Day 25: The End Of An Era (Big Bang Theory)

So Big Bang Theory is ending and my feelings are complicated so I guess I wanna talk and I hope you'll indulge me.

It's true the actors are being paid more and more while the show's quality continues to slowly decline. Even I watched the 10th season and didn't find a lot of reason to continue, but 10 seasons of anything can do that. A lot of people are, understandably, glad the show is finally concluding. My feelings remain mixed.

Some people might be too old to understand what it's like growing up with Big Bang Theory, and others might be too young to know why we ever liked it.

But Big Bang Theory did something amazing.

It made being a geek... Okay. It was kind of part of what made geek culture into pop culture.

Big Bang Theory was, initially, a show that was about two things; incorporating science and geek culture into an easily digestible format which literally anyone could watch. It was a show about geeks that people who weren't geeks could enjoy. I mean, if you're a denizen of the internet, Star Wars is literally more popular and profitable than The Olympic Games, old media is dying out, millennials are being blamed for killing everything from the diamond industry to mayonnaise. Nerd shit is more mainstream than ever, your mom could probably name more Avengers than linebackers.

But it hasn't always been like that.

Growing up, Star Wars was freaking uncool. Comic books were uncool. Videogames were uncool. We didn't have eSports gods or yearly MCU releases dominating the box office. I mean, I remember not being able to find a single person around me that liked Naruto, and I mean Naruto has now become so popular there's a Disney XD dub of Shippuden.

Pretend you're me and it's 2007 and geek culture is not mainstream and you have friends who are geeky and you're all bottom of the foodchain because you aren't fashionable or particularly sporty or sociable but you guys all really like Spiderman comics and have watched all the Star Wars movies and you have watched enough anime to have a favourite anime. And here comes this show that takes physics and science and geek culture and is funny, genuinely funny, but not in a gatekeepy way. And it was big. Like, people who you'd never expect would join you in the hallways to sing the Big Bang Theory theme song.

Suddenly everyone shares their geek. Time goes on and it's highschool and you gotta choose your subjects.

Physics class was full. Projector goes on and it's time to learn about the Doppler Effect, and the first thing we get shown is a clip from Big Bang Theory where Sheldon dresses up as The Doppler Effect. We started up a science club.

And the show went on and I grew up and whenever I got blue I'd throw on some Big Bang Theory because it was junkfood entertainment and even the cheap laughs were a laugh and laughter did help alleviate symptoms.

Then the internet turned on it. Suddenly Big Bang Theory was just being hated on left right and center.

And the show has problems. Enough problems to write video essays about. Which people frequently do. Often in bad faith.

But it was like, this funny little show about a bunch of relatable geeks was now the target of everyone's vitriol and now, after 12 seasons, it's going away, it's finally coming to an end, and people are taking pleasure in kicking it down one last time.

I like these characters. I love how Howard had to grow as a person and become an adult to be with Bernadette. I love how Sheldon's repeatedly shown that despite his neurotic tendencies he has his own way of showing affection. I love how Leonard and Penny went back and forth on finding a way to be a couple when they're two people who have nothing in common. I love Amy and Mayim Bialik is a fucking bad ass. I love Bernadette and her tiny voice.

And a part of me is glad the show is ending. I want these characters to have a happy ever after and to go out on a high note.

But I'm also kind of sad. It's natural to be sad when something ends. I never expected Big Bang Theory to go on as long as say, Supernatural (14 seasons, holy god) but it's like we're at the end of an era.

Don't get me wrong, I do think there are better comedies out there. But hey, maybe it's time to think back and remember that Big Bang Theory had some solid jokes and funny episodes and sweet moments.

And I think that's what the show should be remembered for, and not for the moment someone referenced pop culture and a laugh track played. Like that time Howard brought in a keyboard to the hospital when Bernadette was sick and played her a song on the other side of the glass, or Sheldon kissing Amy on the train for the first time, or Leonard and Penny's first date where Sheldon used shrodinger's cat to help them overcome their anxiety. Or when Raj got his heart broken but it helped him overcome his fear of talking to women.

You know, in a time when the internet video economy is filled with "What Went Wrong With" videos, it's hard to remember the "What Went Right With"s. And plenty went right.

So I hope when that final episode airs, that you all can remember that Big Bang Theory wasn't the bane of mankind internet manbabies who make a living off bad faith criticisms claim it is, it was just a funny show that might have gone on a little too long.

That's all I have to say.