The sitcom that popularised nerd culture started off by showcasing a hilarious ensemble that ensued when four nerds came together. But after TBBT season 7 premiere, the sitcom had many moments where they lost the plot.
For twelve seasons, TBBT entertained us with the misadventures of a group of four nerds. The group originally included two physicists, an astrophysicist, and an engineer; Leonard Hofstadter, Sheldon Cooper, Raj Koothrappali, and Howard Wolowitz. The goofy series revolved around the friends who were obsessed with science, comics and video games, and all things sci-fi. The story initially focused on Penny, the beautiful neighbour who moves in across the hall from Sheldon and Leonard. TBBT later added two inspiring and intelligent female characters to its roster, Amy Farrah-Fowler, and Bernadette Rostenkowski.
Highlights :
- The plot changed into one that revolved around the character’s relationships
- 12 seasons later, Raj can’t find love and we still does not know Penny’s last name
- After TBBT season 7, the sitcom overstayed its welcome
After the initial seasons, the sitcom took the soap opera route, transitioning into a ‘will they won’t they’ story arc. Love and relationships took precedence over friendship and career trajectories and TBBT season 7 onwards, the sitcom lost its way. The science humour was barely incorporated into the script and there was more drama than necessary. Keep reading to learn more about why TBBT seasons 7 to 12 is hated by the show’s loyalists.
The plot changed into one that revolved around relationships
We understand why a show that premieres over 12 long years needs to change its plot every now and then. But TBBT season 7 and those that came after were particularly bland because of how they replaced friends with girlfriends.
The first couple of seasons explored the nerds and their love for comics and science. They were interesting and ambitious and had a talent to turn the most awkward situation into a hilarious one. Leonard was interested in Penny since the first day itself, and it was obvious they’d find a way to get together. But the question is, why was their ‘will they won’t they’ arc dragged through 10 seasons?
The addition of Bernadette and Amy brought two incredible female characters to the show, and fans were excited. But that soon turned into a ploy to showcase the lead characters’ love lives. The friendship between nerds felt more distant, and they started focusing on their relationships instead of each other. It really took away a lot of heart and charm that was the reason behind the show’s uniqueness.
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12 seasons later, Raj can’t find love and we still don’t know Penny’s last name
The Big Bang Theory ended last year, but we’re still trying to understand some major flaws that the sitcom made. Unfortunately, there are too many to count. We invested our time in these characters throughout 12 seasons but we still have questions there are no answers to.
Penny is presumed to be the ditzy, scatterbrained blonde of the group and is often misjudged for being a free-loader. The sitcom’s treatment of Penny was deeply sexist at times and she was never taken seriously, no matter what happened. Her backstory progressed extremely slowly, and somehow, the series always reveals her many boyfriends, but never her last name. Is it wrong to presume the writers would give fans a piece of information as important as a lead character’s last name?
And then there’s Rajesh Koothrapalli, The Big Bang Theory’s most loyal romantic. He suffers from selective mutism that renders him unable to speak to women but is eventually able to. So how is Raj still single at the end of 12 seasons and not settling down? How were Sheldon; an arrogant narcissist and Howard; a certified creep, able to find love, but not an honest Raj?
There’s also a problem with Howard being a subject of ridicule for Sheldon. He enjoyed mocking Howard for being an engineer without a PhD, which makes us wonder if they were even friends. In fact, even Penny’s lack of education is mocked far lesser than Howard lacking a PhD. It was funny initially but the repetition of the same storyline was nonsensical.
After TBBT season 7, the sitcom overstayed its welcome
Repetition is what killed The Big Bang Theory. A sitcom so beloved eventually began to feel awkward without its canned laughter. Between TBBT seasons 7 and 12, there were just too many plotlines that could have been avoided. The series lost the charm fans discovered in Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Howard and shifted its focus entirely.
When Leonard and Penny got married, their character arc ended there. They became an annoying married couple with zero chemistry, unlike television’s other popular married couples. There was too much emphasis on Sheldon and Amy’s relationship (which got too tedious), and none on Raj’s love life.
TBBT could’ve ended with Sheldon winning his Nobel Prize much earlier, instead of just dragging along the final mediocre seasons. The sitcom went downhill after the seventh season and didn’t do justice to its incredibly colourful characters. Despite its immense success, it will remain one of the shows that is loved and hated in equal measure.
Do you believe that the sitcom went downhill after TBBT season 7 premiered? Let us know in the comments.
