The Big Bang Theory - Complete Season 1-5 [Blu-ray] [Region Free]

Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) are physicists who work at the prestigious California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) in Pasadena, CA. Besides being colleagues, they are roommates and best friends, although their friendship is continually tested by Sheldon's inflexible and eccentric approach to life (he suffers from Asperger Syndrome), his complete lack of social skills, and his inability to appreciate sarcasm. Leonard and Sheldon have two other friends and Cal Tech colleagues: astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) and mechanical engineer Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg).When this foursome is not working, eating in the Cal Tech cafeteria or visiting their local comic book store, they hang out in Leonard and Sheldon's apartment eating take-out food, watching science fiction movies and playing video games. All four are complete nerds, meaning they are awkward and uncomfortable in social situations involving the opposite sex. In fact, Rajesh exhibits selective mutism - he cannot talk to women unless he is drunk. Howard, on the other hand, will hit on any woman in his immediate vicinity, on the off-chance he might get lucky. Sheldon has no interest at all in the opposite sex, while Leonard yearns for a fulfilling relationship. So, when Penny (Kaley Cuoco), a lovely young blonde, moves into the apartment across the hall, Leonard falls for her immediately. Penny is an aspiring actress who recently moved to Pasadena from Omaha, Nebraska, but is soon forced to take a job as a waitress at the local Cheesecake Factory, where the four scientists naturally begin to eat.In addition to the five main characters there are a number of supporting characters who provide tension as well as comic relief. The major supporting characters are: Mayim Bialik as Sheldon's platonic female friend Amy Farrah Fowler, Melissa Rauch as Howard's girlfriend Bernadette, Kevin Sussman as comic bookstore owner Stuart, Aarti Mann as Rajesh's exotic sister Priya, and Sara Gilbert as Cal Tech physicist Leslie Winkle.The series is frankly hilarious, and the writing by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady (creators of Two and a Half Men) is fresh and innovative. Now in its sixth season, The Big Bang Theory has been nominated for several awards including Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild. New episodes air Thursday evenings on CBS, and previous episodes are available on DVD and streaming video.The region-free Blu-ray boxed set of seasons 1-5, purchased from amazon.co.uk is the best value. Shipment to the U.S. takes less than two weeks and costs around $75 including shipping and credit card dollars to pounds conversion.Performance-wise the video and audio is incredible. There are special features, and most episodes include at least a few seconds of material that was not broadcast. The only minor "glitch" I have found is when using the pop-up menu in year 1. The pink highlight color is very faint and you have to know what to look for. If you have this problem (and it may only occur on U.S. Blu-ray players) I suggest you start with year 2, which uses a yellow highlight. Then when you understand the pop-up menu structure, go back to year 1 and start with that.

I purchased this box set a couple of months ago after a friend introduced me to the show, and I ended up watching the first two seasons on E4 before getting the box set. It has to be said I only buy box sets once in a blue moon, so they have to be worthwhile! This certainly was.I will not go into too much detail over the characters etc - others have done a far better job of that than I ever could, plus I am assuming that if you have clicked on this item and considering buying this box set (either for yourself or as a gift for someone) that you or your gift recipient have some idea of what The Big Bang Theory is all about. As much as I have come to love The Big Bang Theory, I would never convince someone to spend in the region of £40 without having seen any of it anywhere. I will say, however, that now I have the first five series, that it is good to see how the show has evolved and that the humour is still maintained throughout.I have completed the series, but I am now more than happy to watch them as and when I want. I can now choose whether to watch in sequence or whether to watch my favourites. The episodes are quite short - approx 20 mins - so you can watch as much or as little as you feel like at any point.The packaging is such that the discs for series 1 & 2 are grouped in one box and the discs for series 3, 4 & 5 are in another box, so it may get interesting if a friend wants to borrow one series, but that does not bother me.A fantastic TV series with 5 series all bundled into one box set. Looking forward to series 6 coming onto the TV soon.

Great deal

Funny, intelligent and most importantly entertaining. Four male physicists find themselves in ridiculous situations as one of them is badly neurotic, one can't talk to attractive women without being drunk, and one fails every attempt of flirt. The only normal character Leonard falls desperately in love with a new neighbor which turns out to be one of the driving elements in the series.The difference between The Big Bang Theory and other basic TV comedies is that beside humor based on sex life and blundering there is the scientific element. The way in which physics' theories are blended in the dialogs is fascinating and in me wakened a desire to start studying those theories. The series doesn't require a deep understanding of physics as in many of the jokes the idea is that the science is so complicated that you can't really understand how it was related to the topic.The Big Bang Theory is certainly suitable for anyone interested in physics but also for people who find Two And A Half Men or Frasier funny. The leading characters are 25-35 years old so I assume that people around 20, 30 and 40 years will most relate to the characters and thus find it a good way of spending a rainy day.