All 12 Big Bang Theory Seasons, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Score

Four years after the last episode of CBS' The Big Bang Theory was released, we decided to revisit its long run and see which of the 12 seasons were more successful than others.

Here are all 12 installments of the beloved sitcom ranked according to their Rotten Tomatoes score and accompanied by a brief recap — what did fans like or dislike about them?

Season 1 (59%)

The very first season of the hit sitcom wasn't too big of a deal — quite the opposite, it was and still is the fans' least favorite. In terms of writing and humor, Season 1 didn't quite strike the right balance, with the male protagonists coming across as too smart or too lame at some points. As a result, people did not see TBBT as a serious competition to other TV shows.

Seasons 6, 8, and 9 (67%)

After reaching the peak of popularity in Seasons 2 through 5, the series started to feel a bit dragged out. Naturally, the producers were riding the fame wave as people continued to watch the beloved show, but many fans noted that the storylines got stale and lacked the excitement of the earlier seasons.

After a resurgence in Season 7, Seasons 8 and 9 proved to be a bit of a disappointment again. People were heartbroken to see Sheldon and Amy split in the eighth season's finale, and many criticized Kaley Cuoco's haircut, which of course had nothing to do with the show itself or Penny's arc, but still!

Season 11 (75%)

TBBT's penultimate season wasn't a complete flop, but it still felt like it was running on fumes. Viewers noted that Sheldon and Amy's arc was overlooked, while the rest of the characters appeared to be stuck in the rut with no major events happening in their lives.

Season 4 (80%)

Even though it has a moderately good rating, Season 4 was already a herald of the show's decreasing quality. People didn't like the fact that Howard and Raj were still treated as side characters, while the main trio was starting to feel boring and arguably didn't need as much screen time as they were given.

Seasons 10 and 12 (83%)

Surprisingly, two of the last three TBBT installments managed to outdo their predecessors, ending the show on a high note, which hardly ever happens with such long-running series. Sheldon and Amy's wedding and their shared Nobel Prize award exceeded everyone's expectations, making the finale unforgettable.

Seasons 2, 3, 5, 7 (100%)

After the relatively unpopular first season, viewers got really invested in the characters and their stories, continuing to eagerly follow the show throughout Seasons 2 and 3. Seasons 5 and 7 were also enjoyable in terms of plot dynamism and humor. For many fans, the fifth installment proved to be the most memorable of all, with Sheldon and Amy becoming a couple and Howard and Bernadette finally tying the knot.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes.