Fans of The Big Bang Theory are notorious for having strong opinions on the show's characters and plot. With 12 seasons of 20+ episodes each, there's plenty of material to dissect and—naturally—lots of opinions to be had. While the fans mostly agree with some of these opinions, there are a few unpopular ones that pop up from time to time.
As one of the leading characters of the show, Leonard has been the subject of many discussions among fans. His character, in particular, is the subject of heated debates on many Reddit threads. The arguments range from whether he was really a good guy and considerate friend or he was just good at hiding his worst characteristics.
He Should Have Been Written Out Of The Show
While the show had 7 main characters, fans always felt that only Leonard, Penny, and Sheldon were the main, main characters. They were present in every episode, from the pilot right up to the emotional finale. Leonard's growth from a socially awkward nerdy guy to someone with a bit more self-confidence was actually a prominent plotline throughout the show.
Be that as it may, one fan felt that he should have been written out of the show in the third season. During this season, Leonard and Penny dated for a while then broke up because she wasn't ready to say "I love you." His relationship with his mother also improved somewhat as she acknowledged that she hasn't always been great to him in "The Maternal Congruence."
He Was The Most Obnoxious Character
The characters of The Big Bang Theory were a mix of different characteristics. Their best and worst traits made them the unforgettable characters fans still love (and love to hate) long after the series came to an end. For the most part, Leonard was loved by many for his endless patience in putting up with Sheldon at his worst and simultaneously hated for being a pushover.
However, an unpopular opinion one Reddit user raised was that Leonard was the most obnoxious of them all. Other fans agreed with this, citing all the moments when Leonard was horrible to Sheldon and even bullied Zac, making fun of him in ways that he complained about being subjected to throughout his childhood.
He Should Have Ended Up With Priya
Before Leonard's relationship with Penny evolved from an on-again-off-again dalliance into something steady, he was with other women. His relationship with Priya was one of the longest. A lot of fans were conflicted over the relationship, especially when Priya insisted on keeping it a secret, first from Raj, and later from their parents.
Her move back to India and subsequent cheating on Leonard with her ex became the final nail in the coffin. Regardless, there are still some fans who believe Leonard and Priya were a better couple than him and Penny. One Reddit user admitted that while it was an unpopular opinion, Leonard and Priya worked better because they had more in common, like their intellect.
Leonard & Penny Should Have Broken Up
Leonard and Penny's relationship was one of the most shipped on the show. After a shaky beginning, the couple settled down and had their happily ever after, with a few bumps along the way. By the end of the show, Penny was pregnant with their first child—a development that fans had mixed feelings about.
As it turns out, reproduction wasn't the only thing fans were conflicted about when it came to Leonard ad Penny's relationship. One fan commented that they thought the couple should have broken up.
Leonard & Alex Would Have Been A Better Couple
Alex's short-lived stint as Sheldon's assistant made her one of the most entertaining secondary characters on the show. She put up with Sheldon's weird antics and demands in the hopes that he'd include her in some of his research work at some point. During her short tenure working for Sheldon, she interacted a lot with Leonard and the other guys.
On more than one occasion she flirted with Leonard. Even though he was in a relationship with Penny at the time, he was flattered by her attention and bragged about it to the others. One Reddit user felt that Alex would have been a better match for Leonard based on these few interactions. Sadly, she didn't stick around long enough for us to find out.
He Was The Worst Character In The Show
In most TV shows, the main characters are the most likable. In fact, it's almost expected for the audience to like and root for them. The Big Bang Theory is no different. Although the characters had their flaws, fans liked them regardless.
Unsurprisingly, there were some fans who didn't like Leonard at all. A Reddit user felt that his true flaws were never called out (unlike the other characters), like how he bragged about Penny's looks as if she was a trophy and he made fun of Raj almost as much as Howard did—and that was a lot.
He Was A Narcissist
Throughout the 12 seasons of the show, Leonard appeared as the nice guy. Sure, he had some of the traits like being understanding of Sheldon's social awkwardness and catering to his every whim. His sad childhood, complex relationship with his mother, and disastrous love life (before he married Penny) also made him gain a lot of sympathy from the audience.
Nice guy aside, he also had some not-so-great traits that fans didn't like. One fan called him a narcissist, referring to his whining and constant need for attention. Many fans believed this went back to his childhood and how his mother deprived him of any kind of emotional support.
He Was A Terrible Friend
The friendship dynamics of The Big Bang Theory characters were fascinating and often inspiring. The friends were always there for each other, providing emotional and moral support through whatever crisis they were facing.
As with a lot of friendships, there were times when some members of the group didn't get along. Fans picked up on this upon rewatching the series. As one Reddit user said, Leonard slowly became a horrible friend, especially to Sheldon, from season 3 on. From tampering with test results for his experiments to making fun of and belittling him constantly, he was hardly a model of great friendship.
He Had No Chemistry With Penny
Leonard and Penny's love story was proof that opposites attract. The two were very different, especially in the beginning, and the other characters pointed that out on many occasions. It was also the root of many insecurities both of them had over their relationship.
A fan on Reddit shared the same sentiment when they commented that there was no chemistry at all between Penny and Leonard. Everything about their relationship seemed forced. Some fans even felt that the two had more chemistry with Sheldon than with each other.
He Was A Jerk
While Leonard usually presented himself as a good, kind guy, there were times when he wasn't so nice. A certain Reddit fan felt that he was a bit of a jerk and others agreed that he was often self-centered and judged Penny over her dating life before they got married.
Not to mention he cheated on Penny when he kissed a workmate. In later seasons, Leonard seemed to get angry easily too and constantly yelled at Sheldon especially.