The Big Bang Theory

I just can’t give The Big Bang Theory five stars. Sure, it's funny, Sheldon is one of the best characters ever, but this series has way too many flaws. Most importantly, it is quite clear how most of the episodes will turn out and the punchlines of the jokes are obvious a mile away. Calling this series brilliant? No way. BBT only provides the viewers with the feeling that they’re so goddamn smart, because they’re the only ones who appreciate all those incredibly smart jokes, making them feel like beings of superior knowledge, who find it hard to understand how dumb everyone else is. This is what irritates me about this series, and even though it's quite funny, there’s no way it's worth five stars. S01: 8/10. S02: 8/10. S03: 8/10. S04: 8/10. S05: 5/10. S06: 7/10. S07: 6/10. S08: 6/10. S09: 6/10. S10: 6/10. S11: 6/10. S12: 7/10. (12/01/2013)

For the first five seasons, the show had been one of my favorites. I loved the premise and had a royally good time with the gang of geeks and Penny. Each episode had me laughing out loud, and some scenes were truly unforgettable. The first minor hiccup came with Season 6, which was the first time I didn’t give a five-star rating. More disappointment was in store for me from Season 7 on. The creators seemed to have forgotten everything that was so great about the show and turned it into a run-of-the-mill series about relationships, which stayed that way until the finale. If I had known what I know now, I would have stopped watching after Season 6 and wouldn’t have spoiled my overall impression. / Lesson learned: Enjoy it while you can. You never know what's coming. (03/09/2022)

Staying in is the new going out. Are there weak episodes? Yes, there are. Is it too set up? Way too much! Do we get lame jokes? Not downright lame, but there are some dead moments where things don’t work so well. But you know what? It doesn’t matter; even the “weaker" episodes had me crying with laughter three or four times. And you should see me when I’m watching a really good one! Not to mention that I love all of the characters (but Sheldon is out there in front, of course; primarily from episode seven when they make him into a perfect asshole). It’s not cheaply moralizing (hi there, How I Met Your Mother), not to mention that I know those obstinate rows about nothing all too well. And I’m probably not alone, am I? And I didn’t cry with laughter just with the first few seasons, but even with the more recent ones, which are thought of as weaker. Undoubtedly it isn’t the same any more, but more than less humor, it underwent a transformation into a purely relationship-based sitcom "à la Friends". And as the cast gradually swelled, now everybody has about five minutes of fame every episode, but often because of this it’s like it’s coming from nowhere, going nowhere; the main thing is to be funny. The final seasons already simply freewheel, but even so, you find a good episode here and there, no doubt about it. And I have to admit that even the less good episodes still hold to a solid quality standard. (01/07/2009)

It used to be great, by right now I’m watching it only out of habit and intermittently (“wow, another season ended? I should download it”). They repeat the same template and the same jokes over and over, more or less effectively. After getting to know more (and better) comedy shows, I’ve lost my belief that TBBT is peak sitcom. Shallow mainstream entertainment. (21/01/2009)

I fell in love with this show after the first two episodes and the next ones get better, better, and better. In short, a big bang as it should be. "Hello, this is Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Yeah, I need to cancel my membership to the planetarium. There's just no room for you in my wallet. No, I understand, but it was between you and the Museum of Natural History, and frankly, you don't have dinosaurs." (26/12/2009)