A dark theory about Howard (Simon Helberg) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) on The Big Bang Theory makes sense, but it might be too wild to be true. While Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) were the sitcom's original love pairing, the first couple to get married was the Wolowitzes. Howard and Bernadette's romance was a whirlwind, leaving fans to wonder about certain aspects of their relationship.
When Howard debuted on The Big Bang Theory, he liked to present himself as a ladies' man. He relentlessly hit on Penny and even Sheldon's (Jim Parsons) sister, Missy (Courtney Henggeler). Despite this, it's clear that he had no clue about approaching women, especially when it was revealed that he had a borderline inappropriate relationship with his mother, Mrs. Wolowitz. But all of that changed when he started dating Bernadette. He was so smitten the pair rushed to get married before Howard was sent to space for a mission. They eventually built a family and were blessed with two kids.
Howard and Bernadette's arc was arguably the most traditional one on The Big Bang Theory. But a particular dark theory suggests not all was what it seemed between the pair. Instead of a healthy, loving relationship, the hypothesis suggests that Howard initially created Bernadette to be his sex robot until she developed human consciousness, and the pair fell in love. There are three things that support this claim: firstly, Howard was an engineer, hence he knew how to build things. He had tried building robots before, including one that he thought could be used for sexual pleasure. That didn't work as Leonard ad Raj (Kunal Nayyar) had to rush him to the emergency room when it malfunctioned. But that doesn't mean that Howard stopped trying altogether. Secondly, Bernadett was so much like Mrs. Wolowitz that it could be an intentional part of her design, given Howard's close relationship with his mother. And thirdly, Bernadette was the only woman who wasn't repulsed by Howard upon their initial meeting.
Despite these factors, considering the Wolowitzes’ arc in The Big Bang Theory, it's just doubtful that this was something that they would secretly do. The show's storylines were usually rooted in science; in fact, they even had real-world physicist consultants to make their narratives as realistic as possible. Granted that they sometimes had to fictionalize certain aspects of the sitcom for dramatic or comedic purposes, they were more or less committed to what's happening in the real world. Making Bernadette a sex robot who eventually developed consciousness to be a full-fledged character, got pregnant, and even gave birth twice sounds just too wild for The Big Bang Theory. Although, it's such an interesting thought for fans to ponder on.
Bernadette isn't the first time a The Big Bang Theory character is posited to be a robot, however. Because of Sheldon’s lack of social and emotional capabilities, many initially thought Jim Parsons’ beloved character also wasn't a human being. Over time, this changed, especially as fans learn more about his childhood in Young Sheldon.