A Mind-Boggling Nolan-esque Fan Theory Makes TBBT Even Better
If the Big Bang Theory ended with the reveal described in one fan theory, it would totally blow everyone's mind.
The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019 with a series of episodes that felt satisfying to some fans and disappointing to others. Not all arcs concluded the way fans and even stars wanted them to. But if one fan had his way, the sitcom would end on a much more shocking note.
The mind-boggling fan theory appeared on Reddit several years ago long before the CBS show's finale was released. Redditor u/Theluckygal theorized that The Big Bang Theory's leading characters were either in a coma or stuck in limbo and the whole 12-season-long story happened in their mind, Nolan's Inception- like.
Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Wait till you read the reasons behind the theory.
The theory is based on one inconsistency that bothered many TBBT fans over the years, the perpetual out-of-order elevator. The author rightfully noted that no resident of an apartment complex in the USA would put up with a broken elevator for so long, especially not Sheldon Cooper.
"This is the guy who waited for hours on phone for hp customer service to complain to them about their customer service," the author wrote.
The broken elevator was the only thing out of character for Sheldon. It was like he and his friends knew not to tweak it, or they would become 'aware' of what was really happening. But what was happening? The author thinks Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, and Howard got into a rocket fuel accident in the elevator. That was 'the big bang' that created an alternate universe for the dying or severely injured friends.
"The out-of-order sign on the elevator is symbolic of their issues before the accident & their current state of mind. They can't move on until they have fixed their issues in waking life," the author theorized.
It is true, each character had an issue at the beginning of the show that they eventually overcame. Raj couldn't speak to women, Howard was Mama's boy, Leonard had relationship issues, Sheldon was socially awkward and took people around him for granted.
This theory is definitely an interesting one and can explain a lot of things. Though we know that the story of the Pasadena gang happened in reality, the fixed elevator in the final episode can be a symbol of sorts, especially considering the final issue was fixed in the finale, Sheldon finally acknowledged his friends.