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From the pilot episode to the final, The Big Bang Theory has been about Leonard and Penny's relationship. From their multiple breakups to their multiple weddings, Leonard and Penny's relationship has seen it all. The show starts with Penny moving into the apartment across from Leonard and Sheldon, and almost every season finale has something major about their relationship, arguably making them the central couple of the show.
Penny and Leonard's relationship has been tumultuous to say the least. So, here's an exploration of the iconic relationship arc throughout the 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory.
Penny and Leonard's relationship arc throughout The Big Bang Theory
In many ways, Leonard and Penny are at the centre of The Big Bang Theory. Leonard and Penny introduced Bernadette and Howard, who ended up getting married as well. They are the ones who could be credited with most of Sheldonn's growth as a person, as he says in his Nobel Prize Acceptance speech:
"Because this honor doesn't just belong to me. I wouldn't be up here if it weren't for some very important people in my life. Beginning with my mother, father, meemaw, brother, and sister. And my other family, who I'm so happy to have here with us."
"I was under a misapprehension that my accomplishments were mine alone. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been encouraged, sustained, inspired, and tolerated not only by my wife, but by the greatest group of friends anyone ever had."
"And my two dearest friends in the world, Penny Hofstadter... and Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I was there the moment Leonard and Penny met. He said to me that their babies would be smart and beautiful. And now that they're expecting, I have no doubt that that will be the case."
Here's a timeline of their relationship in The Big Bang Theory
Leonard and Penny in Seasons 1-3 of The Big Bang Theory: A series of firsts
Leonard and Penny meet for the first time in Season 1, Episode 1, the Pilot episode, when she moves across the hall from them. From the first time Leonard spots Penny, he has a crush on her, and he spends the majority of Season 1 trying to woo her. Penny finally gave in, and they went on their first date in the season finale of the first season.
Penny: "You know, just once, I would like to go out with someone who is nice, and honest, and who actually cares about me."
Leonard: "What about if you went out with me?"
Penny: "Yeah. Why not, I mean, what do I have to lose?"
She didn't have anything to lose, but a lot to win.
Even though Penny and Leonard had their first date in season one of The Big Bang Theory, they didn't go on a second one until season three. They break up for the first time, mostly due to miscommunications, and Leonard puts his foot in his mouth when Penny expresses that she was worried she wasn't educated enough to go out with Leonard. Instead of reassuring her that a college education was not all it was hyped up to be, he hands her a brochure for a community college.
Both date other people in The Big Bang Theory Season 2, much to each other's chagrin, but when Leonard leaves for the North Pole expedition in the Season 2 finale, Penny expresses that she still has feelings for him, to herself (and the audience) that she wishes he weren't leaving.
When Leonard returns from the North Pole in Season 3, he is greeted by Penny with a long kiss. They start going out again this time, and even set Bernadette and Howard up, but end up breaking up again after Leonard says "I love you" too soon for Penny's comfort, and she replies with a "Thank You" (that one's gotta hurt). They break up soon after but end up sleeping together once more around the season three finale of The Big Bang Theory. This is a one-night stand, much to Leonard's disappointment.
Penny and Leonard in Seasons 4-6 of The Big Bang Theory: Are they going to get back together, again?
Season 4 was disappointing for The Big Bang Theory fans, who shipped Leonard and Penny, as they spent most of Season 4 trying and failing to be friendly with each other post their breakup. Leonard dates Priya, Raj's sister, who is not comfortable with Leonard and Penny being friends, causing them to spend even less time together. Leonard and Priya end up breaking up with each other, close to the season 4 finale, and he ends up getting back together with Penny (yet again) mid-Season 5 of The Big Bang Theory.
Seasons 5 and 6 are extremely important in Penny and Leonard's relationships, as they appear to be in it for the long haul. They have mature conversations about the miscommunications (to be more frank, about the fact that Leonard keeps proposing), their relationship, and their future.
Penny says "I Love You" to Leonard for the first time in Season 6, Episode 8. Ironically, she says it to him during one of their fights, not realizing that she'd said those big three words:
Leonard: I don’t know. It’s hard sometimes. Everywhere you go guys hit on you, even if I’m standing right there. And they are all taller than me. Why is everyone always taller than me?! You know what? This is all in my head. It’s my problem, not yours.
Penny: Leonard. Why do you always do this? Listen to me. You are the one I’m with. You know I love you. So would you please relax--because you are driving me crazy!
Leonard: You know that’s the first time you ever said that you love me.
Penny and Leonard in Seasons 7-9 of The Big Bang Theory: Finally Married!
Leonard and Penny are finally in a committed relationship, and everything seems to be going well until the group discovers that Penny is already married to Zack. Even though it was not a real marriage, they need to get it annulled. Penny and Leonard navigate through this hiccup and eventually get officially engaged once Penny accepts that she will one day marry him.
Aside from a few bumps, when Penny starts earning more than Leonard in pharmaceuticals, their relationship is at its best. They even drive to Vegas and get married in The Big Bang Theory Season 8 finale.
The Big Bang Theory Season 9 witnesses Leonard and Penny (and Sheldon) adjusting to their life as a married couple.
Penny and Leonard in Seasons 10-12 of The Big Bang Theory: Endgame
Fans of Penny and Leonard in The Big Bang Theory finally get to witness them getting married again in Season 10, this time to include their friends and family. It makes for very interesting and dynamic episodes, watching Leonard's, Penny's, and Sheldon's families coming together.
The latter seasons of The Big Bang Theory put Leonard and Amy's relationship on the back burner, focusing more on Amy and Sheldon, navigating his growth. Both Leonard and Penny have a marriage full of love and comfort, with small hiccups here and there, the biggest of which is Penny being unsure whether she wants a baby.
Even though Penny is unsure whether she wants kids, and the couple agrees not to have kids for the time being, life has other plans for them. The final few episodes of Season 12 of The Big Bang Theory witness Leonard and Penny telling the group that Penny is pregnant.
Leonard: Penny, we are made of particles that have existed since the universe began. I like to think those atoms have travelled 14 billion years through time and space to create us so that we could be together and make each other whole.
Penny: Right..um..okay. Leonard, I mean, you’re not only the love of my life. I mean, you’re my best friend. You’ve got a friend in me. You got troubles. I got them, too. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. We stick together, and we can see it though…cause you got a friend in me.
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