Unveiling Young Sheldon's All-Time Most Popular Episode from Each Season
Discover the most captivating episodes of Young Sheldon that kept viewers hooked from every season Unveil the surprises and intriguing plots that unfolded in Season 1's pilot, Season 2's A Swedish Science Thing And The Equation For Toast, Season 3's A Secret Letter And A Lowly Disc of Processed Meat, Season 4's Crappy Frozen Ice Cream And An Organ Grinder's Monkey, Season 5's A Pink Cadillac And A Glorious Tribal Dance, and Season 6's A Baby Shower And A Testosterone-Rich Banter Experience the best of Young Sheldon's gripping storytelling!
Summary
Young Sheldon
took a big risk by changing the style and tone of
The Big Bang Theory
, but it paid off as the spinoff became a big ratings hit over the years.
The pilot episode of
Young Sheldon
commanded an impressive audience of 17.21 million viewers, close to the highest audience numbers of
The Big Bang Theory
.
While later episodes didn't reach the heights of the pilot,
Young Sheldon
Despite taking a big risk by departing from the formula of its predecessor, Young Sheldon has continued to attract a large audience, as evidenced by the impressive 10.4 million viewers who tuned in for the season 3 finale. While The Big Bang Theory spinoff switched from a traditional laugh track-driven format to a nostalgic single-camera family sitcom with a narrator, this decision ultimately paid off, leading to its success as a ratings hit.
Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”
Young Sheldon exceeded expectations and quickly gained a loyal following, thanks to viewers' curiosity about Sheldon's childhood. While The Big Bang Theory took time to find its footing, Young Sheldon benefited from its predecessor's success. This spinoff had the advantage of a built-in audience eager to see the younger version of Sheldon. As a result, the pilot episode received impressive ratings and set the stage for the show's future. However, Young Sheldon's journey after the pilot becomes more complex.
It is not uncommon for a TV show's first episode to attract the highest viewership. New shows receive extensive promotion, and audiences are more likely to tune in when they don't need to catch up on the story. Nonetheless, it is undeniably impressive that the pilot episode of Young Sheldon's first season, titled "Pilot," captured an audience of 17.21 million viewers. This is nearly equal to the highest viewership numbers achieved by The Big Bang Theory, despite the fact that Young Sheldon's cast did not consist of many well-known actors. This achievement is truly remarkable. However, subsequent episodes of season 1 saw a decrease in audience size, although they still maintained a substantial viewership.
Season 2, Episode 22, “A Swedish Science Thing And The Equation For Toast”
Most of Young Sheldon season 1 garnered an audience of 11 to 13 million viewers, but the show's debut episode never reached the same level of success again. Nevertheless, these numbers are still impressive. To put it into perspective, the most-watched episodes of both Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community combined did not reach 13 million viewers. Considering this, it is understandable that Young Sheldon season 1 struggled to exceed 13 million viewers, even though its popularity among viewers fluctuated in the subsequent years. Young Sheldon season 2 only saw an increase in average viewership with its finale.
Young Sheldon season 2 failed to reach the impressive ratings achieved by its pilot, with viewership fluctuating between 10 and 11 million. However, episode 22 of season 2, "A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation for Toast," surprised with a significant increase, attracting 13.6 million viewers. The reason behind this spike in viewership is not hard to discern. Despite Young Sheldon's tendency to deviate from The Big Bang Theory's established storyline, the show still holds a deep respect for its predecessor. This is evident as the inclusion of The Big Bang Theory's beloved characters in a closing montage led to Young Sheldon's season 2 finale garnering higher ratings than any previous episode of the season.
Season 3, Episode 21, “A Secret Letter And A Lowly Disc of Processed Meat”
While it is clear that nostalgia played a significant role in the success of "A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation for Toast," the reason behind Young Sheldon's season 3 finale attracting a staggering 10.4 million viewers is not as easily discernible. Subsequent Young Sheldon season finales would revolve around dramatic events; however, in season 3, episode 21, titled "A Secret Letter and a Lowly Disc of Processed Meat," there were no particularly shocking moments. This episode did establish the foundation for Sheldon's character in The Big Bang Theory as he received his first communication from CalTech, but little else of significance transpired.
Season 4, Episode 9, “Crappy Frozen Ice Cream And An Organ Grinder's Monkey”
The episode titled "Crappy Frozen Ice Cream and an Organ Grinder's Monkey" from season 4 of Young Sheldon may not be filled with intense drama, but it definitely resonated with audiences, making it a standout success. This particular episode captivated viewers with its multifaceted storyline, involving the blossoming romance between Dale and Meemaw, Georgie's endearing support for his younger sister Missy, and Sheldon's struggles with insincere professional admiration. With each subplot delivering a compelling narrative, it's no wonder "Crappy Frozen Ice Cream and an Organ Grinder's Monkey" garnered an impressive viewership of 7.87 million.
While it is understandable that Young Sheldon's inconsistencies in relation to The Big Bang Theory exist, this particular episode takes the opportunity to explain the origin of one of Sheldon's most absurd characteristics. It is truly baffling how Sheldon, with his condescending and rude behavior towards colleagues and investors, managed to thrive in the academic world depicted in The Big Bang Theory. However, in the episode "Crappy Frozen Ice Cream and an Organ Grinder's Monkey," Sheldon's audacious honesty impresses his newest investor, resulting in a significant financial gain for his college. This occurrence sheds light on why he continued to embrace this approach as he matured.
Season 5, Episode 12, “A Pink Cadillac And A Glorious Tribal Dance”
In the latest episode of Young Sheldon season 5, titled "A Pink Cadillac and a Glorious Tribal Dance," the beloved protagonist finds himself attending his very first comic convention. Despite the prevailing plotlines that revolve around challenges in George and Mary's marriage, and Georgie and Mandy's unexpected pregnancy, this particular episode stands out remarkably among viewers. The reason behind this success lies in the show's ability to excel at what it does best - presenting a younger version of Sheldon as he navigates the complexities of adolescence. As a result, an impressive 7.98 million viewers were captivated by this intriguing storyline.
Season 6, Episode 12, “A Baby Shower And A Testosterone-Rich Banter”
The most unexpectedly successful episode of Young Sheldon in season 6 is "A Baby Shower and a Testosterone-Rich Banter." Previous seasons of the show gained popularity by showcasing young versions of characters from The Big Bang Theory or by providing comedic standalone stories for Sheldon. However, "A Baby Shower and a Testosterone-Rich Banter" attracted 7.73 million viewers with its forgettable plot focusing on the bonding of Georgie and Mandy's families during a tense baby shower. Although not the show's finest episode, it demonstrates that Young Sheldon can find humor in even the most mundane situations.
