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

[pinkhairedcutie]

I think what really bothers me most is just that they had Raj and Penny sleep together as a part of a cheap joke. A cheap joke that is encompassed by the following: 1) the 'Penny gets around' gag (e_e), 2) Raj still won't talk to her even after they were intimate together (dumb...), and 3) That she was 'ruined' for Leonard (although he will probably still do her again eventually). It probably won't be followed up much in the next season unless it's to bring attention to the fact that Penny is 'slutty

[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

[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

[pinkhairedcutie]

Yes, agreed

[montglanechess]

As much as I enjoy the show, I've always been disturbed by the Leonard/Penny "relationship" and find that the writers really haven't (as someone above pointed out) fleshed her out any further than "love interest with a 'faily' professional life". I also hate the double-standard that "makes" her sexual life A) anyone's business B)"slutty" C)the target for slut-shaming
whereas the boys sleep around as little or much as they can and there's no real comment. I see this far too often (i.e. all the time) and frankly Big Bang Theory's consent crappy portrayal of female sexuality probably ranks up there with Bones as my least favorite examples (if Booth never opened his mouth about sex again I'd die happy).

I hold out no hope that the situation will change or that the writers will suddenly use the Raj/Penny hook up as a 'wake up' of sorts and have her grow as a well-rounded person or actress or something. This is why I stick with fanfic--it's less depressing and generally less sexist.

[__hibiscus]

Oh, wow those comments. People sure like to use "slut" in association with Penny. Wtf at the person who commented that Penny can't be the sex symbol of the show if she's fat. Really

[errorsinconduct]

Yup. I really miss season 2 where Penny was taken out of the Lenny equation for a while and she took care of the guys and generally had something to do (not to mention had more scenes with Sheldon as result).

I actually wrote a fic once in which Penny learned Klingon and as a result realized she could learn languages and get a job through them. I'd be interested in Raj development too: he has been neglected too this past season. Maybe next season he could go into therapy? They already tried medication.

Well, the line about the house of Hofstadter was in relation to Leonard's sister actually, but I feel that some of the comments give off the impression that Raj "ruined" Penny, which is just so archaic. I think that Penny being with someone she's known for four years is hardly a reason to call her those names, but apparently things are different in this fandom :/

[notalwaysweak]

Wtf at the person who commented that Penny can't be the sex symbol of the show if she's fat.

I think she's absolutely lovely. She's not fat at all; she's very fit and healthy. But then I didn't particularly think Dr. Stephanie was fat either and she got slammed at the time, IIRC.

As far as Raj talking to women goes, it reminds me of an arc in Order of the Stick where one character couldn't speak intelligibly and their speech was rendered in code, for about a 100-strip story arc. It was funny for a little while, then it was silly, then it was just a pain in the ass.

[errorsinconduct]

I think what they were referring to was the scene in which she and Raj wake up together. I'm not sure but that scene may have been intended to come off as unflattering. It is the only scene of which I'd agree that she didn't look like her usual self. I had seen Stephanie in a show "Less than perfect" (I think, could be wrong) and when she was on TBBT I was just "yay!" But yes, people didn't hold anything back with her. Then again, there are people who outright hate Leslie..appearance+personality. Aww.

Whenever people write IIRC, I start to miss IRC :) only 2 weeks left, sweetie. Then I'll be home.

I haven't been annoyed with Raj due to his inability to talk to women, I feel it's like if he had a disability, this is how his friends would react to it, accept it as a part of him but give him smack about it too. I had a friend who was epileptic and she gave smack about being epileptic better than no non-epileptic person could, I thought it was so funny :) The ability to laugh at one self is important. But seriously off-topic now.

the writers

[lpm2001]

Are these the same writers who write or wrote for Two and a Half Men? This is also Chuck Lorre's other show -- I am beginning to believe that he is a half-assed producer who has no talent. The writers are writing for cheap thrills and figures that is what the audience wants. I guess they look at Penny as the female Charlie. The audience could accept Charlie's behaviour and not Penny's. That is a double standard!