‘The writers don’t know how to write women’
Fans point out the missteps of The Big Bang Theory writers in regards to Kaley Cuoco’s character Penny in the hit sitcom.
The Big Bang Theory has long been cherished for its distinctive characters, each of whom evolved in ways that resonated deeply with audiences. While the series carefully tracked each character’s growth, creating strong emotional connections, fans have pointed out moments where certain characters were significantly undermined.
A prime example of the same has been Kaley Cuoco’s character, Penny, in a Season 10 episode. Fans noted that the writers disregarded a decade of her character development, reducing Penny to a state of insecurity and frustration, a regression that felt out of place and disappointing.
The Big Bang Theory Undermined a Decade of Penny’s Character Development
The Big Bang Theory has often been subjected to criticism for the way the show handled Kaley Cuoco’s character, as many incidents illustrate how the sitcom fell short of doing the character justice.
Whether it’s portraying the character as the stereotypical pretty girl next door, the abandonment of her acting dreams, or the unexpected revelation of her pregnancy in the series finale, many arcs surrounding her have left fans unsatisfied.
One such notable example occurs in Season 10, Episode 13, The Romance Recalibration. The episode follows Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) struggle in their marriage, as Penny feels taken for granted in her marriage to Leonard.
Penny starts believing that Leonard has stopped making efforts in their marriage as he no longer brings her flowers, pays attention to small details, or tries to impress her. The couple ends up signing a relationship agreement by the end of the episode.
Such a shift in the character undermined any progress the character had made over time, reverting her to old, stereotypical behavior and feeling dissatisfied and impulsive.
In a Reddit thread, discussing some of the worst storylines on the show, one fan pointed out the episode as a prime example of poor character development. They also shared their criticism of the writers of the show for pursuing such an arc for the character.
“The writers don’t know how to write women,” they stated, arguing that Penny’s evolution was wasted in favor of portraying her as shallow or reactive while sharing their criticism for failing to create well-rounded female characters.
Chuck Lorre Admitted Regrets About Kaley Cuoco’s Character
The creator of the sitcom, Chuck Lorre, has acknowledged the shortcomings in the portrayal of Kaley Cuoco’s character, Penny, admitting that she was initially depicted unfavorably and was significantly underappreciated in the early seasons of the show.
“One of the most underwritten characters in the show early on was Penny,” he said in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. He also noted that Kaley was capable of much more than what the writers initially demanded of her.
It was really obvious immediately that we hadn’t developed the character beyond the pretty girl next door, and Kaley was certainly capable of doing a great deal more than what was asked of her. We had to make the character more fully realized. Not just for an episode, but always.
Although the realization did lead to some character growth, it still resulted in disappointing plot points, which even caused Cuoco to express her dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the series finale.
“I actually wished that they did not [make Penny pregnant],” she said. While she appreciated the writers’ efforts to bring a satisfying conclusion to her story, she added, “I was actually voting for her not to [get pregnant],” reflecting the sentiments of many fans.
