I assumed that’s because this thread started right after that episode aired.
Well, he didn’t come out very well with that “Later Losers” comment on the Valentines Day episode. But that’s the jerkiest I’ve seen him.
Then again, I’ve missed a lot of episodes.
I think it’s pretty clear that Raj is the biggest jerk.
Sheldon is obnoxious, but he’s also socially stunted. He is like a child in many ways (as shown by how he reacts to his mother). He’s only very rarely deliberately mean.
Leonard is generally pretty nice, although he doesn’t really understand how to relate to women.
Howard is (or was) a pig with respect to women, but he’s also rarely deliberately mean.
Leonard’s Mom is just a female Sheldon - she doesn’t understand why social graces are important.
Penny stomped on Leonard’s heart, but she usually pretty nice, even to Sheldon.
Pria is a bit of a bitch, but she’s not a jerk.
Amy is another female Sheldon, and she will do anything to be accepted by Penny, but she’s rarely inconsiderate.
Which leave Raj.
He is the only character who consistently does mean and inconsiderate things to the other characters - stealing Howard’s pickup line he was going to use on Summer Glau, hiding Sheldon’s mouthwash, treating Howard like a servant when he was translating for him, mocking Leonard when he wanted support, etc, etc…
I vote for the Sheldon character. Ever since Jim Parsons won the Golden Globe award for playing the character, Sheldon has become increasingly narcissistic, OCD, and childish. Typical network thinking… If a little bit is good, then more is better, and too much is never enough. This is especially obvious if you watch some of the very early reruns. There are times when I have considered stopping watching the show because Sheldon has become so annoying(yep, especially the “spoilers” epsisode), although this season the others seem to be pushing back at him a bit more. The best thing about Sheldon is his mother, probably my favourite character on the show.
Aren’t those words pretty much synonymous in this context?
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:85, topic:651651”]
Aren’t those words pretty much synonymous in this context?
[/QUOTE]
No, I don’t think so.
“Bitchy” = entitled or demanding
“Jerk” = mean-spirited (at least in my book).
I just saw a repeat episode (on TBS) where Sheldon won an award and had to give a speech and he was petrified to speak in front of the crowd.
In this scene, when Penny, Leonard and Raj were volunteering to be Sheldon “C-Men”, Howard was pretty mean to Sheldon.
Was Howard channeling Paul Lynde (aka Uncle Arthur in Bewitched) in his delivery?
In common use, I don’t think “being a bitch” is the same as “being bitchy.” Being a bitch implies being mean to other people.
Sheldon’s character is the biggest jerk but its the most fun to watch also.
Raj is jerk No. 2 on the show, a pretty big jerk but less than Sheldon if you ask me. Jerk meaning deviant from what we perceive as normal.
I see (ehem) that you are a fan of Shakespeare.
Meanwhile, another vote for early evil Wil Wheaton.
The only reoccuring cast member who hasn’t been mentioned is Mary Cooper, Sheldon’s mother. She scores extra points for being a fundamentalist relgious jerk in my book. She thinks God and Jesus justify everything she does.
It really depends on which season. Sometimes she’s a better person than others, but I think Penny is consistently the least forgivable of the bunch. Besides, she gets along with Leonard’s mother. Like two peas in a pod when they hit the sauce. Hate 'em both.
This is so easy to observe now that the show is in syndication on 2 different networks in my area. Seeing so much evidence of Sheldon being a huge jerk at such close intervals has made it difficult for me to enjoy the show at all.
I think Leonard really has his moments. Something in particular that is annoying me on an episode I’m currently watching (6.08 - The 43 Peculiarity) is his (IMO) over reaction to Penny’s friend from school coming over to her flat. I know he has huge insecurity issues but he’s acted like that before (in 3.07) and it comes across as if he doesn’t want Penny to have any male friends, aside from Raj, Sheldon, and Howard. I think that’s really selfish of him, and kind of controlling. Plus it’s an insult to Penny, it sort of implies that he has no trust in her whatsoever.
Also he said England sucks, so he goes straight to the top of my shit list. 
I read an interview where the actor who plays Sheldon said he plays the character as if he has Aspergers.
The actor asked the writers if Sheldon was supposed to have Asperger’s. They said he did not. Often people who have a very high IQ exhibit some of the features of Asperger’s without having it. My son is one of those, so it’s something I’ve run into a lot.
This would matter if she actually ever did anything mean.
I can’t go with her either - Mary’s actually human, more or less grounded, has some basic understanding of human relations and even has a past that outshines Penny. Beverly Hofstadter is the choice here.
Raj is like a game the writers are playing with us. They take him to the edge of despicibility*, and then zoom left into pathetic territory so fast that we haven’t time to start hating him before we are pitying him again.
But seriously, he’s said some pretty horrific stuff.
*OK, possibly not a word, but it SHOULD be!
is she the only character Sheldon has gotten along with without flaws?