Penny's Best TBBT Episode Was Thanks To This Relatable Binge-Gaming Scene
Though the central cast of "The Big Bang Theory" is widely known to be highly intelligent scientists, the series also takes great pains to show what colossal geeks the main characters are. From "Star Wars" to superhero comics and everything in between, Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Raj (Kunal Nayyar), and Howard (Simon Helberg) are intensely passionate about their various fandoms.
However, this is part of why an outsider character like Penny was so important for the series. Penny (Kaley Cuoco) provides an audience surrogate who might not always know what the boys are going on about, which gives "The Big Bang Theory" the chance to bring everyone in on the joke.
Still, one of the series' best episodes turns this notion on its head by having Penny be the one obsessed with something nerdy and the other characters trying to pull her out of it. In Season 2, Episode 3 ("The Barbarian Sublimation"), Penny finds herself addicted to a massive multiplayer online role-playing game, a situation that many gamers who watch the series will be able to relate to easily.
Some fans found the episode incredibly relatable and well done
While many gamers will have undoubtedly waded into the dangerously addictive waters of MMORPGs, what makes Penny's falling into this world so funny is that she's the outsider. Being that many viewers in the target audience of "The Big Bang Theory" will likely have had that non-gamer friend that took a spin on "World of Warcraft" or "Genshin Impact" only to get totally hooked makes the juxtaposition that much more amusing.
From gaming at all hours of the night to descending into sloth-like filth, Penny checks all of the warning signs that many gamers will no doubt have seen in themselves or their friends. On the r/bigbangtheory subreddit, fans weighed in on why they found the episode so relatable.
"I loved how deep into it she got until Howard asked her to join him," recalled u/missblissful70. "She definitely was completely addicted." Here the user is referring to when Penny finally sees that she has a problem because she agrees to hang out with Howard, who she generally despises, in-game.
Meanwhile, u/gwadams65 had some sage advice for any fledgling gamer. "When SHELDON tells you that you're playing video games too much, it's time to stop and reflect," they wrote. Finally, u/KyrieAlaina noted how this episode of "The Big Bang Theory" helped to show another side of Penny to viewers. "I've always considered this one of my favorite episodes," they wrote. "I think it really helps develop her character and helps Penny to see things from a different perspective."