MovieChat Forums > The Big Bang Theory (2007) Discussion > Contradictions in the ongoing storyline

Contradictions in the ongoing storyline

posted 3 years ago by ItalianBuju (793)
8 replies | jump to latest

Let me start by saying I love this show. I watched it right from beginning to end and sometimes watch reruns and it never grows old.

I will say though that there are many contradictions throughout the series.

The first two I can think of is in the very scene in the first episode, Sheldon and Lenard are in a sperm bank and as they begin to fill out the paperwork, Sheldon expresses doubt that he can go through with it. Lenard replies "what do you mean, you are a semi pro"........but we obviously learn as the series goes on, that Sheldon does not seem to have sexual desires at all.

The second one I think of has to do with Sheldon's financial situation. He states a few different times, that if he could afford to, he would live alone. Yet in one episode, Lenard found a bunch of Sheldon's uncashed paycheques in a drawer and when he asks why he hasn't cashed them, Sheldon replies that he doesn't want to buy things with them yet, or maybe that the things he wants to buy with them haven't been invented yet. But either way, he clearly could live on his own if he desired.

What other ones have people noticed?

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 3 years ago

I would say throw the first episode out as far as continuity goes. They adapted that from the original discarded pilot and tried to salvage as much as they could. They were still developing the characters. Did you happen to notice Sheldon doesn't start his three knocks until a few episodes in?

It's obvious a few times in the series that Sheldon could live on his own. He doesn't want to. Remember the episode when he loans Penny money? He has a couple hundred dollars stashed all over the apartment. He likes being waited on hand and foot. He wants them to drive him everywhere. Also he's afraid to be on his own.

[–] ItalianBuju (793) 3 years ago

It is funny you should mention the three knock thing because that was the next thing I noticed since making this post.

[–] strntz (10836) 3 years ago

Paladin is right: throw out the first episode as far as canon goes.

In addition to what you stated, Sheldon also was smitten with Penny in a superficial way the way the rest were. Later of course we learn he is as asexual as anyone can be.

[–] ItalianBuju (793) 3 years ago

I have watched a lot of the first season since making this post and never noticed Sheldon smitten with Penny at all.

[–] strntz (10836) 3 years ago

First episode. All the boys in the apartment are falling over themselves (in a geeky way) to get Penny's attention.

[–] Cognoscente (2463) 3 years ago

I think all TV writers should abide by an established set of rules so that they don't do anything that ruins the continuity.

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 3 years ago

I don't watch Young Sheldon but people I know who do say it is contradicting a lot of continuity that was established in Big Bang Theory. For instance, Sheldon's dad is not unfaithful (Lance Barber refused to do it). Now I hear they want to keep Lance Barber on the show, so the writers are trying to find a way not to kill him off, since that should be happening in next year or so.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 3 years ago

Sheldon's dad in Young Sheldon is way nicer than the way he was spoken about in TBBT. In Big Bang, the way Sheldon described his parents fights made it seem as though they had a bad relationship and an unhappy marriage. I chalk it up to the way people, even as adults, misinterpret or misremember what happened in their childhood.

In Big Bang, Raj's parents try to fix him up with Lalita Gupta, a girl from home who is going to dental school in California. They say that they want grandchildren. In later seasons we learn that Raj has a number of siblings including his lawyer sister who dates Leonard. So his parents really didn't need to pin all their hopes on Raj to give them grandchildren.