Several couples and romantic storylines have graced the screens, but only a few have managed to completely enamor the audience. In this regard, Ross and Rachel from the sitcom Friends have set the golden standard. But on the other hand, Penny and Leonard from The Big Bang Theory have their own ingredients for a standout romance.
While the show progressed with the duo creating the same magic as Ross and Rachel, the later episodes completely turned their plotlines upside down, which led to viewers criticizing the show’s writers on Reddit.
Leonard and Penny Could Have Rivaled the Romance of Ross and Rachel
Both sitcoms had a lot of common elements. From a star-studded ensemble to several romantic subplots. But in the cinematic universe of television after Ross and Rachel, it seemed as if no on-screen pair could rival what the duo had on Friends. But to the surprise of the audience, The Big Bang Theory brought in the pairing of Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco as Leonard and Penny.
At the core of their relationship, both characters are completely opposite to each other. Penny’s free-spirited element was completely in contrast to Leonard’s socially awkward demeanor. But despite this, the couple was just drawn to each other. The same ‘Will They/Won’t They’ storyline, just like Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), was followed here as well, with the couple breaking up several times during the show. But they would eventually find their way back to each other.
The early seasons of the show managed to capture this charm and romance very efficiently, but the same cannot be said about the latter seasons, especially seasons 9–12. A fan took his frustration to Reddit and detailed what he felt about the constant fights and issues between Leonard and Penny. Further, he added that the duo’s incompatibility really shines during these seasons. Reading this, another user commented:
To me it was just a tired attempt of adding some drama. On the very first episodes of their marriage they looked totally okay and happy. I liked their relationship because, behind their differences, they were psychologically very alike.
All in all, the characters were so different that it made their romance even more interesting. The viewers loved their interactions and how their storyline was progressing, but in the later seasons, it felt as if the writers completely wasted the potential that the characters could have achieved.
Kaley Cuoco Was Obsessed With Johnny Galecki When They First Met
Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco brought the Leonard and Penny romance to the screen for 12 long seasons. During this time, the characters had several ups and downs as well as breakups. But the show concluded with the duo getting married and expecting their first child together.
However, in real life, the actress was completely in awe of Galecki when she met him for the first time to shoot the pilot episode of the hit sitcom.
She revealed this in a 2020 interview on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast. Cuoco added:
When we did the pilot, I was just crushing so hard on Galecki, and he had a girlfriend. (Further) I was obsessed.
The sparks between the duo were so strong that they embarked on an off-screen romance as well in 2008. During this period, the duo was “mad” about each other. But eventually decided to end their relationship in 2010. However, despite this, the duo maintained a strong professional front and continued to be good friends for the rest of the season.
You can stream all the seasons of The Big Bang Theory on Max.
