Big Bang Theory Season 5 DVD Review


Title: Big Bang Theory: Season 5
Starring: Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik.
Director: Mark Cendrowski
Released: 3rd September 2012
Duration: 20 minutes (x 23 episodes)
Certificate: 15

Flatmates Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) are physicists. Their two best friends are Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar). They all work at Cal Tech University. They make everyone else look dumb by comparison – apart from when it comes to everyday situations such as love. Oh and they’re also rubbish at pop culture trivia. Ask them to tell you how the universe is made up and they’ll give you an eloquent lecture of the highest quality, but ask them who Radiohead is and they haven’t got a clue! They are lucky then that they have a beautiful, next-door neighbour, Penny, (Kaley Cuoco) and that she can advise them on love and life.

The Big Bang Theory Complete Fifth Season on DVDLeonard is such a nerd that despite the fact that he is having an on-and-off relationship with Penny that he still takes dating advice from her. Howard is engaged to Penny’s best friend Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Sheldon is now dating Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik), or at least within the confines of the ‘relationship agreement’ that he drew up for them.

Howard goes to NASA training camp and then gets to cross the final frontier as he goes into space as a payload specialist on a NASA mission. And his engagement to Bernadette takes a few twists and turns. Amy continually tries to get Sheldon to commit to some form of physical relationship but he has some more growing and maturing to do it that area just yet, and keeps spurning her amorous advances. She is increasingly sexually frustrated but is pleased to be dating the great mind that is Dr Sheldon Cooper. Leonard and Penny decide to give their romantic relationship another try with a series of beta tests to iron out the flaws while poor Raj still can’t find a woman, or talk to one for that matter… unless he’s hammered (usually on Grasshopper cocktails!)

Once again Jim Parsons is the standout performer of the show. He is simply perfect in the role of Sheldon. But special note should also go to the two relative newcomers Rauch and Bialik; both delightful performers in difficult roles. They are fantastic: funny, cute, lovable and intelligent.

All of the characters are very likable (apart possibly from Leonard, who is often a bit of a douche – to use the vernacular of the show) and the acting for everyone of them is excellent even down to the supporting characters who regularly change around keeping everything fresh.

Watching the show in Blu-ray for the first time has been a real treat. I’m not sure if all the seasons are available in HD but season 5 most certainly is and it looks fantastic. It’s sharper, more colourful and brighter. It also sounds great. The Big Bang Theory is shown on E4 pretty much every day it seems but it doesn’t look as good as it does in HD so I recommend buying the Blu-ray if you want to experience the very best of this visual treat.

Author : Kevin Stanley