6 ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Episodes I Always Skip on Rewatch
Despite the series's overall lighthearted vibe, The Big Bang Theory has some moments you'd rather forget. That's why I skip these six episodes on every rewatch. Stay tuned to see if we're on the same page!
The Big Bang Theory is definitely one of my favorite series, and I rewatch it every year or two. I like all of the main characters and how dysfunctional their lives are. I also love how they all develop over the 12 seasons of the show’s run.
But I can’t stand some of this show’s moments. They’re either cringeworthy or surreal, or maybe Sheldon is just way too annoying in them. Anyway, these are the 6 episodes I always skip when I rewatch The Big Bang Theory.
1. “The Tam Turbulence” (Season 12, Episode 4)
This episode introduces Sheldon's childhood best friend Tam in a way that feels forced and disconnected from the show's usual flow. And it serves mostly as a setup for the Young Sheldon spinoff rather than a meaningful story on its own.
The new characters, including Raj’s fiancée Anu, are there for absolutely no reason and they fail to engage, making the episode feel like a dull retcon rather than a natural part of the series. It’s an episode that exists just to be another forgettable one, which makes it skippable for me.
2. “The Communication Deterioration” (Season 8, Episode 21)
In this episode, Penny debates returning to acting while the guys try to craft a message for NASA to send to alien life. Fans and I alike have noted a decline in the writing quality here. The humor feels forced, and the characters seem less authentic: Sheldon and Howard act more childish, and Bernadette and Penny come off as insincere.
3. “The First Pitch Insufficiency” (Season 8, Episode 3)
Howard’s anxiety over throwing the first pitch at a baseball game is the focus here, but the episode crosses the line from playful teasing to just being mean-spirited. Raj’s harsh treatment of Howard feels unnecessarily cruel, and the humor at Howard’s expense is uncomfortable rather than funny. While Howard’s character often provides comic relief, this episode leans too heavily on his humiliation, making it a tough watch on rewatches.
4. “The Habitation Configuration” (Season 6, Episode 7)
The episode features Sheldon inviting Wil Wheaton to appear on his “Fun with Flags” show. And Amy, directing the episode, repeatedly criticizes Wil’s acting, leading to tension and an argument between them. Wil defends himself calmly, while Amy comes across as rude and overly harsh, which many fans blame on the writers rather than Amy’s character.
“Agree, that was annoying to watch. I don't even understand what Will did wrong (because there isn't),” Reddit user General_a1809 said.
5. “The Relaxation Integration” (Season 11, Episode 3)
This episode revolves around Sheldon and Amy struggling to pick a wedding date, and Stuart and Raj competing for Bernadette’s coworker’s attention. And the chemistry feels just off between all the characters. They all become less likable because of the way they chose to behave, and there’s no way to tell whether it was intentional, or just lazy writing all over again.
6. “The Romance Recalibration” (Season 10, Episode 13)
In this episode, Leonard and Penny’s marriage hits a rough patch as Penny feels Leonard isn’t putting in enough effort, despite Leonard’s usual willingness to go to great lengths for her. This portrayal makes Penny seem unreasonably demanding and Leonard sad, which is a departure from their usually balanced relationship.
“The Leonard/Penny story arc was done the moment they got married. The writers initially tried to drag it out with that last minute "OMG Leonard kissed another girl" drama, but then thought better of it,” Redditor Alek_hiddel said.
