While we know there is more to Leonard's affection than mere physical attraction, it would be nice for him to acknowledge it and, perhaps, for Penny to hear it. In the early days of their acquaintance, he used to think of her as perfect but he is much wiser now (he asked her out in season five in spite of having thought it through). Does he know then why he loves her so, aside from her remarkable looks ?  

If he does, I'd like to hear his reasons. 

If he does not, I'd like to hear that too. After all, there is something interesting about being in love with someone and not quite understanding why. 

The repetition of the "hot girlfriend" trope is OK in and by itself; it is harmless and sometimes very funny (the hostage-like photograph for the Comic Con friends was priceless). Nonetheless, it would be lovely to have something slightly more substantial on the side. 

 

If it happens, good. It it does not, I shall endeavour to live through the pain

[phantagrae]

I know, that is what could make it worse.  He mentions it, she doesn't know he saw it, she is ashamed and runs away, there is a fight when he tries to fix things.  How many times have similar things happened in the show.  It caused him and her to stop dating, after one date, when he tried to fix her being ashamed she was not as smart as him.

 

I think you're really overthinking the whole thing.  If the movie had been released back when she filmed it, would it have made a difference?  He may or may not have ever run across it, or whatever.  It's just a stupid low-budget movie that never got released.

 

Is she ashamed of the film?  Or just embarrased?  As someone else said, I can't imagine a scenario when he would bring it up, or why they would fight about if they did.  They're in a great place in their relationship, not in the precarious place they were at at the beginning of S6, they've talked about their insecurities, etc.

They have had misunderstandings and miscues, but that was before they really developed their relationship.  The community college thing was SOOO long ago, and half of that problem was the way he went about trying to "fix" a problem that didn't need fixing.

 

I don't think their relationship is so fragile at this point that Penny wouldn't be able to ultimately laugh this off, especially now that she knows that he's already seen it--AND DOESN'T THINK LESS OF HER FOR IT.  He's seen her bad gorilla slasher movie and her topless scene and HE'S STILL IN LOVE WITH HER.

 

Even if it comes up at some point (which I rather doubt) it's going to be played for laughs, not as some kind of break-up scenario.  Really.

[I.Am.Molly]

I know, that is what could make it worse. He mentions it, she doesn't know he saw it, she is ashamed and runs away, there is a fight when he tries to fix things. How many times have similar things happened in the show. It caused him and her to stop dating, after one date, when he tried to fix her being ashamed she was not as smart as him.

These two have grown a good bit since then though. Just look at the Valentines day episode. That could have escalated, as could almost all of the fights they had in season 6, but the writers made a point of showing the two of them talking through their problems. I don't see why that would change now.

[Letícia Parsons Jackson]

These two have grown a good bit since then though. Just look at the Valentines day episode. That could have escalated, as could almost all of the fights they had in season 6, but the writers made a point of showing the two of them talking through their problems. I don't see why that would change now.

I agree Molly.

I think that, after this Valentines Day episode, they will have a stable relationship now. Maybe they'll have some fights, but nothing more than an argument and during only one episode

[Tensor]

If it happens, good. It it does not, I shall endeavour to live through the pain

Or in my case, I'll live through the PEN.