A quick recap of tonight’s Big Bang Theory episode would go something like this: Sheldon and Bert collaborated on a Geology project, but Sheldon didn’t want anyone to know; Raj went on a date with Bernadette’s co-worker, Ruchi, and later hooked up with her; and, sadly, Amy and Bernadette didn’t have much to do.
But perhaps the best—and potentially most over-looked—part of “The Geology Methodology” was the continuation of #JusticeforPenny (that’s right, Stranger Things 2 isn’t the only show that gets the justice hashtag).
Last week, Penny got revenge for years of blonde dumb jokes by effortlessly taking care of baby Halley, resulting in Halley saying her first word—”mama”—to Penny. The week before, Penny pulled off the near impossible by learning how to expertly handle an immature Sheldon.
And tonight, Penny continued her ascent as the season’s best character by masterfully putting Sheldon in his place after he attempted to slut-shame her. It all started with Sheldon coming to Penny for work advice, saying he’ll ruin his reputation if anyone finds out he’s working on a Geology project. Penny gives her opinion, but Sheldon can’t make up his mind whether or not to take it, which prompts the following exchange:
Penny: This is about science. Why’d you come to me?
Sheldon: Because it’s also about reputation. And somehow, you managed to hold your head high despite your checkered past.
Penny: Checkered past?
Sheldon: It’s a figure of speech referring to how sexually promiscuous you were.
Penny: Really?! Well I’ve got a figure of speech about how sexually promiscuous you can go be with yourself.
PHOTO: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros.
Sheldon being Sheldon, he had no idea what that was in reference to. For the rest of us, it was a great response to a ridiculous remark. For one, having casual—and hopefully safe—sex is nothing to be ashamed about. And two, it’s none of Sheldon’s business what Penny does in private. What’s even more ironic is that at the same time Sheldon is slut-shaming Penny, in another scene Bernadette and Howard are pushing Raj to have casual sex with Ruchi. Once again, the narrative is that it’s OK for a guy to have casual sex—but, according to Sheldon, a woman has a “checkered past” if she conducts her life in the same manner. SMH.
Later in the episode, Raj pays a visit to Penny’s therapy corner kitchen (I mean, she should start charging a fee at this point) and asks for advice with Ruchi. When Raj tries to convince Penny that he can handle a casual relationship, and Penny serves up the honest truth in the form of facial expressions and jumbled laughs, Raj wants to know why she keeps “doing that with your face?” Her response: “Because you keep saying stupid things with yours!”
Clearly, Penny is not here for anyone’s stupidity. The only crime is that her role in this episode was to service Raj and Sheldon’s story, and not her own. Hopefully, we’ll see more #JusticeForPenny as this season of The Big Bang Theory continues.
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