3. Geeks (And The Girls Who Love Them) Are People Too
One of the great strengths that BBT has cultivated over the last six years is its ability for character development. Of course, there are notable misfires in this category as well (the lack of a compelling storyline for Raj in the last two years or so comes to mind), but overall, the show has met the challenge of keeping its characters fresh remarkably well. Consider this: when the show began, it featured four fairly stereotypical nerds and the very stereotypical hot blonde next door. Now, not only have those original characters been fleshed out, but sweetly compelling new ones (Bernadette and Amy, for example) have been added to the mix as well. Some might simply take this for granted as the mark of a good television show and it is. But because of the fringe nature of the characters that it represents, such development helps to make everyone laugh with these characters, not just at them. Geeks and nerds, just like everyone else, are more than skin deep. Take, for example, the character of Howard Wolowitz, and his propensity for continuing to live in his mothers house even after he gets married. Only recently, we found out that he stays because his father didn't and since then, his mother has only had Howard to keep her from being alone. In this and other storylines, we can see the evolution (pun intended) of BBT from just another sitcom to a unique show with powerful crossover appeal. The show has its faults, just like any other. In spite of this, it continues to be a vehicle for blending pop culture, science, and everyday life like no other. What do you think? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.