Review by Craig Byrne
One of the best sitcoms currently on TV now has another season available on DVD, with The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season recently released from Warner Home Video.
I’m going to start this review with a confession that I’m sure CBS would not want to hear, but I’ll be honest: I rarely watch The Big Bang Theory live as it airs. Why? Part of it is because it is usually on at the same time as something else I watch, but part of it is also that I love watching the show back-to-back, and DVD affords the opportunity to do that.
Just as great as marathonning the show, it’s also a series that is very rewatchable. As I’ve said in previous BBT reviews, though, it’s a little jarring at first to see how caricaturized the characters may seem at first, but you quickly get used to them, and the over the top nature makes them all the more charming.
Season Three has a lot of episodes with the characters trying to outsmart either each other or their enemies, in the case of Sheldon’s nemesis, Wil Wheaton. There’s also a recurring thread of the relationship between Leonard and Penny. The relationship goes up and down throughout the season, and it seems the characters are rarely on the same page with their approach to it, but it’s still a good thread.
Aside from the three leads, credit should be given to Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar as Wolowitz and Raj. Wolowitz still makes me very uncomfortable (though he’s supposed to!) and Raj always says the most random things. The leads themselves are great. Jim Parsons got an Emmy this year for playing Sheldon and he truly deserved it; Kaley Cuoco’s comic timing with her responses to the others is great; and I’ve always liked Johnny Galecki’s work ever since Roseanne.
As with before, there are loads of cool [and geeky] guest stars this season. Wil Wheaton (of course!) is the most memorable, but you can also find Katee Sackhoff, Danica McKellar, Christine Baranski, and even Blossom herself, Mayim Bialik, within. Bialik does not come in until the season finale, but her character looks to be a memorable one.
DVD extras include the cast reading fan questions from fortune cookies and a tour of the set. And, of course, there’s a gag reel.
The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season became available September 14. Order a copy from Amazon.com and support this site! The DVD is also available in the Blu-ray format.
