This ‘Big Bang Theory’ Fan Theory Changes Everything

Penny, played by the talented Kaley Cuoco, is one of the most important characters in The Big Bang Theory. She is introduced to audiences in the pilot episode of the series, and is the neighbor of the socially awkward physicists, Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Dr. Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki). Starkly different from the rest of the sitcom’s characters, Penny quickly became a fan favorite owing to the humor and charisma she brought to the series. Although not from the scientific field, Penny was part and parcel of the Pasadena crew and had a close relationship with each member of the group.

Although Penny has long been loved for the sense of normalcy and relatability she brings to The Big Bang Theory, a fan theory has suggested that Penny may not be who she portrays herself to be. Although bizarre, the theory suggests that Penny led a dual life, one in which she was a loyal friend that Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, Raj, Bernadette and Amy could confide in, and another in which she was a secret government spy, sent to keep an eye on Sheldon and his friends. Viewing Penny as a spy puts a new spin on the sitcom as a whole, but what are the indications that Penny could be anything more than a loyal friend?

Penny Didn’t Have a Stable Job but Sustained Her Lifestyle

For much of the sitcom’s run, Penny did not have a stable job. At the start of The Big Bang Theory, Penny had just moved from Nebraska to Los Angeles in the hopes of becoming a Hollywood actress. However, Penny’s career arc is chaotic, with the character switching jobs multiple times throughout the series.

Throughout the first few seasons of the series, Penny was a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory. With her dreams of becoming an actress not seeming to materialize, Penny relied on the low wages and tips at the restaurant to support her lifestyle. Despite her lack of skill on the job, as commented on by the Pasadena crew time and time again, her career as a waitress was the most stable job Penny held throughout the sitcom’s run. Penny eventually quits her waitressing gig to pursue acting full-time. However, this does not pan out and Penny goes on to become a pharmaceutical sales rep during the last seasons of the show thanks to Bernadette. It is only through this last job that Penny makes a considerable income.

Despite Penny’s lack of formal education and her multiple career jumps, Penny appears to sustain her lifestyle quite well. Although Sheldon complains that Penny lives off of him and Leonard, for example, by not paying for her own food, Penny still fulfills her shopping addiction and manages to pay her rent. Despite her financial struggles, she is never served an eviction notice or pulled up by her landlord. With her not having a stable income for much of the sitcom’s run, and nothing alluding to the fact that she is supported by her family, one is pushed to wonder how exactly Penny gets the resources she needs to live her life. Could the government be funding Penny?

Penny Maintained Close Relationships with Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj

While Penny makes friends with Amy and Bernadette, she also maintains a close relationship with Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj. She begins a relationship with Leonard and marries him, becoming pregnant with his child in the series finale. Penny also cares enough about Howard to recognize his struggles with women and sets him up with Bernadette, whom Howard goes on to marry. Raj, too, trusts Penny enough to confide in her, even with deeply personal matters such as premature ejaculation.

Similarly to her relationships with the other characters, Penny also maintains a close relationship with Sheldon, at times appearing to be more his friend than anyone else’s. Sheldon confides in Penny numerous times, opening up to her much more than he does to Leonard or even his girlfriend, and later wife, Amy Farrah Fowler. In fact, Amy explicitly states how envious she is of the relationship that Sheldon and Penny share.

Penny’s relationships with the group are not based on shared traits. Despite this, she is able to become a close confidante of each member of the group. Although odd, if Penny’s relationships are analyzed from the perspective of the character being a government spy, they do begin to make sense. Penny is tactful and skilled at integrating herself into the group. With her seeming naivety, she is able to get each character to open up to her, providing her with information that she can, in turn, report to the government.

Why Would the Government Make Penny a Spy?

In considering Penny as a spy planted by the government, a natural question regarding why an individual such as Penny was chosen for the role arises. Surely it would have been easier to plant a spy who had a scientific background similar to the Pasadena crew? Indeed, while the similarities would have meant a more natural and expected integration, having a seventh member from the scientific community itself would have made the sitcom less interesting. Moreover, the remaining members would likely have more thoroughly examined and been wary of Penny’s character were she from a science background.

However, Penny’s character is unassuming. Sheldon, Leonard, Raj and Howard’s first impression of Penny is that she’s a good-looking but air-headed individual. They view her simply as their neighbor, with a penchant for shopping and casual relationships and nothing more. It is precisely this quality that gives the group the confidence they need to confide in Penny.

None of them think that Penny could understand the complex scientific problems they discuss. As such, they have no qualms about engaging in conversation about their work while Penny is present. Penny’s open and friendly nature thus makes it easier for Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj to trust her, and they do not, for an instant, think that Penny may carry their secrets to a governmental organization, making Penny the perfect spy.

Related

15 Pop Culture References in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ That Hit the Nail on the Head

Big Bang Theory was always on point with its pop culture references in a way that only true science and comic book geeks could truly appreciate.

Although somewhat outlandish, the fan theory that Penny might be a secret government spy offers an interesting layer to Penny’s character. With audiences accustomed to viewing her as unassuming, one would not, in their wildest imagination, assume that Penny had a secret life as a spy. However, viewing Penny as a spy paints her character and interactions with the crew in an entirely new light, making The Big Bang Theory‘s narrative more complex than one would believe it to be. Stream on Max.