(CREDIT)
Highly recommended to me, I finally broke down and watched The Big Bang Theory. I have to say that while it was funny and had its memorable moments, it was overall cringe-worthy. If I had started the show when it originally aired back in 2007, I would have conformed with the masses and loved the show. Now, watching the show through a more critical lens, it was easier to pick out the xenophobic, anti-Semitic, Hinduphobic, homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, and patriarchal rhetoric throughout the series. It got old really quickly.
As a South Asian immigrant watching the show, my perspective will focus on Kunal Nayyar's portrayal of Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali. For those who haven't watched the show, Raj is an Astrophysicist working at Caltech, along with Howard, Leonard, and Sheldon. He comes from an affluent family in India and has lived a very sheltered life. For the majority of the series, Raj's dad paid for everything, even though Raj was more than capable of making his own way. Raj explained that he was accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle...essentially a spoiled and entitled brat.
Firstly, the thing that stood out almost immediately was the mocking of Raj's thick, Indian accent in almost every episode. This was primarily done by Howard, Raj's "best friend," though almost every character took their turn.
Secondly, along with making fun of his accent, let's not forget the constant Hinduphobic "jokes" about Raj's religion and Raj's affinity to eating beef, which isn't necessarily forbidden; however, cows are considered sacred and a holy manifestation of the divinity. While vegetarianism is the recommended diet, many Hindus eat fish and other meat except beef. Not that Raj was any better with his constant anti-Semitic jokes directed at Howard. For the sake of this post, all the characters are toxic and ignorant.
Thirdly, when the group got together for meals, it was always Raj sitting on a pillow on the ground, Indian style, while all the non-melanated people sat on the couch and chairs. I can only recall two instances where Leonard and Howard sat on the floor. In Season 2, Raj begins dating an Indian girl, Anu, and had to verbally request that she not have to sit on the floor. Sheldon tells Bernadette and Howard to sit on the floor, then Penny offers to. Then Raj requests Leonard sit on the floor as well because he wants to sit next to Anu. Other than Howard making a comment about Raj breaking up with Anu, none of his friends wanted to accommodate his simple request. They did this instead, leaving two chairs for Raj and Anu.
