When audiences rank The Big Bang Theory, their preferences don’t always match critical opinion — and that’s where things get interesting. Based on viewer scores and fan polls, the show’s least-liked seasons tend to be its final stretch, where long-running character arcs had already reached resolution.
Seasons 11 and 12 often land near the bottom, not because they’re bad, but because fans felt the show had fewer surprises left. The humor softened, and emotional closure took priority over sharp punchlines.
Mid-ranked seasons — roughly seasons 5 through 8 — are praised for stability. This era introduced major relationship shifts while maintaining strong ensemble comedy.
The highest-ranked seasons, according to audiences, remain the early years. Seasons 1–3 are repeatedly cited as the most rewatchable, thanks to rapid-fire jokes, fresh character dynamics, and Sheldon at his most unpredictable. For many fans, that’s the version of The Big Bang Theory they fell in love with.