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The Best Episodes of The Big Bang Theory Season 5

Every episode of The Big Bang Theory Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Big Bang Theory Season 5!

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

Season 5 Ratings Summary

"The Skank Reflex Analysis" is the best rated episode of "The Big Bang Theory" season 5. It scored 8/10 based on 4538 votes. Directed by Mark Cendrowski and written by N/A, it aired on 9/22/2011. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "The Infestation Hypothesis".

  • The Skank Reflex Analysis
    8.0/104,538 votes

    #1 - The Skank Reflex Analysis

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2011

    Penny is worried with how damaged her friendship with the guys will be in the aftermath of her sleeping with Raj while Sheldon becomes the leader of the paintball team.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Infestation Hypothesis
    8.0/104,052 votes

    #2 - The Infestation Hypothesis

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/2011

    A fight between Sheldon and Penny leaves Amy caught in the middle, while Leonard tries to spice up his long-distance relationship with Priya.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Pulled Groin Extrapolation
    7.6/103,882 votes

    #3 - The Pulled Groin Extrapolation

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/2011

    Leonard and Amy get to know each other better, while Howard and Bernadette spend the weekend with Mrs. Wolowitz.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Wiggly Finger Catalyst
    7.8/103,953 votes

    #4 - The Wiggly Finger Catalyst

    Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 10/6/2011

    Penny plays Matchmaker for Raj, which results in him finding a girl he is comfortable talking to.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Russian Rocket Reaction
    8.0/103,906 votes

    #5 - The Russian Rocket Reaction

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/2011

    Sheldon and Leonard get invited to a party at Wil Wheaton's house, and Howard gets an out-of-this-world opportunity.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Rhinitis Revelation
    7.5/103,848 votes

    #6 - The Rhinitis Revelation

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 10/20/2011

    Sheldon's mother, Mary Cooper, comes to visit, but Sheldon is annoyed that she also spends time with the rest of the gang, instead of catering to his every demand.

    Director: Howard Murray

    Writer: N/A

  • The Good Guy Fluctuation
    8.5/104,667 votes

    #7 - The Good Guy Fluctuation

    Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/2011

    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: N/A

  • The Isolation Permutation
    7.6/103,823 votes

    #8 - The Isolation Permutation

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/3/2011

    Amy becomes heartbroken when she discovers that Penny and Bernadette went wedding dress shopping without her.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Ornithophobia Diffusion
    8.1/104,025 votes

    #9 - The Ornithophobia Diffusion

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 11/10/2011

    Leonard and Penny try hanging out as friends on a 'non-date', but end up purposely ruining each others chances with perspective dates. Meanwhile, Sheldon enlists the help of Bernadette and Amy to overcome his fear of birds.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition
    7.9/103,867 votes

    #10 - The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/2011

    When Stuart asks Amy out on a date, Sheldon must confront his feelings and consider where his relationship with Amy is going.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Speckerman Recurrence
    7.3/103,834 votes

    #11 - The Speckerman Recurrence

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/2011

    Leonard must face his fears after being contacted by his high school tormentor.

    Director: Anthony Joseph Rich

    Writer: N/A

  • The Shiny Trinket Maneuver
    7.6/103,835 votes

    #12 - The Shiny Trinket Maneuver

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/2012

    Sheldon gets in trouble with Amy when he isn't impressed by her recent accomplishment, and Howard must come to grips with Bernadette's dislike of children.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Recombination Hypothesis
    8.1/104,064 votes

    #13 - The Recombination Hypothesis

    Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 1/19/2012

    Leonard, who broke up with Priya, asks Penny out to a spur-of the-moment romantic dinner for two, and the duo contemplates on their relationship.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Beta Test Initiation
    8.2/104,056 votes

    #14 - The Beta Test Initiation

    Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 1/26/2012

    Leonard and Penny deal with the idea of starting a relationship again and Raj finally finds a "woman" he can talk to without being drunk, in the form of Siri on his new phone. Meanwhile, Sheldon decides to start a YouTube series entitled "Sheldon Cooper presents Fun with Flags" with the help of Amy.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Friendship Contraction
    7.7/103,709 votes

    #15 - The Friendship Contraction

    Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 2/2/2012

    Sheldon's selfish demands force Leonard to reconsider their friendship. Meanwhile, Wolowitz tries to pick his astronaut nickname.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Vacation Solution
    7.5/103,691 votes

    #16 - The Vacation Solution

    Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 2/9/2012

    When Sheldon is forced to take his vacation, he goes to work with Amy in her neurobiology lab.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Rothman Disintegration
    7.8/103,787 votes

    #17 - The Rothman Disintegration

    Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 2/16/2012

    Sheldon battles Kripke for a coveted office at the university. Penny receives a very unusual gift from Amy.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Werewolf Transformation
    8.2/103,994 votes

    #18 - The Werewolf Transformation

    Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 2/23/2012

    Sheldon becomes agitated when his regular barber is out sick. Astronaut training causes Howard to reconsider wanting to go into space. Penny beats Leonard in chess, the first time she plays.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Weekend Vortex
    8.1/103,807 votes

    #19 - The Weekend Vortex

    Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 3/8/2012

    Sheldon must choose between joining Amy at her aunt's birthday party or playing videogames all weekend with the guys.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Transporter Malfunction
    8.1/103,939 votes

    #20 - The Transporter Malfunction

    Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 3/29/2012

    Penny buys Leonard and Sheldon “Star Trek” collectibles as a thank-you, leading Sheldon to be haunted by Mr. Spock. Meanwhile, Raj decides he has met the “Future Mrs. Koothrappali” after his parents set him up on a date.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Hawking Excitation
    8.5/104,369 votes

    #21 - The Hawking Excitation

    Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 4/5/2012

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

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Stag Convergence
    7.7/103,761 votes

    #22 - The Stag Convergence

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 4/26/2012

    After the guys throw Howard a bachelor party, Bernadette reconsiders marrying him after learning about his sexual history.

    Director: Peter Chakos

    Writer: N/A

  • The Launch Acceleration
    8.1/103,717 votes

    #23 - The Launch Acceleration

    Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 5/3/2012

    When NASA moves up Howard's mission, he must face his fears and Bernadette's dad, thus putting the wedding plans in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Leonard says something surprising to Penny in the bedroom.

    Director: Mark Cendrowski

    Writer: N/A

  • The Countdown Reflection
    8.5/104,227 votes

    #24 - The Countdown Reflection

    Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/2012

    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: N/A