In this ever changing, and quite frankly sometimes terrifying, world we live in it’s good to remind ourselves that there are somethings that will always be true: 2+2=4, Andy Burnham is an unelected muppet, and there’s no show in existence that’s funnier than ‘The Big Bang Theory’.

Yes, that’s right I said the Big Bang Theory. Punching bag of all those wannabe intellectuals who think it makes them sound so smart, or enlightened, to rag on a genuinely funny, well-acted, mostly well-written, show that has managed to become so popular and beloved by the public that not only did they get twelve seasons out of it but three spin-offs as well.

Having said that, and I can see the hypocrisy here, I wouldn’t be writing these words if it were a show without faults. Because let’s face it, no show is without faults, and certainly no show that I’d talk in detail about. Because at the end of the day there’s only so many times you can say, this was brilliant, or this really made me laugh before you end up repeating yourself. If anything I think a show with flaws is more interesting because they force the viewer, if they are so inclined, to think deeper on the subject, to ask themselves why this isn’t clicking with them.

Why does this character feel off?

Why does this storyline or plot feel unthought through?

And does it actually say more about me than the show that all this bothered me so much?

But I digress… sort of… because now we come to the point. Recently, I was rewatching the Big Bang Theory for the 111th time. While I wa watching all the errors of continuity, characterisation, large dynamic altering events that happened in one episode and then went completely unacknowledged in the rest of the series, that you can easily spot after you’ve watched a series that much, I was suddenly struck with an idea.

A viewer experience altering idea.

And the idea was: String Theory.

It’s all String Theory.

If you’ve ever watched the Big Bang Theory you maybe somewhat familiar with String Theory. It’s the theory of everything, how all life, science and matter actually work in the universe. And more importantly for our discussion, it is the theory that Sheldon Cooper, arguably the most important person in the Big Bang Theory extended Universe, has devoted his whole life to studying.

One of the aspects of String Theory is that it states that there is not just one universe but many. An infinite number of universes in fact; any event that might have happened in the universe has happened somewhere out there in the infinite. An infinite number of Sheldons, Leonards, Amys, Pennys, and the rest all living their lives as if they were wholly and uniquely their own. Wow, wouldn’t it just be something if we could see what was happening in those universes?

And maybe that’s the point of all of it.

Of all the mistakes, and recasting, and plots that should have gone somewhere but were seemingly never mentioned again almost like they’d never happened at all. All the character retools and vital information previously established about a character that was thrown out the window for the sake of a joke or the conflict of a single episode.

Can you see where I’m going here?

Yes, that’s right I intend to make the argument that when we watch the Big Bang Theory or any of its spin-offs we are not viewing one universe, with one linear timeline, we are watching many.

Many Sheldons.

Many Leonards.

Many Pennys.

Many Big Bangs.

All combined to give us one fantastic show.

Over the next few… however long it takes me to complete this series… I will go into specific instances where this interpretation is not only the only way these episodes, and plot lines, make sense but also the only way to watch them with any enjoyment whatsoever. And in my next post I’ll be addressing the main, and most solid argument, against this theory.

If you think you can guess what that is comment down below and see if you’re right.

Hopefully I’ll see you soon.

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