The Big Bang Theory: 12 Recurring Things That Need To Die

9. Homosexual Tendencies

The modern tendency to characterise male friendships as €˜bromances€™ is a little insulting, but also a little funny. Men have deep emotional bonds with their close friends, though they never admit it until after several beers or whisky€™s, and it€™s never spoken of again. So the fact that Howard and Raj are good mates, have in-jokes, spend time together and enjoy each other€™s company is perfectly natural. Yet there is an almost constant homosexual edge towards their friendship. The little light-sabres, the tantrum followed by the €œI€™ll take you out and buy you something nice€, far too many references are made to the relationship as though they are a couple of some kind. The characters have evolved over the seasons with Raj becoming more feminised as time has gone on, but Howard is married. In short, that€™s not how mates behave with each other and it really needs to stop. The homosexual references don€™t stop there, though, we have to remember the almost constant fawning of Amy Farah-Fowler over Penny. There was the massive painting that was originally nude, even a kiss at one point and several comments that in any walk of life would be unacceptable and make someone feel very uncomfortable. If you were Penny, would you keep hanging out with that girl or would you tell her to quit it? Now, yes, it€™s a comedy program and it€™s allowed to push a little for a laugh but the joke has worn thin and if the characters stand any chance of growing and finding new situations we need to lose the gay jokes.