Why Many Fans Grew to Resent ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Writers
When the show centering on four socially awkward physicists and a street-smart aspiring actress first graced the small screen, it was deemed a triumphant comedy thriving in an underexplored space (at least by everyday viewers). The Big Bang Theory, starring Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and more, opened to weak critical reviews, as season one was labeled formulaic and stiff. However, audiences raved from the start.
As The Big Bang Theory continued, the critical reviews improved, and the show quickly became both a critical success and a cultural phenomenon. Seeing what many consider to be “nerd” culture played out on screen was a rarity in mainstream television, and the show managed to succeed despite its bumpy start and a foreshadowed lack of viewership.
While The Big Bang Theory continues to boast solid ratings, as the show approaches its series finale, many fans of the first few seasons are no longer watching, or no longer appreciate the drastic turn the show has taken with the last few seasons. So, let’s dive into the main reason that many of the show’s original fans now consider the series “cheap.”
Fans argue that the writers behind ‘The Big Bang Theory’ no longer pen the show to its presumed target audience
Many fans argue that while The Big Bang Theory started off as a unique show, it fell into the trap that many other sitcoms find themselves in – relying on repetitive jokes and a stagnant narrative, explained one Reddit user.
Some argue that the writers behind The Big Bang Theory, as time went on, got lazy, drawing upon the same sources of inspiration for comedic moments and employing “laugh tracks” over situations that weren’t funny, or felt uninspired.
From jokes surrounding Occam’s razor to others on Schrödinger’s cat, many fans feel that the show reached the end of its rope concerning comedic ingenuity many seasons ago.
And if the show’s lack of new and unique quips aren’t enough, fans argue that the depiction of nerd culture is both inaccurate and offensive. And, a show, which should be aimed at appropriately reflecting such a culture, makes jokes at the characters’ expense to satisfy a wider target audience (one that no longer represents many of the show’s former viewers).
Are the jokes in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ designed to make you laugh at the characters instead of with them?
Fans argue that the jokes strung throughout The Big Bang Theory are exploitative in nature; meaning, the very facets of life that geeky or nerdy individuals are often harassed for at a young age are capitalized on for a joke, explains one Reddit user.
When jokes are made in poor taste, viewers who may have initially been drawn to the concept, and seeing reflections of themselves on screen, are turned away. Why would someone willingly watch a show that makes jokes at their expense, and then fails to even accurately capture the content the joke presents?
One viewer explains how the episode about kite fighting completely missed the mark; using the competition as a source of comedy, to poke fun at the characters, the scene lacked any degree of accuracy. Thus, the scene was humorous for the laymen who follow The Big Bang Theory, while only serving to mock the individuals the episode intended to represent.
The approach to comedy mentioned above, many argue, is just “cheap;” thus, many former viewers are happy to see the show end in a few weeks. While The Big Bang Theory had an unbeaten run, which cannot be denied, many argue that it shifted away from its unique and genuine appeal and closer towards typical, uninspired, sitcom territory over the years.
