Wishful Thinking...

[Idle Miscreant]

I get a vague sense that what I was hoping for out of Big Bang was a human version of 3rd Rock from the Sun. Something slightly surreal that shed light on a variety of humanity's foibles through the characters' interactions with/observations upon the world.
Principally of course through Sheldon, who would move throughout the pointless tawdriness like an oriental prince through a pit of pig swill.
What they did instead was dunk the prince's face in the swill over and over again whilst chanting to the gormless peasants that milled to watch; "See! He's human, he's human! He's flawed! Just like you and you and you....and you sir, eating the groats out of the gutters, he's LESS than you because he THINKS he's so great, whereas you KNOW you're a colossal arsebiscuit..." etc

Sheldon was akin to the Dick character, who although pompous and occasionally mildly ludicrous, had a wholly justifiable arrogance and inherent dignity. His moments of weakness, moreover, worked with the character rather than diminished it.

Now, for whatever reason (and we have several...generally centering around neutering Sheldon in a paradoxical effort at making him "shipworthy") they've decided to turn Dick into Harry. But not lovable Harry, who was (similar to Vintage Sheldon) protected by his innocence, but just an idiotic, obtuse, floundering house-pet.

And Penny, well, good grief...she's turned into some sort of pointless, sarcastic, weary, dime-a-dozen sitcom blonde. Penny used to subvert that caricature, now she's the bloody poster boy for it.

I'd hoped for even ONE scene like this for Penny;