05-10-2014, 08:28 AM
In a way I feel sorry for the Lennys because the engagement was completely sans life. They are engaged. Pass the salt. I remember when Leonard asked Penny out on their first date how the audience was so jacked when she accepted. Penny and Leonard / Kaley and Johnny KNEW the importance of that moment and the audience echoed that back.
After seven years we get an engagement and it lacked that 'oomph'. It felt tired and inevitable, like the writers and actors agreed that they all knew where this was going so let's just skip to the end (blah blah a vast and troubled galaxy. Go!) The overall feel that 'huh, we're engaged. How about that?' puts me into one of those so-angry-I'm-quiet moments because I look at the mess the show has become to make sure that the Lenny has come to be and THIS is how the magical/untouchable relationship comes together?! THIS was worth stripping Penny down to nothing? THIS was the reason why the Shenny couldn't be?
Not that I'm saying there should have been a carriage and balloons proposal but all of the sacrifice of character, plot, dialogue, hell just plain ol' imagination are worth more than this. It's clear to me that the writers have no idea how much harm they've done to the show by insisting that a central plot point (Lenny) remains not only unalterable but takes precedent over all other organic changes that occurred whether it be actor chemistry (Jim/Kaley) or character dominance (Sheldon). Leonard/Johnny lost his lead position to Sheldon/Jim and those early seasons were by far the best (speaking as a nostalgic here I am a tad biased) because the writers/actors just went with the flow. Then someone read the original Lenny plotline, realized he needed a V8 and dragged and beat the show so as to come in line with the Lenny.
And so the Lenny limps along and with that the show. I realize this post doesn't come across too favorably towards the Lenny but as I've said before I find it the most puzzling of all the relationships on the show because I've never seen a couple with extraordinary screen time come together because the writers said they belong as opposed to seeing some sort of chemistry.
From what I got from Penny, her passion is Leonard and her friends and marrying Leonard is a good life decision. I now have an increased appreciation for Beverly Hofstadter and her observation that Penny suffers from an external locus of identity, only valuing herself as others value her. What makes this problematic is that thanks to the writers Penny has been taking in the comments/actions of Leonard and her friends while being oblivious to that fact that they devalue her character/ ambitions /career prospects/social life. Very convenient to have a drinking problem, no?
Leonard might be a pop-tart but as long as the show continues to keep the Lenny as the guiding light the rest of the series is toast.
After seven years we get an engagement and it lacked that 'oomph'. It felt tired and inevitable, like the writers and actors agreed that they all knew where this was going so let's just skip to the end (blah blah a vast and troubled galaxy. Go!) The overall feel that 'huh, we're engaged. How about that?' puts me into one of those so-angry-I'm-quiet moments because I look at the mess the show has become to make sure that the Lenny has come to be and THIS is how the magical/untouchable relationship comes together?! THIS was worth stripping Penny down to nothing? THIS was the reason why the Shenny couldn't be?
Not that I'm saying there should have been a carriage and balloons proposal but all of the sacrifice of character, plot, dialogue, hell just plain ol' imagination are worth more than this. It's clear to me that the writers have no idea how much harm they've done to the show by insisting that a central plot point (Lenny) remains not only unalterable but takes precedent over all other organic changes that occurred whether it be actor chemistry (Jim/Kaley) or character dominance (Sheldon). Leonard/Johnny lost his lead position to Sheldon/Jim and those early seasons were by far the best (speaking as a nostalgic here I am a tad biased) because the writers/actors just went with the flow. Then someone read the original Lenny plotline, realized he needed a V8 and dragged and beat the show so as to come in line with the Lenny.
And so the Lenny limps along and with that the show. I realize this post doesn't come across too favorably towards the Lenny but as I've said before I find it the most puzzling of all the relationships on the show because I've never seen a couple with extraordinary screen time come together because the writers said they belong as opposed to seeing some sort of chemistry.
From what I got from Penny, her passion is Leonard and her friends and marrying Leonard is a good life decision. I now have an increased appreciation for Beverly Hofstadter and her observation that Penny suffers from an external locus of identity, only valuing herself as others value her. What makes this problematic is that thanks to the writers Penny has been taking in the comments/actions of Leonard and her friends while being oblivious to that fact that they devalue her character/ ambitions /career prospects/social life. Very convenient to have a drinking problem, no?
Leonard might be a pop-tart but as long as the show continues to keep the Lenny as the guiding light the rest of the series is toast.
Let's go exploring!