Character biography
Amy makes her debut in Season 3, Episode 23 titled "The Lunar Excitation" (aired May 24, 2010). In the episode, Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) find Amy through an online dating site, after establishing an account in Sheldon's name and information. The site matches her to Sheldon Cooper, since the two share many similar traits. Upon meeting, Amy and Sheldon become acquainted. The two initially communicate via text messages and video calls, and eventually begin meeting in person.
Early on, Amy is shown as coldly rational, displaying little emotion, and is awkward in social situations. She is initially ambivalent and often condescending towards Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch). As they grow closer, she sheds her strident, aloof personality for a more feminine and social one, although retaining some social awkwardness. Amy begins to consider Penny a close friend, sometimes referring to her as her "bestie", and occasionally admitting that her entire social life revolves around Penny. Amy also often demonstrates an infatuation towards Penny, occasionally bordering on physical attraction. Amy tends to display a condescending attitude towards Bernadette, although she still considers her a close friend. Her feelings towards Sheldon grow considerably over time. Amy considers him to be ideal in almost every way, though sometimes she displays frustration with Sheldon's quirks.
In season 5, after Amy goes out on a date with comic-bookstore owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman), Sheldon decides to solidify their relationship as boyfriend/girlfriend with a 31-page "Relationship Agreement". Later in the season, Amy begins a campaign to increase Sheldon's feelings for her by becoming more involved in his interests, including video games and Star Trek.
By the beginning of season 6, Sheldon and Amy regularly display signs of affection, such as holding hands, although Amy wants the relationship to evolve further to include sexual intimacy. By mid-season, Sheldon gets some intimate views of Amy when he cares for her while she has the flu. She also provides Sheldon with consoling hugs. On one Thanksgiving, Amy receives a slap on the rear by an intoxicated Sheldon who tells everyone that she is a "great gal."
In the season 7 episode "The Locomotive Manipulation", Amy wants to have a romantic Valentine's night with Sheldon and arranges for them (along with Howard and Bernadette) to have dinner on a train. While on the train, they meet Eric, another train enthusiast who engages Sheldon in conversation during dinner. Amy is upset about it, first sparking Bernadette, then Amy herself to confront Sheldon. Sarcastically, Sheldon says he will give Amy the romance she wants. He openly mocks her, staring into her eyes then kissing her. At first, the kiss is forced, then he leans in and enjoys it.
In Season 8, Sheldon and Amy admit to being in love with each other in "The Prom Equivalency". In "The Clean Room Infiltration", Amy threw a Victorian Christmas at her home. Sheldon wanted to ruin her Christmas by getting her a thoughtful gift. He gave her a picture of him sitting on Santa Claus's lap, which she loved. Amy gave Sheldon cookies she made from his Meemaw's recipe, which he loved as well. In the season 8 finale episode, "The Commitment Determination", Amy and Sheldon are celebrating their 5th anniversary. While making out on Sheldon's couch, Amy tries to reminisce with him. Sheldon asks her whether he should start watching and become invested in the Flash TV show. Amy becomes upset that Sheldon cannot appreciate the irony of how slowly they are taking their relationship and his interest in the Flash TV show. She does not respond to any of Sheldon's attempts to contact her, then finally answers a Skype message. Amy tells him that she has decided to take a break from her relationship with Sheldon, telling him she needs some time to think. Unbeknownst to her, Sheldon had intended to propose.
In the Season 9 premiere, "The Matrimonial Momentum", Amy ultimately breaks up with Sheldon after his relentless berating and annoying behavior. Amy casually dated three men while they were apart. During Thanksgiving, they decided to go to the aquarium together. Afterwards, Amy decided she wanted to get back together with Sheldon. She called to ask him if he wanted to get back together. Sheldon said that getting over her was the hardest thing he has ever had to do, and he did not think he could do it again. Disappointed, Amy decided to go out with Dave, a man she had previously went out with, to try and move on. Sheldon ended up getting an ear worm, "Darlin" by the Beach Boys, and realized it was about Amy and how much he loved her. He went to Amy's apartment, who was currently on a date with Dave, to declare his love. They ended up making out and subsequently getting back together.
In Season 9, episode 11, "The Opening Night Excitation", Sheldon decides to skip the premiere of the new Star Wars movie and celebrates Amy's birthday with her. As a present, he felt it was time that the two of them to get intimate. This starts a tradition of the "annual birthday booty spectacular".
When Sheldon's grandmother visits in season 9, she confronts Amy for hurting Sheldon and unintentionally reveals the secret engagement ring in his possession. Although initially shocked, Amy is happy to know that Sheldon loves her enough to have considered taking that step forward in their relationship. Amy later prepares a surprise birthday party for Sheldon, which he has not previously celebrated with the group.
After a plumbing accident makes her apartment uninhabitable in season 10, Sheldon and Amy embark on a 5-week experiment living together to test their compatibility. Amy later admits she lied about how long the repairs were taking so that she could continue living with Sheldon. They eventually move into Penny's old apartment together, while Penny moves in with Leonard, and later makes the arrangement permanent. Amy is later offered a 3-month science research project at Princeton University in New Jersey and leaves with Sheldon's encouragement. She becomes angry when she learns of Sheldon spending time with Ramona Nowitzki, who she rightfully suspects to have romantic feelings for Sheldon. In the season 10 finale, after Ramona surprises Sheldon with a passionate kiss, he visits Amy and proposes to her. The episode ends on a cliffhanger awaiting her answer. In the season 11 premiere episode "The Proposal Proposal", which picks up immediately after Sheldon's proposal, Amy's answer is further delayed by a phone call from Leonard and Penny, after which she finally says yes. She and Sheldon marry in the season 11 finale. Amy objects to Sheldon wanting to provide sperm for Zack Johnson's baby but does try to get him excited about having their own child.
Amy is musically inclined and is shown to play the harp, autoharp and keyboard throughout the series. Her mother is played by Kathy Bates (although Annie O'Donnell briefly played her in season 4) and her father, Larry, by magician Teller.
In the final season, Sheldon and Amy publish their work on super-asymmetric string theory and win the Nobel Prize in Physics together.[1]
Reception
The fourth season received particular praise for character developments. Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx, praised the additions of Amy and Bernadette to the cast, writing that "With Amy Farrah Fowler and Bernadette Rostenkowski promoted to semi-permanent status, because of this the show is now able to spend large chunks of each episode focusing only on the women, and in the process has made Penny a much more well-rounded character rather than just a foil for the nerds."[2]
Awards and nominations
For her performance as Amy Farrah Fowler, Bialik received 4 consecutive nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 64th, 65th, 66th and 67th Primetime Emmy Awards from 2011–2015.[3]
