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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 9.9/10

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 1 - The Conjugal Configuration
    9.9/10(1202 votes)

    #1 - The Conjugal Configuration

    S12:E1

    Sheldon and Amy's honeymoon runs aground in New York. Penny and Leonard discover they are uncomfortably similar to Amy's parents. Raj insults physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and starts a Twitter war.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 8 - The Adhesive Duck Deficiency
    8.4/10(63 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 22 - The Staircase Implementation
    8.4/10(54 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
    8.4/10(57 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 2 Episode 11 - The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
    8.2/10(65 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 15 - The Maternal Capacitance
    8.2/10(53 votes)

    #6 - 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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Big Bang Theory

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  7. The Big Bang Theory Season 12 Episode 24 - Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell
    8.2/10(25 votes)

    #7 - 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:Unknown

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  8. The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Episode 9 - The Thanksgiving Decoupling
    8.1/10(52 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 14 - The Einstein Approximation
    8.0/10(51 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 17 - The Precious Fragmentation
    8.0/10(50 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 18 - The Pants Alternative
    8.0/10(47 votes)

    #11 - The Pants Alternative

    S3:E18

    Sheldon's friends come to his aid when his fear of public speaking stands between him and a coveted award.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 20 - The Herb Garden Germination
    8.0/10(48 votes)

    #12 - The Herb Garden Germination

    S4:E20

    Sheldon and Amy decide to start several rumors about the others as a test. Meanwhile, Howard takes his relationship with Bernadette to even higher level.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Big Bang Theory Season 6 Episode 13 - The Bakersfield Expedition
    8.0/10(49 votes)

    #13 - The Bakersfield Expedition

    S6:E13

    As the guys don costumes and go on a road trip to a comic book convention, the ladies decide to stay home and try to interpret a comic book.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Episode 3 - The Scavenger Vortex
    8.0/10(57 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. The Big Bang Theory Season 7 Episode 6 - The Romance Resonance
    8.0/10(53 votes)

    #15 - The Romance Resonance

    S7:E6

    Sheldon's latest scientific breakthrough leaves him feeling like a fraud; a romantic gesture between Howard and Bernadette causes Penny to up her game with Leonard.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Big Bang Theory Season 12 Episode 23 - The Change Constant / The Stockholm Syndrome
    8.0/10(43 votes)

    #16 - 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
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 17 - The Tangerine Factor
    7.9/10(61 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 2 Episode 3 - The Barbarian Sublimation
    7.9/10(59 votes)

    #18 - 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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  19. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 6 - The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem
    7.9/10(58 votes)

    #19 - The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem

    S2:E6

    Sheldon and the gang are confused when a young grad student is attracted to him.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Big Bang Theory Season 2 Episode 7 - The Panty Piñata Polarization
    7.9/10(55 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 1 - The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation
    7.9/10(61 votes)

    #21 - The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation

    S3:E1

    When Sheldon learns the guys tampered with his expedition data he got from the arctic, he leaves to Texas in disgrace. This results in the guys following him, which threatens Leonard's hope for some romantic time with Penny and the guys' friendship with Sheldon.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Steven Molaro

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  22. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 10 - The Gorilla Experiment
    7.9/10(52 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 12 - The Psychic Vortex
    7.9/10(52 votes)

    #23 - The Psychic Vortex

    S3:E12

    Leonard is aghast to find out a secret of Penny's: she believes in psychics. Meanwhile, Sheldon tries to assist Koothrappali in picking up a girl at a university mixer.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 16 - The Excelsior Acquisition
    7.9/10(50 votes)

    #24 - The Excelsior Acquisition

    S3:E16

    Sheldon winds up in traffic court when he gets a ticket because of Penny.

    Director:Peter Chakos
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Big Bang Theory Season 3 Episode 20 - The Spaghetti Catalyst
    7.9/10(48 votes)

    #25 - The Spaghetti Catalyst

    S3:E20

    When Leonard and Penny aren't speaking, Sheldon goes to extremes to keep them both happy.

    Director:Anthony Rich
    Writers:Chuck Lorre, Lee Aronsohn, Bill Prady, Steven Molaro

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Conjugal Configuration" is the best rated episode of "The Big Bang Theory". It scored 9.9/10 based on 1202 votes. Directed by Mark Cendrowski and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/24/2018. This episode scored 1.5 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency".