The Big Bang Theory did several Christmas-themed episodes, but some of them were better than others. CBS’ hit sitcom ran for 12 seasons, and while it didn’t do holiday-themed outings every year, it did several fun ones over the course of its run. This made sense, considering that The Big Bang Theory tended to prioritize pop culture references rather than annual celebrations. It usually made a big deal out of San Diego Comic-Con and even did a Star Wars-themed outing in celebration of the much-anticipated release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
In any case, The Big Bang Theory didn’t really have that much motivation to do Christmas-themed episodes. The show usually took mandatory winter breaks during that time. In addition to that, its primary characters didn’t seem to really care about the holiday. Sheldon, for example, had been vocal about being averse to Christmas, considering that Mary overdid celebrating the holiday when he was still a child in Texas — something that Young Sheldon hasn’t really seen. In the rare times that it did them, however, CBS usually did a great job. However, not all of them were created equally.
6 The Santa Simulation
In 2012, The Big Bang Theory season 6’s “The Santa Simulation” didn’t have much Christmas references. Instead, its premise focused on the boys planning an exclusive hang-out where they would play Dungeons and Dragons all night long. It wasn’t until the final half of the outing that CBS leaned on the matter when the game started incorporating references about the holiday. It involved Sheldon, Stuart, and Howard doing a bell performance of “Deck The Halls” while Leonard watched. The most memorable moment in the episode, however, was when Sheldon shared his story of asking Texas Santa Claus to bring back his late grandfather because he missed him too much.
5 The Clean Room Infiltration
The Big Bang Theory season 8’s “The Clean Room Infiltration,” which was released in 2014, had more holiday cheer than “The Santa Simulation.” In the episode, Amy hosted her first Christmas party for the Pasadena gang despite strong opposition from Sheldon. Raj’s father, Dr. Kootrappalli (played by Star Trek actor, Brian George) also came to town to unwind on the heels of his separation from his wife. Sheldon’s whole arc revolved around wanting to get back at Amy for forcing him to attend her dinner. However, he was surprised when he discovered that Amy’s dinner was rooted in her wanting to genuinely make him happy.
4 The Maternal Congruence
2009’s The Big Bang Theory season 3’s “The Maternal Congruence” was set around the holiday season, as evidenced by the decorations in Apartment 4A. It also marked the return of Leonard’s mother, Beverly Hoftsadter’s return to Pasadena. Admittedly, the episode itself didn’t exude much holiday vibe, but considering when it was set and how pivotal it was to The Big Bang Theory‘s overall storytelling, it ranks decently in the list. Beverly’s appearance allowed her to bond with Penny, laying the groundwork for their surprisingly great relationship moving forward.
3 The Holiday Summation
Because of its rather big cast, CBS tended to break up The Big Bang Theory‘s episodic storytelling into at least two plots. This meant that the cast was usually also separated, with only a brief moment of crossover involving everyone. Somehow, that was what happened in The Big Bang Theory season 10’s “The Holiday Summation,” which was released in 2017. In the episode, the Pasadena gang gathered at Apartment 4A for their usual get-togethers. There, they shared how their respective holidays panned out. While they didn’t spend the holidays together, CBS created a fun way for them to share their respective experiences, which grounded the otherwise bizarre episode.
Sheldon and Amy spent their break visiting Mary in Texas, where they informed him that they were already living together. Meanwhile, what started as a fun Christmas excursion for Penny and Leonard led to one of their worst fights ever after they went to get a real tree for their apartment. Finally, Howard and Bernadette candidly revealed their less-than-ideal holiday as they struggled with their newborn.
2 The Cooper Extraction
Sheldon had made it clear multiple times that he didn’t like Christmas. So, it was genius of CBS to do a themed episode without him in The Big Bang Theory season 7’s “The Cooper Extraction” in 2013. As Sheldon was called back to Texas to help with the birth of Missy’s first child, the Pasadena gang gathered at Apartment 4A to decorate the Christmas tree. Sheldon still appeared as he regularly kept in contact with his friends via a video chat, but for the most part, Leonard and company were left to their devices when working on their holiday tree.
What made this The Big Bang Theory episode special is that Sheldon’s absence made them realize how important he had been in their lives. Amy pointed out how her boyfriend was the catalyst for many of them meeting each other, starting with Leonard and Penny. It was a touching, not to mention creative way to appreciate the usually frustrating character.
1 The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
Among all the Christmas episodes that The Big Bang Theory did, arguably the best one came fairly early in its run. In 2008, The Big Bang Theory‘s “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” marked the first time that the sitcom did this kind of episode. The outing saw Sheldon shopping for gifts, albeit begrudgingly, considering how much he hated the holiday. He roped in Howard and Raj for his escapade, and oddly, the pair agreed to accompany him. As the first Christmas he was spending knowing Penny, Sheldon was being extremely calculating about the kind of gift that he was going to give his neighbor.
“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” could have been just like any other holiday-themed outing from the sitcom. What made it so memorable, however, boiled down to one scene between Penny and Sheldon. In arguably one of the most enjoyable scenes in The Big Bang Theory, Penny presented Sheldon with his Christmas gift — a used signed napkin of Leonard Nimoy. Considering how big of a Star Trek fan he was, it was a given that he would be thrilled about it, however, his reaction was beyond anything that anyone could have imagined at that time. His excitement ended with her giving Penny a hug, which was highly uncharacteristic of him.
