Sitcoms usually deliver episodes at such a rapid pace that faults in characterizations aren’t apparent while they’re still on-air. The Big Bang Theory has been over for a while and flaws in the main characters can be found as the show has aged. Raj Koothrappali is one of the most lovable guys in the friend group, but there’s more to him than that.
When examined in detail, the character doesn’t seem as great as he was during the show’s heyday. While a lot comes down to sitcom logic, Raj did certain things that audiences of today won’t find acceptable. These range from his relationship with Howard to his treatment of women.
The Terminology Raj Used To Describe Women's Appearances
There was a time when Raj’s innocently insensitive attitude could be considered one of the character’s quirks in The Big Bang Theory. However, audiences aren’t forgiving when it comes to treating women in disparaging ways, and Raj’s terminology doesn’t fly today.
At one point, he referred to women he didn’t find desirable as “fatties and uggos,” which was played off as a joke. Raj also referred to Mrs. Davis as “brown sugar” to indicate his attraction to her, which is a grossly inappropriate comment. Objectifying women by comparing them to food is never okay, nor is sexualizing a person's race.
Raj's Constant Presence In Howard & Bernadette's Life
One of the ways Raj negatively evolved in The Big Bang Theory was his extreme reliance on Howard and Bernadette. The series portrayed it as a funny situation when he showed up at their place all the time, but viewers of today tend to see it as an invasion of privacy on his part.
Raj butted in everything from Howard and Bernadette’s naming of their child to the delivery of their babies to barging into their bedroom whenever he wanted. Years since the show’s end, Raj now comes across as someone who didn’t respect his friends’ boundaries.
The Show's Tendency To Make Fun Of Raj's Feminine Side
At the time of its premiere, The Big Bang Theory adhered to the stereotypical idea of masculinity, in that muscular guys like Kurt were the prime example of "real men". However, people today see masculinity in different forms, and being in touch with the emotional and feminine side is accepted.
Raj was portrayed in a comedic way where his masculinity was concerned, however, as his preferences toward shows like Sex and the City and enjoying girls’ night were mocked. Raj himself wasn’t confident enough to accept what he liked in public, which doesn’t come across as the right way to handle things.
The Way Raj Lets Howard Boss Him Around
The arc about his estrangement with Howard was one of the saddest times for Raj in The Big Bang Theory. Rather than come out stronger, Raj reverted to being bossed around by Howard once they made up. This kind of dynamic is seen as the sign of a toxic friendship by many these days.
Howard belittled Raj in front of others constantly, to the point where Raj distanced himself from Howard for a while to regain his self-worth. The fact that their friendship went back to business as usual sends the wrong message.
Raj's Tendency To Make Passes At Women When Drunk
A long-running B-plot of The Big Bang Theory was Raj's selective mutism, in which he could only talk to women while drunk.
This often led to him hitting on them and making sleazy comments. This was often played for laughs, but today's audiences don't find unwelcome flirtation funny. Raj even made some of these passes while at work, so he's lucky he didn't get fired.
When Raj Strung Both Emily & Claire Along
Once considered something to aspire to, the idea of the "ladies man" has fallen out of favor in today's society, and men who play around with love interests are no longer seen as charming. Raj considered himself a real "player" when he played the field with Claire and Emily.
The show made it so that viewers were meant to have a laugh at Raj’s newfound confidence with women, but he comes across as insensitive more than anything else. Claire and Emily later confronted Raj to point out his faults. The viewer was meant to feel sympathy for Raj with the way this story unfolded — but he actually deserved to be put into place.
Raj & Howard's Judgment Of Penny & Comments At Her Expense
Often, the show dismissed Raj and Howard's inappropriate comments about Penny as "boys will be boys" fun. One is example is when Raj whispered in Howard’s ear that Penny used her body to get free food from Leonard, and Howard said it out loud.
Viewers today are more inclined to see this as Raj’s way of shaming Penny in front of others, and he certainly had a good laugh at her until Penny scolded him. There’s also the fact that Penny genuinely did like Leonard, so Raj was essentially making assumptions about her.
Raj's Seeking Of Validation Through His Success In Love
Audiences have become more discerning in the matter of how love is portrayed; finding a romantic interest isn’t seen as the ultimate accomplishment anymore. For this reason, Raj’s constant feeling that he needed a romantic partner in his life to be happy isn’t seen positively.
Raj would consider himself a failure when he wasn’t in a relationship despite the fact that he had a great job, he was a genius, and he had a wonderful circle of friends. His need for validation through love can be seen as needless baggage nowadays.
The Lack Of Responsibility Raj Took Toward His Own Problems
The sad loser trope isn’t seen as funny anymore and viewers prefer to see someone who goes out and does something about their problems. Raj comes across as somewhat of a whiner the way he complained about having less money when he mooched off his parents or not being in a relationship when he was the one who pushed women away.
He did work on his relationship with money when he tried to pay his own way in life, but even then Raj had a lot of whining to dole out about his miseries. Fans aren’t as easily accepting of Raj’s faults and many consider it his way of running away from taking responsibility for problems he caused.