Why Howard Was The Worst On The Big Bang Theory

On CBS' "The Big Bang Theory," each of the main characters has their share of positive and negative qualities. Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) is no exception.

With his vibrant 1960s-era wardrobe, vast collection of mysterious alien pins, and bowl-shaped hairstyle, Howard can be seen as the most eccentric of his friend group. In addition to his unique fashion sense, Howard is unabashedly proud of his nerdy side. He's gifted with the talent of being able to do spot-on impressions of actors like Nicolas Cage and Christopher Walken and is fluent in a handful of languages, including Klingon from "Star Trek."

When audiences are introduced to Howard, he's a woman-obsessed engineer living at home with his extremely loud overprotective mother, Debbie (Carol Ann Susi). In some ways, these qualities allow Howard to bring much humor to "The Big Bang Theory." The scenes that feature him reverting to his teenage years and yelling at Debbie are some of the most memorable on the show. Additionally, his failed attempts at flirting make his successful relationship with Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch) all the more rewarding to watch.

However, some feel that these same characteristics do make him comedically endearing. In fact, it can be argued that Howard's immaturity and poor social skills with women make him the worst character on "The Big Bang Theory."

Prior to falling for Bernadette on a blind date set up by Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard boasts a borderline unhealthy obsession with women. On a regular basis, he shoots his shot with Penny in what he believes are smooth, suave advances. Early in the series, he asks her, "Haven't you ever been told how beautiful you are in flawless Russian?" and attempts to compliment the Cheesecake Factory waitress by calling her a "cheesecake-scented goddess."

Though Penny receives the brunt of Howard's attention, he seems to be attracted to any woman he meets, including Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) mother, Mary (Laurie Metcalf), whom he tells, "I now see where Sheldon gets his smoldering good looks." Some fans see Howard's actions as creepy. On Reddit, u/CrimsonEclipse18 said, "He really was a sex pest, though fortunately too timid to go the next step as a sexual harasser."

Howard may crave intimacy, but he's ultimately very immature for his age. In his late 20s, he rarely stands up to his mother and is afraid to tell her that he's moving out to live with Bernadette. Another example of his immaturity occurs during his trip to space. He's teased and bullied by his fellow astronauts but doesn't stand up for himself. He simply whimpers to Bernadette, "The other astronauts are being mean to me." If Sheldon or Leonard were in a similar situation, it's hard to imagine them not fighting back.

Howard transforms by the end of the series when he becomes a father of two. Yet for most of "The Big Bang Theory," it's easy to see why many believe him to be the worst character on the show.