Unfortunately, The Big Bang Theory missed its perfect ending for Penny (Kaley Cuoco). The sitcom's original female character wrapped up her arc on the show on a high note as it was revealed she and Leonard were expecting their first child. But as heartwarming as the surprise was, there was a much better final fate for Penny that would've brought her story full circle.
After several years of tumultuous dating, Penny and Leonard eventually tied the knot on the sitcom. The show focused on other characters, particularly Sheldon (Jim Parsons), as he navigated his dating life with Amy (Mayim Bialik). So when CBS announced that the nerd-centric sitcom was wrapping up after season 12, they needed to find something for the Hofstadters to do. Much of Penny and Leonard's final The Big Bang Theory arc revolved around their conflict about having kids. He wanted them, but she was hesitant because she was afraid it would drastically change her life. Ultimately, the show revealed what the couple was expecting.
While the creative decision was divisive, it was the perfect feel-good send-off for the Hofstadters, who was the show's original romantic pairing. Although it was effectively the fruition of Leonard's dream, it didn't serve Penny's arc as well. Instead, it would've been better if The Big Bang Theory revealed that she was trying again to be an actress. The reason why she moved to Pasadena, California, in the first place was because Penny wanted to be a star. She tried for a couple of years, but she struggled to make ends meet, so she decided to give it up and change career paths. But since she was finally thriving as a pharmaceutical sales representative towards the end of the show, her salary was more than enough for her and her husband. With that, she could've decided to try auditioning again, even on the side.
Instead, The Big Bang Theory decided that the best way to wrap up Penny's arc was to make her pregnant. Not only did it feel forced considering that the Hofstadters' pregnancy arc was rushed, but it also dishonored her personal storyline in the sitcom. Throughout the years, she barely expressed any intentions of being a mother. Granted, she exhibited maternal instincts, especially when dealing with Sheldon and his tantrums, but that was different from actually being a full-time mom, which she never verbally expressed to be. So, all in all, the Hofstadters' final arc on The Big Bang Theory was more to satisfy Leonard's long-existing fantasy of having a family with Penny than their collective journey as a couple.
Young Sheldon has actually indirectly highlighted the dangers of Penny and Leonard's The Big Bang Theory ending. George (Lance Barber), in particular, has become a cautionary tale in of dealing with accidental pregnancies and how it could ultimately drive a wedge between a couple. At this point, there is no word yet as to how the Hofstadters are doing after the original sitcom wrapped up. But, hopefully, Penny doesn't have any regrets about how her pregnancy came out to be.