Raj was left single in The Big Bang Theory finale, upsetting fans online. However, this was the right choice for the character despite the backlash.
While The Big Bang Theory finale got a lot of flack for keeping Raj single, this was the correct choice for the popular sitcom. It is almost impossible to end a hangout sitcom perfectly. After all, viewers tune into these shows to see a group of friends interact and, for these friends to get a happy ending, they usually end up separated as they all move on with their lives. Famously, the Friends finale ended with Joey still single, which resulted in a much-maligned spinoff. Similarly, The Big Bang Theory finale ended with everyone but Raj getting a romantic happily ever after ending.
This decision left some fans unimpressed. Over the years, Raj had struggled with romance in The Big Bang Theory. For the first few seasons of the series, he couldn’t even talk to women. When Raj met Siri in The Big Bang Theory, he froze up and found himself unable to speak even though the entire sequence turned out to be a dream. As a result, some viewers were disappointed to see that Raj was denied a traditional happy ending after all that he overcame in the romance department. However, this was not the character’s whole story, and keeping Raj single was arguably the best choice for The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory Kept Raj Single So Not Every Character Ended Up In A Relationship
The creators of The Big Bang Theory defended the decision to keep Raj single by noting that not all of the cast members needed a relationship to get their happy ending. As executive producer Steve Holland told TheHollywoodReporter, “We didn't need to leave everyone in a relationship” when the series wrapped up. This is a good point when so many sitcoms depict a committed romantic relationship as the only acceptable happy ending. Most of Raj’s The Big Bang Theory romances ended badly since the character had so little experience in the field, so it makes more sense for him to stay single in the finale.
Leonard and Penny were always guaranteed to end up together in The Big Bang Theory finale since their unlikely romance was the central focus of the series. Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette were together for a long time by the finale and this relationship had toned down many of Howard’s less likable qualities. As such, their continued relationship was equally inevitable. Finally, Sheldon spent so long working on his relationship with Amy Farrah-Fowler that The Big Bang Theory finale ending with their breakup would have felt mean-spirited. Raj was the only character who could conceivably stay single in the finale, so Holland’s comments could only apply to him.
Why Raj Being Single Was So Divisive Among The Big Bang Theory Fans
While it might have made sense, Raj’s single status was still a source of contention among The Big Bang Theory fans online. He couldn’t even talk to women for much of the The Big Bang Theory’s run and his relationships ended with cheating, heartbreak, and an unnecessary breakup with Anu. After Sheldon’s speech in The Big Bang Theory finale proved how much he grew as a person during the show’s run, some viewers felt that Raj deserved an equally obvious testament to his personal growth. For Sheldon, growth looked like gaining humility and crediting his friends whereas, for some fans, Raj gaining a partner would signal his growth.
Why Raj Being Single Was The Right Choice For The Big Bang Theory
However, this assumption was not necessarily true. If anything, staying single proved Raj had grown. Raj's growth in the realm of romance was evidenced in The Big Bang Theory finale, despite his single status. Raj’s abrupt and under-explored breakup with Anu made it clear that he needed more experience before settling down, but this didn’t undo all the changes that he made throughout the series. Raj’s ability to talk Sarah Michelle Gellar into being his date for the Nobel Prize awards ceremony proved that he had come on leaps and bounds when it came to speaking to women. His romantic future wasn't in peril, even without any current relationship.
Pairing off every character before the ending is an overly familiar trope and the creators of The Big Bang Theory were right to avoid this tired cliché. Fans who felt Raj’s The Big Bang Theory finale ending betrayed his journey might have had a point if he simply ended the series alone. However, since Raj proved that he could speak to women and was open to new experiences and adventures after The Big Bang Theory’s finale, his ending was far from a letdown. If anything, it would have been hard for The Big Bang Theory to give Raj a more fitting final appearance (even with a love interest).
