Best Christmas episode of The Big Bang Theory, according to IMDb

It’s an unwritten rule of television that you can’t have a long-running sitcom no Make at least a few holiday-themed episodes. Thanksgiving episode? The opportunity to bring in major guest stars to play the main characters’ parents and relatives? A must. Halloween episode? Want to throw the entire cast in silly and/or sexy costumes? Gold ratings.

Then there’s the Christmas episode. This is the chance for even the most cynical soap opera on television to open their Grinchy hearts to this season’s unifying spirit. (There has never been a better show than “Community.”) Sure, Christmas has been disproportionately commercialized; It’s the most stressful time of the year, when everyone, regardless of their annual income, feels compelled to overspend to show their love to everyone in their life. But sitcoms ranging from the traditional (“Happy Days”) to the modern (“The Office”) have traditionally eschewed this sarcasm to warm our cold, anxious hearts, if only for a half-hour.

One of the sitcoms that blended traditional and modern styles was “The Big Bang Theory.” For 12 seasons, Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard, Raj, and the rest of the crew have captivated regular and new viewers alike. Arguably its most traditional flourish has been its commitment to holiday episodes. Creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Brady created six Christmas episodes over the course of the series, all of which were loved by fans of the show. (At the very least, they’re nowhere near.) The five worst episodes of Big Bang Theory.) But one Christmas episode is not only considered the best of the six (according to the Internet Movie Database), but it also ranks as one of the best episodes of the series.

If you’re a fan of “Big Bang Theory,” you’re probably already familiar with the show Highest rated Christmas episode on IMDb It is the “bath item gift hypothesis.” This is ostensibly about Leonard’s excitement at being able to help a famous scientist undergo surgery when he learns that Penny is dating the guy. However, what makes the episode sing is the surprising B-plot, which involves Sheldon’s struggle to find a gift for Penny that matches in value what she gave him.

Sheldon, acting on Howard and Raj’s barely helpful advice, ends up purchasing an assortment of bath supplies with the intention of sifting them through to equal the cost of Penny’s gift. When Penny’s gift turns out to be a handkerchief used and signed by Leonard Nimoy, a distraught Sheldon gives Penny all the bathing supplies and a hug.

Is “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” very popular among fans of “The Big Bang Theory”? Nowadays, according to IMDb, it is ranked second to… Series finale “Stockholm Syndrome”. So, have a geeky Christmas, and even if you’re not a fan, give this a try. It and the rest of “The Big Bang Theory” are currently streaming on Max.