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The Best Episodes of The Big Bang Theory Season 1

Every episode of The Big Bang Theory Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Big Bang Theory Season 1!

Binge this in 5h 55m•Peaking at 8.5/10

Physicists Leonard and Sheldon find their nerd-centric social circle with pals Howard and Raj expanding when aspiring actress Penny moves in next door.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.1/10(8290 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    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.

    Director:James Burrows
    Writers:Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady

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  2. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 2 - The Big Bran Hypothesis
    8.2/10(6671 votes)

    #2 - The Big Bran Hypothesis

    S1:E2

    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.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 3 - The Fuzzy Boots Corollary
    7.6/10(6010 votes)

    #3 - The Fuzzy Boots Corollary

    S1:E3

    Leonard asks a woman out after he finds out that Penny is seeing someone.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 4 - The Luminous Fish Effect
    8.0/10(6050 votes)

    #4 - The Luminous Fish Effect

    S1:E4

    Sheldon's getting fired forces him to explore what life has to offer outside physics, leaving Leonard to take drastic action to snap his friend out of his funk.

    Directors:Bob Koherr, Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 5 - The Hamburger Postulate
    7.8/10(5746 votes)

    #5 - The Hamburger Postulate

    S1:E5

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

    Director:Andrew D. Weyman
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 6 - The Middle-Earth Paradigm
    8.3/10(5965 votes)

    #6 - The Middle-Earth Paradigm

    S1:E6

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

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 7 - The Dumpling Paradox
    8.0/10(5656 votes)

    #7 - The Dumpling Paradox

    S1:E7

    With Wolowitz AWOL with one of her friends, Penny's recruited to fill in for him on the guys' Halo team

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 8 - The Grasshopper Experiment
    8.1/10(5669 votes)

    #8 - The Grasshopper Experiment

    S1:E8

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

    Director:Ted Wass
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 9 - The Cooper-Hofstadter Polarization
    7.9/10(5470 votes)

    #9 - The Cooper-Hofstadter Polarization

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:Joel Murray
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 10 - The Loobenfeld Decay
    8.0/10(5600 votes)

    #10 - The Loobenfeld Decay

    S1:E10

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

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 11 - The Pancake Batter Anomaly
    8.2/10(5572 votes)

    #11 - The Pancake Batter Anomaly

    S1:E11

    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.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 12 - The Jerusalem Duality
    7.8/10(5292 votes)

    #12 - The Jerusalem Duality

    S1:E12

    With Sheldon rattled over meeting Dennis, a 15-year-old physicist who's smarter than he, Leonard helps him look for a way to debunk Dennis's research.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 13 - The Bat Jar Conjecture
    8.2/10(5455 votes)

    #13 - The Bat Jar Conjecture

    S1:E13

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

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 14 - The Nerdvana Annihilation
    8.0/10(5349 votes)

    #14 - The Nerdvana Annihilation

    S1:E14

    When delivery of another collectible leads to Penny's lashing out at Leonard, he decides it's time to give up his habit, much to his friends' protestation.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 15 - The Pork Chop Indeterminacy
    8.2/10(5595 votes)

    #15 - The Pork Chop Indeterminacy

    S1:E15

    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.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 16 - The Peanut Reaction
    8.3/10(5261 votes)

    #16 - The Peanut Reaction

    S1:E16

    Penny wants to throw a surprise party for Leonard, but Sheldon's indulgence at an electronics store throws her off-track.

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Big Bang Theory Season 1 Episode 17 - The Tangerine Factor
    8.5/10(5509 votes)

    #17 - The Tangerine Factor

    S1:E17

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

    Director:Mark Cendrowski
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Big Bang Theory" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 8290 votes. Directed by James Burrows and written by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, it aired on 9/24/2007. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Big Bran Hypothesis".