TBBT's Best Christmas Episode is Criminally Underrated
Never a show to ignore the opportunity to involve a theme, The Big Bang Theory featured a number of festive episodes.
Most of these holiday specials included some notable moments; such as a memorable visit from Leonard's mother, a Christmas game of D&D, and Sheldon's overwhelming response to Penny's gift of Leonard Nimoy's signed napkin. However, there is one Christmas episode that stands above the rest as being insanely underrated for several reasons.
Season 8's Christmas special features the gang setting up for a unique Christmas dinner at Amy's. As usual, the episode starts with the group eating together in Leonard's and Sheldon's apartment.
Raj apologises he will not be able to host this Christmas Eve because of his dad visiting due to his parent's divorce. Amy volunteers to take over instead, excited to try her own Victorian-inspired themed dinner party. This is surprisingly the first ever episode of the series to feature Raj's father in person, and not over a webcam as he is usually shown.
Other Christmas episodes often include other members of the group's parents and family. It makes for an entertaining novelty to see a closer look into Raj's relationship with his father for a change.
The episode continues with everyone else making their way to Amy's for the planned dinner. Including an uncommon joint escapade with Bernadette and Sheldon; two characters you rarely see interact by themselves. The two pair up to help Sheldon find a gift for Amy that she'll love to hate. Leading to a brief wholesome moment between the two as Bernadette gets a glimpse of Sheldon's softer side. As well as a hilarious scene involving Sheldon sitting on Santa's lap. Overall the pairing offers a fun exchange which demonstrates their friendship.
While everyone else is busy, Leonard, Howard, and later on Raj, get tied up at work while attempting to remove a pigeon from an otherwise dust-free lab. The very amusing sequence inspired directly by Breaking Bad 's 'Fly' episode, sees the comical trio consistently fail at capturing the bird.
This is maybe one of the best parts of the episode, as it includes the three characters at their best. In a way, the episode goes back to the early basis of the show. Simply portraying the guys being their nerdy genius selves, while also still being goofy idiots.
The episode eventually ends with the whole gang together for Christmas eve and some touching heartfelt moments between the group. What makes this episode one of the best, is not only its festive theme (which surprisingly not many actually include), but it shows the true friendship between the characters.
At a point in the show when the focus was growing increasingly more centred towards the couples, this episode shows them all as still great friends. Its jolly Christmas theme and some genuinely funny moments make this the best TBBT Christmas episode hands down.