In the third season of The Big Bang Theory, Penny - the show's only female lead to that point, played by Kaley Cuoco - he finally got some girlfriends in the form of Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch) and Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik).. The two have been great additions to the show, but when it comes to great character dynamics, there's no doubt that Amy's initial girlfriend — and borderline obsession — with Penny is especially funny, and according to the show's writers, ultimately took Amy's character to new heights. .

As executive producer and late showrunner Steve Molaro told Jessica Radloff in her book “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit SeriesHe was inspired to give Amy a character trait that he understood on an innate level, and this led to a phenomenal on-screen relationship with Penny. " Molaro said. "It was nice to be able to take some of those feelings and experiences from high school and have a place to put them with Amy. The desperation to want someone to think you're their best friend. And not just anyone, but someone as cool and popular as Penny. I know that feeling. I said those words that Amy said. So to have that outlet was extremely cathartic."

“Originally, Amy was just a branch of Sheldon. But it didn't work at all," show creator and showrunner Chuck Lorre says in the book, referring to the fact that Amy initially presents herself as a love interest for lead character Jim Parsons. Sheldon Cooper. “So, okay, it was a baby step. And then when she fell in love with Penny—to have a friendship with such a woman—it meant so much to her. Lorre said the show evolved because it was "seen through different eyes" and that was due to Molaro's decision to take the show on a personal level. "It opened the door to stories that otherwise wouldn't have been told," Lorre said.

So what does Mayim Bialik think of Amy's girlfriend crush Penny defining her character at least a little at the beginning of Amy's tenure on "The Big Bang Theory?" She loved it! Bialik - who once admitted she had a problem watching The Big Bang Theory - said she loved the storylines for a ton of reasons.

"Amy loving Penny was such a sweet sisterly romance," Bialik said. “And also really ahead of its time in terms of gender fluidity and sexuality. Amy said, “I appreciate that this woman is beautiful!” It's so sweet The girl crush was some of my favorite things I got to do And because I knew Amy often had to be all over Penny, I often stayed away from rehearsals just to Caylee doesn't have to work out the intensity. with me, it's like I'm in her business all week."

Bialik isn't kidding about the intensity, considering there's a whole sequence where Amy has a portrait of her and Penny painted, which she then insists on hanging in Penny's home (which is definitely the height of her infatuation), but it's still pretty funny . . Plus, as the show went on, Amy and Bernadette became an essential part of the story, thanks in large part to their connections with Penny.

Amy is definitely a little intimidated by Penny and Bernadette when her character first starts appearing on The Big Bang Theory, but once she lets them in, the three of them form a true and solid friendship. According to Chuck Lorre, the girl who freaks Penny out is what allows all of this to happen, and also allows Amy's character to constantly focus on something other than her boyfriend. "It was a very one-sided infatuation," Lore said of Amy's girlfriend romance. He continued:

“Amy was desperately looking for a friend. Forget the lover! He wanted a friend. And the fact that he focused on befriending Penny and Bernadette grew the character in a wonderful, wonderful way. It also allowed us to go really slow with the relationship with Sheldon. There's a magic trick to keeping it going and staying relevant. there is to develop, but that it can't evolve. It's a kind of paradox."

As for Kaley Cuoco, she loved having two female leads in such a male-dominated series, and felt it was all incredibly organic to boot. "The beauty of having multiple seasons is bringing in new people, so bringing in the girls was a completely natural progression," the actress told Jessica Radloff's book. “I loved how it started with them dating the guys, and you just saw the whole show turn into something else, but very organically.

The Big Bang Theory is now streaming on Max.