Highlights
- The Big Bang Theory had plot holes and inconsistencies, including changing details about Sheldon’s cat allergy and Penny’s father’s name.
- Fans were disappointed with the dropped plotline of Howard’s half-brother, Josh, who was introduced but never seen again on the show.
- Josh’s character likely returned to San Diego to study marine biology, and the actor who played him, Matt Bennett, went on to star in other shows and pursue a career in music.
The Big Bang Theory was so successful with fans that it got its own sequel, expanding the show’s universe over almost two decades. The show started in 2007 and got its sequel in 2017. After Young Sheldon ended its five-season run, the universe in which these two shows operated was bound to experience some inconsistent plot lines.
However, fans feel that there was one big storyline that could have developed in a way to best move the show forward. Instead, it became the worst storyline on The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory Had A Handful Of Plot Holes
Much like any other show, The Big Bang Theory had its plot holes and inconsistencies. It also ran into controversy, including when an episode of the show faced a lawsuit and Netflix ended up referring it to Warner Bros. for removal of the offending scene.
However, some of the plot holes of the show were either hilarious or left fans completely baffled.
For example, in the first season of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon has a cat allergy. This comes up when Leonard is considering getting a cat to get over his heartbreak about being dumped by Penny.
However, in later seasons, it appears that Leonard himself is allergic to cats due to his asthma. Then Sheldon adopts five cats in season four.
Another plot hole that may have been an example of the writers forgetting to check their notes is Penny’s dad. In season two, Penny speaks about her dad, Bob.
By season four, however, her father, “Bob,” has become “Wyatt” and is never again referred to as Bob in the show again.
However, all these plot holes were minor and nobody but the most rabid fans would have noticed them or paid much attention to them.
Viewers Say This Was The Worst Dropped Plotline On The Big Bang Theory
Fans on Reddit were quick to point out the show’s biggest missed opportunity and worst plotline, however.
In the episode “The Fortification Implementation,” which aired during the eighth season of The Big Bang Theory in 2015, the show introduced Howard’s half-brother, Josh. He is much younger than Howard and found out about him when a lawyer contacted their father about the title of the house Howard lives in with Bernadette.
Bernadette and Raj grill the young man about his real reasons for claiming to be Howard’s brother, asking him if he’s after Howard’s money. As this happens, Howard returns from his errands and shows his disappointment and hurt feelings about his father’s disloyalty to him and his mother.
He is upset with Josh’s visit and wants him to leave. However, Josh realizes his half-brother is an astronaut and wants to find out more about space.
This development flatters Howard and the two have a few spirited scenes together and part on good terms. Howard tells Josh that he is definitely his brother and hugs him.
The missed opportunity? Josh is never seen again on the show.
Fans felt that this was a huge plot hole and being left to imagine what had happened between the brothers deprived them of a fun development on the show. They bemoaned the lost potential of having “two Howards,” as one Reddit user put it, in the sitcom.
Some even speculated that the writers decided behind the scenes that the half-brothers were forbidden to see each other again by Bernadette because they were a bad influence on each other.
Maybe she didn’t want to deal with Howard times two.
Either way, it was a weird way to introduce a new character, make it look like he was going to be a fun addition to the cast, and then never mention him again. Fans were right to be baffled by the writers’ choice. But it wasn’t the first time when they had mixed opinions about the show and its storylines.
Whatever Happened To Howard’s Brother On The Big Bang Theory?
Fans were left wondering, “What happened to Howard’s brother?” Well, in the show, he likely returned to his native San Diego to finish his studies in marine biology.
As for the actor who played Josh, Matt Bennett, he went on to star and guest star in other shows, including Fresh Off the Boat in 2016 and Dynasty in 2022. The actor is also an accomplished DJ who loves music and originally became famous on Arianna Grande’s vehicle to fame, Nickelodeon’s show, Victorious.
It would have been a blast to see what Matt Bennett could have brought to The Big Bang Theory, but it wasn’t the first time a plotline was abandoned and a potential fan favorite left the show. The same happened to other cast members like Sara Rue, who also left the show early despite fans liking her character.
These things happen when a TV series runs for as long as The Big Bang Theory did. Writers also sometimes grow sour on particular characters, which seemed to have happened to Mayim Bialik’s Amy on the show.
Source: NewsFinale
