The Impact of TBBT on Young Sheldon Season 7: A Bleak Canon

The Untold Childhood of Sheldon Cooper

The Big Bang Theory's lead character, Sheldon Cooper, had a mysterious and relatively unexplored childhood. Viewers were given only a few glimpses into his early life, leaving much of his backstory shrouded in mystery. Despite being a child prodigy, his childhood was marred by bullying and a sense of isolation, with limited focus on his relationship with his siblings.

Emily Osment's Mandy and Montana Jordan's Georgie sitting on a couch with Georgie looking at Mandy in Young Sheldon season 6 finale

The spinoff series, Young Sheldon, aimed to delve deeper into Sheldon's origins. However, as the release of Young Sheldon Season 7 approaches, it has become evident that the series has shifted its focus from Sheldon to his family, particularly his parents, siblings, and grandmother. This departure from Sheldon's narrative has raised concerns about the spinoff's ability to stay true to its original premise.

Emily Osment as Mandy holding her baby bump and Iain Armitage as Sheldon Cooper wearing rubber gloves in Young Sheldon season 6

Georgie's Unavoidable Fate

Young Sheldon Season 7's portrayal of Georgie's storyline hints at an inevitable tragic outcome. The series has humanized the Cooper clan, making viewers emotionally invested in their fates. However, this emotional investment is marred by the foreknowledge of their grim futures, as revealed in The Big Bang Theory.

Emily Osment's Mandy and Montana Jordan's Georgie with their baby on Young Sheldon

Georgie's impending breakup with Mandy serves as a poignant example of the spinoff's struggle with TBBT's established canon. The time spent on their wedding preparations feels futile, as viewers are already aware of their doomed relationship. This predicament presents a significant challenge for Young Sheldon Season 7, as it attempts to navigate the predestined outcomes of its characters.

Emily Osment's Mandy and Montana Jordan's Georgie and their baby in Young Sheldon season 6, episode 19

The Bleak Fates of Other Characters

In addition to Georgie's doomed relationship, Young Sheldon Season 7 also grapples with the bleak futures of other characters, including Meemaw, Mary, and Missy. The spinoff's portrayal of their lives aligns with the somber narratives established in The Big Bang Theory, raising concerns about the series' ability to provide a more uplifting resolution for these characters.

Jerry O'Connell as Georgie Cooper and Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory season 11

The inevitability of George Sr.'s death further underscores the challenges faced by Young Sheldon Season 7 in reconciling the characters' fates with the established TBBT canon. The impact of this pivotal event on the Cooper family's dynamics presents a compelling narrative obstacle for the spinoff to address.

Annie Potts as Connie, Zoe Perry as Mary, and Lance Barber as George in Young Sheldon seasons 1 and 6

A Hopeful Path Forward

Despite the weight of TBBT's canon, Young Sheldon Season 7 has the opportunity to offer a more hopeful resolution for the Cooper family. By acknowledging the inevitability of certain events while providing a more uplifting perspective on the characters' futures, the spinoff can navigate the challenges posed by its predecessor's narrative.

young sheldon mary cooper zoe perry

The series can leverage its narrative framework to grant the characters a sense of closure and optimism, countering the bleak outcomes established in The Big Bang Theory. This approach would allow Young Sheldon Season 7 to honor the characters' journeys while offering a more satisfying conclusion to their stories.

Emily Osment as Mandy and Zoe Perry as Mary Cooper in Young Sheldon S06E11