The Big Bang Theory - Review

“Bazinga!” – A review of The Big Bang Theory. 

For a show to run for over a decade and for 12 seasons, it must be doing something right. The Big Bang Theory is one of those shows I’ve seen countless times, mainly as it’s forever repeated on television. Debuting in 2007, the show follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their friends as they navigate the world around them. Why was The Big Bang Theory so popular?

Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory follows the scientists as they navigate through friendships, loyalties, love and personal growth, all the while still indulging in sci fi marathons and scientific debate. Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj are four friends whose lives are transformed by the arrival of Penny, who is a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory and an aspiring actress, as well as fellow scientists Bernadette and Amy.

I have really mixed feelings on this show. As I said earlier, I have seen an awful lot of it, and I can’t say I hated it. It was hugely successful, and attracted some incredible guests, including Mark Hamill and Stephen Hawking. There are moments in the show that have made me cry with laughter, cringe and even occasionally shed a tear. Yet, there’s something I really struggle with, and that’s the characters flaws.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that any character should be perfect, but the flaws in the show do rely on stereotypes. Take Sheldon as an example. Sheldon Cooper is incredibly intelligent but completely lacks social skills to the point that he often offends and upsets those around him. Jim Parsons played the role well, but for me Sheldon is clearly not neurotypical, and his character is full of harmful stereotypes.

Not only this, but Sheldon is often just obnoxious and rude, and whilst he never has a confirmed diagnosis on screen, I find it frustrating that his character leans so heavily on stereotypes to justify his behaviour. It’s also worth noting that his actions and mannerisms are often treated with impatience and contempt by his friends, who seem to show a complete lack of empathy a lot of the time, leading to several moments throughout the show where Sheldon has to repeat that he feels different to everyone else.

I quite like Leonard, who is earnest, loving and a talented scientist who blends vulnerability and humour to create someone genuinely relatable. Howard and Raj both have their issues too; Howard is an aerospace engineer, who actually makes it to space which is great, but he is known for attempting to be a womaniser, cluelessly trying to flirt his way into bed with every attractive woman who crosses his path, although he does eventually settle down to be a husband and a father. Raj is incredibly sweet, but he struggles with selective mutism around women, and he’s often the source of comedy in the show.

I also really struggle with the female characters. Do you really expect me to believe that Amy and Bernadette, both scientists themselves, wouldn’t have a single nerdy interest? Not even Marvel? Penny, on the other hand, gives the men of the group a link to more popular society, but especially in the earlier seasons she really falls into the “dumb blonde” trope, something which I find frustrating. Whilst her emotional intelligence and wit does present itself later, it seems to take an awfully long time to do so.

I often find issues with shows that rely on “canned laughter”, and this is one of the worst culprits. I have seen clips of this show without this added aspect, and what makes me sad is that often the jokes are at best awkward and at worst offensive. Raj is constantly ridiculed for being Indian, and without the canned laughter, these are some incredibly uncomfortable jokes to laugh at.

It's not all bad. I really enjoy the numerous references to nerd culture, such as Lord of The Rings and Doctor Who, and I did like the comic book debates and scientific conversation. You can’t deny how much this show did to bring nerd culture into the mainstream and I appreciate it for that.

There are also some incredibly emotional scenes. From the on again, off again relationship between Penny and Leonard, Raj’s struggles with loneliness and even story lines around loss and grief, The Big Bang Theory is often more than cheap gags and shots. Whilst I do think the show has its issues, and I don’t love the idea that only socially awkward people are interested in science fiction and fantasy, I also appreciate the deeper moments as well as the genuine moments of comedy.

At its core, The Big Bang Theory celebrates friendship, growth and self-acceptance. Whilst I don’t overly love the ending all the characters got, and whilst I did have various issues with the show, I did stick with it right until the end, and that must say something. Sometimes witty, sometimes slapstick, and often incredibly sarcastic, The Big Bang Theory is understandably a comfort show to many and is genuinely one of the most successful sitcoms of an era.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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