Creepiest Thing Howard Has Ever Done on The Big Bang Theory
Following the lives of the super-geeks, The Big Bang Theory showcases the sides we don't see when we think of nerds. It provides insight into the charisma and depth needed to make them seem human. Some of those moments are heartwarming while others are actually quite unpleasant.
Howard, in particular, is a prime example of this. His sleazy 'sleep with anybody' attitude has cemented him as the resident pervert of the gang that has no boundaries for others. The show's fans can likely count into the hundreds when thinking of all the times he has made a female uncomfortable. But out of all his questionable acts, which one is the worst?
Voyage into Voyeur
The creepiest thing Howard ever did had Penny as his focal point. Being the object of his first hyper-obsessive compulsions, we'd expect it to involve nobody else. Even though Howard's long-lasting infatuation with Penny is creepy enough, this moment takes the cake.
Taking place during the episode where Howard and Bernadette split (due to Mr. Sly hitting on an e-girl) Howard infiltrates Penny's privacy by posing as Sheldon at her front door. He does so by making use of a secret recording of the real Sheldon and lures her out. To make the situation even grosser, Penny alludes to the time Howard hid a webcam inside one of her teddy bears.
As if the imposter's attempts to reach Penny weren't off-putting enough, the creep had the audacity to place a webcam in an item that was likely in her bedroom. We don't know what people consider voyeurism nowadays, but this reaches an alarmingly new extreme. Thankfully, as he and Bernadette rekindled their love, Howard (somewhat) cooled off.
The Bigger Picture
Looking back on that moment, as well as the first few seasons, it's hard to imagine many of Howard's antics flying in today's game. Since the late 2000s, we've witnessed an influx of social movements in the defense of women—a lot of whom have endured disgusting men such as Howard. These movements' reach is apparent when looking at characters like Howard himself.
As Howard developed in unison with the times, he represented the fact that men need to retain their accountability. Later episodes where he confronted these demons showed the world that men don't have free reign over every female passerby. Even though it may appear humorous on television, these disturbing men do exist and must not be provided with any leeway.