Ship Zone [Spoilers]Leonard And Penny Season 8 Thread

[Nogravitasatall]

Is that when the sex comes back?During the semi-poverty and creativity?

turps=wine?

Turps can mean wine. Anything drinkable really.

And I guess I'm going back to the odd coupling scenario, but middle class or penniless, still no reason for it not to be big bang. That part is messing with me.

[Strawberry PopTart Fan]

Turps can mean wine. Anything drinkable really.

And I guess I'm going back to the odd coupling scenario, but middle class or penniless, still no reason for it not to be big bang. That part is messing with me.

There,there.(pats shoulder)

[Nogravitasatall]

There,there.(pats shoulder)

I'm ok. I'm compensating fine (see turps). But they do need a stor.y Not as custodians- and I dont think bridzilla gags can have a long run.. . Maybe the pillow idea is a good one, but challenging to make funny in execution.  I'm rusted on anyway. But going back to acting is maybe an s10 thing. To bring it all full circle.

 

Trying not to whine about the "no sex thing". But its hard. difficult.

[Strawberry PopTart Fan]

I'm ok. I'm compensating fine (see turps). But they do need a stor.y Not as custodians- and I dont think bridzilla gags can have a long run.. . Maybe the pillow idea is a good one, but challenging to make funny in execution.  I'm rusted on anyway. But going back to acting is maybe an s10 thing. To bring it all full circle.

 

Trying not to whine about the "no sex thing". But its hard. difficult.

Here's a nice hot beverage for you.  Everything will be just fine.

[SRAM]

I would like to see Penny face a decision between her "stable" career and an acting opportunity that comes up. Maybe taking the audition means missing out on an important sales event or work function. It'd be great to see her confronted with her true desires.

I'm sort of hoping something like that happens. Maybe she gets offered something because a director saw her in the movie she did.

[Tensor]

I'm sort of hoping something like that happens. Maybe she gets offered something because a director saw her in the movie she did.

 

Maybe a nice role on a television show that explains science for kids.  

[SRAM]

Maybe a nice role on a television show that explains science for kids.  

I think I read a story about something like that before (LOL).

[Martin Pollard]

But why does Penny need to return to being "the old Penny" (with a couple of enhancements; Penny 1.5 instead of Penny 2.0) in order to be acceptable? Are some of you really unable to accept change, thus the only way you'll be happy is if things go back to the way they were (ala Sheldon)? Many of you claim to be open to change and growth, but when one of the characters actually starts to show it, you want to slam on the brakes and kick things into reverse. Is it that you're open to change and growth, but only on your terms? I don't get it...

Edited February 5, 2015 by Martin Pollard

[fitzsimmons]

I'm sort of hoping something like that happens. Maybe she gets offered something because a director saw her in the movie she did.

 

I don't think it's an accident or a fluke that we have the girls watching her movie in this week's ep. I think (at least, I hope) the writers are getting ready to remind us why Penny came to the city in the first place. I would be really sad if we never get to see Penny get that big break. Kudos to the writers for making it exceptionally believable with how long it takes someone to "make it" in this city, but I hope they haven't dropkicked that for good.

[MTBigBangTheoryFan]

It would be nice if they gave Penny some Success with her Acting Career. I am not saying they need to make her a Million Dollar Movie Star and A+ Celebrity overnight but a little success where she get a Role in a Big Play that gamer a lot of attention and is a Medium success and she start to get recognize a little bit but not to the point where she pulling in the big stuff and everywhere she look their paparazzi following her. 

 

So sometihng a long the line of like Joey from Friends

[SRAM]

But why does Penny need to return to being "the old Penny" (with a couple of enhancements; Penny 1.5 instead of Penny 2.0) in order to be acceptable? Are some of you really unable to accept change, thus the only way you'll be happy is if things go back to the way they were (ala Sheldon)? Many of you claim to be open to change and growth, but when one of the characters actually starts to show it, you want to slam on the brakes and kick things into reverse. Is it that you're open to change and growth, but only on your terms? I don't get it...

This is an easy one to answer. We want Penny to go back to acting, to follow her dream, she is not passionate about her sales job, she is passionate about acting. We want the typical story of a country girl coming to the big city following her dream, then making it. We want the fairy tale story, not the story of Penny having to settle because the job she has pays the bills and has a 401k. This is the time she could do it too, she has Leonard who will support her no matter what, because he just wants to make her happy. That is the real story, it has nothing to do with growing up or being old Penny. Some of us are dreamers and want Penny to get her dreams. Sorry you can't seem to understand that.

[Nogravitasatall]

@Martin.

What SRAM said.

And it's the contrast. Its a fantasy anyway. Why not root for the incongruent and unlikely. That was part of the initial hook. It might be nostalgic but it's all unreal anyway. It's fiction, Martin. We can wish for whatever we want. And Penny is now in a corporate rat race. Some wish something else good for her.

[Martin Pollard]

And it's the contrast. Its a fantasy anyway. Why not root for the incongruent and unlikely. That was part of the initial hook. It might be nostalgic but it's all unreal anyway. It's fiction, Martin. We can wish for whatever we want. And Penny is now in a corporate rat race. Some wish something else good for her.

 

Thank you, Nograv, I am aware that it's fiction. But why go back to acting? Been there, done that, failed miserably. A lot of people have tried to achieve their dream, but faced with the reality that their dream might not happen, have moved on to other things that they've found rewarding. So far, all indications are that Penny has done that with her sales job (and not everyone considers the "corporate rat race" to be the equivalent of the Tenth Level of Hell), so why can't you let her be happy with that? Why does she need to be pushed back into acting, a dream that she's (apparently) come to terms with never happening? And if you want her to do something other than the "corporate rat race," why not something completely different? Acting is so seasons 1-3.

[SRAM]

But think back to how happy she was when she got the commercial or the almost scene in NCIS, she was bouncing off the walls. Now do you remember her being that happy about the sales job? I think Bernadette and Leonard were happier than her. Nogravitasatall is right, fantasy is more fun to watch than real life. Plus the character Sheldon is a fantasy, no one exactly like him would survive in the world he is portrayed in, his keeping his job after all he did is pure fantasy.

[Nogravitasatall]

Thank you, Nograv, I am aware that it's fiction. But why go back to acting? Been there, done that, failed miserably. A lot of people have tried to achieve their dream, but faced with the reality that their dream might not happen, have moved on to other things that they've found rewarding. So far, all indications are that Penny has done that with her sales job (and not everyone considers the "corporate rat race" to be the equivalent of the Tenth Level of Hell), so why can't you let her be happy with that? Why does she need to be pushed back into acting, a dream that she's (apparently) come to terms with never happening? And if you want her to do something other than the "corporate rat race," why not something completely different? Acting is so seasons 1-3.

I guess its becasue i wish it so. And symmetry. She really really wanted it  - why should she give it up - and they could close with her getting what she wanted rather than settling for what she stumbled into.  Maybe its a personal  thing. I wanted to be an astronaut. I still am following the SpaceX progress agog. I think it would be nice for her to close out with realising her dream. Then *curtain*.

[meka3000]

This is an easy one to answer. We want Penny to go back to acting, to follow her dream, she is not passionate about her sales job, she is passionate about acting. We want the typical story of a country girl coming to the big city following her dream, then making it. We want the fairy tale story, not the story of Penny having to settle because the job she has pays the bills and has a 401k. This is the time she could do it too, she has Leonard who will support her no matter what, because he just wants to make her happy. That is the real story, it has nothing to do with growing up or being old Penny. Some of us are dreamers and want Penny to get her dreams. Sorry you can't seem to understand that.

 

I thought they made it clear the last two seasons that she was more passionate about the glamorous & perky lifestyle that came with the acting gig, than the struggles that would come with it.  Heck in the engagement episode she made it clear that she thought she wanted to be in movies to be happy.  But she wanted the man that made her happy.

 

After the last 2 seasons I thought it was clear that she was more passionate about the people she interacts with on a daily basis.  And that an acting gig would give her the chance to interact with people she would be passionate about.  By season 7 I think she realized that she doesn't need to be in movies to realize she can interact with people she's happy with.

[Tensor]

I thought they made it clear the last two seasons that she was more passionate about the glamorous & perky lifestyle that came with the acting gig, than the struggles that would come with it.  Heck in the engagement episode she made it clear that she thought she wanted to be in movies to be happy.  But she wanted the man that made her happy.

 

After the last 2 seasons I thought it was clear that she was more passionate about the people she interacts with on a daily basis.  And that an acting gig would give her the chance to interact with people she would be passionate about.  By season 7 I think she realized that she doesn't need to be in movies to realize she can interact with people she's happy with.

 

Actually, they didn't make it clear, they left it ambiguous.   Her exact words in 7.23 The Gorilla Dissolution were:

 

 I finally realize I don’t need to be famous or have some big career to be happy.

 

Notice it says nothing about acting, just about being famous or a big career.     Now, your interpretation is  quite valid, but so is an interpretation that she would be quite happy with small parts in TV and Movies and being married to Leonard.  YMMV

[Itwasdestined]

"The opening episode of Season 8 will see Penny working as a pharmaceutical sales rep. According to Molaro, [the new job] "... will be taking up a lot of her time and energy" and her acting career, which has failed to take-off, has been "put on the backburner for a while."

Career not over just in hiatus, so says the boss. The decision to put her in the middle class sales job was always an interesting experiment by the writers for me. There was always that issue of dependence in the background of the Penny story and a constant source of jokes that even without being with Leonard she still got free food.

The change in storyline from financially struggling wannabe actress to financially secure sales rep has made her feel good on a certain level but in a way it's what has also sort of sucked the magic out of Lenny.

The car scene last year was a massive highlight for Lennies that showed Leonard's commitment and love and Penny's absolute joy was beautiful. That emotional moment was almost cancelled out by her returning the money this season and while it had some funny moments and the photo was super sweet it was symptomatic of the different secure, happy but passionless Lenny.

When I read the taping report about the girls night watching apeist, I was thinking like Michy-maybe they are sowing the seeds of a possible return. And like nograv, I enjoy the fantasy of the unlikely career hope ( I still dream of releasing my Christmas album!) over the mundane story of a content sales rep with money.

While I don't 100% disagree with Martins viewpoint, I'm in the camp of Penny/Lenny were more fun and passionate in the acting scenario. Practicality and stability might say stay a sales rep but for more entertaining, exciting viewing - and I'm talking about the sex and kissing ( I have reruns for that fix ) - I too vote for the acting return. Molaro certainly didn't throw it out permanently from the opening quote.

Edited February 5, 2015 by Itwasdestined

[hokie3457]

The phrase "back burner for a while" let's us know that the acting will return in some form---maybe community theater or a series of local commercials. Even some sort of local cable show.

As far as romantic, fun and interesting plot or story lines for Leonard & Penny with the blonde across the hall in her "mainstream" career, we really don't know if they would be as entertaining because of the writing choices made in this Season 8.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[cAntonio Santos]

I thought they made it clear the last two seasons that she was more passionate about the glamorous & perky lifestyle that came with the acting gig, than the struggles that would come with it.  Heck in the engagement episode she made it clear that she thought she wanted to be in movies to be happy.  But she wanted the man that made her happy.

 

After the last 2 seasons I thought it was clear that she was more passionate about the people she interacts with on a daily basis.  And that an acting gig would give her the chance to interact with people she would be passionate about.  By season 7 I think she realized that she doesn't need to be in movies to realize she can interact with people she's happy with.

she is not going back to acting, i think she is happy where she is now carrer wise, making good money, with the love of her life, Leonard.  no acting for her.

[meka3000]

The change in storyline from financially struggling wannabe actress to financially secure sales rep has made her feel good on a certain level but in a way it's what has also sort of sucked the magic out of Lenny.

 

I don't agree with this at all.  I think the magic faltering in Lenny has more to do with how little focus the couple has got than anything to do with Penny's career change.  Which I'll explain more below. 

The car scene last year was a massive highlight for Lennies that showed Leonard's commitment and love and Penny's absolute joy was beautiful. That emotional moment was almost cancelled out by her returning the money this season and while it had some funny moments and the photo was super sweet it was symptomatic of the different secure, happy but passionless Lenny.

 

I don't see how it takes away from that season 7 moment.  That moment was more about the fact Leonard was willing to put himself in financial hardship to help her, not about what happens to the car eventually.  That moment in season 8 was more about them not communicating about that situation than whether it was passionless or not.

While I don't 100% disagree with Martins viewpoint, I'm in the camp of Penny/Lenny were more fun and passionate in the acting scenario. Practicality and stability might say stay a sales rep but for more entertaining, exciting viewing

 

Again I disagree with this.  For most of the series Penny's acting career was in the background.  That changed in season 7.  I was watching season 6 not too long ago and her acting career was focused on in only 1 episode (where she appeared on "Fun With Flags"), the episode didn't really move her career forward nor backwards.  None of her career stuff really effected the season (with the exception of her going back to school for a short time).

 

I think the real reason Lenny hasn't resonated with us in a "magical sense" this season is because the couple has hardly been focused on.  Of the 16 episodes so far (taped & aired), only 3 of them have focused on their relationship (maybe 4 IF I was willing to be charitable and count "The Space Probe Disintegration" but the focus was more on Leonard & Sheldon's friendship than it was on Lenny).

 

I don't think it would be stretching things to say that the Prom episode is the episode that resonated with us the most this season.  To me it was the episode that showed me there was still magic for this couple despite the lingering doubts I had before that episode.  And this was accomplished WITHOUT a full on kiss on the lips.  And most importantly, the passion had NOTHING to do with Penny's career.

 

To go back to my example of season 6.  Of the 24 episodes, 11 of them were focused on the couple.  They kissed fully in 4 episodes, though only 3 of the episodes were in Lenny focused episodes (the 1 they did where they weren't the focus was "The Bakersfield Expedition").  Even the 8 episodes that were focused on them when they DIDN'T kiss, I still felt the fireworks between them.  I never got the sense that Penny's career choices or lack there of, had ANYTHING to do with the equation.

 

What I do think is the problem is that TPTB are taking a more conservative approach to writing the couple this season.  Again only 3 episodes have focused on their relationship this season.  2/3 of them that did could've been written/executed better IMO.  The lack of physical intimacy doesn't help either.  Though the banter between Penny and Leonard is still fun/adorable for the most part.

 

All the couple really needs is some well executed roadblock episodes for them and some actual FOCUS like they did in seasons past, they are capable of it. They've proven that time and again.

 

I don't want to give off the idea that writing a relationship on a show is an exact science, it's not.  Sometimes it's better for a relationship to be in the background, sometimes its better for them to have some focus, I think the only thing most of us are willing to agree on is the execution being questionable.

[eirwinrommel]

I'm not too unhappy after seeing tonight's episode. While there wasn't that much lenny, what there was was good. We got to see Leonard inspired by Penny (and don't think she'll forget that if he wins a nobel from this), and we got them acting like a regular couple when they were together. As a bonus we had Penny showing an intrest in Leonard's work (something else we haven't seen in a while). All in all good, funny episode.

Edited February 6, 2015 by eirwinrommel

[Nogravitasatall]

I'm glad the episode was fun. I still say they are fine as a couple, just under-utilised.

Maybe the acting aspirations coincided with a more dynamic depiction of the couple which was more satisfying to me than what we see now. Also, the setup of star-crossed and mis-matched lovers, across the popular culture/science divide was interesting. I'm not unhappy she is now better off now because hey, its a feel good show and the lack of success was getting slightly shabby. It would just be nice if it turned out she hadn't wasted 11 years working on the improbable dream, after all.

Now, what's next to look forward to for these guys? I forget.

[eirwinrommel]

We don't know that her time trying to be an actress was a waste. First, if she hadn't tried to be an actress she would have spent the rest of her life wondering what would have happened if she HAD taken her shot. Second, if she had stayed in Nebraska she wouldn't have met Leonard and who knows what kind of life she would have had (I'm going to assume worse). Third, it's just barely possible that something could still happen. Serial Apest 2 could turn out to be a cult classic like Plan 9. She and Leonard could go to Comic-Con and she'd be swarmed by fans wanting to know about her next project. Thus leading to a producer or director (also being there and seeing the reaction) asking her to be in their next movie. My point is that just because Penny didn't make it as an actor doesn't mean her quest was wasted.

Edited February 6, 2015 by eirwinrommel

[Nogravitasatall]

I should have used "wasted" or written spent or exerted or struggled. Because I don't think it was wasted time either. My bad. Onwards.