In 2014, The Huge Bang Principle abruptly acquired the boot in China. It was big there, pulling in over 1.3B views, making it one of many most-watched American exhibits within the nation. However out of nowhere, TBBT vanished from streaming platforms like Sohu TV, iQiyi, and Youku. Why? It wasn’t as a result of Sheldon’s sarcasm was an excessive amount of for them (although, perhaps it was), however quite due to a bit factor referred to as “nerd tradition” that didn’t sit nicely with the Chinese language authorities.
The official excuse? “Violations of content material guidelines” involving “pornography, violence, and content material that violates China’s structure.” What? However right here’s the place it will get spicy: Based on Collider, some imagine the actual cause was much more strategic. China didn’t need to see their youth embracing The Huge Bang Principle’s nerdy appeal, particularly the “diaosi” (the “loser” geeks). In 2013, a Sohu survey revealed that 80% of Chinese language males aged 24 to 34 recognized as diaosi—geeks, misfits, and pleased with it. Amongst faculty college students? That quantity jumped to 90%. And the place did they discover their geeky function fashions? The Huge Bang Principle.
It wasn’t nearly Sheldon and the crew being awkwardly hilarious; it was about what they represented. They had been the outsiders who didn’t fairly match the mould however thrived anyway. And for China, that turned an issue. Why? As a result of a lot of these self-proclaimed diaosi discovered validation and satisfaction by means of TBBT’s portrayal of “losers” who had been successful in their very own method. It gave them a voice and a way of id.
This wasn’t an remoted incident, although. China has a protracted historical past of altering or banning content material that doesn’t match its narrative. Ever heard of Combat Membership? Yeah, they modified the ending to ensure the criminals had been caught. Nevertheless, whereas The Huge Bang Principle confronted a ban, Breaking Unhealthy, a present about drug lords, and Jail Break acquired a free cross. Followers had been furious. They needed solutions about why extra “problematic” exhibits like Breaking Unhealthy didn’t get the identical therapy.
Regardless that TBBT got here again later (with a couple of changes), the entire state of affairs highlighted simply how a lot energy TV exhibits have in shaping tradition and the way far China would go to regulate that narrative.
So, ultimately, it wasn’t Sheldon’s obsession with trains or Leonard’s awkwardness that acquired TBBT banned. It was that geek tradition—these self-identified “losers”—weren’t the form of heroes China needed. However they most likely made The Huge Bang Principle much more legendary within the course of.
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