The Major TBBT Flaw That Continues to Infuriate Viewers Five Years after It Ended

Summary

• The Big Bang Theory is still beloved years after it ended in 2019.
• Despite being very entertaining, TBBT has some annoying flaws.
• The sitcom's most annoying flaw may be the scourge of the entire genre.

To this day, there are only a few sitcoms that have achieved cult status. CBS' hit The Big Bang Theory is undeniably one of them, with generations of fans from all over the world.

When The Big Bang Theory premiered in 2007, it wasn't an instant hit. Instead, it took a few more seasons for the show to catch on with audiences before it eventually became CBS' flagship comedy, with a whopping twelve seasons and an equally successful spin-off, Young Sheldon. As a result, TBBT remains a fan-favorite sitcom that still resonates with viewers today. But as much as it's beloved, it has one very serious flaw that has even its most ardent fans fuming.

Incoherent Narrative

Although The Big Bang Theory followed a group of (not so) sophisticated scientists whose intelligence is astounding to say the least, the show wasn't really smart per se. The hit sitcom explored their relationships with each other and the rest of the world, and the conflicts that arose from them, much to the delight of the audience. After all, it was the characters' quirks and antics that provided the most comic relief.

The most annoying thing about TBBT, however, is the way it tells its stories. During its long run on the air, the show saw many subplots that unfortunately were never properly developed and explored. The gang's polar expedition is a prime example of this.

In the Season 2 finale, Sheldon invites his friends to join him on his expedition to the North Pole, and they reluctantly agree. They spend three months conducting research at a polar station surrounded by nothing but snow and ice. In the first episode of Season 3, the gang returns to Pasadena and quickly settles back into their normal lives, with Sheldon anticipating the Nobel Prize. But in the next episode, nothing happens, the expedition has no consequences. Moreover, it's barely mentioned on the show after that.

A Typical Sitcom

In TBBT's defense, it should be noted that it's quite common for most sitcoms to be a collection of different funny stories rather than a single continuous narrative. Two Men and a Half, another famous creation of TBBT's Chuck Lorre, also has this problem, as it never fully explores most of its subplots.

Even The Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon doesn't really develop some of its storylines, no matter how nuanced the show is. Consider Dr. Sturgis' or Paige's arcs, which are often touched upon but never really explored. Anyway, it just goes to show that TBBT could have been even better than it is.