Sheldon & Amy Heartbreakingly Breaking Up Made Their TBBT Happy Ending Work

The Big Bang Theory included several heart-wrenching moments, but one in particular completely paid off, making Amy and Sheldon’s happily ever after work in an unexpected way. From her introduction in Big Bang Theory season 3’s finale, Amy’s role changed greatly, taking more space in the Big Bang Theory gang’s friend group and quickly becoming more than just Sheldon’s girlfriend.

Despite meaning much more as a character in her own right, Amy’s relationship with Sheldon was indubitably her most important TBBT story. Unlike other relationships in The Big Bang Theory, Amy and Sheldon’s steadily grew. This made their breakup at TBBT season 8’s end completely unexpected. Amy and Sheldon’s happy ending would have nevertheless not worked as well without it.

Amy & Sheldon’s Heartbreaking Breakup Immeasurably Strengthened Their Relationship

Credit: Image via CBS

Unlike Penny and Leonard, who had a precarious romance in TBBT’s early seasons, Amy and Sheldon didn’t have a bumpy relationship, which made their breakup entirely unforeseen in The Big Bang Theory season 8’s finale. That being followed by the revelation of Sheldon’s plan to propose to Amy made it a moment when TBBT felt more heartbreaking than a comedy.

While hard on Sheldon in the immediate aftermath of Amy’s request for a break that quickly became an official breakup, the separation made their happily ever after possible for the couple by making them stronger. Sheldon admitted as such in The Big Bang Theory season 9, episode 15, during the Fun with Flags episode hijacked by Raj and Kripke’s calls.

Even more importantly, The Big Bang Theory season 9, episode 20 showed how much closer Sheldon and Amy had become after they broke up and reconciled. During the weekend away in the cabin with Penny and Leonard, Sheldon and Amy happily partook in a drinking game, which was already in and of itself something Sheldon would’ve never willingly done.

As Penny and Leonard fought about the secret bank account Leonard had kept from Penny, Sheldon and Amy continued to play, morphing the game into something new. Indeed, Sheldon and Amy challenged one another over things they viewed as absurd, rejoicing when they both didn’t drink, which made them realize how similar and close to one another they had become.

Why TBBT Needed To Show Amy & Sheldon’s Relationship Changing

Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler looking upset in The Big Bang Theory

Sheldon continuing the drinking game because it made him and Amy use it as an excuse to nurture a closer bond with one another exemplified how much he had changed. This way, Big Bang Theory season 9 planted the seeds of their changed bond via Sheldon’s words in the Valentine’s Day episode, following through with his actions five episodes later.

The very reason why Amy and Sheldon got back together in The Big Bang Theory season 9 had everything to do with Sheldon realizing he wanted Amy in his life, thus leading to his romantic love confession that told Amy and audiences what Sheldon’s real feelings for Amy were at last.

Without Sheldon realizing that, they could have continued being together, but their relationship could have easily become stale, because Amy didn’t feel valued, and Sheldon needed the breakup to realize how much he couldn’t live without Amy. This made Amy and Sheldon’s breakup a necessary step for their happily ever after.

Even Sheldon’s dream became a reality in The Big Bang Theory’s series finale because he began really leaning on Amy. Indeed, it was Sheldon and Amy’s idea that won them a Nobel Prize. Collaborating professionally with Amy wasn’t something Sheldon would have considered before realizing how important she was, making their breakup an indispensable step in The Big Bang Theory.

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