The Big Bang Theory: 10 People Raj Could Have Ended Up With (Other Than Himself)

Raj was one of The Big Bang Theory‘s most ethereal characters. As an accomplished astrophysicist with many talents,   Raj was not only loved by his friends but also by the women around him… once he’d figured out how to talk to them, that is!  

In the show, Raj’s flair for all things feminine and romantic led him to build strong relationships with the women around him and make him more attractive in his romantic relationships. Though Raj did end up alone in The Big Bang Theory finale (despite scoring a date with Sara Michelle Gellar), there were many characters who Raj could have ended up with. 

10 Penny

Penny and Raj’s famous drunken hook up in S4 EP24 ‘The Roommate Transmogrification’ not only shook fans but also the characters within the show. Even though this was not a favorable outcome for Penny (due to previously being in a relationship with Leonard), it was for Raj who was not mad at the idea of being with her. Though the two ultimately decided to remain friends (realizing that they never engaged in coitus), it is likely that Raj and Penny would have ended up together given that Penny herself was single at the time and did entertain the idea when she found out Raj was wealthy in the S5 EP4 ‘The Wiggly Finger Catalyst’.

9 Bernadette

In S4 Ep9 ‘The Boyfriend Complexity’ Raj joins Howard and Bernadette on their date and when  Bernadette compliments him, he develops a crush on her. He starts dreaming and fantasizing about her regularly and hoping for Howard to be out of the picture. Throughout the entire 4th season, Raj’s crush intensifies to the point where he starts to be vocal about his attraction to Bernadette. Thankfully, the crush disseminated leading Raj to maintain a close friendship with Bernie throughout the show, especially during her pregnancy. Should Howard have coincidently been out of the picture, Raj and Bernadette could have ended up together.

8 Missy

When Sheldon’s sister Missy comes to visit in S1 Ep15 ‘The Porkchop Indeterminacy’, the guys are shaken by her beauty and seeming difference to Sheldon. While they keep figuring out ways to impress Missy, Raj is surprisingly successful. When he goes to try and seduce her at Penny’s apartment, she states that he was the one she was waiting for.

Unfortunately, his inability to speak with women at the time set him back in his pursuit. However, had he been able to speak to her, the two could have ended up together especially since we find out Missy had separated with her husband in S11 EP 24 “ The Bow Tie Asymmetry”.

7 Isabella

In S10 Ep18, Raj meets Isabella, a maintenance worker at Caltech. Isabella is a genuine person trying to make ends meet and Raj is a single astrophysicist looking for love. For fans of the show, this encounter looked like the romantic experience they had always dreamt up for Raj. Though it looked like a match made in heaven, towards the end it turns out that Raj was not totally genuine with her and embarrassed of her. This put a wedge in between their relationship which led to their breakup. Should Raj had invested more in this relationship and not be embarrassed by Isabella, the two could have ended up together.

6 Lucy

Lucy was one of Raj’s girlfriends in S6-7. Despite having a quirky personality and suffering from severe social anxiety, she and Raj seemed to have a lot in common. This is as Lucy’s inability to make friends and thrive in social situations greatly complimented Raj’s own insecurities. The two had very obvious quirks which they both deeply bonded over but also led to the eventual demise of their relationship. Should they have decided to continue in their relationship, Raj could have ultimately ended up with Lucy because of the vulnerable bond they shared with each other.

5 Claire

Claire was a surprise attraction Raj didn’t know he needed. When he first met her back in S9 Ep14 ‘The Meemaw Materialization’, he was still in a relationship with Emily; but with Claire’s good looks and creative personality, Raj became easily infatuated and started imagining a future with her.

The two go back and forth between relationships and express a clear interest in each other. However, due to Raj’s indecisiveness, the relationship never progresses and he eventually ends back up with Emily instead. Should Raj had chosen to invest in a relationship with Claire, there is a good chance that the two might have ended up together.

4 Stuart

When Raj’s best friend Howard was commissioned to the International Space Station in S5,  he was left with finding a new close friend to fill the Howard sized hole in his life.  He did so with comic book store owner and favorite recurring character, Stuart. Stuart also had quirks that complimented Raj’s and as the only single people in the group, they bonded over their struggles and inability to attract and maintain relationships. The two spent a lot of time helping each other even taken turns at doing their own makeovers in order to make themselves more attractive.  Even though Howard was the one Raj usually shared these struggles with, Stuart was able to fill in for him during this time and afterward after Howard’s return. Due to their closeness, Stuart and Raj could have easily spent a life together. 

3 Emily 

Emily was one of Raj’s most important girlfriends. At first, she was not interested in Raj but eventually fell for his charm and  ‘cosmic based flirting tactics’. Raj and Emily hit it off pretty quickly and the two were one of the show’s quirkiest relationships.

Emily’s love for horror movies and her seeming obsession with death and gore seemed like a mismatch for hopeless romantic Raj. However, they were both willing to compromise and be committed to all aspects of each other’s lives. Had Raj not wanted to go after Claire, Raj could have certainly ended up with Emily by the end of the show. 

2 Anu

Up until the final season of the show, audiences were being led to imagine Anu as the partner Raj would finally settle down with. Even though their union was arranged by Raj’s father, Anu and Raj were actually a great team and we’re committed to starting a lifelong partnership. However, the pressures of marriage and settling down got to them and led both to question the true motives behind their union. Though they eventually decided to date and get to know each other, Anu’s move to London shook things up and ultimately ended the relationship. Had the two continued to work on the relationship even if it being long distance, there is a high chance that later on in life, they could end up together.

1 Howard

It goes without saying that Howard and Raj were not only two peas in a pod but also each other’s Yin and Yang. Howard and Raj have been the ultimate team since the beginning. They had what always seemed to be an impressively close male friendship, and the bond that they shared throughout the series has been unmatched.  Their love for each other can be seen in S7 Ep11 ‘The Cooper Extraction’ where Howard spoon feeds Raj and in S5 Ep22 ‘The Stag Convergence’, where Raj reveals they shared a threesome, perfectly encapsulating their no-boundaries relationship.  Throughout the years, the two continued to be involved in each other’s lives helping each other grow through personal and professional changes. Should the two have remained single, they would have most definitely spent their bachelor days together.

About The Author