Although The Big Bang Theory relied on its three main characters equally, one surprising statistic proves that the hit sitcom did a lot less to illustrate one protagonist’s backstory. When The Big Bang Theory began, the show’s main characters seemed to be Johnny Galecki’s Leonard and Kaley Cuoco’s Penny. Leonard was a shy scientist with a crush on his neighbor, while Penny was a carefree aspiring actor who was blissfully unaware of her neighbor’s romantic intentions. By the time The Big Bang Theory’s finale aired, the show’s cast had undergone a significant shift and its protagonist wasn’t so obvious.
Although The Big Bang Theory’s entire cast of characters appeared in almost every episode, the show focused on Jim Parsons’s Sheldon more as it continued. Sheldon was the breakout character of the series, as evidenced by its first spinoff, Young Sheldon. Although he was initially a comic relief character who provided a perfect foil for the lovelorn Leonard, Sheldon gradually came to dominate the show’s action. By the time The Big Bang Theory forgot Penny’s acting dream, the show was devoting more time to Sheldon and Amy than its original central couple, Penny and Leonard.
Ironically, the best episode of Young Sheldon was the same outing that proved The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff needed to abandon its original premise.
Penny’s Parents Barely Appeared In The Big Bang Theory
Leonard and Sheldon’s Mothers Were Regular Fixtures
Leonard’s cold, clinical mother Beverly racked up an impressive 16 guest appearances while, in contrast, Penny’s mother Susan got a total of one episode as Penny’s mother.
However, a look back at how many episodes the central trio’s mothers appeared in proves that The Big Bang Theory took Penny for granted from the start. Sheldon’s mother Mary, whose younger self went on to become one of Young Sheldon’s main characters, appeared in 13 episodes. Leonard’s cold, clinical mother Beverly racked up an impressive 16 guest appearances while, in contrast, Penny’s mother Susan got a total of one episode as Penny’s mother. Season 10, episode 1, “The Conjugal Conjecture,” finally revealed Susan, who was played by Katey Sagal in a cute nod to Cuoco’s 8 Simple Rules role.
While this episode was perfectly passable, Susan’s comparatively tiny role proves that The Big Bang Theory was less invested in Penny’s backstory than Leonard and Sheldon’s origins. Mary’s central role in Young Sheldon came about as a result of her popularity in The Big Bang Theory, with Laurie Metcalf frequently stealing scenes as Sheldon’s zealously religious mother. Similarly, many of Leonard’s character flaws were blamed on his unfeeling mother, who was a relatively reliable presence throughout the show’s twelve seasons. In contrast, Penny’s parents had a minor role since The Big Bang Theory was less interested in her story.
Penny’s Lack of Backstory Proves The Big Bang Theory Undervalued Her
Sheldon and Leonard Received More Story Focus Than Penny
It is clear on a re-watch that The Big Bang Theory didn’t take as much of an interest in her as the show did in Leonard and Sheldon.
The lack of backstory that Penny receives is particularly striking since she was a new arrival when The Big Bang Theory began. One could reasonably assume that her backstory would have been a subject of interest for Sheldon and Leonard, yet her family received less screen time and story focus than even Raj’s parents. Even though Young Sheldon’s series finale referenced Penny, it is clear on a re-watch that The Big Bang Theory didn’t take as much of an interest in her as the show did in Leonard and Sheldon. Later seasons made this issue worse.
Recurring jokes about Howard’s mother ensured his family also had a role in the series, while Raj’s parents were seen relatively regularly via video calls. Even though Amy wasn’t introduced until season 3, episode 23, “The Lunar Excitation,” her parents still graced the screen before Penny’s mother appeared. Even the parents of comparatively minor supporting characters like Bernadette were introduced before Penny’s mother, Susan, despite how often Beverly and Mary appeared in the intervening years. As such, Young Sheldon’s Penny reference felt like a poor substitute for character development in the series itself.
The Big Bang Theory Made Penny’s Character Betrayal Worse
Everyone Else’s Parents Appeared Before Penny’s Family
Although Amy’s mother was recast after her first appearance, she still appeared in three seasons of The Big Bang Theory compared to one episode for Penny’s mother.
Raj’s father, V M Koothrappali, made 15 appearances in the series, eventually showing up in person after his divorce. Raj’s mother and sister were also regular fixtures, while Howard’s unseen mother was featured in countless outings. Although Amy’s mother was recast after her first appearance, she still appeared in three seasons of The Big Bang Theory compared to one episode for Penny’s mother. Since Penny herself was only absent for two episodes in the show’s entire run, it is striking to see just how much more focus the rest of the gang’s parents received.
Looking back on The Big Bang Theory’s finale, it is hard to deny that Penny’s character arc is underwhelming. Not only does she give up on her acting ambitions, but she also becomes pregnant in the finale after spending years adamant about her decision to not have children. Penny’s dreams and desires are secondary to the rest of the characters, as evidenced by how little screen time her parents received in The Big Bang Theory’s twelve seasons.
