Penny's character will always be likeable. If you put your perspective on the world of the other characters Penny is the ambassador to the world they only wish they new, except for Sheldon of course. She is one of the cool kids while they only grew up as the nerds. This only gives Penny a platform of expressing realistic occurrences in their otherwise organized lives. Let us not be haste towards anyone. The show ended on a surprising cliff hanger. Let us wait and see what the writers and cast have saved for the last season. By the way I would really like to see Jim Parsons host SNL!

I am so glad to see so much bad feeling about that last episode. I hope the writers read these comments. There was a lot of weak writing and it really felt as though they were scraping the barrel, but the Raj-Penny thing took the bisquit. I really loved this show and most of the time liked Penny. The relationship with Leonard worked because there was a hint that she had depth and a solid core, but the writers are turning her into a shallow slut. I finished this episode asking myself, is there anyone Peny wouldn't hit the sack with? I think if they are not going to lose a big chunk of fan base they need to do some rethinking and rescue the Penny character, because she is becoming very unlikable and the show is losing appeal as a consequence.

wayelrob51.......You make many valid points. I never considered keeping the writers consistent with individual character developments. But, we should not consider being bitter or upset with the show and its writers. Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and all the writers have done an excellent job in keeping the show interesting by introducing new characters and intriguing story lines. It is important to consider the show was supposed to end by season four. It was given two more seasons if I'm not mistaken. I’m sure the writers waned to continue a transition of the show in order to keep the storyline going. This is an amazing group of talent and the real sad day will be when the show must end.

The problems with this episode run deeper than Raj and Penny hooking up. The writing was so obviously contrived to produce a cliff hanger, soap opera style. This wasn't necessary. They have a loyal fan base. I have difficulty with a couple of points. Bernadette's use of a 1950's style chauvinistic expression, "Don't you worry about the money, let me worry about it. I just want my baby to have pretty things." If Howard had said that to her the female population would have been mortified. Bernadette has on several occasions made it plain that she is protective of Howard's masculinity. Her character would never have said that to Howard. Never. Penny tells Raj she made a mistake ditching Leonard. So, Raj gets her in the sack? Nice friend. Penny also out of the blue tells Raj, "If we weren't friends I would be all over you." This is also a character making a ridiculous left turn. Such an obvious setup for what is to come. I don't believe that Penny would express such a thing to one of the guys. Penny, an experienced drinker, gets into Leonard's bed with one of his best friends after sharing one bottle of wine. I don't believe the character of Penny, as has been written to date, could get drunk enough to do such a despicable thing and still be sober enough to do it. I also don't believe she could be unaware of how that spike in the heart would effect Leonard. I am upset over a TV show. I can't believe this. I am not the only one. All of my friends who watch the show are appalled at what was done with this episode. Turning Penny into a drunken slut? Raj has now hound dogged his best friend's girl and now had sex with Penny in Leonard's bed. Nice character for a daytime soap opera but not for a prime time comedy. None of us can figure out how they are going to write their way out of this mess. Use some stupid dream sequence perhaps? If they leave to plot line as it is I think I loose my favorite TV show. Left as it is, it makes me sick. I have trouble revisiting previous shows, which I used to do all the time. The taint of that final episode is so pervasive. I wonder do Chuck Lorre and company even know how upset people are over this? Do they care? Is it another, any publicity is good, scenario? If you are listening Mr. Lorre, it isn't good. People are actually considering leaving off watching if the plot remains as is. What you did with the show is disturbing and just wrong.

I disliked the end of season 4. Penny already has a hard time not coming off as a "easy", now you gonna make her mess up and be in bed with Raj???? Especially after toasting to "Friendship"? Come on people...Please Please dont let Penny look like a slut. If she and Raj had sex it would be impossible for Leonard and her to ever get back together. Like Wickizer said: This makes me almost not want to watch the show anymore.

I really enjoyed how they approached the season finale. I agree that Penny's affair will be justified by creating a jealously factor for Leonard. But, it is interesting how a character like Leonard may still want to be involved with a "slut" like Penny. Imagine the stigma that Raj and Leonard will have next season. Leonard and Penny will eventually be together by the end of season six. But, what will be more interesting is if the writers decide otherwise.

The raj/penny thing was sop stupid. Almost makes me want to stop watching the show. I am fine for manufactured sitcom drama, but this is moronic and juvenile. Oh they got drunk together so of course that means they will sleep together.

I was a bit shockedf at the Raj-Penny hookup but then I shouldn't have been since both have been shown to have had casual 'sleepovers' before. And I too want Priya to disappear. Unlike Bernadette and Amy F-F, she's never fitted in with the group.
As to engineers: They not only have my utmost respect but, as an engineer once told me, going beyond the Masters degree means leaving the hands-on design and construction that gives them so much joy. Or, put another way, a Ph.D. in Engineering is as useless as a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics.

Why is Penny such a slut? Ah.... this is going to be tough for the team....especially Leonard who is right back where he started now that Pria is leaving him.... I persnonally like L. because we are sooo much alike!

This finale kinda sucked... but lets look on the bright side..... only a few more months to ComicCon!

Sheldon as always rocked!

Howard is one of my least-favorite characters in the history of television, but, it is a bit unfair that the writers treat his education the way they do.

There are many different disciplines of engineers, many of them taking about a year longer to get a master's degree (5 years for bachelor's of science, another 4 for graduate studies) than it takes to get a PhD.