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The Best Episodes of The Big Bang Theory

Every episode of The Big Bang Theory ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Big Bang Theory!

Binge this in 3d 22h•Peaking at 9.5/10

Physicists Leonard and Sheldon find their nerd-centric social circle with pals Howard and Raj expanding when aspiring actress Penny moves in next door.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Big Bang Theory Season 12 Episode 24 - Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell
    9.5/10(12290 votes)

    #1 - Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell

    S12:E24

    Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco will lead fans on a trip down memory lane, sharing some of the best-kept backstage secrets and personal memories from the past 12 years.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Chuck Lorre

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  2. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 11 - The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
    9.1/10(8258 votes)

    #2 - The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis

    S2:E11

    Penny starts dating Leonard's handsome colleague; Leonard and his friends are tortured by Sheldon's obsession with gift-giving etiquette.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 22 - The Staircase Implementation
    9.0/10(6318 votes)

    #3 - The Staircase Implementation

    S3:E22

    Leonard tells Penny about how he met Sheldon for the first time...and what happened to the elevator.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Big Bang Theory Season 9 Episode 11 - The Opening Night Excitation
    9.0/10(6222 votes)

    #4 - The Opening Night Excitation

    S9:E11

    After more than five years of dating, Sheldon and Amy spend their first night together. Also, Leonard, Wolowitz, and Koothrappali must decide who will take their extra Star Wars movie ticket.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Big Bang Theory Season 11 Episode 24 - The Bow Tie Asymmetry
    9.0/10(5151 votes)

    #5 - The Bow Tie Asymmetry

    S11:E24

    When Amy's parents and Sheldon's family arrive, everybody is focused to make sure all wedding arrangements go according to plan – everyone except the bride and groom.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Big Bang Theory Season 12 Episode 23 - The Change Constant / The Stockholm Syndrome
    9.0/10(5959 votes)

    #6 - The Change Constant / The Stockholm Syndrome

    S12:E23

    Sheldon and Amy await big news. Meanwhile, Penny and Leonard have some big news of their own. Also, Howard and Bernadette face the stressful challenge of leaving their kids for the first time and Raj makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writers:Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan, Bill Prady, David Goetsch, Steven Molaro, Steve Holland, Maria Ferrari, Andy Gordon, Anthony Del Broccolo, Tara Hernandez, Jeremy Howe, Adam Faberman

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Big Bang Theory

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  7. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 8 - The Adhesive Duck Deficiency
    8.9/10(6591 votes)

    #7 - The Adhesive Duck Deficiency

    S3:E8

    With Leonard, Howard and Raj away camping in the desert, an injured Penny has only Sheldon to rely on.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 15 - The Maternal Capacitance
    8.8/10(5945 votes)

    #8 - The Maternal Capacitance

    S2:E15

    Leonard and Penny are drawn together after a disastrous visit from Leonard's mother.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Episode 9 - The Thanksgiving Decoupling
    8.8/10(5673 votes)

    #9 - The Thanksgiving Decoupling

    S7:E9

    Sheldon protests when the gang drags him to Mrs. Wolowitz’s house for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Penny and Leonard must deal with a mistake from her past.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 3 - The Barbarian Sublimation
    8.7/10(6071 votes)

    #10 - The Barbarian Sublimation

    S2:E3

    Sheldon creates a monster when he introduces Penny to online gaming.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 1 - The Robotic Manipulation
    8.7/10(5536 votes)

    #11 - The Robotic Manipulation

    S4:E1

    Penny tags along on Sheldon's first ever date; Wolowitz finds a new use for a robotic arm.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Episode 3 - The Scavenger Vortex
    8.7/10(5495 votes)

    #12 - The Scavenger Vortex

    S7:E3

    When the entire gang competes in a scavenger hunt designed by Raj, it brings out the best - and worst - in everyone.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 7 - The Panty Piñata Polarization
    8.6/10(5703 votes)

    #13 - The Panty Piñata Polarization

    S2:E7

    When Sheldon bans Penny from the apartment for numerous minor infractions, she decides to retaliate.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 23 - The Lunar Excitation
    8.6/10(5006 votes)

    #14 - The Lunar Excitation

    S3:E23

    While Penny worries that dating Leonard has ruined her for normal guys, Wolowitz and Koothrappali search for Sheldon's perfect match online.

    Director:Peter Chakos
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 11 - The Justice League Recombination
    8.6/10(5121 votes)

    #15 - The Justice League Recombination

    S4:E11

    The guys find a "super" use for Penny's new boyfriend, Zack, when they enter a costume contest as the Justice League.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Big Bang Theory Season 10 Episode 24 - The Long Distance Dissonance
    8.6/10(4190 votes)

    #16 - The Long Distance Dissonance

    S10:E24

    The gang is concerned when Sheldon’s former admirer, Dr. Ramona Nowitzki, resurfaces while Amy is away at Princeton.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 17 - The Tangerine Factor
    8.5/10(5787 votes)

    #17 - The Tangerine Factor

    S1:E17

    Penny's break-up spurs Leonard to summon the courage to ask her out, and each goes to Sheldon for advice on their upcoming date.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 24 - The Roommate Transmogrification
    8.5/10(4663 votes)

    #18 - The Roommate Transmogrification

    S4:E24

    When Bernadette receives her PhD, Wolowitz feels emasculated. Raj and Leonard swap places and Penny does something she's regrets.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Big Bang Theory Season 5 Episode 7 - The Good Guy Fluctuation
    8.5/10(5201 votes)

    #19 - The Good Guy Fluctuation

    S5:E7

    A cute comic book artist puts Leonard and Priya’s relationship to the test, while Sheldon tries to scare the guys for Halloween.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Big Bang Theory Season 5 Episode 21 - The Hawking Excitation
    8.5/10(4850 votes)

    #20 - The Hawking Excitation

    S5:E21

    When Wolowitz gets to work with Stephen Hawking, Sheldon is willing to do anything to meet his hero.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Big Bang Theory Season 5 Episode 24 - The Countdown Reflection
    8.5/10(4728 votes)

    #21 - The Countdown Reflection

    S5:E24

    The fifth season ends with Howard and Bernadette deciding to get married before his NASA mission, causing the gang to scurry into overdrive in an effort to stage the wedding. NASA astronaut Mike Massimino has a cameo as himself.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 21 - The Vegas Renormalization
    8.4/10(5216 votes)

    #22 - The Vegas Renormalization

    S2:E21

    Leonard and Koothrappali escort a heartbroken Wolowitz to Las Vegas, and Sheldon becomes locked out of his apartment and must stay with Penny.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 10 - The Gorilla Experiment
    8.4/10(4978 votes)

    #23 - The Gorilla Experiment

    S3:E10

    Penny gets help from Sheldon in order to understand what Leonard's work is, while Wolowitz develops a jealousy when Leonard starts hanging out with his new girlfriend.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 14 - The Einstein Approximation
    8.4/10(5081 votes)

    #24 - The Einstein Approximation

    S3:E14

    Sheldon's search for the answer to a physics problem leads him to work at the Cheesecake Factory with Penny.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 17 - The Precious Fragmentation
    8.4/10(4986 votes)

    #25 - The Precious Fragmentation

    S3:E17

    When the guys find a ring from "The Lord of the Rings" at a garage sale, it threatens to tear them apart.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell" is the best rated episode of "The Big Bang Theory". It scored 9.5/10 based on 12290 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Chuck Lorre, it aired on 5/16/2019. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis".