The Big Bang Theory fan uncovers plot hole in first season

Storyline involves Howard Wolowitz's parents

An observant Big Bang Theory fan has uncovered what they believe to be a notable plot hole dating back to the sitcom’s infancy.

The fan shared their observations in a recent Reddit post, pointing to the eighth episode of the first season.

In “The Grasshopper Experiment”, Raj is annoyed when his parents attempt to arrange a date for him and his childhood friend Lalita Gupta.

At this point in the series, Raj is incapable of talking to women and thus wonders what his parents hope might come out of the date.

“Look on the bright side, she might turn out to be a nice, beautiful girl,” his friend Leonard tells him.

Raj responds: “Great, then we’ll get married, I won’t be able to talk to her, and we’ll spend the rest of our lives in total silence.”

Howard interjects: “Worked for my parents.”

The joke is repeated later, when it turns out that Raj actually can talk to women as long as he’s intoxicated.

“Let’s say he meets her and he likes her and they get married, what’s he going to do, stay drunk for the rest of his life?” Leonard wonders out loud.

Howard responds once again: “Worked for my parents.”

The quip, as Reddit user awomanstale pointed out, contradicts a major part of Howard’s backstory, according to which his father left the family when he was a child.

If Howard’s father did in fact desert his life when he was a little boy, then the character shouldn’t be able to make quips about his parents’ marriage, since he didn’t watch it unfold.

Some Reddit users pointed out that Howard’s line dates back to the show’s first season, after which the sitcom’s writers might have decided to take his character in another direction – even though it meant disregarding this specific line.

The Big Bang Theory wrapped up in May this year after 12 seasons.

Streaming rights to the show have been acquired by HBO Max in what is reportedly a multi-billion-dollar deal.