The Big Bang Theory is an interesting case of a show that has been running for so long that its style is outdated by the time it’s over. After 12 seasons of nerd jokes, it was finally time for the series and the stories of the characters to come to an end. Oddly, for a show that truly ran the well dry, it’s been able to produce a lengthy spinoff in Young Sheldon that’s in a completely different format to The Big Bang Theory, along with the currently airing Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Now, there are talks of another spinoff focusing on the comic book owner Stuart, along with his girlfriend, played by Lauren Lapkus, and the geologist Bert, played by Brian Posehn. This is intriguing on its own, but the announcement that John Ross Bowie will return as Barry Kripke is even more interesting.
The side characters in The Big Bang Theory never got the attention they deserved, which makes the idea of this spinoff very interesting. Again, with no other main cast members from the original show returning, this could be a show completely divorced from The Big Bang Theory entirely. Most spinoffs feature some recognizable things from the original show, but this could majorly divorce itself from the source material and be something entirely of its own design, like Young Sheldon was. Barry Kripke was an underutilized character in the show, and John Ross Bowie was so good at leaning into the dry sarcasm of his character. For fans who were unsure about dipping back in for more of the nerd hell, this casting announcement should be enough to tempt you.
John Ross Bowie Was Great in ‘The Big Bang Theory’
For all the show’s faults, the recurring characters made The Big Bang Theory so great. Kripke posed an interesting challenge to the group, particularly Sheldon. For the most part, he was a cartoon character, but John Ross Bowie kept Kripke grounded in the increasingly heightened world of the show. The group was a bubble for the most part, and Kripke would occasionally offer just enough to challenge them without ever feeling like he was becoming a distraction. In essence, this is what a good recurring character on a sitcom should do.
It often felt like Bowie knew the kind of tone he needed to hit from episode to episode. The humor of The Big Bang Theory grew more mean-spirited in ways, and somehow even more obvious, but Kripke existed in a world of his own. He was dry and crucially able to see the gang’s faults in refreshing ways. Bowie played to the sitcom tropes of the character with the annoying forced speech impediment for some each chuckles, but his comedic timing worked well because it felt a little off-key compared to the others.
What Could Bowie Add to a ‘Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff?
The announced characters returning were the most low-key in the show, except for Kripke, who could be both at any one moment. If the spinoff means that Kripke will become the biggest character on the show, this could be both good and bad, depending on how good the writing is. If he’s used in the same way as he was in The Big Bang Theory, this could spell trouble. He worked as a nemesis to Sheldon because he had someone larger than life to play off of. Stuart and Bert are quiet characters, and Kripke would just come off as mean for the sake of it if he was making fun of them.
Instead, Kripke could be more subdued, still funny, but more observational and less reactionary. The Big Bang Theory was often at its best when observing the oddities of the world around them, and would sometimes go too far when making it obvious how little the group fit into that. This spinoff could do the same but make the observations more insightful for the modern world. The Big Bang Theory’s thoughts on masculinity were tired and outdated even then, so a spinoff could correct that. Kripke would be a perfect character to fit into this world — normal enough but also a bit atypical. This would allow for greater depth in the writing.
Do We Need Another ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff?
There’s no answer to this, but it will depend on how the spinoff adapts to the changing sexual and gendered culture. The Big Bang Theory never changed how it viewed the gap between men and women; it merely ran its old-fashioned ideas into the ground. If Stuart is going to lead the show, it should allow for a more laid-back approach. Stuart was poorly used in the show when his comedic timing was arguably among the best in the whole cast. This universe is due for a more refined look at masculinity and femininity. Kripke could act as a foil to that, or he could learn to evolve now that he doesn’t have to deal with Sheldon anymore.
The Big Bang Theory exists in a transitional time when audiences wanted more from their network sitcoms and the culture was changing. The show lasted so long that some of the nerd culture it was founded on had somewhat faded by the time it ended, and it never made any attempt to move with those changes. This spinoff could wipe the slate clean and give us a half-hour sitcom that isn’t built on references to Star Wars. Kripke’s return suggests that the spinoff could fall back into familiar traps, or it could suggest that the show has a desire to be more than its older brother.
If used well, Kripke could show the shifting culture, and that would be genuinely fresh ground to justify a spinoff. But if he is used like he was, well, get ready for characters dropping more of the names of things you know. The Big Bang Theory is streaming on Max.
