The Most Hated Big Bang Theory Storyline, According to Reddit
For a sitcom that ran twelve seasons and racked up nearly 280 episodes, The Big Bang Theory has no shortage of cringe moments — but one storyline in particular has stuck in fans' throats like three-day-old Thai takeout.
And now, thanks to Reddit, we finally have some hard data on which plotline annoyed viewers the most.
User AbbreviationsAway500 kicked off a poll on the show's subreddit asking fans to pick the single most controversial storyline in the entire series. Six choices were on the ballot. The winner? Not even close.
Top pick:
Penny getting pregnant in the series finale — after repeatedly telling Leonard she didn't want kids.
It received 422 votes, nearly double the next most-hated option. And no, it's not just one of those things Reddit overreacts to. Even the most upvoted comment in the thread — from ll_Maurice_ll — called it "a stupid storyline," while pointing out that Penny did technically mention wanting kids once or twice in earlier seasons. But fans weren't buying it.
Another user, kmkmrod, summed it up like this:
"They could have avoided all controversy by adding a single line from her anywhere in season 12: 'I said no kids, now I'm not so sure.'"
Instead, what fans got was a total 180 — no explanation, no buildup — which made Leonard look like either a manipulative jerk or just wildly oblivious. Either way, not a great way to wrap up twelve years of television.
Here's how the rest of the poll shook out:
- Penny's pregnancy in the finale: 422 votes
- Leonard's relationship with Priya Koothrappali: 222 votes
- Four other unnamed contenders that barely registered
The comments section wasn't done dragging the writers, either.
User throw_havingdoubts argued that the real worst moment wasn't even on the poll: Amy's bizarre behavior toward Wil Wheaton or Howard's unresolved "letter from Dad" plotline.
User grapejuicecheese nominated another Wheaton low point — the time he deliberately sabotages Leonard and Penny's relationship over a bowling game.
Response from Sitcom_kid:
"Oh my god, that was just awful! I'm elderly, but I was still shouting 'Bruh!' at the screen."
Despite being one of the most successful sitcoms of the 21st century, The Big Bang Theory was often wildly inconsistent — especially when it came to character arcs. And for a series that tried to present Penny as a woman with agency and a strong sense of self, the last-minute baby plot read like the writers just wanted a neat, happy bow… even if it contradicted everything that came before it.
So if you've ever rewatched the finale and thought, "Wait, what?", you're not alone. Reddit has spoken. And it's not amused.