AlthoughThe Big Bang Theory’s twist ending wasn’t justified, the most unexpected revelation in the series finale could have been a perfect ending for Penny and Leonard’s story.Young Sheldon’s finalewas set up years in advance sinceThe Big Bang Theory’s first spinoff was a prequel to the original show.
Although viewers didn’t know the specifics of when George Sr. would die or Sheldon would end up at CalTech, the basic events of the character’s backstory were established byThe Big Bang Theory. As such,Young Sheldon’s ending was fairly satisfying, as its various twists and turns felt well-established and thoroughly foreshadowed.
In contrast,The Big Bang Theory’s endingwas the result of much less planning. The show’s narrative arc wasn’t preordained sinceThe Big Bang Theoryhad no predecessor, so its storyline wasn’t set in stone before the show began. Most ofThe Big Bang Theory’s cast of charactersgot a happy ending, but there were still some loose ends.
The Big Bang Theory’s Leonard/Penny Pregnancy Twist Came Out of Nowhere
Penny Was Insistent About Not Wanting Children
Raj’s fate was particularly disappointing for some viewers ofThe Big Bang Theory, since the character who spent the most time waxing lyrical about love and romance was the only one who ended up alone. WhileRaj’s character had other problems, the fact that Kunal Nayyar’s character didn’t end up in a relationship unlike every other member of the gang was an oversight.
However, as noted byVulture’s Kathryn Van Arendonk, Penny’s surprise pregnancy announcement might have been the most disappointing part of the finale’s story. Not only was this massive life change sidelined in favor of Sheldon’s Nobel Prize acceptance ceremony, butThe Big Bang Theoryalso failed to explain why Penny changed her mind about having children off-screen.
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Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
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For much ofThe Big Bang Theory’s 12 seasons, Penny was adamantly child-free. She was a rare sitcom heroine who had no interest in raising children, and she made it clear to Leonard that this was a major decision she didn’t intend to change her mind on.
Penny and Leonard’sThe Big Bang Theorycommunication was never a strong suit, but the show’s heroine still managed to make it clear that she was certain she never wanted children.
Even earlier in season 12, she was understandably upset when Leonard spoke to her father about the possibility of the pair having children in the future.Penny and Leonard’sThe Big Bang Theorycommunicationwas never a strong suit, but the show’s heroine still managed to make it clear that she was certain she never wanted children.
What made the sudden about-face in the series finale so disappointing was thatThe Big Bang Theorycould have justified Penny changing her mind about children. After all, the sitcom had a long history of changing characters almost completely, while still maintaining enough of their original personalities for their appeal to shine through.
The Big Bang Theory’s Pregnancy Twist Could Have Fixed Penny’s Disappointing Arc
Penny’s Career Plans Were Never Clarified
When Howard was first introduced, he was a shamelessly sleazy, often genuinely odious character who thought nothing of spying on Penny with a webcam hidden in a teddy bear. By the series finale, he was a loving husband and a doting father, but his redemption took place so gradually that it never felt likeThe Big Bang Theorychanged him overnight.
Howard’s transformation is proof ofThe Big Bang Theory’s solid character writing, but he is far from the only character to undergo such a change. WhileYoung Sheldon’s finale proved Sheldon’s character changedidn’t stick completely, his speech inThe Big Bang Theory’s series finale was a testament to the depth of his newfound humility.
Penny’sThe Big Bang Theoryarc proves that the show never really knew what to do with her after she and Leonard got together.
Over the years, Sheldon was forced to contend with the reality that he couldn’t get by without the help of his friends, colleagues, and family. He fought this thought at every turn but eventually admitted that he relied on them and wanted them to be able to rely on him, too.
In contrast, Penny’sThe Big Bang Theoryarc proves that the show never really knew what to do with her after she and Leonard got together. First, Penny gave up on acting and started working in sales, butThe Big Bang Theorynever focused on whether she was happy in this new career.
If an earlier episode had seen Penny tell Leonard that she wanted to become a parent instead of focusing on her new career, this could have justified the series finale’s twist and centered on her character’s journey. Penny’s forgotten acting career feels like one ofThe Big Bang Theory’s tragedies, but it could have been an opportunity for her character to change instead.
Young Sheldon’s Finale Made The Big Bang Theory’s Ending Twist Worse
Penny Passed Down Her Love of Acting To Sheldon’s Daughter
To make matters worse,The Big Bang Theory’s first spinoff inexplicably clarified that Penny never gave up her love for acting.Young Sheldon’s finale revealed that Penny passed her love of acting down to Sheldon’s daughter, much to the title character’s comical chagrin. This was a fun nod to Penny’s passion, but one with sad implications.
The Big Bang Theoryis available to stream on Hulu.
Judging by the fact that she passed her love of acting on to Sheldon and Amy’s offspring, it seems pretty obvious that Penny never wanted to stop acting after all. This sad revelation would have been ameliorated if the original show revealed that she wanted to be a mother more than an actor, but instead, Penny seemed surprised by her pregnancy.
LikeNew Girl,How I Met Your MotherorFriends,The Big Bang Theorywas a hang-out show.
Leonard and Penny didn’t seriously discuss children except for numerous instances when Penny reiterated to her partner that she didn’t want to have them. WhileThe Big Bang Theory’s spinoffs explored dysfunctional familiesin more depth, the original series was about friendship. LikeNew Girl,How I Met Your MotherorFriends,The Big Bang Theorywas a hang-out show.
The Big Bang Theory’s Finale Twist Highlights A Major Series Issue
The Show’s Focus On Leonard and Penny Waned In Later Seasons
Earlier hang-out shows have often been accused of treating children less as living, thinking people, and more as plot devices designed to highlight a character’s new life stage. From Lily and Marshall to Schmidt and Cece, children are a harbinger that the central group’s time for hanging out is coming to an end and their exodus to suburban family life is overdue.
However, this trade-off worked much better for Leonard than Penny. Leonard always liked his job and, marrying Penny, he got the girl of his dreams. However, asThe Big Bang Theorycentered Sheldonand Amy more, it became increasingly obvious that Penny’s happiness was an afterthought. Sadly,The Big Bang Theory’s sudden finale twist epitomized this.
