How FRIENDS influenced problematic tropes in sitcoms, including the controversial plot of Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory.
When it comes to some of the worst plots in The Big Bang Theory, Penny and Raj’s suggested one-night stand has been one of the top in the listing. The particular episode drew disdain not only from fans but also from the showrunner and creator, who were unhappy with how Season 4 ended.
However, fans especially hated the showrunners further establishing a complex dynamic between the two friends, which many believe started from the popular sitcom FRIENDS, which later influenced similar plotlines in more sitcoms, including The Big Bang Theory.
The Common Problematic Storyline Between FRIENDS And The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory delved into a controversial plotline in the Season 4 finale, depicting Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) in a suggestive on-night stand.
The awkward scenario is compounded when Raj tells others they’re in love, leading to judgment from their friends. Although he later admits nothing actually happened, he asks Penny to keep it quiet.
The plotline has sparked criticism, yet, The Big Bang Theory was not the first sitcom to follow such a storyline. Before the CBS sitcom, FRIENDS tackled a similar narrative with Joey and Rachel, transforming their close friendship into a romantic arc that many fans found unbearable.
Both Penny and Raj’s storyline and Joey and Rachel’s romance rank among the least popular in their respective shows, with The Big Bang Theory’s creators, including Steven Molaro, admitting dissatisfaction with how it played out.
Molaro even shared that the storyline “bothered” him, prompting the team to find a resolution. Fans of the show have since expressed their disdain for the show with many even stating that FRIENDS set a trend for these divisive plotlines that later found their way into other sitcoms.
Fans Criticize FRIENDS For Sparking a Trend of Divisive Plotlines in Sitcoms
Fans of The Big Bang Theory have shared their criticism of the storyline from the sitcom, describing it as “one of the worst things they could’ve done with Raj and Penny’s relationship.”
However, many also pointed out how “it all started with Rachel and Joey from FRIENDS.” In a Reddit discussion, one user pointed out, “It’s a popular trope In sitcoms to have one of the close friends sleep with the main girl who is in a on and off relationship ship with one of the group.”
The Reddit user further pointed out how How I Met Your Mother did something similar in the case of Robin and Barney, the on-screen duo who has also been described as the “worst TV couple ever.”
Many of the fans also compared Raj and Penny’s situation to Joey and Rachel in FRIENDS, sharing criticism towards the writers for cheapening the story. Overall, viewers expressed frustration, calling it an unnecessary trope that undermined the friendship between Raj and Penny, with some even saying it tarnished their enjoyment of the show.
