I think I’ve seen the entire run of BBT at least twice since the pandemic started in 2020. Which makes my occasional check-ins now sort of the third go-round for me. And while a lot of the later season jokes have come across as more cruel than quirky, it’s still enjoyable over all. More than that, there are moments during the 280-odd episodes that represent the satisfying conclusion of a particular story arc – whether it be about character growth or just the punchline coming after an incredibly long build-up. Like that time Rajesh Koothrappali realized he didn’t need alcohol to be able to talk to women, or that moment when Sheldon hugged Penny for the first time. Those triumphant moments felt well and truly earned, and it is to the show’s credit that none of those moments felt forced.
But of course, the Big Bang Theory wasn’t perfect. In many ways, it lacked social awareness, totally ignoring the upheavals of the time. And in making a running joke of racism, it showed itself little interested in representation. Maybe it’s too much to ask of a sitcom to be socially aware, but the way I see it, if comedian can tug on the tiger’s tail, so should a television series be able to leverage its cultural clout to speak out about things that matter.
But like I said, BBT is enjoyable – if you sort of push back and disconnect from society for the half-hour that it’s on, you should be good.