The most toxic ex of Kunal Nayyar’s Raj Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory deserves no place in any potential revival of the sitcom.
Portrayed by Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory, Raj Koothrappali had a string of relationships throughout the show’s long run. Despite his efforts, he ended up alone by the series finale, a fitting outcome, considering how many of his exes turned out to be toxic.
One of them stands out as especially problematic: Emily Sweeney. While Raj was far from perfect himself, Emily’s behavior often crossed the line, making her arguably his most toxic partner. If the show ever gets a revival, she’s one character who definitely shouldn’t return.
Why Emily Sweeney should stay out of The Big Bang Theory revival?
The Big Bang Theory universe has continued to grow since the original show’s conclusion, with spin-offs like Young Sheldon, Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage, and the upcoming Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
With this ever-expanding universe, expectations for a revival of the original series have steadily increased, and longtime fans are hoping to see the return of beloved characters.
One character who likely won’t be high on the list of anticipated returns is Raj’s ex-girlfriend Emily, despite being part of his longest relationship on the show.
Introduced in Season 7, Emily quickly stood out as one of Raj’s most toxic partners, not just because of her odd interests, but also due to her abrasive attitude, particularly toward his friends.
Perhaps the most telling example of their strange dynamic was the infamous graveyard date she insisted on, which left Raj (Kunal Nayyar) admitting he was actually afraid of her.
Their personalities were starkly different, foreshadowing an inevitable breakup. When it did happen, it was messy and unsurprising. Given the turbulent nature of their relationship, Emily’s absence from any potential revival would not only be expected, but it might be for the best.
Emily and Raj had the longest but the most toxic relationship in The Big Bang Theory
Among all the women Raj dated in The Big Bang Theory, Emily Sweeney was the one he was in a relationship with the longest. However, despite their time together, the relationship ultimately unraveled.
Things got off to a rocky start when Raj enlisted Amy’s help to talk to Emily, but ended up awkwardly crashing their meeting. Surprisingly, Emily remained intrigued by Raj’s odd behavior and decided to give him another chance.
Their relationship continued, but Raj was never fully comfortable. He kept his true feelings hidden, especially about Emily’s fascination with creepy and horror-themed interests.
Afraid of being alone, Raj chose to stay silent rather than risk conflict, raising the question of whether he was ever truly honest in the relationship.
Emily, on her part, had her own issues, particularly with Raj’s friendship with Penny, which created tension within the group. While Emily came off as controlling at times, the toxicity wasn’t one-sided.
Raj, too, made questionable choices, including openly flirting with another woman and only returning to Emily when things didn’t work out. His desperation to be in a relationship often clouded his judgment, and Emily, despite being the longest-lasting partner, was far from his healthiest match.
With the upcoming spin-off, Stuart Saves the Universe, raising hopes of returning fan-favorite characters, one face that likely won’t, and probably shouldn’t, make the cut is Emily Sweeney. Given her rocky history with Raj and limited fan appeal, her absence would hardly be noticed.
