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Sheldon and Penny, or Shenny (the name given for the hypothetical relationship between Sheldon and Penny). Though a romantic/sexual relationship between the two characters has never been pursued on the show and has never been hinted at, many fans still ponder over the possibility. Wondering one day there may actually be something happening between these two polar opposites. There are fans rooting for Sheldon and Penny.

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Sheldon Was initially very difficult for Penny

The main reason for the interest in Sheldon and Penny is the chemistry between them and the comedic interaction this creates. The fans like to think of a world where they might develop a relationship, despite the direction the show chose to pursue.

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Penny Blackmails Sheldon.

The interaction between Sheldon and Penny has been praised by critics. James Chamberlain of IGN wrote: "Cuoco and Parsons are great in their own right, but when put together, they truly shine." Matt Roush of TV Guide said that Sheldon and Penny's "scenes and episodes together are usually Big Bang at its best." Todd WanDerVerff of The A.V. Club wrote that they "made such an inspired odd coupling that at times, it seemed as though the entire show were about them" and their chemistry "has some of the rattle and rhythm of the great comedic duos".

The Shenny fandom was at its strongest during Season 1–4. The group became so large that fans set-up their own forum on Livejournal's Paradox. Founded on 23 July 2008, Paradox members followed the show for a number of years. Later, a website dedicated to Sheldon and Penny was founded called www.thebigbangtheoryhq.com.

The most notable Sheldon and Penny episodes appear in the earlier seasons. Sheldon's world of order versus Penny's wilder and chaotic nature, clashed wonderfully from the very start. Both are strong lead characters and with Sheldon feeling no attraction to Penny, he is not afraid to speak his mind. He is not concerned about offending her or desperate for a relationship. This creates a very different and fresh dynamics, compared to her interactions with Leonard, Raj or Howard. Lack of any relationship desires between them gives space for growth of their close platonic friendship.

Much loved Sheldon and Penny episodes include:

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Sheldon getting Penny's enchanted sword.

Season one's "The Pancake Batter Anomaly" features Penny playing nursemaid to Sheldon when he gets sick. Exposing for the first time, how a biological frailty as simple as the common cold, renders Sheldon beyond useless. His lack of awareness is at its peak and Penny's reluctant compulsion to help, coupled with the increasing intimacy of his requests, is what makes this a Shenny favorite. It's also the first time we hear them sing Soft Kitty.

In "The Barbarian Sublimation", Penny becomes addicted to Age of Conan online game and Sheldon becomes her mentor. Howard and Raj remark on the strangest of this union. "Like if Hulk were dating Peppermint Patty." One of the few episodes that is about Penny herself and not simply a romantic interest.

In "The Panty Piñata Polarization", it shows these two are evenly matched and also incredibly funny. Penny refuses to back down when Sheldon imposes a ban from his apartment.

"The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis" is arguably one of TBBT's most famous moments for them. Sheldon delivers his first show of real human intimacy when his plan to match her Christmas gift giving fails when Penny gives him a present which emotionally floors him.

"The Adhesive Duck Deficiency" was the episode that really rocked the boat and brought the Shenny fandom to life. Sheldon is forced to help Penny get to hospital after she dislocates her shoulder in the shower. After this episode aired, the media picked up on the Shenny buzz and the fandom exploded. Later that season Sheldon was introduced to his now girlfriend Amy leading to much speculation about the timing within the Shenny community.

Other early season favorites:

"The Financial Permeability", where Sheldon gives Penny money to pay her rent.

"The Terminator Decoupling", where Sheldon leaves his flashdrive at home and has to call Penny for assistance. She discovers letters from his Meemaw and his pet name, Moonpie.

"The Work Song Nanocluster", where Sheldon helps Penny set up a business selling Penny Blossoms.

"The Vegas Renormalization", where Sheldon sleeps in Penny's bed after he gets locked out of his apartment.

Penny talk to Sheldon while he is in bed

Sing Soft Kitty to me.

"The Gorilla Experiment", when Sheldon taught Penny some physics.

"The Large Hadron Collision", where Sheldon tries to convince Penny that he should accompany Leonard to see the CERN, and he hugs her.

"The Pants Alternative", Penny takes Sheldon shopping for a new suit.

"The Spaghetti Catalyst", they have dinner after the break-up and Sheldon goes to extraordinary means to keep the date, and hide it from Leonard.

Later episodes have a different dynamic, focusing more on a bond between them rather than the opposites trope. Penny proves how she can take care of Sheldon, like his whisperer. Whenever Sheldon fights with anxiety or depression, Penny has her way of calming him down and showing him a way forward.

In the context of the series, they have been said to have a relationship who's closeness even bothers Amy per "The Viewing Party Combustion". Amy's questions confirm the Shenny relationship, admitting that Penny always comforts Sheldon when he's upset and she's the only one who can make him take his medicine, when he's sick. A level of trust that spans from "The Pancake Batter Anomaly" episode. When Leonard and Penny are arguing, Leonard mentions the weird relationship she has with Sheldon which she denies.

But the Shenny relationship for fans of a romantic bond is purely hypothetical and doesn't necessarily rely on canon, even though they are portrayed almost like brother and sister.

In "The Infestation Hypothesis", we see Sheldon spending his time in a new chair, which Penny brought into her apartment. Reading together, Penny regarded them as an old married couple.

After more or less absent in the previous seasons, the seventh season picked up on the pairing once again:

In "The Hofstadter Insufficiency", Sheldon and Penny spend their days together, while waiting for Leonard to return from the Stephen Hawking expedition.

In "The Scavenger Vortex", Sheldon and Penny join forces on a scavenger hunt quest. This episode particularly highlights how Penny's street smarts and knowledge of pop culture complement Sheldon's extraordinary analytical skills. Together, they make up a very capable team.

In "The Cooper Extraction", Amy herself proposed the alternate reality where an unattached Penny would go after Sheldon. Shenny has a fantasy sequence about an alternative reality where Penny attempts to seduce Sheldon in the laundry room; however, this only exists in Amy's mind where she considers both Sheldon and Penny attractive and that Penny is lusty enough to go after him.

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Penny seduces Sheldon in Amy's fantasy

In "The Occupation Recalibration", Sheldon accompanies Penny, when she decides to quit her job as a waitress and focus on acting. Unlike Leonard, Sheldon supports and encourages her decision, leading to the line: "The best way to achieve a goal is to devote 100% of your time and energy to it."                           

In "The Anything Can Happen Recurrence", another episode where Amy expresses her concern regarding the close relationship between Sheldon and Penny. After being lied to by their friends, Penny and Sheldon go out on a dinner to support each other, "because that's what friends do." She also takes him to a physic. Amy later confesses to Leonard about her jealousy for the close relationship and connection between Sheldon and Penny. She wishes Sheldon would be so comfortable around her already. At this point, Sheldon and Amy have been a couple for almost four years.

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Sheldon and Penny stare into each other's eyes

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Penny kisses Sheldon

In "The Intimacy Acceleration", Penny and Sheldon conduct an experiment designed to make two people fall in love. The test is loosely based on a theory by psychologist Arthor Aron, called ‘The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness’ and although they decide the test was unsuccessful, they feel more affection to each other and feel closer.

In "The Celebration Experimentation", Sheldon cannot handle the anxiety of large crowd and being in the center of attention, which made him flee the living room. Penny goes to talk to him and keeps him company in the bathroom. She admits Sheldon became one of her favorite people and later Sheldon admits he got more comfortable hugging her.

In "The Separation Oscillation", Sheldon suggests that Penny kiss someone else since Leonard was unfaithful to Penny kissing the girl on the boat. Penny agrees and gets into a very passionate embrace with the newly single Sheldon. The whole scenario was a nightmare that Leonard had forcing him to fix the argument he had with his new wife.

In "The Hot Tub Contamination", after bickering with Amy, Sheldon declares that he is looking for another woman. While searching for a new girl at an ice cream parlor, Sheldon remarks that he is sorry that he hurt Penny. He didn't ask her first as a replacement for Amy. Penny just stares at him.

In "The Geology Elevation", Leonard gives Penny a shot at comforting Sheldon, after Amy was unable to do it. Penny raises her voice at Sheldon, calling him a big baby. To Amy's surprise, Penny's harsher words did made Sheldon feel better about himself, to not obsess so much over Bert's success.

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Penny uses her parenting technique on Sheldon

In "The Collaboration Contamination", we see how more humanely Penny treats Sheldon, compared to Leonard's demeaning words. Even though she uses a parenting book, her comforting words make Sheldon to feel less upset, when Amy has not arrived home yet. She provides him comfort and invites him to join for dinner with her and Leonard. Sheldon leaves in a good mood, which baffles Leonard.

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Sharing a pizza before work

In "The Solo Oscillation", Penny keeps Sheldon company, when he cannot find a breakthrough in the String Theory. She lets him to explain his work to her, which leads to her grasping some fundamental concepts of the String Theory. By the end of the episode, her out-of-the-box brainstorming gives Sheldon a new idea on how to develop the theory further.

In "The Long Distance Dissonance", Ramona Nowitzki is moving in on Sheldon while Amy is at Princeton University. Penny has to explain that Ramona has an interest in him. Sheldon just thinks that Ramona is a friendly colleague.

In "The Change Constant", Penny goes drinking with Sheldon, where he opens up to her about all the changes happening in his life. Later they take the elevator together up to the 4th floor.


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