MsMojo Can Fix It: Rewriting Raj Koothrappali's Story on The Big Bang Theory

MsMojo Can Fix It: Rewriting Raj Koothrappali's Story on The Big Bang Theory

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re breaking down Raj Koothrappali’s story arc in “The Big Bang Theory” and giving it the tweaks we think the character deserved.

The Character You Know

In the very first episode, we’re introduced to Rajesh Koothrappali. A brilliant astrophysicist from New Delhi, India. Raj grapples with selective mutism and often tries to distance himself from his cultural roots. Yet there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Despite being a hopeless romantic, Raj struggles to find the love he daydreams about. He yearns for independence and his own happily ever after but faces significant roadblocks. He tends to see himself through his friends’ eyes and feels like the odd one out in his family, which includes five siblings. Despite his achievements, he’s haunted by the feeling of not quite measuring up.

Tethered to his family’s wealth, Raj finds himself caught between wanting to break away and be his own person and not wanting to give up the life to which he’s become accustomed. If only he were given the chance to explore all his layers and reach his utmost potential, there was a lot of promise for Raj’s personal development and growth.

Where It Went Wrong

It would be difficult to deny that some characters seemed to lose direction as the show progressed. Unfortunately, the groundwork for Raj to become one of them was laid out from the very beginning. He was introduced as this awkward, geeky guy who couldn’t talk to most women without a drink in hand, yet underneath that persona, there was so much wasted characterization potential. He’s actually quite successful in his field, yet all of that tends to be overshadowed by his character flaws and some lazy humor at his expense.
Comparing Raj to his friends really drives home the disparity. While Leonard and Sheldon have their quirks, they still manage to find success and love. Even Howard, who the less said about him in his pre-Berndatte days, the better, evolved over time. But Raj? He seemed stuck in a loop of stereotypes, pigeonholed, as MTV India once put it, “the stereotypical brown guy” dealing with cultural expectations and personal insecurities. Indeed, Raj often found himself relegated to the role of the perpetual outsider. Whether it was because of his ethnicity, interests, or personal struggles, he became the target of jokes rather than a fully realized character.

Throughout the series, Raj’s cultural background and accent were easy targets for jokes, even he was no stranger to making the odd disparaging comments about his home country. Take Howard, Raj’s best friend; he also often fell into the trap of being a lazy stereotype of Jewish culture, with his quirks and mannerisms reduced to caricature. Yet, he’s probably one of the biggest offenders when it comes to poking fun at Raj’s background. What’s more, Raj’s parents also add to the pressure by portraying him as a disappointment for not conforming to their expectations.

If that isn’t bad enough, practically everyone from his friends to his family and even the occasional prospective romantic partner takes jabs at his sexuality, turning it into yet another target for ridicule. His wide range of interests, which should have been celebrated, often became fodder for humiliation whenever they didn’t align with society’s narrow view of masculinity. Moreover, there was this lingering implication that there might be something more to his relationship with Howard than what was on the surface. While Howard was in some part allowed to move on from this narrative once he found love with Bernadette, it continued to cast a shadow over Raj until the very end.

As the series went on, Raj’s storyline shifted further away from his personal growth and focused more on his pursuit of love. It felt like his selective mutism, initially a big obstacle for him in dating, just disappeared when it no longer served the writers’ needs. While we’re on the subject, the handling of this condition, which falls on the anxiety spectrum, was often played for laughs rather than treated with sensitivity and understanding. Once Raj found out that a bit of liquid courage could help him feel more comfortable in social situations, he started relying on it more and more. But this often made him come off as obnoxious and hard to handle, almost as if he’d be better off staying quiet. As the show continued, he became increasingly desperate to find his rom-com happy ending, leading him to make some out-of-character decisions while venting his frustrations to anyone who would listen. His infatuation with his friends’ partners also doesn’t shed much of a positive light here. Even so, it was a bit of a letdown to see Raj almost end up with someone who might not have been the best match for him. Don’t get us wrong, we liked Anu; she’s the kind of person you’d love to have as a best friend; she just wasn’t the William Thacker to Raj’s Anna Scott.

Another factor that seems to hold Raj back is his need to please his parents, even if that’s just so they’ll keep funding his lifestyle. Sure, he tries to strike out on his own, but ultimately falls back on his friends for help. Raj does have a breakthrough moment where he realizes that he’s betrayed his authentic self to fit into the boxes those around him choose to place him into, but even that doesn’t last long. By the final episode, we were left wondering, “Hey, what about Raj?” Where’s his character development? What’s next for him? Surely, he can’t be satisfied seventh wheeling his friends while they all move on in their respective relationships and his life stagnates.

How Do We Fix It?

So, how would we change Raj’s characterization and story arc? When “The Big Bang Theory” hit our screens in 2007, and definitely as it wrapped up in 2019, some of the tropes surrounding Raj were way past their expiration date. With millions of viewers tuning in each week, his character had the potential to be a trailblazer for inclusion and representation. Now, we’re not saying Raj had to become the poster child for Hinduism or Indian culture—that would’ve been too much pressure for any character. But imagine if his cultural background was celebrated in a way that felt genuine and balanced. Instead of being the punchline to jokes about his heritage, his friends could have engaged in thoughtful conversations about India and Hinduism, enriching both their understanding and ours.

More diversity in the writers’ room would have hopefully been the first and most effective point of call to avoid falling into these pitfalls. If their budget couldn’t stretch to that, then who better to help shape Raj’s story than Kunal Nayyar himself? Including him in brainstorming sessions could have added authenticity and depth to Raj’s character, steering clear of the caricature territory. By taking this approach, Raj could have been more than just the token minority—he could have been a beacon for positive representation, showing that diversity is about more than parroting tired stereotypes.

Speaking of adding authenticity, did you know that Raj’s selective mutism was reportedly inspired by a real-life former colleague of series co-creator Bill Prady? It’s pretty unsettling to think that one person’s personal struggles can end up as material for a comedy watched by millions worldwide. Selective mutism is no laughing matter—it’s a severe form of social anxiety that affects around 1% of the global population. Before Raj, many of us might not have even heard of it.

So, if the show wanted to tackle such a sidelined and misunderstood condition, they could have done it in a way that educated viewers and showed compassion. Comedy can still play a role, but it should aim to break down stigmas rather than making the individual the punchline. That’s why Raj’s relationship with Lucy was so refreshing. They both understood each other’s struggles and supported one another. If anything, making their respective social anxiety the butt of the joke is what ultimately led to their break up.
Also, instead of relying on substances, which seemed to cause more problems than they solved, seeing Raj navigate through therapy could have been something a lot of people could relate to. Imagine the excitement of seeing Raj confidently throw Penny an off-the-cuff “Good morning” after several years of therapy. It would have been just as, if not more, rewarding as when he first spoke to her without the assistance of alcohol.
Moving on, remember in “Friends” when Ross got mocked for trying to dissuade his son from playing with a Barbie doll? Well, if you put that plot point in a Venn diagram with “Groundhog Day,” you’d probably land right on Raj in the intersection. His male friends often tease him for enjoying hobbies and interests that are stereotypically seen as “girly.” You may have noticed Raj usually finds solace and acceptance with Penny, Bernadette, and Amy. They don’t tend to judge him for who he is or what he likes, and that’s why he feels so comfortable around them. It’s not about their shared interests; it’s about them accepting him without judgment.

Still, let’s call out the elephant in the room—Howard. He’s probably the worst when it comes to making sexist jokes at Raj’s expense. Maybe it stems from his own insecurities about his relationship with Raj; regardless, it’s not cool. We could definitely do without that whole running gag, especially since it’s often steeped in homophobia. Penny is obviously Amy’s girl crush, yet nobody seems to bat an eyelid. So why should Raj be treated any differently?

Back to Howard. One of Raj’s biggest flaws is letting others define him and believing their perception of him is accurate. When it comes to his friendship with Howard, things can get pretty toxic. Howard seems to have a knack for bringing Raj down, even though he’s supposed to be his best friend.

In Season 11, Raj starts to realize how much Howard’s comments have affected his self-esteem and begins to distance himself. But imagine if this storyline had been shifted forward a few seasons. Instead of waiting so long, Raj could have called Howard out much earlier—maybe in season 3 or 4. Sure, Howard’s off-color quips were meant to be funny, but they often crossed the line into cruelty. Surely, comedy giants like Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady could have easily found humor in a storyline where Raj stands up for himself. We imagine plenty of laughs can be found in watching the duo break their relationship down and build it back up on much healthier foundations. A bounce house fight could’ve easily fit into this narrative, too. After that showdown, Howard tends to backslide into his old habits, but eventually, he realizes this is a friendship worth holding onto.
Raj is also far too dependent on his parents. Yeah, we all have days where we wish the bank of mom and dad could afford us a life of luxury, but is it worth what it really costs him? His folks tend to make him feel inadequate, especially when it comes to his dating life. While we’re not knocking the cultural tradition of arranged marriages, it’s pretty obvious that it’s Raj’s parents, not Raj, who are all for it. In fact, they seem to be the proudest of him when he lets them call the shots in his love life.

In both cases—dealing with Howard’s influence and his parents’ expectations—Raj demonstrates that he’s at his best when he breaks free and takes control of his own life. Sure, it’s not easy, and he faces plenty of setbacks along the way. But isn’t that what life’s all about? Taking risks, facing challenges, and coming back even stronger? This is the Raj that audiences could really get behind—the one who’s not afraid to put himself out there, even if it means stumbling a few times along the way. It was a storyline just waiting to be explored, and the part of Raj’s character that feels the most relatable. Unfortunately, it’s also the part of his development that ultimately fell to the wayside.

In our fantasy Raj-centric sequel, we’d bring back some of those forgotten storylines and characterizations that made us root for him. Sure, he’d still hang out with the gang for takeouts and catch up with the Rostenkowski-Wolowitzs, but he’d also remember his worth. The guy was once listed in People Magazine’s “30 Visionaries under 30!” He’s significantly contributed to his field, like discovering planetary objects and helping design a space probe for Pluto. Not to mention, he goes from being unable to talk to women to speaking to sizeable audiences at Planetariumrium! It’s not just about career success, though. Raj has always been sweet, funny, and incredibly smart; we’d love for him to realize just how much he has to offer, not just professionally but as a person.

Maybe he’d take a step back and reflect on how the people around him have shaped him. Perhaps he’d find new friends who would lift him up and encourage him to be himself unapologetically. With their support, he’d gain the confidence to let go of his safety net and confidently stride toward becoming the best version of himself. With that newfound assuredness, Raj would be more open to healthy, fulfilling relationships. He’d realize that he’s worthy of love and respect and wouldn’t settle for anything less. This would all lead to the moment where he’d one day be a boy standing in front of a girl, asking her to love him. As the credits roll, they’d ride off into the sunset together, and we’d feel like Raj finally got the story he deserved.

What would you rewrite in Raj’s story? Let us know in the comments.