Looks Like Mary Was the Biggest Big Bang Theory Villain All Along

The title of this piece may well take you by surprise. 'The Big Bang Theory doesn't have a villain,' you might be thinking. After all, it's always been a light-hearted sitcom.

Even the most annoying and difficult characters (Sheldon, we're looking at you!) can hardly be labelled villains, however grating they may be. Even Sheldon, despite his exasperating qualities, is hardly an antagonist.

Yet, it appears there is someone responsible for shaping him into the insufferable person he is. Mary Cooper, Sheldon's own mother, can be held accountable for his arrogance and incessant self-aggrandisement at the expense of others. It isn't something Mary did that made Sheldon unbearable; it's something she didn't do to prevent him from developing into his narcissistic self.

In The Big Bang Theory, Mary only appears sporadically, never ascending to main character status. She is portrayed as a divorced or widowed religious woman, slightly old-fashioned and reflective of her past. Despite Sheldon being a fully grown man in his thirties, Mary remains excessively protective of him. However, her subtle prejudices don't render her evil. So, what makes her a villain, you might ask?

It's only in Young Sheldon that we gain further insights into his upbringing and, specifically, the role Mary played in it. From the spinoff's first season, we witness her go to extraordinary lengths to prevent Sheldon from becoming upset. She unashamedly sugar-coats reality for him, never allowing Shelly to truly mature.

In episode 19 of season 6, Sheldon realises that her actions have not served him well. He criticises Mary for her overprotectiveness and for not preparing him for the harsh realities of a world where no one will afford him special treatment as his 'mummy' has done all his life. This even leads to Sheldon and his father, George, finding common ground on the matter, a rare occurrence.

George has been advising Mary to refrain from smothering Sheldon with maternal care since the inception of the prequel. But Mary never heeded this advice and, as a result, raised Sheldon into the man-child we know.

Admittedly, this may seem somewhat far-fetched. It's certainly not enough to label Mary, who only wanted the best for her son, as a villain. However, she does bear a certain degree of responsibility for who Sheldon has become and how he interacts with those around him, often hurting their feelings.

We will see more of Mary and Sheldon together in the upcoming grand finale that airs on 18 May.