When most of us think back on The Big Bang Theory , what mainly stands out is the laughter. The good times and the memories that we all shared with this incredible cast of characters.
But every now and again, The Big Bang Theory would pack an emotional punch that many audience members weren’t ready for. Have a look and check out these 10+ times The Big Bang Theory tackled serious issues.
RELATED STORIES
Financial hardship.
One thing that The Big Bang Theory did a great job of capturing was the state of financial woe that many in their late 20s and early 30s come to know.
This was best articulated through Stuart and ironically, Raj.
Fear of the unknown.
No one likes change. By its very nature, it’s uncomfortable, scary, and difficult.
But if someone like Sheldon Cooper can leave his apartment of solitude after more than a decade, that should give hope to us all.
Childhood trauma caused by parental conflict.
We all have issues with our parents and the cast of The Big Bang Theory is no exception.
After seeing what Beverley Hofstadter subjected Leonard to during his childhood and adolescent years, I’m beginning to think I may have been too harsh on my own mother.
Problems with hoarding.
One of the greatest aspects of Amy and Sheldon’s relationship was that it allowed the audience to get a deeper and more in-depth look at Sheldon.
When Amy learned of Sheldon’s hoarding, she didn’t judge him. She made him feel safe and assured him that they’d work on it together.
Parental abandonment.
Sheldon and Howard have a lot more in common than either of them would care to admit: they both know what it’s like to grow up without a father.
The lack of a strong male role model can have a profound affect on a young man’s life, as we so clearly see with these two.
Self-worth and body image issues.
Amy’s mother is kind of a horrible person. She used to lock Amy in the closet when she’d misbehave and constantly reminded her daughter just how “unpretty” she was.
Amy’s struggles with confidence were not only heartbreaking but felt incredibly personal.
Bullying.
Every single character on The Big Bang Theory was bullied as a kid (all except for Penny). Sadly, for Leonard and for Sheldon, the bullying didn’t end there.
Both men were made to walk home without their pants after trying unsuccessfully to retrieve Penny’s TV from her ex-boyfriend.
Dealing with the pressures of social anxiety.
Do you remember the episode where the gang tries to throw Sheldon a surprise birthday party (even though he hates surprises) and he winds up having a panic attack in the bathroom?
After this last lockdown, I can totally relate.
A crippling fear of intimacy.
Sex isn’t a given for many people. In fact, many find the idea of physical contact to be repulsive.
The Big Bang Theory never forced Amy and Sheldon into anything they weren’t ready for. They allowed both characters to ease into their relationship at their own pace.
The dangers of escapism.
Who doesn’t love playing video games and RPGs every once in a while? But if left unchecked, these temporary stress reliefs can become a full-blown addiction.
Distracting yourself can be fun, for a while, but all it does is prolong the process.
Fear of commitment.
Every character experiences this at one point or another throughout the series, but we see it play out most predominantly with Penny and Leonard and Amy and Sheldon.
The series does a good job of explaining how before you can grow as a couple, you have to first grow as an individual.
Giving up on a dream.
Penny wanted to be an actress her entire life and then had a very rude awakening when she realized that the part she’d worked so hard for had been cut from the movie.
It was a symbolic end of her childhood dreams and the first moment where she truly embraces adulthood.
Bridging the gender gap in the sciences.
Bernadette and Amy are two of the most brilliant characters in The Big Bang Theory . Not the two most brilliant women , but the two most brilliant characters. Period.
And while it’s true that women remain in the minority in the Sciences, that is rapidly changing thanks to series like TBBT .
Maternal instincts.
Most TV shows always paint pregnancy in this glowing fashion where all of the women can’t wait to give birth and be mothers — not Bernadette.
She had serious doubts about wanting to be a mom, even while pregnant. It was refreshing to see such an honest portrayal.
Coping with death and loss.
Watching Sheldon deal with the loss of Professor Proton by expressing his love for his friend Leonard is easily one of the most touching moments of the entire series.
In a similar vein, the death of Howard’s mother ironically is what helped him to truly become a man.
