Top 10 Howard & Raj Moments on The Big Bang Theory
#10: Teaming Up to Find Sheldon a Date (Twice!)
“The Lunar Excitation” & “The Mystery Date Observation” In the season three finale, Raj and Howard undertake arguably their most ambitious experiment yet— finding Sheldon a date. They’re astounded when he gets a match, but it still takes some convincing and sock-related blackmail to get Sheldon on board. But, as we soon learned, Sheldon and Amy make the perfect pair. So, when Shamy breaks up in season eight, Sheldon re-enlists his matchmakers, and they devise an elaborate scavenger hunt to find him a new girlfriend. They have so much fun planning it that they almost forget that the prize is, well, Sheldon. While Sheldon ultimately rejects the winner, it’s a great bonding experience for his buddies.
#9: Raj Supports Howard through an Estrogen Overload
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“The Deception Verification” Raj's feminity is usually the butt of the joke, but this time, it's Howard's turn after he accidentally absorbs his mom's estrogen-heavy ointment. This storyline is riddled with ridiculously over-the-top stereotypes, but it also offers a brilliant friendship moment for the duo. Howard feels insecure about his situation and turns to Raj for reassurance. Sure, this is one of their weirdest moments, but in a strange way, Raj's commitment to making his friend feel better is rather touching. Still, Bernadette's face says it all. But to slightly paraphrase Raj, his and Howard's dysfunctional bromance was "grandfathered into their marriage." And it's all worth it for hilarious moments like these.
#8: Howard Gets Raj a Dog (a.k.a Cinnamon)
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“The Transporter Malfunction” Poor Raj, always unlucky in love! In this episode, he’s so lonely and desperate for companionship that he considers marrying a woman who’s in the closet. Howard convinces him not to settle, and he and Bernadette find him another companion who will give him nothing but unconditional love. We almost can’t bear just how cute the new lady in his life is. Of course, Raj becomes very attached to Cinnamon and spoils her to no end. It’s such a sweet gesture and shows the lengths his friends will go to cheer him up. Plus, Cinnamon is an adorably welcome addition to the show. Especially since she inspires Howard’s hysterically savage game, “Emily or Cinnamon.”
#7: Howard Hangs Out with a Stressed Raj
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“The Space Probe Disintegration” Raj turns to his friend for comfort while spiraling over the unknown fate of a space probe he once worked on. Howard tries to ease his nerves, but Raj’s too far gone to be calmed. Plus, Howard’s not exactly the most sensitive guy; at first, he’s more disparaging than comforting. Eventually, he convinces Raj to leave the apartment and do something to get his mind off the stress. Could he have been more understanding and reassuring? Sure. But even though he may not say the right things, he doesn’t leave his buddy’s side the entire time. He even ends up being the one to deliver the good news Raj had been waiting for.
#6: Who’s the Sidekick?
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“The Alien Parasite Hypothesis” During one of the guys’ classic superhero conversations, Raj and Howard learn that each views the other as the sidekick in their friendship. Unwilling to let it go, Howard challenges Raj to a bravery test to determine who is truly the Alpha between them. When that backfires, they use their athleticism to settle the debate. Well, we say athleticism, but the only action we see is them wrestling with words over how to begin. All we can say is that if pro-circling your opponent was a sport, they’d be gold medal experts. And their attempts at smack talk only add to the hilarity. We just wish we knew how this battle ended.
#5: When Their Friendship Bounces Back
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“The Celebration Reverberation” There’s no denying that Howard and Raj’s friendship has some super problematic elements. By season 11, even Raj can’t deny its toxicity and decides to hit the brakes. As their rift deepens, Howard takes a low blow by inviting everyone but Raj to Halley’s birthday party. Their feud peaks just before the other guests arrive, with both venting their frustrations at the other in a bounce house. While their previously discussed wrestling match never took off, things get physical pretty quickly this time. Anger soon turns to joy as they discover how much fun bouncing around can be. Well, we know how we’re settling all disputes from now on!
#4: Making Raj Halley’s Godfather
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“The Birthday Synchronicity” For all the flaws in their friendship, Howard and Raj are practically like brothers. Or the weird guy in Howard and Berndatte’s story, depending on who you ask. Still, Raj proves to be a great help to the couple as they prepare to welcome their first child— you might even say he’s a little too invested. While waiting for the baby to be born, everyone reflects on their own lives, leaving Raj feeling depressed and unaccomplished. Howard comes out in the knick of time to announce the birth of his daughter, Halley. He also names Raj as her godfather, thus embracing him even further into the family.
#3: Footprints on the Moon
Various In season nine, Howard and Raj decide to fulfill an old dream and start a band. Raj suggests a genre, while Howard offers a name he’s been sitting on since Junior High. Their debut track, “Thor and Dr. Jones,” might not have listeners racing to the dance floor, but it’s an undeniable earworm. The musical duo makes several notable appearances throughout the series and even develops a fanbase— well, a fan, but still. Later, Sheldon and Amy hire them to play the “Fun with Flags” theme song. The band is also responsible for one of Howard and Raj’s shortest yet funniest fights. “Footprints on the Moon” is Filkin awesome!
#2: Hugging in the Planetarium
“The Planetarium Collision” The green-eyed monster rears its ugly head when the planetarium’s director suggests Howard joins Raj during one of his talks. This causes a spat between the two, with both unable to see the other’s perspective. Eventually, Raj has a change of heart and invites his friend to join him. What follows couldn’t be further than the self-indulgent brag fest Raj initially envisioned. Instead, the BFFs use the opportunity to big each other up and share their pride in one another. It culminates in a big hug that touches everyone’s hearts—except Bernadette’s. Under all their squabbles, pettiness, and quips, there’s clearly a lot of love. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Howard Has a Friend in Raj, “The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation”
Raj Wasn’t Toying around with Howard’s Feelings Here
This Well-Intentioned Pact, “The Emotion Detection Automation”
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Raj Might Not Be as Invested in This Relationship as Howard
Peeling off the Plastic, “The Beta Test Initiation”
Raj Bestows This Major Honor on His Bestie
Watching a Horror Movie Together, “The Anything Can Happen Recurrence”
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Raj Pitches a Wedding Venue to Howard & Bernadette, “The Countdown Reflection”
Can We Hire Raj to Organize All Our Special Occasions?
#1: Howard Gives Raj His Rom-Com Moment
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“The Maternal Conclusion” It's no secret that Raj is a huge rom-com fan. So, we were quite disappointed when it looked like his story would wrap up without any grand romantic gesture moments. But when Raj decides to fly to London to be with Anu, Howard follows him to the airport and stops him from getting on the plane. Sure, it might not be precisely the romantic scene of Raj's fantasies, but it's pretty darn adorable. After they professed their love for each other, we even wanted to join in with the applause. Howard often struggled to vocalize how much Raj means to him, but this was the perfect reminder that Howard genuinely loves, appreciates, and needs his friend.
