Back in 2017, fans developed theories to present to Jim Parsons who played Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory. One of them tied into another American favorite sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. The theory states that Sheldon is actually Barney from HIMYM in an alternate dimension. Fans were compelled by this conspiracy considering the two characters are polar opposites.
In an alternative dimension, some believe that each person is a different version of who they perceive themselves to be in their own reality. This can be linked to the Butterfly Effect, which states that every decision has multiple choices, and different realities exist in which those different decisions are made.
So, in one dimension Barney was named Barney at birth and grew up to be a bachelor who wears suits to bars. In another, he was named Sheldon and later became a genius living in Pasadena. If a prequel show came out for Barney, like Young Sheldon, some more connections would support the notion even more. Parsons had an interesting anecdote to add to this theory.
He said, "The funny thing about this is that I auditioned to play Barney and felt that I was very wrong for it. (I) almost ran screaming from the room after I auditioned, and just like, 'Well I did that and I don't know why.'" Say what? It's crazy to think how some actors who became ingrained in viewers' brains for their roles could have been completely different people.
"They actually made me come back in as if they were interested," Parsons continued, "Not interested enough because the right person got that part, Neil Patrick Harris. I find this fascinating that I have that loose-ish connection to that part and that you've got this theory, which is not true." It can still be true in our hearts, Jim!
Fans have even made comparison videos between the two characters. One of them showcases how each made an 80s styled video of themselves stating their Doctorate degrees. Another clip shows their differing perspectives where Barney tells his friends about the infamous Playbook that he uses to pick up women. The scene then cuts to Sheldon quoting his mother, "For what it's worth, my mother says that when we deceive for personal gain, we make Jesus cry."
Sheldon and Barney also have completely different views on intimacy. Sheldon avoids talking about it and Barney prides himself on his sexual prowesses. Their demeanors of superiority are very much alike, however. Sheldon can be harsh and quick to judge others' intelligence. Barney, on the other hand, convinces himself that Ted and Marshall need his expertise to successfully attract women.
Loyal watchers of HIMYM and The Big Bang Theory use these two personas on the daily. A question on Quora asked, "What would happen if Sheldon Cooper was to meet Barney Stinson?" It's a disappointment that crossover episode never aired, but fans can still dream.
One answer laid out the scene, "Sheldon eating alone in his university cafeteria. Barney appears out of nowhere and sits next to Sheldon. Barney: 'I am going to teach you how to live” Sheldon: “I don’t understand, Who are you?' Barney: 'Think of me as Yoda, but instead of being little and green, I wear suits and I am Awesome. I am your bro- I’m Broda' Sheldon: Smiles a bit."
Another scene depicts Barney calling Sheldon names like a "crazy" and "impossible" to which Sheldon corrects his grammar and logical reasoning. Barney is then challenged to make Sheldon a perceived version of normal. Then again, Barney's kind of normal would mean using lines like, "Hey have you met Sheldon?" and Sheldon might reply, "Well of course, you just introduced us."
Reddit amassed its own group of opinions on Neil Patrick Harris and Jim Parsons. User @NancyAstley suggested that the actors' television personas should have actually ended up together as a couple. People expressed the same wish in the comment section of Jim Parson's fan theory video. Would it work between the two and their vastly different lives? This would ruin the idea of alternative dimensions, and might not work considering how much they would probably bicker on a constant basis. However, fan theories are meant to make you question everything.
Both of the shows ran on CBS, which could have warranted some kind of crossover. That kind of combination of two popular shows feels like alternative dimensions crossing in and of itself. Barney might even call it legendary and Sheldon would share a statistic of how likely it would actually be for the groups of friends to conveniently cross paths.