The Big Bang Theory ended 6 years ago, but even after all this time, I still wonder why 1 deserving character isn’t getting a spinoff. In 2019, the comedy wrapped up its 12-season run on CBS. Unlike the usual cancellations, however, The Big Bang Theory bowed out because Jim Parsons wanted to leave the series despite its popularity.
Admittedly, its final season had issues with pace and focus, but still, CBS was able to deliver a heartwarming The Big Bang Theory ending that left the Pasadena group in a positive state. Somehow, the franchise has moved on from the nerd-centric sitcom, eventually focusing on Sheldon’s prequel in Young Sheldon, which led to Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
That being said, The Big Bang Theory has remained popular, even becoming 2024’s most-binged show on streaming. It has continued to be relevant, but while I agree with how Chuck Lorre and his team have decided to expand the franchise, I still wonder why it never entertained the idea of giving a spinoff to The Big Bang Theory’s most ignored character — Raj.
Raj Koothrappali Is The Big Bang Theory’s Most Under-Developed Character
The Big Bang Theory Treated Raj As A Supporting Character
In the original The Big Bang Theory pilot, there were only Leonard and Sheldon. However, after Lorre and co-creator Bill Prady were given the chance to rework the episode, they decided to expand the cast by bringing in Kaley Cuoco as Penny, as well as Simon Helberg’s Howard and Kunal Nayyar’s Raj. Obviously, those changes worked well for the show.
Technically an ensemble series, The Big Bang Theory stayed that way in its first few seasons. Weekly plots were usually devoted to narratives that involved the whole cast. However, as the sitcom progressed and characters developed, it became more segmented. Each member of the Pasadena gang got their respective storylines, especially as Sheldon and Howard got their own romances.
As everyone progressed, however, The Big Bang Theory struggled to give Raj a sustainable storyline. He was the only one who didn’t get a consistent romantic partner — something that stuck until the very end of the series. The Big Bang Theory’s Anu seemed perfect for Raj, but that narrative was ultimately dropped because it supposedly didn’t get the response they wanted.
In the end, Raj was left with the least satisfying send-off among the Pasadena gang, stemming from years of always short-changing the character. He was either always treated as a third wheel in bigger storylines or was used as a plot device. It’s a massively disappointing turn of events, considering how much potential the character had.
The Likelihood Of A The Big Bang Theory Spinoff With Raj Is Slim
A Show About Raj Just Isn’t A Priority Right Now
Ever since The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019, the franchise has remained at the forefront of pop culture thanks to its spinoffs. After Young Sheldon was divisively canceled, CBS immediately replaced it with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Meanwhile, Lorre and Prady have reunited for Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, which is slated to stream on HBO Max.
It’s clear that there’s an intention to expand the universe beyond The Big Bang Theory. Based on Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s success on CBS, I won’t be surprised if there are more offshoots on the way. That being said, I don’t think Raj will ever get his own show, even though he deserves one.
Much has been said about how underutilized Raj was in The Big Bang Theory. Because of that, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a compelling premise for his series. He could finally move away from Pasadena to search for a better life, both professionally and personally. That could easily explain why he’s no longer spending time with the Pasadena gang.
…Raj deserves a better ending than what he got in The Big Bang Theory, and an offshoot, regardless of whether it’s a limited series, can fix that.
Additionally, Young Sheldon oddly offered an update on essentially everyone from Sheldon’s friend group except him. That makes his future so much more intriguing. Given those issues with the handling of the character, Raj deserves a better ending than what he got in The Big Bang Theory, and an offshoot, regardless of whether it’s a limited series, can fix that.
Can The Big Bang Theory Still Rectify Raj’s Disappointing Ending
It’s Doubtful At This Point
At this point, there’s really no clear way of amending Raj’s disappointing The Big Bang Theory arc. Young Sheldon had the ability to share Pasadena gang updates despite being a prequel because of old Sheldon’s narration. Not only does Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage not have that narrative aspect, it also doesn’t have any ties to Raj.
In terms of the timeline, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe can somehow rectify the issue, but only if the show can return to its main reality occasionally. Per the premise, the spinoff can bring back the legacy cast of The Big Bang Theory, but as different versions of themselves. That doesn’t help much regarding fixing Raj’s main universe story.
In the end, it will boil down to the people behind The Big Bang Theory universe if they think that giving Raj a better ending is worth the effort. As previously mentioned, it could easily be through a limited series or a secret role in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe. Regardless, Nayyar is open to returning, so that’s a good start.
