CBS premiered its hit show The Big Bang Theory in 2007, and ran the show for a total of 12 seasons. Based on four super-genius friends, the show had quite the following from fans of comic books to lovers of comedy. The four friends all work at the California Institute of Technology in different departments. Leonard, Sheldon, and Raj are physicists with varying focuses, while Howard is an engineer who dreams of being an astronaut. Not only do these four work together, but are constantly at Leonard and Sheldon’s place. While the four friends can answer any technological or scientific question on earth, their social skills are essentially missing.
Leonard and Sheldon live across from a young woman named Penny, a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory who dreams of being an actress. Leonard’s crush and eventual relationship with Penny result in Sheldon, Howard, and Raj extending their friendship and dating circle. That said, the show is far from receiving criticism: ccording to the open-access website, Rotten Tomatoes, season ratings range from 59% to 100%. The Big Bang Theory received an average score of 81% from the aggregator website while the audience score sits at 83%. Here’s how each season ranks on the Tomatometer.
12 Season 1 — 59%
Warner Bros
For a premiere season, this number seems bleak. However, it is the first sitcom of its kind. The show marries workplace humor with friendship and roommate culture all under the formidable nerd culture umbrella. In essence, The Big Bang Theory series honors the physicist’s theory of giving life to geeks and nerds the world over. For the first time on television, every adult who loves science, comic books, and Star Trek or Star Wars was a three-dimensional character. Of course, this breakthrough for nerds still received criticism, as The Boston Globe says that the one-liners are too frequent, and the cast is one-dimensional.
11 Season 6 — 67%
Warner Bros.
Halfway through The Big Bang Theory, critics at TV Fanatic felt the show was disappointing due to the same storyline. During Season 6, Howard (Simon Helberg) remained on the International Space Station, the target of his NASA colleagues, rather than his university colleagues and friends. When he returns, excited to be the only astronaut among his friends, all of them, even his girlfriend Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), finds it annoying. Leonard and Penny were off again. Sheldon remained condescending towards his friends and dismissive of Amy Farrah Fowler’s feelings. Raj continues to be unlucky in love and falls into depression.
10 Season 8 — 67%
Two-thirds of the way through The Big Bang Theory, Salon reprimands the series for laying into infantilizing women and mocking people of color. Raj (Kunal Nayyar) finally meets someone he loves, but she is condescending and rude — like Sheldon but without the physics degree. Two heartfelt moments occur in Season 8: Carol Ann Susi, who played Howard’s mother, was honored on the show after her passing; and though Sheldon and Amy adopted a turtle, his continued disrespect for her caused them to break up.
9 Season 9 — 67%
Three-quarters of the way through the series, Entertainment felt the series had remained unchanged. Season 9 begins with Penny and Leonard’s elopement, and ends with the rehearsal dinner before their wedding with friends and family, where the audience meets Leonard’s father for the first time (who is portrayed by Judd Hirsch). Actor Will Wheaton, a rival of Sheldon, invites him to be on a podcast about Spock on Star Trek. Raj’s streak with women continues to be unlucky, though he helps Sheldon find love after his breakup with Amy. Bernadette reveals to Howard that she is pregnant.
8 Season 11 — 75%
Season 11 of The Big Bang Theory proved to be more favorable. According to IGN, the series’ dependence upon traditional storylines of marriage and pregnancy seem to make it easier to watch. Season 11 begins with Sheldon proposing to Amy. Raj and Penny discover a comet through casual perusing of the evening sky. After years of Howard picking on Raj, the two take a friendship break. Audiences meet Sheldon’s brother, George (Jerry O’Connell) before he and Amy get married, which concludes the season.
7 Season 4 — 80%
One-third of the way through the series, in Season 4, it seemed to drop in favor of previous seasons. Yet the series’ favor with critics compared to later seasons could be the girl power in the show. In the previous seasons, Penny was the only main woman character. The addition of Sheldon’s girlfriend, Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik), and Howard’s girlfriend, Bernadette, as series regulars not only upped the comedic moments, but allowed Penny to have a solid friend group outside the men across the hall.
6 Season 12 — 83%
Season 12 of The Big Bang Theory didn’t receive the highest rating, but the favor from critics proved the ending of the series was heartwarming and worth the long ride. Seemingly unlucky in love, Raj accepts his parents help in finding a partner in Anu. Though they go through several break-ups and reunions, Howard stops Raj from proposing to Anu, convincing him an arranged marriage is giving up. Penny, who revealed she doesn’t ever want children, becomes pregnant. Bernadette and Stuart write and illustrate a children’s story, memorializing Howard’s time as an astronaut. Stan Lee, one of the Marvel Comics creators, is honored on the show after his passing. Sheldon, accompanied by Amy, wins a Nobel Prize.
5 Season 10 — 83%
The Big Bang Theory Season 10 had big changes for Leonard and Sheldon. The physicists have been roommates and best friends for years, but as Leonard is officially married, they move in with their respective partners. Bernadette and Howard welcome their child on Amy’s birthday, which also happens to be Amy and Sheldon’s sexual anniversary. The Wolowitzes ask Raj to be their daughter’s godfather, which he accepts. Raj also decides to live on his own financially, causing him to move in with Leonard and Penny as well as forfeit his trip to San Diego Comic-Con. These shifts and growth gained favor among critics, with one of six critics being unhappy with the season, as reported by Rotten Tomatoes.
4 Season 7 — 100%
Season 7 is tied with three other seasons as having a perfect score. Official critics on Rotten Tomatoes feel that The Big Bang Theory had a perfect balance of accomplishments between the characters. Raj hosts a murder mystery party that causes several of his friends to be angry at no clear winner. Leonard returns from his North Sea expedition, where he and Penny continue their relationship. Penny quits her waitress job at The Cheesecake Factory to focus on acting. Howard is invited back to the International Space Station. Sheldon discovers a new element and meets his childhood hero, Professor Proton (Bob Newhart).
3 Season 5 — 100%
After a drop in ratings in Season 4, The Big Bang Theory’s fifth season gained back all favor among the critics due to Penny’s evolution from sidekick to show front-runner. Raj, who was uncomfortable with his sister’s relationship with Leonard, falls in love with Siri, the AI system in the iPhone. After his breakup with Raj’s sister, Leonard realizes he wants to date Penny, and they make a second attempt at dating. Sheldon continues his relationship with Amy and meets fellow physicist, Stephen Hawking. Howard accepts an invitation to go aboard the International Space Station and gets married to Bernadette on the rooftop of Leonard, Sheldon, and Penny’s apartment complex.
2 Season 3 — 100%
The third season kicks off with Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, and Howard’s return from their expedition from the North Pole and Penny revealing to Leonard that she loves him. For a short period, Penny has to live with Leonard and Sheldon, causing Sheldon to use chocolate to correct Penny’s behavior. Raj continues to pursue love and even wrangles Sheldon to be his wingman as Howard has become disinterested. Comic legend Stan Lee, Mufasa voice actor James Earl Jones, and Star Trek alum Will Wheaton make cameos in this season.
1 Season 2 — 100%
A major leap in favor is due to Parson’s performance as well as the introduction of Leonard’s mother. Of the four friends, Leonard and Raj are the only two with parents who attended college and have a PhD or MD. Leonard’s parents decided to have children for the purposes of experimentation. Leonard’s mother, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist who bonds with Sheldon over karaoke. Sheldon bonds more with Penny, giving her a hug at their holiday gift exchange. No wonder this season received a perfect rating.
