Top 20 Times Sheldon Was Surprisingly Nice to Someone

Howard’s plan to exploit Sheldon’s compulsive neatness backfires after Sheldon finds an old letter while organizing the Rostenkowski-Wolowitz’s closet. But he’s not the only one to take advantage of Sheldon’s quirks, and soon enough, everyone knows its contents except Howard. To make it up to him, his friends each invent different stories about what the letter might have said, with one of them being true. You might not remember that this was actually Sheldon’s idea since he keeps pushing Howard to believe his version, even though it’s not only completely implausible but also totally borrowed from “The Goonies.” Still, it’s a thoughtful plan from Sheldon, and it ends up cheering Howard up.

After Leonard and Penny’s first breakup, Howard gives Sheldon a crash course in post-breakup etiquette. But now Sheldon’s in a tough spot because he’s already made dinner plans with Penny. His attempts to avoid upsetting anyone get a little out of hand—poor Sheldon, we know how much he hates dogs and loves spaghetti with cut-up hotdogs. Even though he already had takeout with the guys, he still sits through a second dinner because, well, plans are plans, right? In the end, he had nothing to worry about since Leonard’s totally fine with him staying friends with Penny. Still, it’s really heartwarming how much effort he puts into keeping everyone happy.

We can only imagine that having a brother like Sheldon must feel as challenging as cracking the mysteries of String Theory. After Sheldon moved to Pasadena, the brothers pretty much stopped talking, and neither seem to have fond memories of their shared childhood. Anyway, Mary refuses to attend Sheldon’s wedding until he makes amends with his brother. During a heated heart-to-heart, Sheldon realizes how tough things were for Georgie, especially after their father passed away. This hits Sheldon hard, and his reaction is genuinely touching. “Young Sheldon” fans know Georgie often looked out for his little bro, so it’s hard not to get a little misty-eyed over their heartfelt reconciliation.

In season three, we flash back to how Sheldon and Leonard ended up as roommates. While we’re not sure we’ll ever understand why Leonard moved in, to begin with, we sure get why he stayed. For one thing, Sheldon’s total lack of social skills inadvertently sparred him some serious federal prison time. Then, there was that incident with the elevator. We guess Sheldon figured that trudging up and down several flights of stairs every day was a small price to pay to save his roommate. He barely knew the guy! He didn’t have to bail him out! Nevertheless, this moment really cemented the start of a beautiful, if somewhat dysfunctional, friendship.

When Penny decides to quit her job at the Cheesecake Factory to focus on her acting career, Leonard can’t stop putting his foot in his mouth. In fact, he upsets her so much that she ends up turning to Sheldon, of all people, for advice. In his own Sheldon-ly manner, he reassures Penny that she made the right choice. He might not always say the right thing, but this time, he nails it, reminding her that while putting all your eggs in one basket might seem risky, there’s nothing more fulfilling than chasing your dreams. Leonard could definitely learn a thing or two from Sheldon about being supportive.

Sheldon might be the last person you’d want around when you’re in pain, but in this case, he’s all Penny’s got. For all his shortcomings, he really steps up for her when she falls and hurts her shoulder. Sheldon helps her out of the tub, gets her dressed, and even drives her to the hospital—despite his fear of driving and the fact that he doesn’t have a license yet. Sure, his bedside manner leaves a bit to be desired, but when Penny calls him out on it, he genuinely tries to comfort her. She even manages to get a round of “Soft Kitty” out of him—begrudgingly, but it still counts.

It’s often said that Sheldon isn’t always aware or considerate of other people’s feelings. However, he always seems to know when someone could use a hot beverage. Asking someone if they’d like to talk about what’s bothering them or offering words of comfort might not come second nature to him, but this is usually his go-to way of showing that he cares. He’s not prone to physical affection, but we’re sure one sip of a Sheldon-made drink feels like a warm hug from within. Hey, sometimes people don’t want to talk, but even the smallest gesture can make them feel heaps better. It’s even sweeter now that we know its origins, too.

While everyone expects Sheldon to be the one to mess up his and Amy’s Nobel chances, it’s actually Amy who causes a stir. Not that she didn’t have a good reason if you ask us! The university quickly jumps into damage control mode while making Amy feel like she’s carrying every woman in STEM and young girls considering a career in the sciences on her shoulders. Soon enough, she cracks under the pressure. Sheldon’s first instinct is to run away, and his second is to try distracting her by pretending to freak out himself. In the end, he comes through for her, and it’s honestly so adorable our hearts could burst!

Contrary to what we’ve seen so far, Sheldon isn’t usually considered the most thoughtful person, not even to Amy. So, we were pleasantly surprised when he announced his plans to celebrate her birthday. If you’re a fan of something your loved ones don’t get, you can imagine how special it is when they organize an entire evening around it just for you. Sheldon really goes all out to give Amy an authentic experience. She’s so touched that she suggests moving up their annual night of celebratory coitus. Sure, they end up with food poisoning—turns out modern stomachs can’t handle 19th-century cooking. Still, we’re sure Amy appreciated all his efforts… once she was feeling better.

For someone who’s dead set against gift-giving and has even tried to sabotage it, Sheldon is surprisingly good at it. His Christmas present to Amy is super thoughtful (even if by accident), but let’s be real—is there a better gift than a hug from Sheldon? Those things are super rare! When Penny gives the guys their holiday presents, she gets an earful from Sheldon in return. Yet, he does genuinely try his hardest to find the ideal gift to reciprocate. However, no amount of fancy bath sets could possibly measure up to the present she gives him. So, there’s really only one thing left to do. Talk about a miracle, indeed!

Sheldon and Bernadette aren’t exactly the first “Big Bang” pairing that springs to mind. But when Penny wins a wine-tasting experience, they hang out since Bernie’s pregnant and can’t drink, and Sheldon prefers his grapes in a juice box. He organizes a “fetus friendly festival of fun” for the expectant mother, including a deep conversation about trains and a detailed exploration of toast. It’s not how we’d choose to spend an evening, but it’s thought that counts, and they do end up bonding. Of course, the night’s highlight is the “Dungeons and Dragons” game Sheldon designed especially for his guest. She ends up having more fun than expected and thanks him for the much needed distraction.

Sheldon struggles with varying emotions after Leonard accepts a research position that would take him to the North Sea. On the one hand, he’s concerned for his buddy; after all, the sea can be rough. However, that’s partially just a cover-up for the green-eyed monster that reared its ugly head. Throughout the episode, Sheldon tries varying tactics to talk Leonard out of going until Penny tells him to be more supportive. So, when he gives a toast at Leonard’s Bon Voyage party, we expect a tirade of cutting comments and unkind quips. Instead, Sheldon swallows his bitterness to express genuine happiness for his buddy. He keeps it short and sweet, but it's surprisingly heartwarming.

Wedding planning puts a strain on Amy and Sheldon’s relationship when their rivalry results in the event of no one’s dreams. So, they decide to bypass all the drama and head down to City Hall. Just as their names get called, Sheldon has a change of heart and expresses his love for Amy in the most Sheldon-like way. Perhaps it was City Hall’s metal detectors that brought out his romantic side, but his loving words to Amy make us melt. A few episodes later, he gives Amy the compliment he didn’t know she needed when he sees her in her wedding dress. And his vows on their big day are beautiful. We’re not crying; you are!

This quirky genius might be the most selfish, arrogant, and frustrating roommate, but there’s no denying his love for Leonard. Since the first episode, it’s been clear that he will always have his back. We’ve seen him stand by him during confrontations with Penny’s ex-boyfriend Kurt more than once. He was also in Lenny’s corner when his rude and obnoxious high school tormentor dropped by. It shows a lot of dedication and courage to stick by his friends when faced with such physically challenging threats. He’s also protective of Leonard’s feelings— well, he can be. When he worries that Penny might break his heart again, he pleads with her not to hurt his best friend.

Dr. Cooper has many annoying qualities, but stinginess isn’t among them. When Penny shares her financial woes with him, he offers to help her out — no strings attached. He lets her take as much as she needs and doesn’t set a deadline by which she must pay him back. Penny’s super grateful to him, but tensions rise when she starts to feel the pressure of her debt. Sheldon misinterprets her reactions and innocently questions if he didn’t give her enough. Poor Sheldon, he was genuinely trying to be helpful, and his intentions were good, so her anger confuses him. Luckily, Leonard steps in to explain that this really is one of Sheldon’s best qualities. What a sweetheart!

Among the many things that Sheldon Cooper dislikes, lying and secrecy rank pretty high. Yet, he’s willing to do both for Leonard, whether he’s weaving a “unravelable” tale to help him save face with Penny or fabricating an Irish love interest to cover up his secret relationship with Priya. He’s even gone to extreme lengths when he’s unable to keep a secret from Leonard. As we saw earlier, Sheldon also saved Leonard from revealing classified secrets to a spy and blowing up their apartment. Those are pretty big secrets! Like we said before, since they weren’t yet friends he wasn’t obliged to keep them. Yet for years, he did, proving that Sheldon can be a gold star friend.

The guys hit a roadblock while trying to patent their infinite persistence gyroscope. The trio takes matters into their own hands to ensure everyone gets their fair share of the profits. Understandably Bernadette is a little apprehensive about her husband signing a contract drafted by a man who consistently belittles his career. And she makes some pretty compelling points. After some discussion, Penny suggests they add a clause that obligates Sheldon to be more respectful of his friend. Sure, he had to be told to play nice, but no one told him to make those additional changes on page six. It ends up being a backhanded compliment, but the good intention and generosity were there.

Finally! Sheldon’s on the path to his lifelong dream of winning a Nobel Prize. It couldn’t be any better! He did it with his soulmate by his side, and their theory was proven by a couple of physicists from Chicago. Yes, it seems like Sheldon’s about to get everything he’s ever wanted, but then Drs. Pemberton and Campbell drop a major bombshell. As much as Sheldon would love to win a Nobel Prize, he loves Amy even more. So, when faced with deciding between the two, it’s a no-brainer. Sheldon’s no romance ninja, but this is arguably one of the most romantic and sweetest things he’s ever done. Do they give out Nobels for being the cutest?

It's no secret that Sheldon could be a pretty awful friend. By the series finale, he's pretty much alienated everyone. But after an emotional heart-to-heart with Amy, he abandons his pre-prepared egotistical Nobel acceptance speech and speaks straight from the heart. He dedicates his success to his family and friends, finally showing them the gratitude they deserve. Who doesn’t well up when Sheldon acknowledges the role his loved ones played in his accomplishments? And when he asks each of his friends to stand, we’re a complete mess. All the characters evolved over the seasons, but this moment shows leaps and bounds in Sheldon's personal growth. Who knew Sheldon Cooper could make us ugly cry?

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Making Amy His Emergency Contact, “The Tangible Affection Proof”
This Is Basically Sheldon’s Way of Telling Amy That She’s the One

Giving Howard His Spot, “The Apology Insufficiency”
Sheldon Proves How Truly Sorry He Is… It Doesn’t Last Long, but Hey, It’s the Thought That Counts, Right?

Comforting Leonard, “The Maternal Congruence”
He Might Be a Rookie but Shelon Can Tell When His Bestie Needs a Shoulder to Lean On

Blowing His Game for Wheaton’s Meemaw, “The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary”
Sheldon’s Love for His Meemaw Extinguishes His Thirst for Revenge; Too Bad Wheaton Was Just Messing with Him

Teaming Up with Schrödinger to Play Matchmaker to Penny & Leonard, “The Tangerine Factor”
Without Sheldon & Schrödinger’s Cat Who Knows Where Leonard & Penny Would Be Today!

Throughout this episode, Sheldon's being his typical self-centered and annoying self. He's mad at Amy for collaborating with Kripke, so Penny tries to teach him how to let go of his anger. During the healing process, he annoys Penny by revealing that Amy's been testing her intelligence. By the end of the episode, almost everyone's at odds, but then Howard receives some heartbreaking news. Everyone's at a loss for words except, of course, Sheldon. However, rather than say something insensitive and inappropriate, as we all expected, his words are heartfelt and comforting. And, in a way, he's also telling his friends how much he values them. Sheldon doesn't often do sympathy, so when he does, it’s always a welcome surprise.

Which of Sheldon’s kind actions hit you in the feels? Let us know in the comments!