5 The Big Bang Theory Episodes That Are Timeless & 5 We Want to Forget

5 Big Bang Theory Episodes That Are Timeless and 5 We Want to Forget

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for “The Big Bang Theory” episodes that we could watch on an infinite loop and the ones that would be better off disappearing into a black hole.

#5: Timeless: “The Scavenger Vortex”

Leonard may not have wanted to be paired up with a “liability” for Raj’s scavenger hunt, but that gave us a chance to see new friendship dynamics—and as it turns out, they’re so fun! We already knew Sheldon and Penny were a great duo, but we also got to see Leonard discover how savagely competitive Bernadette can be! However, Amy and Howard steal the spotlight as they find out they have more in common than they first thought. The scavenger hunt brings out the best and worst in everyone (we see you shoving Penny, Bernie!). And while the gang may’ve been unimpressed with their prize, we felt we’d struck gold! What can we say? This episode is “So good, so good, so good”.

#5: Want to Forget: “The Thespian Catalyst”

This episode has its funny moments, like Penny “breaking” Sheldon during their acting lesson. However, that’s almost overshadowed by Raj’s bizarre obsession with Bernadette. Crushing on your best friend’s S.O. is already super awkward, but Raj takes it way too far. It’s so cringe—like watching through your fingers cringe. Things get really twisted when he imagines Howard in a horrible accident so that he can be with Bernadette. How messed up is that!? Then, it goes completely off the rails with a full-on musical fantasy sequence. Fans may have mixed feelings about this moment, but if you can put the creepy factor aside, the number is oddly catchy.

#4: Timeless: “The Adhesive Duck Deficiency”

This episode delivers two equally brilliant plotlines! Leonard, Howard, and Raj head to the desert to watch a meteor shower, but after indulging in some special cookies, their night takes an unexpected—and hilarious—turn. We get a peek into the inner workings of their minds, maybe more than we ever needed to know. Meanwhile, back home, Penny calls Sheldon for help after slipping in the bathtub and hurting her shoulder. Sheldon might not be the best in a crisis, but he steps up for her. Watching the guys lose their grip on reality is hysterical, but Penny getting Sheldon to sing “Soft Kitty” after he gets her into bed is purr-purr-purrfect.

#4: Want to Forget: “The Planetarium Collision”

Looking back, it’s hard to ignore that the series doesn’t always treat its female characters well. Like when Sheldon can’t accept that Amy’s too busy to work on their asymmetry theory and refuses to take “not now” for an answer. He even goes behind her back to remove her from a project she cares deeply about. Yes, Sheldon’s known for being inconsiderate and egotistical, but it’s frustrating to see him go over her head to decide what’s best for her. Of course, Amy’s mad—who wouldn’t be?! This isn’t the only time Sheldon shows a lack of respect toward women. Still, if we were Amy, he’d be getting a lot more than just an earful!

#3: Timeless: “The Stockholm Syndrome”

We can’t talk about “TBBT” without mentioning the episode that started it all. After a solid beginning, they delivered an equally strong farewell. The penultimate episode, “The Change Constant,” does a fantastic job setting up the grand finale. However, that last episode really hit us in all the feels. The gang travels to Sweden for Amy and Sheldon’s Nobel Prize ceremony, but, of course, Sheldon finds a way to alienate everyone along the way. After Amy sets him straight, he delivers a heartfelt speech that honors his friends and leaves fans in tears. We also love how it ends with the camera zooming out on the gang just enjoying takeout together—classic!

#3: Want to Forget: “The Killer Robot Instability”

The title may reference the killer robot the guys build, but it feels like a B-plot compared to the drama between Penny and Howard. From the start, Howard has been objectifying and disrespecting her, and this is the moment she swings back. What frustrates us is how the guys try to make Penny feel guilty for standing up for herself. No matter how harsh her words sounded, Howard is hardly the victim here, yet that’s how the story plays out. It’s disappointing to see the series take a misogynistic approach to harassment. While we don’t condone violence, we cheered when Howard finally got what he deserved—hopefully, she knocked some sense into him!

#2: Timeless: “The Staircase Implementation”

Ever wondered how Leonard and Sheldon wound up living together? Or what happened to the elevator? This episode answers many of our burning questions! After a fallout over the thermostat, Leonard heads to Penny’s to cool off and shares the story of how he and Sheldon became roommates—and why he stuck around for so long. It’s a thoughtfully funny episode that adds just enough context to make us love these characters even more. Leonard jumps through plenty of hoops to become Sheldon’s roommate, and while we might wonder why, by the end, we gain a newfound admiration for their unique friendship—no matter how odd it may be.

#2: Want to Forget: “The Matrimonial Momentum”

In the previous episode, Leonard makes a shocking pre-wedding confession. Yet, Penny chooses to swallow her feelings and go through with the wedding. For a relationship that has been pivotal to the series since day one, their first wedding feels like a letdown—essentially, it’s just a footnote in Amy and Sheldon’s relationship drama. Fans waited nine seasons to see Leonard and Penny tie the knot, so we could’ve waited longer while they worked through this bump in the road. Better yet, they could’ve skipped this plot twist that felt very uncharacteristic for Leonard. It almost feels like their next trip down the aisle was an apology to fans for putting them through all this!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Timeless: “The Opening Night Excitation”
Amy & Sheldon Take a Big Relationship Step, Although It’s Hard to Tell Who Had a Better Night, Them or the Guys

Want to Forget: “The Table Polarization”
This Episode Centers on a Table. Let Us Just Say That Again… A. Table.
Timeless: “The Panty Piñata Polarization”
An (Almost) All-Around Great Episode but Arguably Best Remembered for One of the Greatest Comebacks

Want to Forget: “The Holiday Summation”
This Episode Had More Filler than a Christmas Stocking (the Kind Filled with Coal)

Timeless: “The Bow Tie Asymmetry”
Everything Falls in Place So Perfectly As Amy & Sheldon Embark on This New Chapter Together

#1: Timeless: “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis”

The series’ first Christmas episode felt like a gift to us all—just don’t tell Sheldon, or you might be in for a lecture! The Leonard-Penny-David Underhill storyline gets just enough attention to stay fresh and funny. However, it’s most remembered for this iconic gift exchange. Penny thinks she’s just giving Sheldon a signed napkin, but he sees so much more potential. While he runs off, Penny and Leonard share an adorably amusing moment, yet they’re interrupted when Sheldon returns with what looks like every bath item gift set in Pasadena. This episode feels like a warm mug of cocoa on Christmas morning. It’s not a Saturnalia Miracle that, to this day, it’s a fan favorite.

#1: Want to Forget: “The Cognition Regeneration”

Aw, Zack—who doesn’t love Zack?! However, in the later seasons, it felt like they brought him back without really knowing what to do with him. In this Season 10 episode, Penny runs into her ex, now a thriving businessman, who offers her a job. She genuinely considers it, but Leonard isn’t thrilled about them working together. He gets all jealous and possessive and puts his ego above Penny’s happiness, and honestly, it’s just painful to watch. They ultimately realize there’s no scenario where they’re both happy. Turns out Zack’s fiancée is just as insecure as Leonard anyway. This episode has one of the series’ lowest ratings on IMDb— The fans have spoken.

Which “Big Bang” episode do you think is out of this world, and which do you think is a cosmic catastrophe? Let us know in the comments!