Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #159 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-10-19
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 536 minutes

Synopsis
Johnny Galecki (ROSEANNE) and Jim Parsons (JUDGING AMY) star as two geeky scientists who are accustomed to probing the secrets of the universe, but totally inept when it comes to the greatest mystery of all: women. Their lives are turned upside down with the arrival of Penny (Kaley Cuoco), a beautiful blonde who moves in next door and gets their Bunsen burners all fired up. Plenty of high jinks ensue as the two clueless roommates receive a crash course in the ways of the opposite sex.

Customer Reviews

It just gets better!
`The Big Bang Theory' was a surprise hit when it first came out last year with some of the funniest and best comedy from the US since the early seasons of Frasier. Now Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard and Rajesh return with an even more hilarious season than before, which I didn't think could be possible.

There are so many brilliant episodes in this series making geekiness the new cool. It takes the focus away from Leonard's passion for Penny, which was the main focus in season 1, and creates more stories for the rest of the characters. This time Sheldon gets a girlfriend without even noticing; Leonard begins to date fellow physicist Leslie...and so does Howard; a new neighbour threatens Penny's status as the sexy neighbour and uses the guys to her own advantage; the guys create their own robot for a competition; they meet Terminator and Firefly star Summer Glau on a train and try to pluck the courage up to speak to her; Sheldon develops a scientific theory for making friends; and Leonard's mother comes to stay.

If you watched and enjoyed the previous season, there is no doubt whatsoever that you'll love this season too as it does just get better and better and having 23 episodes this time as opposed to just 17 in the previous season, you get a lot more value for your money. The show has been given the green light for at least 2 more seasons so I look forward to seeing the next season later in the year now.

It's not a comic; it's a comic book
Geek chic has become the style du jour (channelling Wolowitz, meshugana. You knows it.) and BBT is all about the chic geekery. Season 1 was largely spent cementing the main characters personalities and lifestyles and making believable the fact that a "normal" chick like Penny would really become friends with 4 geeks. And not 4 pseudo-geeks. There's Sheldon (played magnificently by Jim Parsons) - the exacting, egotistical, Vulcan-like theoretical physicist; Wolowitz - the tiny Jewish sex-pest (and the unheralded gem of the show); Koothrappali - the Indian physicist with selective mutism and a penchant for yoot lingo and, finally, Leonard - the show's "everyman": the bridge between the normality of Penny and the otherwordliness of the geeks.

Season 2 takes their characters and runs with them. Sheldon becomes even more monstrous and Sheldonesque (they introduce his laugh. His laugh is a breathy machine-gun pant and it's truly a beautiful, beautiful thing), they give us Sheldon in dungarees (dungarees!) and the relationship between Leonard and Penny develops, stalls, develops, stalls... and in a way that isn't remotely clunky or ham-fisted.

In fact, that describes the entire show. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady must be bonafide geniuses - they dip their toes in things that are notoriously incomprehensible. They dabble in particle physics and rocket science and string theory with consummate comfort and ease. By the same token, the show is drenched in internet memes - it's absolutely up to date and on the crest of the wave. It's not slightly behind the times trying to appear cool: it's genuinely, so cutting-edge-it-bleeds cool. Plus, season 2 introduces Rock-Paper-Scissors... Lizard-Spock*. Genius!

Most of the series takes place in Sheldon and Leonard's flat, as in season 1. The Cheesecake Factory has disappeared, and we are introduced to the comic book store, along with its manager, Stuart. He is a comic book geek cum artist who puts a crimp in Leonard and Penny's possible relationship. In the comic book store - and prior to BBT, I had no idea comics and comic books were different things! - there's a silent character called Captain Sweatpants who hangs around in the background, and, even without dialogue, he's one of the better people on tv right now. That speaks volumes about the awesomeness of BBT's cast, and the writer's talent in creating characters.

This review has become far too long so, suffice it to say, Big Bang Theory is one of the most affectionate, funniest, warmest and cleverest comedies in a very long time. Season 1 was wonderful; season 2's 23 episodes actually surpass it and, thankfully, 2 more seasons are already assured.

* In case you want to play: Scissors cuts Paper covers Rock crushes Lizard poisons Spock smashes Scissors decapitates Lizard eats Paper disproves Spock vaporizes Rock crushes Scissors.

Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock!
Speaking as someone who is an actual theoretical physicist who now works as a software developer I think I have the necessary geek credentials to review TBBT. Season 2 has recently finished in the US, and having recently bought the Season 1 DVD set I can't wait for the Season 2 set to come out.

For me, season 2 is streets ahead of season 1 - there's more character development and we get to see different sides to all of the characters, Sheldon and Wolowitz in particular. The, of course, there's the seemingly never-ending 'will they? won't they?' aspect to Leonard and Penny's relationship - will she *ever* admit that she likes him?

If you *haven't* watched The Big Bang Theory before, do yourself a favour and pick up the season 1 box set - even if you don't 'get' geek humour, stick with it and you'll be amply rewarded. Also, if you like 'Two and a Half Men' it's worth checking out since Chuck Lorre is responsible for that and TBBT.

Anyone for some Klingon Boggle?