The Big Bang Theory - What's the deal with Leonard?

[Jefferies]

I started watching this show a week ago and so far I have found it rather funny and entertaining. In fact I am already half way through season 2. However, I am really starting to dislike the lead character Dr Leonard Hofstadter. He is so spineless and slimy, I'm starting to feel a bit nauseated when I see him. Worst thing are his facial expressions which make him come across like some feeble obsequious mommy's boy, with the angular head tilt, squinting eyes and his nervous simper of a smile. He seems quite incapable of standing up for anything, not even himself. How could someone like that ever get a girl? And yet he is portrayed as the pick of the litter when it comes to the guys on the show. Sure, they all have their problems but Leonard is hardly any better. And he definitely isn’t the quintessential nice guy whose only problem is that he is a bit hapless and goofy, the way they are trying to make him out to be.


I really hope his character improves as the show progresses. What do other's think about him?

 

[Dorian Thompson]

I like Leonard. I don't see him the same way at all. He's the most "normal" of the bunch, so to speak.

 

[Forbin]

I got a girl, so your postulation is incorrect.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I like Leonard. I don't see him the same way at all. He's the most "normal" of the bunch, so to speak.

Yes he is. He can talk to women, he isn't a sleaze and he's more socially acclimated.

 

[Jefferies]

I like Leonard. I don't see him the same way at all. He's the most "normal" of the bunch, so to speak.

Yes he is. He can talk to women, he isn't a sleaze and he's more socially acclimated.

So being more socially apt than a person with Asperger Syndrome, having a verbal capacity in the presence of women and not being a misogynist is all that it takes these days? Interesting hypothesis.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I remember when my wife pointed this show out to me. I thought it was like a true geek fantasy. Leonard has all the trappings of the sci-fi/Trek obsessed personality disorders, only with a hot girlfriend. Fantasy at its finest. I find it amusing, but not must-see TV.

 

[auntiehill]

It's a silly little sit-com, not a documentary. I don't expect much from it, except for a good chuckle every now and then. The characters are live-action cartoons, so if you're expecting deep stories and character development, you're in the wrong place.

 

[little_chris]

being more socially apt than a person with Asperger Syndrome

Sheldon does not have Asperger Syndrome. He is just Sheldon.

 

[ALF]

I like Leonard. I don't see him the same way at all. He's the most "normal" of the bunch, so to speak.

Agreed. OP, keep watching and you'll soon see he's the emotional heart of the show (as well as the straight man for all the other weirdos to play off of). I once felt exactly as the OP indicated.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I like Leonard. I don't see him the same way at all. He's the most "normal" of the bunch, so to speak.

Yes he is. He can talk to women, he isn't a sleaze and he's more socially acclimated.

So being more socially apt than a person with Asperger Syndrome, having a verbal capacity in the presence of women and not being a misogynist is all that it takes these days? Interesting hypothesis.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

BTW, Sheldon doesn't have Asperger Syndrome and Howard isn't a misogynist. At least you got Raj right.

 

[Sky]

I actually agree with the OP about Leonard and watching the show until the current season has not changed my mind. Leonard's strive to be "normal" is also not one of his most redeeming qualities. At times he seems ashamed of being a geek. I also find him whiny and often not that respectful towards the women he dates. Probably my least favorite regular on the show, unless we're including Kwipke.

 

[FPAlpha]

Leonard, i believe, is the guy who's most aware of their "fringe" culture and how it relates to everything else which is why, at times, he's seeing the social train wreck coming yet is incapable of stopping it.

Leonard is written as the nerd who's able to keep his nerdiness in check at times unlike Sheldon who's in full nerd mode all the time and doesn't care or Raj who's pathologically shy when it comes to women as opposed to Howard who's going the other way to cover up his insecurities (until he met Bernadette that is).

He is there to counterbalance the extremes of the other guys by showing you can be a nerd and have some quirks but still be able to work and function outside this inner circle.. he's basically most of us who share his interests but we're still very aware of the prejudices some harbor outside of our social group and we act differently so as not to invite some idiotic or derogatory comments by outsiders if we can help it (walking in full Starfleet dress through downtown city after coming out of a convention is just another matter.. tough it out ).

So i don't think he comes off as sleazy or anything else.. he's just a shy guy when it comes to women (many men are.. that't not exclusive to nerds) and loses focus at times yet he's a good guy with a heart of gold who scored a hot girl who fell for him because he's unusual.. giving every nerd out there hope that it can happen to them in real life

 

[Nerys Myk]

Leonard, i believe, is the guy who's most aware of their "fringe" culture and how it relates to everything else which is why, at times, he's seeing the social train wreck coming yet is incapable of stopping it.

Leonard is written as the nerd who's able to keep his nerdiness in check at times unlike Sheldon who's in full nerd mode all the time and doesn't care or Raj who's pathologically shy when it comes to women as opposed to Howard who's going the other way to cover up his insecurities (until he met Bernadette that is).

He is there to counterbalance the extremes of the other guys by showing you can be a nerd and have some quirks but still be able to work and function outside this inner circle.. he's basically most of us who share his interests but we're still very aware of the prejudices some harbor outside of our social group and we act differently so as not to invite some idiotic or derogatory comments by outsiders if we can help it (walking in full Starfleet dress through downtown city after coming out of a convention is just another matter.. tough it out ).

So i don't think he comes off as sleazy or anything else.. he's just a shy guy when it comes to women (many men are.. that't not exclusive to nerds) and loses focus at times yet he's a good guy with a heart of gold who scored a hot girl who fell for him because he's unusual.. giving every nerd out there hope that it can happen to them in real life

One girl I dated, who was pretty "mundane" when we met, turned into a bigger geek than me. going full on RenFair Cosplayer. Was she hot? Most of my friends thought so. More so as a pirate wench.

 

[Gojira]

I like Leonard. I don't see him the same way at all. He's the most "normal" of the bunch, so to speak.

^ This.

 

[Forbin]

Sheldon's not crazy. His mom had him tested.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Kripke is awesome

Leonard annoys me. He whinges too much(and he really takes it to the next level after season three)

Yes, he had sex with Penny, and who wouldnt love that.

But, whinge whinge whinge. He could learn a lot from Sheldon

 

[JustKate]

I have always liked Leonard, but I think he's actually growing as the seasons go by. He's gained quite a bit of confidence in the past year or so, which is nice to see, but of course we don't want him to get too confident.

Sheldon can whinge with the best of them, if you ask me. He's really good at it.

I was starting to get really tired of Howard, but he's starting to grow up, too. Some. Not too much, though.

 

[Forbin]

I was starting to get really tired of Howard, but he's starting to grow up, too. Some. Not too much, though.

"All right, I'll... just... cut my French toast myself, then..."

 

[FPAlpha]

That entire scene was brilliant.. i nearly fell over when Bernadette turned into Mrs. Wolowitz Part 2 and Howard's reaction was just the icing on the cake

 

[ToddKent]

I've noticed that no matter where he is or what he is doing, Leonard is (almost) always wearing a jacket. Even if he is indoors eating dinner he still has a jacket on. What's that about? Guess he's just naturally cold natured.