In an effort to carry on...
bubbmail, If you prefer, we can start a new thread on this subject. You were treated with discourtesy and other, long standing animosities have now taken your thread completely off-topic.
...one person respectfully explained why I was wrong and I said it was the best answer I had read.
bubbmail, I'm afraid you misunderstood my reply. You are not wrong. I was merely trying to offer insight into Penny's character without unduly influencing your opinion, or revealing too many spoilers.
You are in fact quite right, there is no immediate bond of mutual affection between Penny and the 4A chaps. She is just a simple, sociable girl, completely on her own for the first time. She is in emotional distress and severely reduced financial circumstances after her break with Kurt. She initially responds primarily to Leonard's persistent offers of hospitality, kindness and utility. The group bond takes a good deal longer to develop.
In addition, the eye-rolling, sarcastic, self-absorbed, opportunistic, dismissive, self-entitled Penny you cite in Series 1 continues to display those qualities in Series 9. (Remember that she and Sheldon share a number of personality traits.) However, they are both slowly evolving through interactions with each other and the remaining members of the expanded group.
At one time or another, every character exhibits the most appalling behaviour. However, we gradually learn their backstories and often see
why these people behave the way they do. Disliking a character does not prevent one from taking those factors into consideration.
What is interesting is that the writers inverted the initial premise. The sexy, "street-smart" neighbour is the one who is an unrelenting bungler. Her shallow, carefree values lead to a failed career, bad choices, critical money woes and a string of handsome men who use, betray and disappoint her. We never see her other "party pals" offer any emotional, financial or professional advice or support.
You ask why she hangs out with the 4A folk? They may be lonely outsiders, but without them, Penny's future could easily become an unmitigated calamity. One cannot get through a lifetime on cleavage, or knowledge of Brittany Spears music. One cannot pay the power bill with sexy selfies, nor properly judge a man's worth by his comely face and impressive physique.
Over time, though she guides her nerd friends through mainstream culture, it is these "losers" who unwittingly teach her the most important life lessons.
By this time you may have met Stuart, the acquaintance who owns the comic book store. In Series 7, he says "Penny brought Leonard out of his shell. Seems like Leonard makes Penny think more deeply about the world. I don't know, together you two kind of make one awesome person."
That is actually a good standard by which to measure the entire group dynamic. These damaged, imperfect, infuriating people learn from each other; they are better together than on their own. They have formed a fractious but funny and devoted ad hoc family. That is why Penny continues to hang out with them, and they with her.
«C'est la guerre.» «Oui, mais on peut la faire poliment.»
reply
share
SeinfeldFriend
8 years ago
Wow. What an eloquent and thoughtful explanation of the series! Bravo!
reply
share
synchary
8 years ago
Kind of you to say. I sensed that despite his distaste for certain elements, the OP was seeking encouragement to continue with the series. I was trying to give him a broader view, but regrettably, he appears to have been put off by the posters even more than the programme.
«C'est la guerre.» «Oui, mais on peut la faire poliment.»
reply
share
ppllkk
8 years ago
synchary wrote:
but regrettably, he appears to have been put off by the posters even more than the programme.
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. I don't find it "regrettable."
bubbmail wrote:
I think people like yourselves who are further into the show forget just how hostile things were between Penny and the group during season 1...and the first few episodes of season 2.
Hostility between Penny in the group? The only hostility comes from Sheldon, and he treats his best friends with the same hostility.
people don't roll their eyes when they're happy. They dont use every opportunity for sarcasm with people they like.
That is just nonsense. The other men in the group do that with Sheldon. I do it with some of my best friends.
Hmmm. And now that's made me hate Penny. I think I might be done with this show.
A fine example of the posters intelligence and intellectual sophistication.
As if a hot girl would ever CHOOSE to hang out with a bunch of nerds who treat her like crap.
Again it's really only Sheldon, and he treats everyone that way. Howard is annoying but that is not the same as treating her like crap.Penny does not take Sheldon seriously enough to be seriously offended. Mostly people are seriously offended by Sheldon, but for Penny, he might as well be a space alien.
If you think (based on Season 1 and the first half of season 2) that penny and the guys are friends, then 1) You're watching the wrong show. Or 2) you need to check you definition of friend.
I never said that they were friends, and you have to distinguish between Sheldon and the other men. The OP talks elsewhere about hostility from the group and that is nonsense.
Before you reply you may want to watch season 1 through again to see what I'm saying.
Yeah, sure I might want to. The OP is making the unwarranted claim that if I watch Season One again, I will see what he is saying.But given the poster's insistence that Penny's sarcasm and rolling her eyes is a clear indication that she is unhappy, I don't think I'll bother.Oh, and then there was this:
Well I'm not going to read 75% of what you wrote because you quote too much and it's an awful way to read a reply. It's clear what I said, it's right above your comment. I wasn't aware people debated by repeating everything the other person said first.
I don't think that a comment should be necessary.
reply
share