Over the course of its truly historic twelve season run, the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory introduced many unique, hilarious, and beloved relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or familial. But one of the first relationships introduced in the series is one that has resonated with fans even after the series' conclusion, regardless of whether they enjoyed their friendship or hoped for more between them.
We're talking, of course, about the dynamic duo known as Shenny - the pairing of genius theoretical physicist Dr. Sheldon Cooper with quaint Cheesecake Factory waitress slash aspiring actress slash pharmaceutical sales representative Penny. For twelve years, these two were one of the most consistently entertaining aspects of the series, as they navigated the waters between enemies and friends to become something truly unique and special. Here, we take a look back at their ten most memorable moments.
Penny helps Sheldon pick out a suit
Though he may be a genius in many ways, Sheldon has never been particularly fashionably inclined or knowledgeable. That's where Penny comes in. In the third season episode "The Pants Alternative," Sheldon is to receive the Chancellor's Award for Science. Penny takes him shopping for a new suit to celebrate the occasion.
What results is a truly hilarious and adorable montage of Sheldon trying on various suits that are absolutely offensive to the eyes, including a ridiculous checker patterned one, a sequined turquoise suit complete with bolo tie, and a white tuxedo. In the end, Sheldon settles on a simple black suit, and Penny's stunned gleeful reaction makes it all worth it.
Sea shanties and Penny blossoms
Though Sheldon and Penny spend plenty of time at odds in the series' earliest seasons, the second season episode "The Work Song Nanocluster" proves just what a great team these two can be, too. After Penny's business - creating hair clips called Penny Blossoms - goes viral over night, Sheldon teams up with her to produce the cute accessories as quickly as possible.
His solution to maximizing their production time? Assembly line style production, complete with the singing of sea shanties and work songs. The duo are absolutely adorable in their duet and their commitment to creating the best Penny Blossoms they can.
Penny sings Sheldon "Soft Kitty"
In the first season episode "The Pancake Batter Anomaly," Sheldon comes down with a cold and quickly learns just how little patience his friends can have for him. All of them except for Penny, that is. Tasked with playing doctor to the physicist, Penny brings Sheldon home and puts him in bed, then finds herself with an unusual request.
The sickly Sheldon asks Penny to serenade him with his favorite childhood lullaby, "Soft Kitty," since that's his go to comfort for when he's sick. Penny is clearly perplexed, but soon lovingly obliges, proving that she's one of the only people willing to deal with him when he's at his most difficult.
"Your Ken can kiss my Barbie."
As we've already established, Sheldon and Penny spent quite a bit of time in the frenemy territory. But there's one episode in particular in which these two were definitely more enemies than anything else: the memorable second season episode, "The Panty Pinata Polarization."
After Penny receives her third strike from Sheldon, she is banned from setting foot in the apartment. What follows is a war of the wills between the two of them, including strategic prank attacks like Penny taking all of the machines in the laundry room on Sheldon's specific night, and Sheldon hanging Penny's undergarments out on the telephone wire. All of the back and forth leads this hilarious exchange.
Sheldon: Woman, you are playing with forces beyond your ken.
Penny: Yeah? Well, your Ken can kiss my Barbie.
The seventh season premiere
When Leonard goes off for a research job in the North Sea, the seventh season premiere allows for an opportunity for Sheldon and Penny to bond further in his absence. Given the unofficial duty of taking care of Penny in her boyfriend's absence, Sheldon goes to lengths to try and understand Penny's feelings and vulnerable state, even if it's far beyond his comfort zone and understanding.
He even offers her a hot beverage during one of their signature bickering moments, and though the two wind up getting into an argument, it ends in a meaningful way. Sheldon shows his truly emotional side to Penny for one of the first times, leading to one of the more meaningful hugs between the unlikely duo.
The 200th episode
Few series these days are able to reach the esteemed 200th episode mark. Even fewer of them use that momentous occasion as an opportunity to pay tribute to one of their most beloved, but long ignored dynamics. But that's exactly what The Big Bang Theory did in their 200th episode, "The Celebration Experimentation."
After Sheldon becomes overwhelmed during his birthday party and secludes himself in the apartment bathroom, Penny is the one who goes to him and is able to get through to him. Furthermore, she reflects on the fact that, a long time ago, the girl she was would never have been friends with someone like him. But knowing Sheldon, and being his friend, has made her a better person.
Penny sings Sheldon "Soft Kitty" again
In the second season episode "The Vegas Renormalization," Sheldon is locked out of his apartment while Leonard is away and winds up taking refuge in Penny's place. She is generous enough to give him her bedroom, but at the end of the night, Sheldon still feels homesick for his own apartment, even though it's just across the hall.
He pleads with Penny for her to sing him his favorite "Soft Kitty" song, even though he may not technically be sick. Penny lovingly obliges, leading to a sweet moment in which Sheldon thanks her for allowing him to stay over, and a clearly touched Penny calling him sweetie.
Sheldon sings Penny "Soft Kitty"
Very few people are allowed to sing Sheldon his beloved "Soft Kitty" song. But even fewer have received the honor of being serenaded by the physicist himself with his treasured lullaby. Penny just so happens to be one of those few people. In the third season episode "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency," Sheldon finds himself being a doctor of a different kind when he's tasked with taking care of Penny after she dislocates her shoulder.
Seizing upon the perfect opportunity that presents itself to her, Penny asks that Sheldon sing her "Soft Kitty," the way she's serenaded him in the past. Given Penny's currently drugged state as a result of pain medication, she's a little goofier than usual, and the two wind up engaging in a hilarious rounds performance of the song as well.
Sheldon thinks Penny is remarkable
Penny's acting ambitions are never taken all that seriously by anyone other than Penny herself. The naive young girl from Nebraska moved out to California to make her dreams of Hollywood stardom come true, even if her family and her own eventual husband, Leonard, never really believed in her talents.
But one unlikely supporter of her acting was none other than Sheldon himself. In the sixth season episode "The Monster Isolation," Penny lands the lead role of Blanche DuBois in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire. And when he sees her on stage, Sheldon is truly stunned, nearly speechless before commenting on just how remarkable she is.
Sheldon hugs Penny for the first time
As hard as it may be to believe, given the fact that Sheldon ends the series a married and intimate man, there was once a time when even touching another person was unthinkable for Sheldon. That's what makes the scene between Sheldon and Penny in the second season Christmas episode "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis" so profoundly moving and adorable, even after all these years.
For Christmas, Penny surprises Sheldon with a napkin signed by the legendary actor Leonard Nimoy, Mr. Spock himself. Sheldon, absolutely beside himself with delight and gratitude, does something he's never done before: he hugs Penny, shaking limbs and all, in what Leonard aptly describes as "a Saturnalia miracle."