Why The Big Bang Theory Fans Are So Divided Over Which Half Of The Show Is Better
To call "The Big Bang Theory" a television juggernaut during its time on CBS wouldn't quite do the series justice. The brainchild of Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady took over the small screen like few other sitcoms have, enjoying a run that extended from 2007 to 2019 and breaking into the pop culture mainstream with relative ease. By the time it departed the airwaves, it had nearly 300 episodes under its belt, a host of awards and nominations, a special place in the TV history books, and a fanbase that will adore it for decades to come.
The popularity of "The Big Bang Theory" has yet to fade years after its completion for a handful of reasons. For one, folks find endless entertainment in the misadventures of Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), the poor choice-making Penny Teller (Kaley Cuoco), and the rest of the gang, and the sequel show, "Young Sheldon," has effectively kept the legacy of its predecessor alive while charting its own course. Not to mention, "The Big Bang Theory" fanbase continues to look at the program in new ways, prompting plenty of online discussions.
For instance, looking back on the complete "Big Bang Theory" run, debate continues to rage over which half of the series is superior.
Are the first two seasons better than the rest?
In June of 2022, Redditor u/summaiyah99 did one of the bravest things one can do on the internet: offer up their opinion on a piece of media. "I don't know if this is a popular opinion or not but the first two seasons were way too dragging and boring. The real fun starts from Season 5," they wrote, and so began plenty of back-and-forth among "Big Bang Theory" fans. Some assert that Seasons 1 and 2 are the best since they kept the main cast small and didn't focus on romance and drama so much while others think that the inclusion of Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch) made the 10 remaining seasons worth watching.
These two sides of "The Big Bang Theory" each have their respective defenders and detractors, and that's just fine. Besides, at the end of the day, the minds behind the show couldn't be happier with what they had the chance to be a part of. "Every special effect and every camera shot and every page of the script — everybody was truly interested in contributing," Bill Prady told Variety, adding that everyone involved in the production was eager to make each episode the best it could be. Those efforts may not have always worked for viewers, but all in all, the thought and commitment are what really count.
"The Big Bang Theory," for one reason or another, will remain at the center of fan discussions for years to come. It stands to reason that for as many people who love seasons 1 and 2, just as many will come to the defense of seasons 3 through 12.