Melissa Rauch’s character, Bernadette’s inconsistent behavior doesn’t feel fair or justified by fans, resulting in a lot of hate.
A lot of Big Bang Theory fans have expressed mixed feelings about Bernadette Rostenkowski for a few reasons. Initially, Bernadette was portrayed as a sweet, shy girl, seemingly a perfect match for Howard, winning fans over with her down-to-earth charm.
However, as the show progressed, her character underwent a drastic transformation, becoming more assertive, sharp-tongued, and sometimes even condescending. This drastic shift left many fans disgusted, ultimately making her one of the most disliked characters by the series’ end.
There was one such episode that made fans very frustrated with her. The episode reveals Howard’s past s*xual encounters that upset Bernadette.
The bachelor party episode in Big Bang Theory made fans believe Bernadette is a hypocrite
Season 5 Episode 22, titled The Stag Convergence of Big Bang Theory started with the boys discussing Howard’s (Simon Helberg) bachelor party. His ban on strippers led Raj (Kunal Nayyar) to suggest a Napa Valley wine train trip, which was also rejected.
A drunk Raj made an embarrassing speech about Howard’s s*xual history, including his virginity loss and sleeping with hookers. Later, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) came to pick Howard and Raj home and learned about Howard’s past s*xual encounters from a video posted on the internet.
Hurt by the dishonesty about his past, she questioned their marriage and became upset at Penny because she didn’t inform her about Howard’s past encounters. Later, Howard shows up and asks Penny to apologize which reduces Penny to tears. Bernadette forgave him, overhearing their conversation.
The episode raises serious questions about her friendships and her tendency to blame others.
The inconsistency in Bernadette’s behavior is striking. While she was upset about Howard’s sexual encounters before their marriage, she later revels in a strip club atmosphere alongside Penny and Amy. Bernadette was all over the guys in the club, despite being married to Howard. This hypocrisy is difficult to ignore.
This double standard definitely didn’t sit well with some fans. It’s seen as hypocritical because she’s upset about Howard possibly being around strippers before her marriage, but then she’s enjoying herself at a strip club once they’re married, which undermines her earlier objection.
The inconsistency in her behavior makes her come across as controlling and self-righteous, especially since she doesn’t hold herself to the same standard she imposes on Howard.
Fans also highlighted the show’s misogynistic approach
Howard and Bernadette’s marriage is often portrayed with Howard as the submissive partner. Bernadette isn’t shy about throwing insults at her husband. Their dynamic feels more controlling than affectionate, which the audience deems not fun to watch.
Halfway through the show, Bernadette’s character took a sharp turn. She went from being sweet to lovable to cold and distant. Her jokes stopped landing, and the shift was jarring for fans. On top of that, she gradually lost her signature high-pitched voice, which took away a big part of what made her unique.
However, some fans argue that the issue of Bernadette stems from the showrunners’ misogynistic approach to demeaning women, which is pretty common in sitcom shows.
One major critique of The Big Bang Theory is how it treats its female characters. The show regularly uses humor rooted in stereotypes with many jokes about women’s appearance. The treatment of women, especially the frequent objectification, and belittled behavior, makes the show misogynistic in many ways.
For fans, Bernadette’s inconsistency in her character doesn’t feel fair or justified. It adds to the frustration with Rauch’s character, especially as she becomes more dominant and less relatable over time.
Despite this, Rauch’s character has her fans too. Many appreciate her intelligence, work ethic, and the humor she brings to the show. This blend of qualities has endeared her to many viewers, making her a memorable and cherished character.
