Season 5 poster
24 episodes

The Big Bang Theory - Season 5

First aired Sep 22, 2011Season 5

In season five, Penny and Leonard's relationship is relaunched in full "beta test" mode, while Sheldon, Howard, and Raj discover the feminine mystique is something that cannot be easily graphed or calculated. As Sheldon makes begrudging amendments to his "Relationship Agreement" with his "friend-who-happens-to-be-a-girl" Amy Farrah Fowler, Raj contemplates an arranged marriage, and Howard is all-systems-go for both is NASA space launch and wedding to the spirited Bernadette.

Social

Reviews

Community reviews for The Big Bang Theory, shown here with its season details.

C

ComputerBlue

6.0

**What this review might have sounded like had I written it 7 years ago.** The first few seasons are, for the most part, extremely fantastic, focused, funny, fresh, intelligent and even at times, brilliant. Most importantly, it offers something that separates it from the pack...Must see TV! **What this review sounds like now nearing the end of the shows run.** A once great show which slowly starts to diminish around season 4, unfortunately. By the 9th season it seems as though the pen and paper have been handed over to teenage fans of the show...Decent background noise. **To conclude.** This show was once incredible, and something fresh, even at times brilliant. I couldn't wait for each new episode. Now, I watch it when it becomes available on a streaming service, and, on rare occasion you get a great episode, but it's not worth devoting a weekly schedule and sitting through all the fan-fiction episodes and story lines to get to the good stuff. The show can still be enjoyable, without question, though I find it better suited as background noise while doing work instead of must see TV that you're excited to tune in as it airs each week. It's now just another average sitcom which has been dumbed down for the masses quite considerably. At this rate, the show will probably end with Penny having Sheldon's child to fulfill the most commonly seen teenage fan-fiction.

P

Peter McGinn

10.0

I did not start watching this sitcom until the show end3d, but I had the good fortune to watch the episodes of all 12 seasons in order. I don’t agree with another review I saw that said the show had slipped over time. Rather, it is a consistently great show, as all of Chuck Lorre’s efforts seem to be, sort of comedy’s answer to Aaron Sorkin’s dramas. Mind you, I had some minor issues with it. I really got tired of Sheldon’s attitude and antics, but that 2as counterbalanced by the slow and careful ways he also showed character growth. Similarly, all of the characters exhibited realistic growth in their attitudes and behavior. The writing was usually strong, even during the few shows that I would classify as clunkers— plots that didn’t work for me. I am impressed that the show never jumped the shark, but rather stayed true to itself. Some long running shows can’t resist doing it, such as when Happy Days changed the Fonz from a cool dude to a combo superhero/cartoon character who could do almost anything, it seemed. Funny, I have a friend who told me she couldn’t watch it due to the canned laugh track, so I was amused to learn there was no laugh track as the show was filmed in front of a live audience. Imagine that!

Episodes

The Skank Reflex Analysis still

Episode 1

The Skank Reflex Analysis

7.6
Sep 22, 201121 min64 votes

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.

The Infestation Hypothesis still

Episode 2

The Infestation Hypothesis

7.7
Sep 22, 201120 min56 votes

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

The Pulled Groin Extrapolation still

Episode 3

The Pulled Groin Extrapolation

7.3
Sep 29, 201120 min51 votes

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

The Wiggly Finger Catalyst still

Episode 4

The Wiggly Finger Catalyst

7.4
Oct 6, 201120 min50 votes

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

The Russian Rocket Reaction still

Episode 5

The Russian Rocket Reaction

7.7
Oct 13, 201121 min52 votes

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

The Rhinitis Revelation still

Episode 6

The Rhinitis Revelation

7.4
Oct 20, 201121 min51 votes

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.

The Good Guy Fluctuation still

Episode 7

The Good Guy Fluctuation

7.6
Oct 27, 201120 min57 votes

A cute comic book artist puts Leonard and Priya’s relationship to the test, while Sheldon tries to scare the guys for Halloween.

The Isolation Permutation still

Episode 8

The Isolation Permutation

7.3
Nov 3, 201121 min50 votes

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

The Ornithophobia Diffusion still

Episode 9

The Ornithophobia Diffusion

7.4
Nov 10, 201121 min53 votes

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.

The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition still

Episode 10

The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition

7.2
Nov 17, 201121 min51 votes

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

The Speckerman Recurrence still

Episode 11

The Speckerman Recurrence

7.2
Dec 8, 201120 min50 votes

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

The Shiny Trinket Maneuver still

Episode 12

The Shiny Trinket Maneuver

7.1
Jan 12, 201221 min53 votes

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.

The Recombination Hypothesis still

Episode 13

The Recombination Hypothesis

7.6
Jan 19, 201221 min54 votes

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.

The Beta Test Initiation still

Episode 14

The Beta Test Initiation

7.7
Jan 26, 201220 min52 votes

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.

The Friendship Contraction still

Episode 15

The Friendship Contraction

7.2
Feb 2, 201220 min51 votes

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

The Vacation Solution still

Episode 16

The Vacation Solution

7.1
Feb 9, 201221 min51 votes

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

The Rothman Disintegration still

Episode 17

The Rothman Disintegration

7.5
Feb 16, 201221 min48 votes

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

The Werewolf Transformation still

Episode 18

The Werewolf Transformation

7.8
Feb 23, 201221 min50 votes

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.

The Weekend Vortex still

Episode 19

The Weekend Vortex

7.3
Mar 8, 201220 min52 votes

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

The Transporter Malfunction still

Episode 20

The Transporter Malfunction

7.2
Mar 29, 201221 min53 votes

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.

The Hawking Excitation still

Episode 21

The Hawking Excitation

7.8
Apr 5, 201219 min54 votes

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

The Stag Convergence still

Episode 22

The Stag Convergence

7.2
Apr 26, 201221 min55 votes

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

The Launch Acceleration still

Episode 23

The Launch Acceleration

7.6
May 3, 201221 min53 votes

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.

The Countdown Reflection still

Episode 24

The Countdown Reflection

7.9
May 10, 201220 min58 votes

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.