The Big Bang Theory: 5 Ways Raj & Emily Were Perfect Together (& 5 They Were Right To Break Up)
Raj and Emily begin dating on season 7 of The Big Bang Theory. It's his first serious relationship in the show, and to the surprise of fans everywhere, they are together for almost three seasons. The show is vague with the timeline, but it wouldn't be incorrect to guess that they date for a little under a year.
Their dynamic isn't without fault, and they are very different from each other, with Raj being a traditional romantic, while Emily enjoys gore and the macabre. They still seem right for each other and share plenty of chemistry, and their differences make them one of the most intriguing couples on the show. Even so, many fans could tell their story wouldn't have a happy ending.
10 Right To Break Up: They Were Too Different
Raj and Emily were almost polar opposites. He had a traditional view of romance, heavily influenced by movies and songs. He wanted to live in a romantic comedy and favored grand gestures instead of subtle displays of affection.
Emily, on the other hand, was a realist with far more experience in dating and relationships. Her interesting tastes, which included gore and horror, also made him uncomfortable. Raj never got used to her dark humor and macabre jokes, and she seemed to enjoy creeping him out.
9 Perfect Together: They Got Along Famously
When they were together, Raj and Emily were perfect. They genuinely enjoyed each other's company, which wasn't always the case with Leonard and Penny or Raj and Bernadette.
Unlike their other friends, Raj and Emily also made an effort to step out of their comfort zone. For example, Emily comes up with the idea of going to the escape room and volunteers with Raj to help in the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. Raj is also notorious for his elaborate thematic parties, which Emily probably participated in while dating him.
8 Right To Break Up: His Family Wouldn't Accept Her
Raj's family, like him, was pretty snobbish and conservative. Priya refuses and is outright terrified of telling her parents about her relationship with Leonard. Multiple times, Dr. and Mrs. Koothrappali berate Raj for not marrying an Indian woman. In one episode, the doctor even makes an off-color comment about American girls.
The show never reveals if Raj and Emily met each other's families, but it's safe to guess he never introduced her to his parents. Raj always was too spoiled for his own good and too afraid to go against his parents' wishes.
7 Perfect Together: She Supported His Endeavors
Unlike Penny and Bernadette, who showed open contempt for their husbands' likes and hobbies, Emily never did. On the contrary, she usually supported Raj's pursuits even when she was slightly embarrassed by them.
When Raj formed Footprints on the Moon alongside Howard, Emily listened to his song and tried to hide her dislike. In the episode "The Empathy Optimization," while the group is on the party bus and Raj is dancing on the pole, Emily lets him enjoy himself despite her embarrassment at his ridiculous behavior.
6 Right To Break Up: She Was Too Extreme For Him
Emily's tastes went from slightly unconventional to truly disturbing. She creeped out not only Raj but all his friends too. In one episode, Sheldon even mentions that the gang will only see each other "when Koothrappali's weird girlfriend admits where she buried his body."
Raj never really accepted Emily's dark side but merely tolerated it for the sake of being in the relationship. She, too, seemed to go out of her way to make him uncomfortable, which in hindsight wasn't probably the best idea.
5 Perfect Together: They Communicated And Shared
Emily and Raj were always honest with each other, for the most part, at least. From the very beginning, he admits he's also dating Lucy, which Emily is fine with. She's also quite forward about her tastes, and he doesn't try to hide his overly sensitive side. He confesses he snooped around her apartment when left alone and tells her about Howard's "Emily or Cinnamon" game.
This dynamic was refreshing, considering how many unnecessary lies the gang told throughout the show. What's best is that Raj and Emily seemed to communicate out of genuine interest for each other's lives and not out of habit or obligation.
4 Right To Break Up: He Was Still Too Insecure
Raj's main problem was his self-doubt and many insecurities. Because he has an idealized version of love, he constantly chases after illusions he can never get. On the other hand, his insecurities prevent him from committing to a relationship and even lead him to sabotage the ones he does have.
Throughout his romance with Emily, and before and after, for that matter, Raj never deals with his numerous issues. Instead, he continues trying to find love without first addressing his perception of himself. In a way, it makes sense he ends the series alone because he clearly wasn't ready for a relationship.
3 Perfect Together: She Got Along With His Friends
Even though she has a rocky start with Penny, Emily ends up getting along with Raj's friends. By season eight, she's having dinner with them and socializing. She never becomes part of Penny's Posse, but she's comfortable enough to spend prolonged amounts of time with everyone and enjoy herself.
Emily also stands up to Sheldon when he acts like a jerk, eventually receiving a heartfelt apology from him. It's refreshing seeing someone forcing Sheldon to own up to his mistakes, especially because his friends often let his transgressions pass without any consequence.
2 Right To Break Up: He Never Got Over His Reservations About Her
Even though they go out for months, Raj never really gets over his doubts about the relationship. He constantly complains to Howard about how he and Emily are too different, and he doesn't see a future for them. However, his fear of being alone convinces him to stay with her, while his desire for a more traditional love story leads him to dump her at the first chance.
Raj's reservations had a simple solution. Had he talked to Emily, perhaps they could've found common ground. Fans will never know, but it's odd that Raj shared so many things with Emily, except for the minor detail that could've taken their relationship to the next level.
1 Perfect Together: She Loved Him For Who He Was
Raj is the butt of the joke throughout his time on Big Bang. The guys and the girls make fun of his personality, his extreme friendship with Howard, and his overly attached relationship with his dog, Cinnamon. They constantly call him names, put him on the spot, and make several racist jokes at his expense.
On the other hand, Emily never uses any of Raj's quirks against him. She even defends him when the guys play the "Emily or Cinnamon" game. Emily never shows discomfort or embarrassment at Raj's behavior (except for the time he strips on the pole). At the end of the day, she really loved him for who he was, and it's a shame they couldn't make it work.