Throughout the years it aired, The Big Bang Theory embraced some of the most talked-about pop culture and geek references of the time, something that continues today in the ever-popular spin-off, Young Sheldon.
As fans know, the men of TBBT love a good comic book, and one of their favorites that pops up multiple times throughout the show is Batman. With the new The Batman movie currently thrilling audiences worldwide, it seems like a good time to take a look at some of the best references to the beloved caped crusader in a show that champions geek culture - The Big Bang Theory.
The Bat Jar Conjecture - Season 1 Episode 13
In this episode, Leonard, Howard, Raj, and Sheldon team up for one of the "coolest" events in the geek world, the Physics Bowl. And as usual, Sheldon has a lot to say when deciding a name for the team and is "taking all the fun out of it" as Leonard put it.
Throughout all the seasons in The Big Bang Theory, Leonard has made many attempts to bribe Sheldon into doing something they all want, and one gift remains iconic: The Batman cookie jar. Before Leonard kicks out Sheldon from the team, he gives this excellent gift to Sheldon to soften him up. And he keeps the jar, it can be seen in the kitchen background throughout the seasons, and sometimes, it comes up in some scenes as a little nostalgic detail for the viewers.
The Griffin Equivalency - Season 2 Episode 4
When Raj makes it into People magazine's list for his latest astronomical discovery, Sheldon patronizes him and his achievement. As he finds this choice to be scientifically vague and overrated and doesn't hesitate to say it out loud, Raj gets offended and storms out.
When Leonard talks Sheldon down and takes him to Rajesh's office for a sincere apology, what happens next marks one of the most awkward moments for Sheldon: His "seemingly" smiling face makes him look like the Joker in the creepiest way possible as if faking a considerate friend who's about to apologize. The reference becomes iconic when Leonard, startled, says: "We're here to see Koothrapali, not kill Batman."
The Irish Pub Formulation - Season 4 Episode 6
Everyone in the show has their low moments and when Raj's sister Priya comes to town for a visit, although Raj makes it crystal clear that he doesn't want anyone to hook up with her, Leonard spends the night with Priya. To keep this a secret, Leonard naively trusts Sheldon, making him promise to play it low-key.
When Leonard attempts to make the situation more "relatable" for Sheldon, he references himself as Batman and Sheldon as Alfred, who always keeps secrets for the charismatic superhero. Sheldon, completely ignoring the context, as usual, opposes Leonard on how he gets to be his favorite superhero, to which Leonard frustratedly replies "Because Batman's the one with the secret!" This scene is another iconic example of Sheldon turning any topic into a fandom discussion.
The Weekend Vortex - Season 5 Episode 19
In this episode, Leonard, Howard, and Raj decide to spend the weekend with an intense Star Wars online game marathon. Sheldon, as much as he wants to accept the offer, has to accompany Amy to her aunt Flora’s birthday according to their relationship agreement.
When Sheldon not-so-willingly goes to the comic book store to pick a gift for the 93-year-old aunt, Stuart recommends the collectors' edition Batman utility belt as a “wearable pill caddy”. The scene becomes unbearably absurd when Sheldon doesn't like the idea because “she would look silly without the rest of the costume”. This sequence is a perfect combination of Sheldon’s oblivion to social events and his obsessive love for Batman, combined with Stuart’s desperation to sell something.
The Justice League Recombination - Season 4 Episode 11
In one of the most memorable and full of meme-worthy sequences, The Justice League Recombination, the beloved geek team prepares for the New Year's Eve costume party which takes place at their favorite spot, the comic book store.
While Leonard waits for the others and Sheldon gets in the mood with his Flash costume, Howard shows up in a 60's style Batman costume. With his passion for making dramatic entrances and an unarguable talent for mimicking, he poses still and says the iconic line, in a famously-intense superhero voice: "I'm Batman." This moment for sure makes this one of Howard's best impressions.
The Bitcoin Entanglement - Season 11 Episode 9
It didn't come as a shock when The Big Bang Theory dedicated a whole episode to the bitcoin trend. One day, Howard mentions how bitcoins gained value recently. When Leonard reminds them of the coins they had mined, they go on a quest of finding their old laptop.
In the end, Sheldon not-so-surprisingly reveals that he had held onto a 7-years-old-grudge as he got excluded from the mining process and so downloaded the bitcoins on Leonard's Batman flash drive without telling them. As it turns out, Leonard lost it years ago. As their facial expressions draw a priceless moment where no one wins, this episode marks one of Sheldon's coldest revenge plots, with a dramatic outcome.
The Celebration Experimentation - Season 9 Episode 17
As Sheldon’s birthday approaches, they all want to throw a party for him. But he hates parties as he was promised he would meet Batman on his 6th birthday that instead ended with a disappointing no-show; and so Amy, Leonard, and Penny decide to surprise him with real-life Batman, Adam West.
In the car scene where they discuss who is the best Batman and the party scene combined, the episode becomes quite hilarious with Adam West’s absolute oblivion to the situation. Adam West saying “Happy Birthday Sherman!” and Sheldon’s highly anti-climactic response to the surprise makes this episode even more absurd, every time.