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The Big Problem with 'The Big Bang Theory'

Why did the Monday night premiere of 'The Big Bang Theory' turn out to be a big disappointment?

By Afshan JafferyPublished 7 years ago 3 min read
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SPOILER ALERT: If you have not watched the premiere episode of The Big Bang Theory yet, turn back. You have been warned.

After ten years of watching CBS’s award-winning comedy show The Big Bang Theory, here is my verdict. Fans want to watch Star Wars references, fights over comic book characters and cool scientific experiments. These things set the show apart from the other show in the genre. If the fans wanted to watch couple comedy, they could always watch other shows, or better watch Friends for the umpteenth time.

Old Wine, New Bottles

The episode started where it was left at the end of Season 10; Sheldon on one knee and Amy in an utter state of shock. Yes, we love to watch "Shamy" together, but no, not that way. It’s like writers are following a loop: a) Sheldon got jealous, b) Sheldon talked to Stephen Hawking or Spock, c) Sheldon got things sorted. After ten years of watching this show, it is more than predictable. It is lethargic; it feels like drinking old wine from a new bottle.

The Underdogs

Howard and Bernadette are going through the baby storyline since Season 9. Do we really need more of it? Despite the idyllic performance by Simon Helberg and Melissa Rauch, the whole thing looked reiterated. Leonard and Penny had nothing of their own to share with the audience, except being an audience themselves while things happened to their friends. Raj has a hilarious scene with Ramona, but it was dimmed down by the fact that viewers are still in the dark about Raj’s whereabouts.

The last we learned about him, he had moved with Bert. If makers are planning an exit for him at last, they are heading in the right direction. It would also leave enough space and introduced a character with fresh problems.

The Nerd Fix

By the looks of it, every character is in replaceable mode except Sheldon and Amy. The whole episode was wrapped around the proposal which overshadowed the other characters. There was a time when the show used to end on a sea voyage or north pole, or, the biggest yet, the International Space Station. Now, we are forced to watch marriages and proposal since last three seasons. Nerds are the target demographics of The Big Bang Theory, and since when nerds become more interested in getting laid over comic con? The message, which the show makers are trying to hit home, is clear like a night sky after rainfall that somehow you can undo the nerd effect and transform into an average grownup.

I heartily disagree with it. Nerd is a personality type, not a teenage phase from which you can grow out.

While the show initially took a dig at nerds for being lonely and socially awkward, the fact of the matter is that many nerds still manage to have a gratifying life along with their inner geek intact. If all nerds had a terrible social life, the Hollywood would not be making all the movies based on comic books. The show really needs to upgrade the definition of nerd from 80s. If a cool multimillionaire nerd is introduced for a season, it will give the story much needed boost.

The real problem with the show is that characters are evolving leaving their previous quirks behind. They are maturing up, and I confess, nobody wants to watch all sorted out characters. We want to see messed up characters facing dilemmas of who they are and who they think they are. If the lead characters keep zoning out of the nerd label, a change in the audience is also imminent.

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About the Creator

Afshan Jaffery

Afshan Jaffery is a mystery writer. When she is not busy penning her next novel, she writes reviews and fan theories about popular tv shows.

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