The Big Bang Theoryis an iconic CBS sitcom, filled withcountless hilariousepisodes and heartfelt moments. Centered around best friends Leonard and Sheldon, who are both scientists, this series appeals to the nerds and geeks who only ever got sitcom characters who were the punching bag of the group. The show focuses on their lack of social abilities, eventually evolving into their romantic relationships.
The Big Bang Theory
With a successful spinoff inYoung Sheldonand another one upcoming inGeorgie and Mandy’s First Marriage,The Big Bang Theoryhas expanded to have its own version of a cinematic universe. Although this show has seengreat commercial successand favorable reviews, it has struggled to hit the mark at times, with fans believing that the show went on longer than it was good for. For anyone on their first, second, or tenth watch of the series, these are ten episodes that aren’t worth your time.
10"The Tam Turbulence"
Season 12, Episode 4
This episode centers around the revelation of Sheldon’s childhood best friend, Tam. Upon realizing that he had never mentioned him before, Leonard decides to try to find her behind Sheldon’s back. Meanwhile, Raj’s fiancée, Anu, goes to dinner with Bernadette and Penny, who are hoping to discover all the details of her and her relationship with their friend.
A Failed Retcon
This episode proves to be all over the place, seemingly unsure what it is. On one side, a new character (Anu) is introduced in a very disappointing manner. Raj, the soft-hearted friend, is paired with a boring and emotionless partner, leaving viewers confused. On the other side, another new character (Tam), who should have been mentioned at some point before, is introduced. This was evidently a retcon used by the showrunners to set up the character forYoung Sheldon, the spinoff show featuring Sheldon’s upbringing. When an episode exists simply to make the spinoff series make sense, it proves to be a dull and skippable episode.
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9"The Relaxation Integration"
Season 11, Episode 3
This episode features the struggles of picking a wedding date, as Sheldon and Amy cannot come to terms on a day. While they clash, Stuart and Raj both take a liking to one of Bernadette’s coworkers, competing to take her on a date.
A Shell of a Show
As Season 11 got off to a slow start, Episode 3 really emphasized the lack in quality. The characters begin to fall more and more into stereotypes of themselves, becoming more cynical and less likeable. With Stuart and Raj being so rude to each other that they both lose interest in the girl, it makes the viewer feel unpleasant. On top of this, Sheldon’s inability to deal with his upcoming wedding, so much so to the point that he is obsessing over dates, it gives off the feeling that these characters no longer have any chemistry, simply existing to keep the studio happy.
8"The Communication Deterioration"
Season 8, Episode 21
Penny spends this episode debating a return to acting, the dream that brought her to California in the first place. As she considers it, the guys debate over a message that Raj is tasked to create for NASA, with the hopes of it reaching alien life.
A Decline in Writing
Fans of the show were quick to point out this episode for the decline in writing quality throughout the series, claiming that it no longer producedthe laughsthat it used to. With this diminishing quality, the acting appeared to suffer as well, as the characters seemed to be mailing in their performances. Sheldon and Howard continue to become more childish, whereas Bernadette and Penny feel more insincere, making it clear that the show was on a downward path. If one watching the show manages to get this far, skipping a few episodes like this one may be in their best interest.
7"The Champagne Reflection"
Season 8, Episode 10
Sheldon decides to put an end to “Fun With Flags”, his and Amy’s YouTube show, in this Season 8 episode.Bernadette, at an event, finds out her coworkers' true feelings for her. The guys—Leonard, Howard, and Raj–search through a dead professor’s research in the hopes of finding something remarkable.
The Fall of a Character
This episode decides to lean into Bernadette’s mean spirits, even calling her out for it through the words of her coworkers. Despite this, she doubles down, annoying even her friend, Penny. As a sitcom goes on, the audience gets to grow with the main characters, becoming more fond of them even if they have certain flaws. WhatThe Big Bang Theorydoes wrong here is going too far, as they simply make a character unlikable. Fans of the show would be okay to skip this episode, as it showcases a little too much of Bernadette’s meaner side.
6"The First Pitch Insufficiency"
Season 8, Episode 3
After NASA asks him to throw the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game, Howard begins to become overly nervous, scared of failure in front of a crowd. The rest of the crew gets into it, as Sheldon says that he and Amy have a superior relationship, causing Leonard and Penny to try to prove him wrong.
Poking Too Much Fun
This episode centers around the humiliation of Howard, who spends yet another episode of this season being the punchline of the joke. With Raj being overly mean to him, it passes the line of poking fun, becoming simply mean for the sake of it. Despite the typical laughs provided by a “nerd” trying to play sports, it feels cruel in this episode. Unless fans want to see theirfavorite characterssuffer almost too much, this episode can be an easy skip.
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5"The Romance Recalibration"
Season 10, Episode 13
This episode features Howard and Raj taking extreme measures to attempt to stop a bedroom floor from creaking, while Leonard and Penny enlist Sheldon and Amy in the hopes of reenergizing their marriage. Feeling that Leonard does not try as hard as he used to, Penny wants to see more effort from him.
Out Of His League
In a show where Penny is seen as way out of Leonard’s league, they certainly make her feel that way too. Throughout the show, Leonard goes to extreme lengths to please Penny, getting rid of his action figures, often willing to change, and usually being the first to apologize. Despite this, they make Penny somehow upset that Leonard is not doing enough. This makes it a hard watch for the audience, as Penny is not happy with a good partner, and Leonard is sad over the way he is treated. Like many other entries on this list, the reason this episode is a skip is that it suppresses the characters, straying from the aspects that fans love.
4"The Planetarium Collision"
Season 12, Episode 5
In this episode, Raj hosts a show at a planetarium, co-hosted by Howard. However, he does not want Howard to join him in the show, creating conflict between the two. Sheldon becomes tired that Amy never has time for super asymmetry, so he decides to open up her availability himself.
Time To Lay It To Rest
As the final season began, fans were quick to note that nothing had changed. The show was stuck in its ways, pushing the characters further into their stereotypes. The joy attached to the characters that were introduced so long ago has drifted away, creating cold, mean protagonists. This episode stands out because it doesn’t. The jokes do not land, and the plots add nothing interesting to the show. Add to this a scene of Sheldon explaining what mansplaining is, and you have yourself a skippable episode.
3"The Athenaeum Allocation"
Season 11, Episode 17
Bernadette and Howard struggle to decide which one of them will return to work, and which one will stay home with the kids. Meanwhile, as Sheldon and Amy are having no luck finding their wedding venue, Leonard goes above and beyond to find the perfect one.
Dragging On
With recycled jokes that feel AI-generated and storylines straight out of a 1960s sitcom, this episode earns its spot on this list. Bernadette and Howard’s relationship continues to drag on, feeling like it has nothing new to offer. With Bernadette at times acting completely irrational, to an unbelievable point, it seems as though this show should have ended long ago. Despite a sweet moment with their kids, the babies are never even shown, an indicator of the quality decline in the series. A lack of location changes,guest stars, and even minimal things like a baby, it just isn’t quite the same as it used to be.
2"The Cognition Regeneration"
Season 10, Episode 22
When Penny receives a job offer from her ex-boyfriend, Leonard becomes jealous, upset at the fact that she is even considering it. While Leonard struggles with his security, Sheldon worries that he still has not reached his full potential, which should have already happened by now.
The Ex-Boyfriend Trope
This episode takes a very light approach to a heavy subject, as Leonard and Penny try to understand the other’s perspective on the situation. Choosing to focus yet again on the dynamic between Leonard and Penny, the show seeds more insecurities into their relationship, bringing her ex-boyfriend back again. The awkwardness between the three characters makes for a tough watch, and Sheldon struggling to accept his current situation is not any easier. Adding a scene of Sheldon speaking incorrect Hindi does not help to convince anyone that this episode is a must-watch.
1"The Matrimonial Momentum"
Season 9, Episode 1
While getting ready to get married in Las Vegas, Leonard confesses to Penny that he kissed another woman, creating a rift in their relationship. As one couple is unsure of their future, another encounters the same problem, as Amy decides to put a pause on her and Sheldon’s relationship.
Relationship Issues
Fans had been waiting a long time for Leonard and Penny to finally tie the knot, and just as they were about to in the start of Season 9, the showrunners found a way to make it incredibly depressing. With Leonard and Sheldon both on the outs, it paved the path for the relationship clichés to be even more drawn out, forcing the men and the women to oppose each other. What first brought fans in was the chemistry between the characters, and having them continuously fight is no fun to watch, especially when it interrupts the few good moments left.
