The Big Bang Theory

The gang hits the road again, and even without a train, Sheldon finds plenty of positives on this trip. I have to admit I enjoyed the romantic entanglements this time, and the room swap was hilarious. "I'm your best friend?" "Don't you read my blog?" "Oh, don’t feel bad. I never read Leonard’s, and I used to sleep with him." / "Remember, people, we're only as strong as our weakest bladder." / "Well, I’m not getting in bed with him." "Yeah, it is a little like getting into Dracula’s coffin." (01/13/2018)

While I enjoyed it, this episode felt a bit weaker, and Raj's bizarre fantasies didn't really do it for me. The highlight was definitely the opening classroom scene. "Show of hands, who here is familiar with the concept of topological insulators?" "Don't kid yourselves." (01/13/2018)

Yes, even science needs a good chunk of funding, and this episode dives into where that money comes from. The donor party was a blast to watch, with an unexpected amount of compliments from Sheldon and Leonard's internal struggle adding to the fun. "How are we doing today?" "That depends, how much longer do you plan on fondling my shoulder?" / "Got it, you’re a space plumber." / "Hey! Who said you could eat that shrimp?" "See? Fun." / "Good morning, slut." (01/14/2018)

Episode 16 focused more on relationships, which didn’t captivate me as much — I missed a hefty dose of genuine nerdiness. This time, Amy Farrah Fowler saved the day, and I really hope no one ever decides to support me that determinedly. "You sound a little like a drunken monkey." / "Penny, you were disappointed in Leonard as a lover, could you please tell my sister why?" / "So, how you holding up?" "I’m fine." "Oh, who are you kidding? She’s breathtaking." / "I smell Chinese food." "It’s actually Thai. You’re slipping." (01/14/2018)

Episode 17 was entertaining but not as enjoyable as I’d hoped. There were no attempts to destroy the Moon with a laser or make liquid dance, and I really miss that quirky science. Instead, the focus was on where Sheldon would eat dinner, which is a pretty weak premise for a whole episode. "So needy." / "If you’d have let me bring the chloroform, we wouldn’t have had to put up with all this jibber-jabber." / "I think it’s like Beetlejuice. We said his name too many times." (01/14/2018)

Unlike the previous two episodes, I had a blast with this one. Both storylines worked for me. I laughed at the group’s collective mind game on Sheldon and at Leonard’s gradual personality shift. "You ever notice when he thinks real hard, it smells like bacon?" / "Look, I have lenses!" / "So you finally getting used to them doing it on a daily basis?" "I’m not going out with him. He can sleep with whoever he wants." "Yeah, I was talking to Raj." / "That does it, I'm getting uranium." / "Two of hearts." "I hate you." (01/14/2018)

Episode 19 is top-tier for me. Sure, there are relationship bits, but the main focus is on a hacked World of Warcraft account, which I can totally relate to. Penny steps up as the muscle, giving the others room to be the brains. "You called the police because someone hacked your World of Warcraft account?" / "I took Howard to the beach once, he almost burst into flames like a vampire." / "It's her superpower. Well, that and jiggling her arm fat." / "NNo weapon strikes more fear into a man’s heart than a Klingon bat’leth" / "Well, then, good news. Today’s the day a girl’s finally going to touch you in your little special place." (01/14/2018)

The creators returned to relationship dynamics, and I initially found the plot less engaging. I was ready to dock a star, but Sheldon and Amy's experiment on gossip saved the day. "You’ve dedicated your life’s work to educating the general populace about complex scientific ideas." "Yes, in part." "Have you ever considered trying to do something useful?" / "You're a vixen, Amy Farrah Fowler!" / "I hope you're hungry." "Interesting. A friendly sentiment in this country, cruel taunt in the Sudan. It’s a lesson in context." (01/14/2018)

This episode is all about Sheldon. He’s not only grappling with Leonard’s legal challenge to the Roommate Agreement but also unexpectedly navigating the perils of social life. "No offence, but shower sex with you is now the second best thing that’s happened today." / "This is Greek food? Leonard, you hate Greek food." "Not as much as you." / "I saved a nun's life, why am I being punished?" (01/14/2018)

Even Sheldon’s three-person chess couldn’t save this episode from missing that fifth star. The main focus on Leonard and Priya’s relationship feels like it’s run its course and is becoming a dead end. "Hey, Raj. Will you be joining us for dinner?" "The lonely guy and the two happy couples? I’d rather get a prostate exam from a leper who walks away with nine fingers." / "Calm down. Everything’s going to be okay." "We may have to kill her." / "She never even got to see my penis." (01/14/2018)

Episode 23 was another relationship-focused one, but this time I had a blast. The dialogues were extremely funny, and Sheldon’s contributions were simply unforgettable. "Have you met Bernadette’s parents?" "You mean Adolf and Eva" / "Hang on a second, you picked up your mother? Her own legs are barely able to do that."  (01/14/2018)

The creators managed to wrap up the fourth season with style. The final episode was funny, had an unexpected twist, and Sheldon’s excitement over Rajesh’s dining habits was surprisingly touching. "Would you booze hounds please stop that infernal clinking?" "And the answer was elephant!" / "Really? Still can’t talk to me?" (01/14/2018)

If there were any letdowns in Season 5, they stemmed from the creators veering away from the series' original direction. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for analyzing relationship problems, but there are plenty of other shows for that. When it comes to The Big Bang Theory, I'm looking for humor rooted in theoretical physics (even if I don't fully understand it) and scientists not quite cutting it in the social life department. Luckily, the creators mostly juggled the relationship dynamics well, and the humor I craved was there in good measure. So, five stars it is. / Lesson learned: Earth can sometimes feel small to determined engineers. (07/26/2022)

Season 5 kicked off with the line: "It's not what it looks like."  From there on, it was a non-stop ride to the closing credits without slowing down unnecessarily. The entire episode had great one-liners and I had quite a few laughs – which is definitely a plus. / Lesson learned: Oddly enough, sometimes it really isn't what it looks like. (07/21/2022)

The second episode wasn't bad, but it didn't quite pack the same punch of one-liners as the previous one. Now, I'm not exactly a neat freak, but I'll straight up say that dragging home furniture off the streets is a hard pass for me — especially if it's upholstered. I'm just not a fan of having any life forms at home with more than four limbs, you know? / Lesson learned: If your furniture is trying to taste you, it's probably time to replace it. (07/21/2022)

Focusing too much on relationship drama at the expense of all the nerdy stuff doesn't usually sit right with me. However, this episode might be an exception. Maybe it was because Amy is essentially a nerd too. Despite a significant part of the plot revolving around her, I surprisingly enjoyed it. / Lesson learned: Never step into an area with a high concentration of methane with an open flame. Miners know. (07/22/2022)

The fourth episode of the fifth season did a decent job of keeping me entertained, even though it focused heavily on relationships — yes, relationships, plural. Raj's relationship with a woman, and her relationship with money. What I found interesting was the idea of bringing an interpreter to a date. It made me realize that the creators of The Black Adder took it even further long before that. (07/22/2022)

The fifth episode brought the perfect dose of nerdy content, and I loved every bit of it. It also got me contemplating some deep questions, like why I don't have a collection of famous swords or their replicas yet. No need to stress about it too much, though — axes are more my style, after all. / Lesson learned: Even your archenemy can pleasantly surprise you. (07/22/2022)

Mrs. Cooper truly embodies everything about Texas. Every episode featuring her deserves an automatic five-star rating from my end. The sixth episode was a delightful mix of references to religion and political correctness, making it impossible not to enjoy. Sheldon's mother managed to touch on various aspects of life, from religion to promiscuity, all in one sweeping shot, and it was a treat. / Lesson learned: Speaking of promiscuity, there's something about the immaculate conception that I'm just not buying... (07/22/2022)

The Halloween episode was a blast. The creators let Sheldon do his thing and it paid off as usual. He was in top shape, delivering the lion's share of laughs in this episode, with the only real competition coming from the hilarious situation that landed Leonard's photo on the wall of fame. / Lesson learned: Don't stock up on holiday treats too early! (07/23/2022)