Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons' falling out at the end of the sitcom changes how one sees the rather satisfying The Big Bang Theory finale. Months before its regular premiere date, CBS announced that the nerd-centric sitcom's 12th season will be its last. Rumors about the decision to cancel The Big Bang Theory immediately made the rounds, especially since the network had just openly expressed its interest in renewing it. Eventually, it was revealed that it boiled down to Parsons wanting to exit the show, and instead of continuing without him, they opted to wrap things altogether. While this seemed straightforward, there was apparently some fallout among the cast in light of the decision to end The Big Bang Theory.
As revealed in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, there was a rift between Parsons and Cuoco after the cast learned about The Big Bang Theory's ending. Executive producer Steve Holland even recalled how "Kaley could barely make eye with Jim during the runthrough.” Despite the pair having a rough patch due to how Parsons' news was delivered to them, they were still able to professionally do their jobs makes The Big Bang Theory finale so much more impressive. Beyond their responsibility to carry on with the sitcom, the actors worked to move on from their disagreements for the sake of the show and its audience. Not only does it highlight their commitment to their work The Big Bang Theory, but also potentially a strong friendship behind the scenes, as they were able to get past their conflict pretty quickly.
Why Big Bang Theory's Finale Was So Well-Received
The Big Bang Theory finale ended up being one of the most memorable TV send-offs in recent memory. Coming from their wedding, season 12 focused on Sheldon and Amy's bid to win the Nobel Prize in Physics, which they eventually did — a satisfying pay-off for a season-long arc. Meanwhile, despite its problematic setup, Penny and Leonard were revealed to be pregnant, and given the pair's ecstatic reaction to it regardless of their initial stance on the matter, it was difficult not to be happy for them, especially after everything they had gone through as a couple. Unlike other sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory finale didn't mark the end of an era for the Pasadena gang. It kept them all still together with the idea that even after the show, their friendship will endure moving forward, which was a sweet thought to leave the series with.
Cuoco & Parsons' Rift Makes Penny & Sheldon's Final TBBT Scene Better
Parsons and Cuoco's conflict over the reason for The Big Bang Theory ending has never been revealed until now. The actors, who went on a press tour to promote the show's finale after filming, never gave any inkling about this on-set drama. Understandably, there wasn't anything to be gained from talking about it, since they patched things up eventually. That being said, learning about Parsons and Cuoco's rift actually makes Sheldon and Penny's final The Big Bang Theory solo scene better. In it, Penny comforted Sheldon who was struggling with all the changes that came with him winning the Nobel Prize. The fact that the cast was also on the cusp of a massive shake-up with the impending end of The Big Bang Theory - and knowing that Cuoco herself was struggling with it - adds weight to her encouraging and empathetic words as Penny.
In an ideal world, The Big Bang Theory having to end wouldn't have included any set drama. The rest of the cast understood Parsons' decision to leave Sheldon behind and try other things for his career. Instead, the problem stemmed from how it was communicated to them. Three years after the sitcom went off the air, it seemed like everyone is back on good , unsurprisingly, considering they worked closely together for 12 years.