Top 10 Times The Big Bang Theory Tackled Serious Issues

In modern times, the variety of games and easy access to gaming on the go have made it easier than ever for people to become a little too obsessed with playing them. During season 2, Penny gets sucked into an online game when her job and personal life aren’t going so well. Flipping the dynamic a bit, we get to see Leonard tell Penny: [“If a person doesn’t have a sense of achievement in their real life, it’s easy to lose themselves in a virtual world where they can get a false sense of accomplishment.”] but even with cheetos in her hair, she’s committed to staying the course on her game. Penny finally relents after realizing she agreed to a virtual date with Howard. Although the ending is played for laughs, the episode is still a great example of how anyone can find themselves spending too much time in worlds beyond our own.

Only about a third of the world’s researchers are women. Throughout “The Big Bang Theory,” the show has spoken about women entering and being in scientific fields on several occasions. This includes an entire season 6 episode dedicated to the main cast trying to encourage a classroom of young women to enter the sciences. A couple of seasons later, Amy speaks of how hard it is for women to be successful in the world of science. It’s fantastic to see the show celebrate accomplishments like Amy’s Nobel Prize later on. Meanwhile, seeing Bernadette and Amy dressed as princesses while trying to convey their love of science is another excellent bit of writing.

People who have deep feelings of fear or awkwardness about talking to strangers may be experiencing social anxiety. Studies suggest that as many as 12% of the population know exactly what that’s like. This is definitely reflected with several characters in “The Big Bang Theory”. While Raj becomes selectively mute at different points for several seasons, Sheldon’s anxiety about l social constructs has been explored multiple times. Raj’s season 6 girlfriend Lucy also seemed to have severe anxiety as well. Although the show focuses mostly on geek subculture, social anxiety can affect anyone. By showing characters we love experiencing these feelings, it gives us a sense of comfort. Our favorite fictional characters can experience the same things we do and still thrive.

We would have never expected Sheldon to have an issue with hoarding. But after Amy decides to replace his laptop when it finally dies, Sheldon refuses to recycle the old one. After swearing her to secrecy, he reveals a storage unit filled with everything he has ever owned. As Sheldon gives Amy a tour, he describes the anxiety he feels whenever he thinks of throwing something away. It’s a feeling that rings true in the real world for those who share Sheldon’s inability to let things go. Undoubtedly, we all hold onto things we may not need. Seeing someone like Sheldon attempt to make a change is a little inspiring.

By the time we got to the end of the series, we’d seen the characters go through a lot of transformations. Despite repeated jabs by Bernadette and Penny about her choice of clothes and hair, Amy never felt pushed to alter her outward appearance. But that changed when she won her Nobel Prize and had her photograph plastered everywhere. Raj finds her crying in the bathroom after seeing herself in print. Amy’s a character who’s always been proud of who she is. So when we see her so distressed about her body image, it’s heartbreaking. It’s yet one more prime example of the show giving us real-world insecurities we can all relate to.

Deciding to end a marriage is never an easy decision. Having to live through the consequences of it are something else entirely. On “Big Bang”, we got a chance to see how several of these characters handled the news of their parents splitting up. Leonard learned of his mother’s intentions in a quick, off-handed comment. Raj got a phone call about the bad news. Both take it to heart, albeit in very different ways. The show does a great job of balancing the emotional impact of divorce while still finding a way to make us laugh.

Over the course of the series, Howard has tried many times to bring attention to the fact that his father left his mother when he was a kid. But this event gets highlighted when Sheldon unearths an old letter from Howard’s father. We get to see Howard struggle with the idea of getting answers after so much time. It provides the audience far more insight into his anger and resentment towards his dad. But where this episode shines is the clever twist they use to give Howard enough of an answer to raise his spirits, but still leave room for possibilities. It’s a perfect combination of a tender resolution with comedic timing.

Sheldon’s always been an intelligent person that tends to miss social cues. But the way he treated his assistant really crossed the line Sheldon becomes upset when his assistant Alex flirts a little with Leonard outside of work. So, he decides to give her a highly inappropriate lecture about workplace etiquette. Even when he is confronted by HR, he doesn’t initially understand what he’s done wrong. Sheldon’s actions definitely deserved to be called out and brought attention to. Although the episode wraps up with him still in need of improvement, it’s a story that makes clear what isn’t acceptable at work.

The idea of being tormented by others is a concept that “The Big Bang Theory” has never shied away from. From losing their pants, to online gaming, and even being physically harassed at a Halloween party, the boys have seen it all. On more than one occasion, the show has taken strides to give us scenes that showcase the long term effects of being mistreated by others. Leonard’s long list of all the things one mean classmate did to him in school shows how deeply he was hurt by such cruel actions. Watching him stand up to someone who tormented him in his apartment, with both contempt and fear in his eyes, is a moment that feels all too real.

For the better part of eight years, Carol Ann Susi played the voice of Howard’s mother. After being diagnosed with cancer, the actress passed away. Instead of simply replacing her, the show decided to lay the character to rest. Howard learns of her passing in a phone call at the comic book store. His collection of friends stand there in disbelief as they process it all. During the episode, the most moving scene occurs when Leonard gives a final toast at his apartment. You can see the sadness in the cast during this goodbye. It’s not the first time a parental figure has died on the show. But Susi’s real-life passing made it more important than ever for us to stop and recognize her loss.