The BEST episodes of The Big Bang Theory season 1

Every episode of The Big Bang Theory season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Big Bang Theory season 1!

A woman who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but socially awkward physicists shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory.

Last Updated: 12/29/2023Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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The Tangerine Factor
star
7.96
11847 votes

#1 - The Tangerine Factor

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/19/2008

Penny's break-up spurs Leonard to summon up the courage to ask her out, and each head to Sheldon for advice on their upcoming date.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.81
17826 votes

#2 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2007

Brilliant physicist roommates Leonard and Sheldon meet their new neighbor Penny, who begins showing them that as much as they know about science, they know little about actual living.

Directors: James Burrows
Writer: Bill Prady
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Big Bran Hypothesis
star
7.79
14662 votes

#3 - The Big Bran Hypothesis

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/2007

Leonard volunteers to sign for a package in an attempt to make a good impression on Penny, but when he enlists Sheldon for help, his attempt at chivalry goes terribly awry.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Middle Earth Paradigm
star
7.78
12785 votes

#4 - The Middle Earth Paradigm

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/2007

Penny hosts a Halloween party, that ends up putting Leonard, Sheldon, Wolowitz, and Koothrappali through a new test of their social skills.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Dumpling Paradox
star
7.77
12978 votes

#5 - The Dumpling Paradox

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2007

When Wolowitz seduces one of Penny's friend who then takes over her apartment, Penny sleeps on Leonard and Sheldon's couch. Meanwhile, Penny is recruited to fill in for Howard on the guys' Halo team.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Grasshopper Experiment
star
7.76
12401 votes

#6 - The Grasshopper Experiment

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/2007

Raj's parents set him up on a blind date, but just when he discovers he can talk to his date, she shows interest in Sheldon.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Pork Chop Indeterminacy
star
7.76
11934 votes

#7 - The Pork Chop Indeterminacy

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/5/2008

The rest of the gang fall for Sheldon's twin sister, and Leonard's plan to win her heart is derailed when Sheldon declares he'll be the one to decide who can date her.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Nerdvana Annihilation
star
7.76
11473 votes

#8 - The Nerdvana Annihilation

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/28/2008

When the guys buy a time machine prop from a classic 1960 movie, Penny lashes out at Leonard and he decides it's time to give up his habit, much to his friends' protestation.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Peanut Reaction
star
7.70
11778 votes

#9 - The Peanut Reaction

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/12/2008

Penny wants to throw a surprise party for Leonard, but Sheldon's indulgence at an electronics store throws her off-track. Meanwhile, Howard makes a terrible sacrifice for the sake of the surprise.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Bat Jar Conjecture
star
7.69
11881 votes

#10 - The Bat Jar Conjecture

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/21/2008

Sheldon finds himself booted from the gang's Physics Bowl team and replaced by Leslie Winkle, so he forms his own team, hoping to prove he's superior.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Luminous Fish Effect
star
7.68
13163 votes

#11 - The Luminous Fish Effect

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2007

When Sheldon gets fired and decides to explore life beyond physics, it's up to Leonard to take drastic action to snap his friend out of his funk.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Cooper-Hofstadter Polarization
star
7.68
12255 votes

#12 - The Cooper-Hofstadter Polarization

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/17/2008

When they're invited to present at a physics conference, Sheldon's reluctance to share the credit leads to a tiff between him and Leonard, and Penny's intervention only exacerbates the situation.

Directors: Joel Murray
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Hamburger Postulate
star
7.68
13093 votes

#13 - The Hamburger Postulate

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2007

Fearing he's wasting his time on Penny, Leonard ends up making a connection with colleague Leslie Winkle.

Directors: Andrew D. Weyman
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Loobenfeld Decay
star
7.66
12281 votes

#14 - The Loobenfeld Decay

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/24/2008

Leonard and Sheldon each lie to avoid seeing Penny's concert, but Sheldon's lie is a bit too complicated for his own good.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Pancake Batter Anomaly
star
7.60
12419 votes

#15 - The Pancake Batter Anomaly

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/31/2008

With his friends knowing how sour he acts when sick—and avoiding him as a result—Sheldon is nursed by Penny, who hasn't a clue what she's in for.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Jerusalem Duality
star
7.58
12302 votes

#16 - The Jerusalem Duality

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/14/2008

When Sheldon meets a 15-year-old physicist prodigy, he's rattled and threatened and Leonard tries to help him look for ways to debunk his research.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Fuzzy Boots Corollary
star
7.52
13343 votes

#17 - The Fuzzy Boots Corollary

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2007

When Leonard learns Penny is seeing someone, he decided to asks a nerdy female co-worker out on a date.

Directors: Mark Cendrowski
Watch Now:Apple TV