Why 'The Big Bang Theory' Has Become Unbearable to Watch
The Big Bang Theory's downfall: Unsuccessful portrayal of nerds, outdated content, sexism, racism, homophobia, and a flawed representation of neurodivergent individuals
The Big Picture
The cultural landscape has changed, and what was once considered funny and entertaining about nerds on The Big Bang Theory has become tiresome and annoying.
The show has received backlash for its sexist portrayal of female characters such as Penny, and its objectification and disrespectful treatment of women. Additionally, the show has been called out for its casual racism towards Raj, the only main character of color, as well as for making insensitive remarks about culture and race in general.
Just a few years ago, The Big Bang Theory was everywhere. "Bazinga" and "I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested" t-shirts were popular, the soft kitty song was known by almost everyone, Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock was a game that people played, and debates over Penny's choice between Leonard and Sheldon were common. Board games and trivia based on the show were even available. It was a cultural phenomenon, with almost everyone having seen at least a few episodes and millions tuning in each week. But now, why has The Big Bang Theory become so unbearable?
When the show first premiered in 2007, the pop culture landscape was different. The first major Marvel movie, Iron Man, wouldn't be released until the following year. Dungeons and Dragons was still seen as a game for losers played in basements. Anime films were rarely shown in theaters. In essence, being a nerd wasn't considered "cool" yet. It was easy to find humor in this group of socially awkward guys who struggled with dating and engaged in "weird" activities like interdimensional chess and cosplaying. However, as time went on, it became less funny and more irritating.
In "The Big Bang Theory," a woman takes up residence in an apartment across the hall from two exceptionally intelligent yet socially inept physicists, making them realize how limited their understanding is when it comes to the outside world beyond their laboratory.
Release Date September 24, 2007Cast Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, Kevin SussmanMain Genre ComedySeasons 12
'The Big Bang Theory' Makes Fun of "Nerds" — But It Doesn't Work
The initial charm of The Big Bang Theory was the exaggerated geekiness of its main characters, Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Howard. It was amusing to see them stand out while still forming the majority compared to the rest of the cast, particularly Penny. However, as time passed, this joke grew stale. Numerous scenes were filled with canned laughter, even though they lacked any actual jokes. Instead, they mostly featured the characters making vaguely nerdy remarks. For instance, in the Season 4 episode "The Engagement Reaction," the group plays a card game called Mystic Warlords of Ka’a. Each card is announced as it is placed down, accompanied by endless laughter tracks. Yet, the only punchline occurs at the end when Sheldon introduces his own card. The audience is supposed to find amusement solely in the "nerdiness" of the situation, despite it being just a card game that anyone could play.
As the show progressed, the popular culture landscape experienced rapid changes. Comic book movies became mainstream, video game and tabletop game streamers gained significant popularity, and YouTubers focusing on manga and anime garnered millions of followers. Nerd culture became part of the mainstream. This shift gradually weighed on The Big Bang Theory. Audiences grew weary of depicting nerds as individuals who lacked knowledge of pop culture beyond high fantasy and science fiction. Furthermore, the trope of the intellectually superior nerd became unbearable. It was no longer entertaining to witness Sheldon arrogantly considering himself the smartest person in the room or Leonard belittling Penny's acquaintances through obscure references and scientific jargon. More and more people understood these pop cultural references and engaged in the same activities as the characters, diminishing much of the humor from the show.
The Biggest Problems With 'The Big Bang Theory' Show That It Hasn't Aged Well
Sexism in 'The Big Bang Theory'
Image via CBS
In addition to numerous other issues, The Big Bang Theory also faces criticism for its portrayal of women. Penny, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), and Amy (Mayim Bialik), the main female leads, are often subject to misogyny within the series. However, this issue is not limited to them; it extends to many other female characters, particularly in the earlier seasons. Howard, in particular, stands out as the primary instigator of the show's misogynistic tone. He frequently engages in acts of sexual harassment, such as creating gadgets to spy on women and reinforcing traditional gender roles by expecting his partner Bernadette to handle most of the domestic chores. Moreover, he becomes extremely jealous and insecure when Bernadette earns more than him, and overall, he objectifies and belittles women. It is important to note that all male characters on the show have also displayed moments of objectifying and disregarding women's autonomy.
Penny's role in The Big Bang Theory is centered around a pervasive misogyny. She embodies the stereotype of a "dumb blonde" and frequently faces insults targeting her intelligence, job, and career aspirations. Throughout the series, she capitalizes on her perceived attractiveness to manipulate others, often resulting in her being labeled derogatory terms like "slut" and "whore." However, it is important to note that Penny herself contributes to the show's misogyny on several occasions. This becomes particularly evident during Leonard's relationship with Priya (Aarti Mann). Both Bernadette and Amy join Penny in engaging in demeaning comments towards Priya, criticizing her clothing, appearance, and overall personality simply because she is dating Penny's ex-boyfriend. These actions only serve to highlight Penny's pettiness and shallowness, further adding to the negative portrayal of women in the show.
Image via CBS
The Big Bang Theory also addresses the issue of casual racism, with Raj often at the receiving end as the only main character who is a person of color. Instances of Howard mimicking Raj's accent in an exaggerated and offensive manner as well as imitating dances from Hindi cinema disrespectfully are quite frequent. The inclusion of culturally insensitive musical numbers inspired by Hindi cinema and the numerous incorrect comments about Raj's culture and religion further add to the insensitivity. It is worth noting that insensitive comments about culture and race are prevalent throughout the series, particularly from Sheldon, who often dismisses them due to his East Texas origins. These tendencies are also observable in the show's prequel series, Young Sheldon, although the target of such comments is usually Tam (Ryan Phuong).
In addition, Howard is characterized by several Jewish stereotypes, one of which, his domineering relationship with his mother, lies at the heart of his persona. He is depicted as feeble, timid, and a "mama's boy," with references to his religion often serving as setups or punchlines for jokes. Additionally, his religion stands out as a central aspect of his identity, unlike other characters who briefly mention their own beliefs while focusing on other traits. This differential treatment further distinguishes Howard from the rest of the characters.
Homophobia is also prevalent in The Big Bang Theory, particularly towards Howard and Raj, as well as Amy and Penny. Howard and Raj share a strong friendship and often engage in activities that some may interpret as "romantic," leading others to question their sexual orientation. For Raj, his comfort with femininity becomes a basis for many to assume that he is gay. Similarly, Amy and Penny develop a close bond, but this is sometimes portrayed in a discomforting manner, such as when Amy kisses Penny without consent or invades her personal space. These examples demonstrate homophobic attitudes where stereotypes prevail, suggesting that men who display any form of femininity must be secretly gay, and that women who are attracted to other women are constantly crossing boundaries and exhibiting predatory behavior.
