As a long-time fan of The Big Bang Theory, I found Kaley Cuoco‘s sentiments about Penny’s character development in the series finale quite relatable. Having grown up with these characters and watching their lives unfold on screen, it’s only natural to feel attached to them and have strong opinions about their choices.
When it comes to ending popular, long-running TV shows, it’s impossible for showrunners to please all of their fans. With the masses calling for a reshoot after finally seeing who took the crown in the final episode of Game of Thrones and public outcry over the controversial How I Met Your Mother ending that undid years of character development, the last moments can clearly make or break a series. CBS’s hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory unfortunately fell short of expectations for one of its beloved characters.
Following 12 hilarious seasons filled with geeky antics, endearing social fumbles, and countless chuckles, the sitcom concluded its run with the series finale titled “The Stockholm Syndrome” in the year 2019. The episode reached a climax with Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy’s (Mayim Bialik) Physics Nobel Prize win, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Howard (Simon Helberg) managing to escape their kids for the first time, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) parting ways with Anu (Rati Gupta), and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) trying to hide a pregnancy. While most viewers appreciated the ending, some fans and cast members expressed mixed feelings, among them star Kaley Cuoco, who felt discontented with Penny’s motherly destiny.
Kaley Cuoco Hates That Penny Ends Up Pregnant
As a movie reviewer, let me share my thoughts on this intriguing series:
Despite some reservations, the creators opted to conclude the series with an unexpected pregnancy for Penny, which turned out to be Leonard’s baby. In a 2022 interview with Jessica Radloff for the book The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Behind-the-Scenes Account of the Iconic Sitcom , Cuoco expressed her initial displeasure because it diminished the representation of intentionally childless women, stating, “I found the writers’ surprise pregnancy plot for Penny at the end to be adorable overall, but I was rooting against it. I appreciated that she kept saying, ‘No, I don’t really want them.’
The plot twist was incongruous not only with Penny’s character, reinforcing old-fashioned beliefs that all women aspire to motherhood, but also inconsistent with her professional growth. As a rising actress transitioning into a successful saleswoman at ZenGen, it seems implausible that the storylines of multiple seasons culminated in a domestic life she didn’t desire. The abrupt disappearance of Penny’s apprehensions about settling down adds to this unexpected turn of events.
Showrunners Defend Their Decision
It’s important to note that Kaley Cuoco wasn’t the only person interviewed for Radloff’s book. When an entertainment writer/editor posed questions about Cuoco’s comments to executive producer Steve Holland, he responded with empathy and admitted some agreement with her views. Holland stated, “I wish we had built up to that reveal a bit more, as some people argued, and perhaps rightly so, that Penny making the decision not to have kids and being content with it, then ending up pregnant, seemed contrived. Viewers felt, ‘Why does she need to have a baby? Why can’t she be happy without children?’ These are valid concerns.” In a similar vein as the controversial end of Game of Thrones Season 8, it seems that the showrunners hastily included this plot twist before viewers had fully grasped its significance.
In the final episodes, there’s a sudden leap forward in time, and even though Penny’s sudden change of heart seems abrupt, the production team attempted to make it more coherent with her storyline. They chose to reveal the pregnancy as a significant moment to honor Penny and Leonard’s relationship and the phrase that kickstarted their romance: “smart and beautiful.” Since the pregnancy wasn’t planned, it doesn’t entirely contradict Penny’s earlier wish not to have children. Characters, like people, can sometimes make unforeseen decisions in specific situations, making Penny’s ending a surprise for some fans, but not an impossible one.
A Full-Circle Finale
Regardless of Kaley Cuoco’s disappointment over Penny’s ending, she found solace with The Big Bang Theory finale. The last scene was filmed in Leonard and Penny’s living room, where the entire group gathered around a coffee table, enjoying Chinese food – reminiscent of the show’s initial setup. Cuoco found this scene “incredible” and derived comfort from the closing moments.
I was thrilled to wear the aqua-and-purple shirt again for that special moment, a shirt I wore in both the pilot and the hundredth episode. It truly reflected Penny’s character. Concluding things in such a manner, seated beside Leonard as he touched Penny’s belly… it was the ideal finale. I wouldn’t have wanted it any differently.
Despite the dramatic shift in Penny’s life trajectory, viewers can experience a satisfying conclusion that brings closure to their beloved characters, at the very place where it all began. By the way, did you know The Big Bang Theory is currently streaming on Max?
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2024-12-15 05:31