TBBT Finale: Internet backlash regarding Penny

[errorsinconduct]

 The fourth season of the Big Bang Theory drew to a close few weeks ago, and as we all know, the writers decided to go out with a bang and give us a Penny and Raj hook up. The hook up has caused a lot of controversy. Some are calling this the moment the show jumped the shark. Some are angry at both Raj and Penny, or congratulate Raj and shame Penny

Comments

[creek_chub]

At this point, I almost dread a Sheldon/Penny hook-up. I think Penny should be able to engage in sex, so long as she is safe about it. But I'd be so annoyed if she ended up sexing all four of the main guys...

This. So much, this.

Honestly, I ship Sheldon/Penny very loosely. I think it could work within very specific conditions and I don't think the writers of the show could write those conditions believably, so the most I would ever wanted was maybe an allusion to a Sheldon/Penny hookup at the end of the series.

However, I don't even want that anymore. Yes, Penny is an adult and can sleep with whomever she pleases. But at the end of the day she's still just a fictional character being manipulated by an author...and thus every action we see her do is one that defines her. That's one of the first things you learn in Creative Writing 101, you don't put in gratuitous information, everything you put down is there for a reason, whether it moves the plot along or is character expository.

That means, if she were to eventually hookup with Sheldon, it would indicate that the writers found it important to show us that Penny's character is willing to bed-hop among friends...and that sort of cheapens the relationships for me.

I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly...for example, In That 70s Show, Jackie was with Kelso as her first love. Ok, I can deal with that, she started out the show as pretty naive with certain expectations and we as the viewer didn't really know anything else about any previous romantic affairs. Then, as she matured some and went through some stuff, she ended up with Hyde. Even that I could get on board with because I thought they had great chemistry and he was the type of guy she needed in her life, plus the dynamic of the group had changed, so it didn't come across as weird.

However, through the whole run of the show, the writers had a running joke that Fez had a crush on Jackie. As well as him being somewhat of a pervert and sometimes coming across as somewhat homosexual. Then, in the series finale, Jackie ends up with Fez.

Let me tell you, that was a WTF moment for me. Maybe I could have seen it a little more of a resolution of their Fez-has-a-crush-on-Jackie joke if they hadn't had her hookup with Hyde at any point. But the fact that he was now the third guy of the group that she hooked up with made me feel like suddenly they were trying to portray her as the type who falls for anyone who's being nice to her at the moment. It really negated (to me) a lot of the work the writers had done for her growth as a character.

If Penny really did end up with Sheldon at ANY point now...I'm afraid it would be a bad reflection on the writer's view of their own character (not that it already doesn't kind of suck.)

[weasleytook]

I see what you're saying here, and I do think with the current crop of writers for the show, that any relationship between Sheldon/Penny would definitely be handled badly and they would make sure that it didn't reflect well on her character because they don't know how to do things organically AT ALL.

But in the hands of more caring and conscientious writers, people who actually LIKE Penny, I think it could still be done right even with Penny having been with both Leonard and Raj now. It's not a new concept to television to have multiple "hook-ups" within a group of friends. And it's not even an unrealistic concept in real life. (I've seen it in my own life with friends.) And I think if you treated Sheldon/Penny as something more than just a "hook-up", it could be done very well (as evidenced by some of the talented fic writers we've had come and go around here over the years). Her dynamic with Sheldon is VERY unlike her dynamics with Leonard and Raj, so I still believe it could work.

(All of this is said with the caveat that I'm pretty sure it NEVER will happen, and if it did, it would be disappointing because the writers of BBT are more interested in the cheap and easy laugh over character development.)

[pinkhairedcutie]

Yes, agreed!

At this point, I feel like the Sheldon/Penny ship may have sailed. At least, I don't think it can be done without it bringing about a lot of baggage within the characters and changing the group dynamic. Sheldon has a thing with Amy, Penny has been to bed with Leonard and with Raj. Unless the writers make everyone be indifferent or lessen the shock/awe of the relationship (which I'm not sure if I can suspend my disbelief for that), it would make a bit of a stir.

I also disliked that the last thing Raj and Penny even talked about was that she shouldn;t have broken up with Leonard. That there is what makes me feel like this was just a part of the gag and won't be a relationship worth exploring. Penny seems to have had sex with Raj because she was exasperated with her lack of a relationship with her ex-boyfriend. It makes her seem flakey, in a way. And I don't think she should be portrayed like that. I also hate that it was alcohol induced. It's like the writers were like, "How can we feasibly get these two in bed?" ... "ALCOHOL! That's right, it's what we ALWAYS use! Hahahahaha."

Bluh.

I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly...for example, In That 70s Show, Jackie was with Kelso as her first love. Ok, I can deal with that, she started out the show as pretty naive with certain expectations and we as the viewer didn't really know anything else about any previous romantic affairs. Then, as she matured some and went through some stuff, she ended up with Hyde. Even that I could get on board with because I thought they had great chemistry and he was the type of guy she needed in her life, plus the dynamic of the group had changed, so it didn't come across as weird.

However, through the whole run of the show, the writers had a running joke that Fez had a crush on Jackie. As well as him being somewhat of a pervert and sometimes coming across as somewhat homosexual. Then, in the series finale, Jackie ends up with Fez

Yep, I've watched That 70s Show and I understand what you mean. I...found Jackie/Fez to be awkward, personally. And I tend to dislike 'partner swapping' in TV shows typically. It's like the writers get bored with one dynamic and then just decide to switch over rather than try to make the original pairing work (not always, but it happens a lot).

[errorsinconduct]

I may not appreciate everybody-is-with-everybody-soapy-style kind of writing, but sometimes changing the main couple works and people embrace the new couple with open arms. I hate to use this as an example, but on GG they moved from Nate and Blair to Chuck and Blair, and the latter couple became hugely popular. Although, since then the show has become so offensive to women that it's unwatchable due to Chuck's actions..but I digress.
On a general principle I believe the writers have courage if they try a second relationship. If they develop Raj and Penny and build an actual relationship, maybe it will be alright..although, with the writers they have now, it seems unlikely.

[pinkhairedcutie]

Yes. I think that Raj/Penny has more potential than Leonard/Penny and if I felt like the one-night stand was actually going to go somewhere, I'd actually be commending the show. But knowing the writers, they won't and it seems like it will be a gag that will only repeat itself to mock the characters.

I also don't like soapy style swapping, but I can appreciate a couple switch. But not multiple ones, because it gets annoying. ):

Btw, I read through your journal a few days via a post at community-101 and I looooove your entries (especially the Community stuff). So, now's a good a time as any... I was wondering if I could friend ya? :D

[errorsinconduct]

Thanks, and sure, we can be friends :)
The link didn't come through. Via a post at what? Community_tv?

[pinkhairedcutie]

:D Awesome!

And oops, I just noticed, but yeah. It was at community_tv, you linked to your analysis of Annie, I believe.