The 16 Best Big Mouth Episodes, Ranked

In a society where students lack access to comprehensive sex education and the universal effects of puberty are treated as taboo, the animated coming-of-age comedy "Big Mouth" dares to take a candid, humorous approach to the awkwardness of adolescence. Based on the real-life experiences of creators and long-time friends Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg, the show follows a group of seventh graders grappling with the challenges of growing up. 

With storylines ranging from mental health to masturbation, no subject is off limits. The show constantly pushes boundaries with its willingness to use explicit humor and empathy to tackle uncomfortable or sensitive topics, setting it apart from other TV shows of its kind. Since 2017, "Big Mouth" has released six seasons with a total of 51 episodes. As we await the 2023 release of Season 7, followed by the 8th and final season, let's reminisce on the 16 best episodes to come out of the series.

The Shame Wizard torments the kids tirelessly during Season 2, but in the Season 5 episode "The Shane Lizard Rises," he makes his return during school swim lessons and thrives in the irresistible environment of insecure, developing kids in revealing swimsuits. He quickly turns the kids against each other as they all start taking notice of each other's awkward shapes and body hair. Missy is on the verge of flirting with her crush until her backne ruins the mood while Nick envies how well Go-Gurt Burglar fills out his swimsuit.

The kids go out of their way to try and fix their insecurities but end up putting themselves in dangerous situations in the process. The episode's gross-out imagery of pubescent bodies is balanced out by the ending's encouraging messaging. Finding each other at the ER, the kids learn that nobody is perfect and the pursuit of self-love is a lifelong battle.

Time and time again, "Big Mouth" reminds us of the extensive curriculum that's part of coming into one's sexuality. In "How to Have an Orgasm," the hierarchy of sexual pleasure is spotlighted when Jessi takes on the impressive feat of achieving a female orgasm with the help of Connie and her anthropomorphic vagina. With some wisdom from her mom, the sweet musk of Nick's older brother Judd, and an electric toothbrush, Jessi discovers the wonders of self-pleasure.

Andrew also becomes more comfortable in his body but in a much more unpleasant way. While sexting his cousin, Andrew is pressured into sending pics but is unsure how to approach the task. After a confidence-building photoshoot, Andrew adopts a self-loving mentality, but not without suffering from the embarrassment of his parents finding out. Meanwhile, Nick becomes more empathetic of Jay's living situation and embraces his new roommate, strengthening their friendship in one of the series' most wholesome storylines.

Season 3 kicks off with a Valentine's Day special — a fitting holiday for our hormonal pubescent characters as they navigate feelings of heartache, loneliness, longing, and confusion. The kids' vulnerabilities are on full display as they grapple with the expectations and pressures of the romantic holiday, which is highlighted in an infectious musical performance. Nick's hormones are out of whack with Connie as his new hormone monster, Andrew struggles with communicating his feelings to Missy, Jay juggles his relationships with his two pillows, Jessi has trouble coming to terms with her mom's new partner, and Matthew struggles to find a valentine as the only openly gay kid at school.

However, while most of the kids resolve their issues by the end, it seems love and forgiveness aren't strong enough to redeem everyone. Unable to accept Missy's unrequited love, Andrew goes on a jealous tirade in front of everyone at Lola's Valentine's Day party. Lying in a cold, wet puddle outside, Andrew hits a new rock bottom, setting up the character's turbulent arc for Season 3.

During spring break, Nick joins the Gloubermans on their vacation to the sunshine state, where they encounter all the best stereotypes Florida has to offer. Like the musical number states, anything goes in Florida. The extremely unbearable weather, the population of senile retirees, the alligator infestation, and the overall chaos make for an unenjoyable trip until, of course, Andrew's cousin Cherry and her friend Vicki show up. After exchanging some flirtatious banter with Cherry, Andrew contemplates the morality of kissing your cousin and decides it's worth the risk. During Passover, the two sneak into the bedroom to make out while Nick joins Vicki in sinking a boat. Both end in disaster.

Andrew gets caught by his family, and Nick opens a deadly sinkhole that swallows half of Florida. Nick and the Gloubermans are able to make it out in time, thanks to Andrew's mom's invigorating outburst. Was it all real or just a biblical metaphor? The episode cleverly uses satire to explore the many facets of Florida's uniqueness while connecting with viewers through universal experiences of family vacations.

Boob fever in "What Is It About Boobs?" has everyone broaching the subject, and it's all because Gina's chest went through a little bit of a growth spurt. The boys can't keep their eyes off her, while the girls try to comfort themselves through jealousy. Missy takes the boob talk especially hard after being made fun of for her flat chest. The realization hits that maybe it's not a good thing to hyper-fixate and objectify women's bodies. Andrew feels bad about Missy's new insecurity, but Nick is too busy trying to befriend Gina for all the wrong reasons.

Viewers get an honest depiction of puberty from the female perspective with the important lesson that no body is the same. "What Is It About Boobs?" challenges societal stereotypes surrounding body image and rebukes harmful beauty standards. The comedic approach to the episode's inclusive messaging is especially well-crafted in this highly-rated episode.

Five episodes into the series, the realization finally hits: girls are horny too. The only difference is they don't talk about it all the time like boys do. Instead, they rely on the sensual nature of things like the romantic novel "The Rock of Gibraltar" to provoke those hot and bothered feelings. This changes everything for the boys ... if only they could figure out to best way to utilize this new information. It turns out there's more to sex than just sex, and feelings of passion and longing are just as important to the equation.

Jessi's storyline about her developing chest and tumultuous relationship with her mother shines in this episode. Feeling like she doesn't live up to the beauty standards of the protagonist in the book, Jessi convinces her mom to buy her a sexy red bra with a feminist guilt trip. But when she wears the bra to school, she's met with unwanted attention. The transition from child to woman is a challenging balancing act, but as Jessi and the rest of the kids better get to know themselves and their bodies, the easier it will be to manage this phase in their lives.

In this Season 3 finale, the series' absurdity reaches new heights when everyone in school is granted superpowers after a mysterious storm rolls into town. But in a world where genitals talk and hormone monsters guide children through puberty, the overnight transformation is an exciting, believable addition to the absurdity of adolescence. Instead of using their strangely specific powers for good, the hormonal kids choose to use them against each other as fights between friends over the love of Missy escalate. But when a bigger threat puts them all in danger, they set their differences aside for a moment of teamwork before going back to fighting about Missy.

When everything comes to a head, expectations are subverted with the big twist that everyone's superpowers are all in Caleb's head. The seventh grade comes to an end, and Nick heads off to summer camp without his best friend by his side. Unlike other episodes that end with the characters of "Big Mouth" fixing their problems and learning a lesson, the finale ends on a cliffhanger with tension-fueled rifts between friends.

In part one of the lunar eclipse sleepover, the Shame Wizard leaves no kid unscathed from feelings of shame, embarrassment, and self-loathing when their behavior is called into question. When word gets around that Nick managed to get to second base with Gina — the Mount Everest of middle school sexual accomplishments — the two receive entirely different reactions from their peers. Nick is praised and idolized for his conquest, while Gina is outcasted as a slut who gave it up easily, causing their intimate moment to become a shameful mistake.

The double standard is an all too relatable experience and just one of the many challenges of puberty. Meanwhile, students like Jessi, Missy, Jay, and Matthew struggle with their own shame: Jessi with her part in the slut shaming, Missy getting caught dry-humping her stuffed worm, Jay's friendship with Coach Steve, and Matthew with his sexuality. Together they find the strength to overcome the Shame Wizard on their road to self-discovery and acceptance.