The Big Bang Theory was one of a kind. The show was a unique blend of science and humor, mixing real-life physics concepts with everyday jokes, creating a truly singular television experience. The characters often talked about science and pop culture in a way no other sitcom could, cementing the show's place among television's modern classics.
Given its trademark approach to the sitcom formula, The Big Bang Theory came up with some unique storylines. From complicated physics problems to comic-book-related arguments and even a Nobel Prize plot, these stories wouldn't have been possible on any other show.
Raj Falls In Love With Siri
Raj is one of The Big Bang Theory's saddest characters. His inability to talk to women stands in his way, and his social anxiety still causes trouble even after he overcomes his selective mutism. Raj usually compensates for his lack of intimacy and romance by becoming overly attached to people (Howard), animals (Cinnamon), and occasionally things.
In the episode "The Beta Test Initiation," Raj develops feelings for his iPhone's personal assistant, Siri. The storyline is bonkers, but it makes sense that a character as solitary and love-starved as Raj would cling to any sense of intimacy available.
The Robot Hand
During the show's early seasons, Howard Wolowitz is, for lack of a better word, a creep. He behaves inappropriately around women and spends a large part of his day thinking about sex. During the season four premiere, "The Robotic Manipulation," Howard uses a robotic hand he borrowed from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to masturbate, but it becomes stuck to his penis, sending him into a panic.
The storyline is ridiculous, but Simon Helberg's gift for physical comedy sells the whole thing. The show often presented its characters' humiliation as a source of humor, and this episode is a prime example. Where else would audiences witness a robotic hand stuck to a man's penis if not The Big Bang Theory?
The Helium Purchase
Leonard and Sheldon are a pair of goody-two-shoes. They avoid trouble like the plague and hardly ever step out of their comfort zone out of fear of the unknown. On the rare occasion they step outside the law, their plan usually backfires, like when they try to buy liquid helium from one of Howard's shady contacts.
The storyline showcases how skittish Leonard and Sheldon are and how easy it is to take advantage of them. Few television characters are as gullible, and even fewer would need to buy liquid helium from the black market. This storyline is 100% Big Bang.
The Itchy Sweater
Sheldon is The Big Bang Theory's most socially awkward character, and his many idiosyncrasies are the source for much of the show's humor. The other characters constantly complain about him, but they never do anything about him because of their blatant Stockholm Syndrome.
Take the season seven episode "The Itchy Brain Simulation," where Sheldon forces Leonard to wear an itchy sweater while he tries to correct a past mistake. It's a clever way to show what it's like living in Sheldon's obsessive brain, but Leonard's torture stops being humorous after a while and becomes uncomfortable to watch. Only the characters in Big Bang would willingly put themselves through so much pain for the sake of Sheldon Cooper.
"Words With Friends" With Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is one of the show's most memorable guest stars. After his first appearance, he returns sporadically, mainly to give a pep talk to Sheldon. However, there's one time when Hawking plays Words With Friends with Sheldon and gets angry that he's losing. Desperate to keep the renowned scientist as his friend, Sheldon loses on purpose, and Hawking mercilessly taunts him for it.
It's great to see someone as respected as Hawking not taking himself seriously and even laughing at himself. However, it's hard to imagine him in any other sitcom. Indeed, Hawking makes sense in the world of Big Bang, easily fitting into any of the show's wacky storylines.
The Opening Night Excitation
Sheldon and Amy go through a lot during The Big Bang Theory, including a period of separation. Eventually, they get back together, and Sheldon decides he's ready to be physical with her. The moment marks a highlight of the show, representing another step in Sheldon's maturity process.
The episode also features Leonard, Raj, and Howard's excitement over the premiere of The Force Awakens, another storyline that fits the show perfectly. No other character on television has the same passion for Star Wars as the Big Bang guys, so seeing them lose their minds over a movie premiere is both endearing and hilarious.
Every "Sheldon Gets Sick" Storyline
Sheldon is full of quirks that make him annoying. However, he's at his worst when sick, becoming shamelessly rude, demanding, and regressing to a child-like state. He expects his friends to care for him, putting his needs above theirs.
His behavior when sick is obviously exaggerated for laughs, but it's still no excuse for his treatment of others. Sheldon does a lot of shocking things throughout The Big Bang Theory, but it's safe to say no one outside of the show's realm would ever stand for his petulant antics.
The Hammer Argument
Penny, Amy, and Bernadette shared many iconic scenes in The Big Bang Theory, but few can match the time they engage in a heated argument over the mechanics behind Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. The story begins with them mocking the guys' obsession with minor comic book-related details before doing the same thing.
Big Bang always loved including many references to geek culture. However, it also loved to remark how geekiness was an almost male-exclusive feature, portraying women as dismissive of the boys' interests. Having Penny, Amy, and Bernadette fixated over Mjolnir was refreshing and a storyline that only a show like Big Bang could've executed properly.
The Flat Tire
In the episode "The Bachelor Party Corrosion," the boys take Leonard on a trip to Mexico in Richard Feynman's van for a bachelor party weekend. However, they get a flat tire on the way, and none of them can get the last lug nut off.
What follows is a series of attempts to unscrew the lug nut by applying different scientific principles, including percussive shock, thermal expansion, and accelerated corrosion. However, their efforts fail, and they end up setting the van on fire. It's a clever storyline that shows the guys' lack of survival skills while still displaying their vast scientific knowledge. No show but Big Bang could come up with such a story.
Sheldon And Amy Win A Nobel Prize
According to Alfred Nobel's will, the Nobel Prize will go to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind." Critics and experts generally consider the Nobel Prize the ultimate recognition in their respective fields.
In season twelve, Sheldon and Amy win the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of super asymmetry. It's one of The Big Bang Theory's least realistic storylines, mainly because there's a dispute over who will win the Nobel and the way it's resolved is ridiculous. However, it's also something only Big Bang could've done. After all, how many television shows feature scientists smart enough to make such a discovery?