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‘The Big Bang Theory’s Worst Mistake Was How It Ended This Character’s Story
The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons on CBS from 2007 to 2019, becoming one of the last major hit sitcoms as the genre's popularity declined during the 2010s. Created by Chuck Lorre, the show followed four socially awkward but professionally brilliant friends navigating life and relationships in California, and its finale wrapped up most characters with career wins, moves or new babies. According to Collider, however, the ending given to Raj Koothrappali, played by Kunal Nayyar, stands out as the show's biggest misstep, since his romantic storyline was left unresolved despite years of character development.
The article argues Raj underwent the most significant growth of the core cast, evolving from a character who initially couldn't speak to women without alcohol into someone more confident and self-assured. Alongside Howard, Leonard and Sheldon, Raj was part of an ensemble of nerdy, socially clumsy geniuses whose personal lives provided much of the show's comedy. Despite this progression, Collider contends the finale failed to give Raj the satisfying romantic conclusion his arc had been building towards, leaving his story feeling incomplete compared with his friends'.
In short
- Collider criticises The Big Bang Theory's finale for shortchanging Raj Koothrappali.
- Raj was seen as the character who grew the most over 12 seasons.
- His storyline ended without the romantic resolution his arc suggested.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Raj's romantic development was a core thread of his character arc across twelve seasons, with significant investment in his transformation from socially anxious to increasingly confident. The finale's failure to provide romantic resolution left this narrative arc incomplete whilst his friends received satisfying conclusions, creating an imbalance that undermines the storytelling journey the series had built toward.
The case against
Not every character arc requires romantic resolution to be narratively complete. The writers may have intentionally chosen to show Raj's growth and fulfilment through self-discovery rather than partnership, which is a valid and even more realistic ending that doesn't obligate them to pair off every character simply because romantic development occurred earlier in the series.
Explained simply
The Big Bang Theory was an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 2007 to 2019, following the lives of four brilliant but socially awkward scientists and their interactions with the world around them. The show became one of the last major sitcom hits before the genre's popularity declined sharply in the 2010s, and its final season wrapped up most of its main characters' stories with significant life events like career promotions, relocations or starting families.
Raj Koothrappali, played by Kunal Nayyar, was one of the show's four central characters and underwent some of the most notable personal growth throughout the series. Early seasons portrayed him as unable to speak comfortably with women without drinking alcohol, but over twelve years his character developed into someone considerably more confident and self-assured in his social interactions.
The criticism now centres on how Raj's romantic storyline concluded in the final episodes, as his ending felt unresolved compared to his friends'. Despite years of character development that seemed to be leading towards a satisfying romantic resolution, the show's finale failed to deliver that payoff, leaving his personal journey incomplete in a way that contrasts with the more definitive conclusions given to other characters.