All The Big Bang Theory Valentine’s Day Episodes, Ranked by How Cringe They Are

Valentine's Day is coming! And while for many of us it's a time for love and romance, in the case of The Big Bang Theory, it's also a time for a whole lot of cringe. Throughout its 12-season run, the hit sitcom has delivered several Valentine's Day-themed episodes, ranging from the heartwarming to the downright awkward.

Whether it was Sheldon's robotish approach to romance or Howard's over-the-top attempts to woo Bernadette, the show never hesitated to make its characters (and viewers) uncomfortable. So here are all the Big Bang Theory Valentine's Day episodes, ranked by how cringeworthy they are.

1. The Valentino Submergence (Season 9, Episode 15)

For me, this is by far the most awkward Valentine's Day episode of the entire series. First, we see Sheldon and Amy's relationship hit a rough patch when Sheldon refuses to participate in Valentine's Day traditions. And that makes Amy rethink her choice of partner. But the worst storyline is Howard and Bernadette's.

Howard tries to impress his wife with a romantic dinner, but his attempts to be suave are just painful to watch. The cringe peaks when Howard's "romantic" gesture involves a submarine-themed dinner, including a periscope and a sailor's hat. It's a classic example of Howard's over-the-top approach to everything, but it's hard not to cringe at his lack of self-awareness.

2. The Tangible Affection Proof (Season 6, Episode 16)

Another episode that we can easily call a Valentine's Day embarrassment. It's the one where Sheldon creates a "relationship agreement" for himself and Amy, complete with a flow chart for physical affection that includes "holding hands" and "hugging". Needless to say, Amy wasn't as happy as Sheldon had imagined.

Meanwhile, throughout the episode, Leonard and Penny struggle to find the perfect Valentine's Day gift for each other. And while it's actually rather fun to watch, it leads to a series of misunderstandings and awkward moments between the two.

3. The Spoiler Alert Segmentation (Season 6, Episode 15)

While not explicitly a Valentine's Day episode, this one still aired close to the holiday and deals heavily with relationships. Sheldon's decision to move in with Amy leads to a number of hilariously awkward moments, including his infamous "roommate agreement" negotiation. The episode also features Leonard and Penny's ongoing struggles as a couple, with Leonard's passive-aggressive behavior reaching new heights.

4. The Romance Resonance (Season 7, Episode 6)

Frankly, this episode is a mixed bag of rather sweet and cringeworthy moments. There's the one where Howard tries to win Bernadette over with a song he wrote and performed in the cafeteria (yes, the scene with the keyboard and backup singers). And while the gesture is cute, the entire show only benefited from Howard singing once, and that was with his "The Moment That I Met You Bernadette" song.

5. The Maternal Capacitance (Season 2, Episode 15)

This episode is more sweet than cringeworthy, and follows Leonard as he tries to impress Penny with a nice romantic Valentine's Day dinner. However, his romantic evening is compromised by the presence of Sheldon, who clearly knew nothing about social norms in season 2 of the show. The cringeworthy part of the episode also comes from Raj and Howard in their early attempts to find dates for the special day.