Penny is making big decisions on The Big Bang Theory – does a new guest star hint at more changes down the road?
According to The Hollywood Reporter The Big Bang Theory has cast Ryan Cartwright (SyFy’s Alphas) to make a guest appearance on the show later this season. Cartwright’s character Cole is described as a new friend of Penny’s; most likely, the two meet when Penny goes back to school.
Of course, many fans will wonder if this new man in Penny’s life will threaten her currently-steady relationship with Leonard. The pair has already weathered a minor threat this season in the form of Sheldon’s conspicuously-cute assistant Alex, played by Margo Harshman. Though Penny was suspicious of Alex’s charming ways with Leonard, she seemed to successfully re-assert her “I’m with Leonard” status by the end of that episode. It remains to be seen whether Leonard will be playing the role of Penny in this new scenario with Cole, but we Leonard/Penny shippers are remaining cautiously optimistic for the time being.
Penny herself, however, might not have that same confidence in her choices. Heading back to the world of education is a big step for the actress/waitress, and it’s not clear how comfortable she will feel about the decision. Penny’s street-smarts and social skills have been contrasted hilariously with her academically-gifted-but-conversationally-challenged neighbors for all of the show’s six seasons – now that she’s returning to school, will the dynamics shift? (Or will this just give Sheldon more opportunity to crack community college jokes?) The official summary for the upcoming episode, “The Extract Obliteration,” CBS hints that Penny won’t be advertising the (at least partial) transition from The Cheesecake Factory to college this early on.
Sheldon’s relationship with Stephen Hawking is threatened over a game of “Words with Friends,” and Penny secretly enrolls in a class at the local college.
The Big Bang Theory celebrates Halloween tomorrow night with “The Holographic Excitation” on CBS at 8 p.m., and “The Extract Obligation” airs Nov. 1.