Sheldon Cooper Had One True Friend, and It’s Not Leonard

Although The Big Bang Theory became so popular thanks to Sheldon Cooper going viral on the Internet more times than we can count, the show kept fans coming back for more with its sharp writing and amazing ensemble cast.

With each actor perfectly complementing the talents of the others, the show managed to create a unique dynamic between the characters that kept viewers engaged.

While there were many questionable moments that were exaggerated for comedic effect that probably wouldn't be as funny in real life, the sitcom portrayed friendship the best it could. And even Sheldon had his place in a group. Even better, Sheldon actually had some deeper relationships than you might have thought.

Who Is Sheldon Cooper’s Best Friend, Truly?

Many people tend to think that of the group, Sheldon's best friend is Leonard. They live together and have gotten to know each other over the years. However, friendship is not only about knowing each other, but also about having equal respect for each other. And this is where the relationship between the two struggles.

At this point, many believe that there is no one who actually hates Sheldon more than Leonard, and he has every right to feel that way! From causing him actual health problems with an itchy sweater to feeding him literal bugs, Sheldon has done everything to ruin this friendship for him. However, there is one that he has actually been there for the most.

“Sheldon’s friendship with Leonard was largely rooted in dependency, while Sheldon and Howard mainly liked messing with each other. Raj was probably the one friend Sheldon had where the relationship was a two-way street, before Penny,” Redditor ChildofObama said.

While Raj is often portrayed as Howard's best friend, the friendship between the four men is not so linear. Many viewers have noticed that while Sheldon is the most quirky and annoying, Leonard is the most normal, and Howard more often than not ends up the butt of every joke, Raj is the character who fits in with them all.

Like the glue that holds everything together, he is the one who has the gentlest relationship with everyone in the group, including Sheldon. After Penny joined the guys, she managed to create a similar dynamic with him, but before that happened, Raj was the one who balanced out the clashing personalities and smoothed out the way the group of friends worked.

Does this mean that Leonard and Sheldon's friendship was fake? Of course not. But the writers missed a great opportunity to explore the dynamic between Sheldon and Raj beyond a few jokes and a meditation session. Still, if you want to revisit your favorite moments of the duo, The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on Max.