FANS of The Big Bang Theory think they’ve identified a dark message in the sitcom’s last ever episode.
The CBS reality show wrapped last year after a whopping 12 seasons and ever since avid viewers have been re-watching old episodes to get their fix of nerdy humour.
The show concluded with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) receiving their Nobel Prize in Physics after years of hard work.
The episode was titled The Stockholm Syndrome, referencing that fact that the ceremonies for the Nobel Prize usually take place in the city.
It’s one of only a handful of episodes that have a title grounded in scientific phenomenon and as such, was quickly dissected by fans on social media.
Reddit user Samuel13881995 wrote: “As far as I know Stockholm Syndrome is a condition where kidnapped persons fall in love with their kidnapper.
“But I’m not understanding what it has to do with the series at all. Any ideas?”
Stockholm Syndrome was first recorded back in 1973, after a robbery of a bank in the city.
A group of hostages refused to testify against their assailing and instead took to raising money to cover his legal costs.
In short, the syndrome refers to a victim of a crime developing feelings of attachment for the perpetrator.
Responding to the original post, one fan had a decidedly dark take on the episode title.
“I suppose you could also argue that the entire group had been held hostage by Sheldon for 12 seasons by having to tolerate his selfishness,” they claimed.
“Yet they were still there for him every step of the way as he alluded to in his acceptance speech.”
Could the gang have enabled Sheldon’s mercenary take on personal relationships in this way?
Another fan agreed and even opted to diagnose Sheldon with a syndrome of his own.
“Sheldon has traits of Asperger syndrome; it’s a joke, in that he has learned to deal with it. And got progressively better,” they wrote.
Sheldon’s compulsive behaviour and obsession is a running joke throughout the series, but at no point does he receive any kind of formal diagnosis.
For example, he is extremely territorial when it comes to boundaries in his shared apartment with Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki).
He also refuses to use any form of public transport and instead demands that his friends drive him to work and various events.
Nonetheless, he seems to develop a sense of compassion and empathy as the series goes on.
The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on Netflix now.
