Summary
AlthoughYoung Sheldon’s series finale may have explained a lot of the show’s canon inconsistencies,The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff still left a few mysteries unresolved in its final outing.Young Sheldon’s series finalefinally brought the show’s story full circle by skipping ahead in time. The finale revealed an older Sheldon putting the finishing touches on his memoir. In the process,Young Sheldongave viewers a glimpse of what his life was like afterThe Big Bang Theory’s finale. Sheldon and Amy’s children were mentioned, as wasThe Big Bang Theory’s Penny. Leonard, notably, went unmentioned.
This prompted a flurry of fan theories online as viewers wondered whether Sheldon’s failure to reference his friend meant thatYoung Sheldon’s series finale killed off Leonard. While this is a possibility, it is more likely that the series simply didn’t have enough screen time to discuss what Leonard has been up to sinceThe Big Bang Theoryended. After all, Howard, Raj, and Bernadette are never mentioned in the show’s final episode. Even some ofYoung Sheldon’s own storylines were left unfinished, resulting in plot holes that opened a gap betweenThe Big Bang TheoryandYoung Sheldon.
Mary’s Young Sheldon Finale Story Made Sheldon’s Baptism Even More Meaningful
Sheldon’s intense obsession with honesty shaped Mary’s Young Sheldon finale, but The Big Bang Theory’s hero ironically betrayed this trait soon after.
6Young Sheldon Never Explained What Happened To Dale
The Fate Of Meemaw’s Love Interest Remained Unexplained
Dale was always a tricky character forYoung Sheldonto work around since Meemaw’s love interest was never mentioned inThe Big Bang Theory. Meemaw’s husband, Sheldon’s grandfather Pop-Pop, was discussed in both shows. However, he died beforeYoung Sheldon’s story began. By the time the spinoff started, Meemaw was single. During the show’s seven-season run, Meemaw seriously dated both Dr. Sturgis and Dale. She ended up settling down with Dale, declaring her love for him in season 7 when she started living in his home after her house was destroyed inYoung Sheldon’s season 6 finale.
Dale’s existence was never even acknowledged inThe Big Bang Theory.
Dale and Meemaw clearly meant a lot to each other and, although he often struggled to connect with her grandchildren,Dale gradually became a part of the Cooper family.His presence in the family home after George Sr.’s death and before the funeral proves just how much of a fixture he was in their lives, yet Dale’s existence was never even acknowledged in the earlier show. It would have been relatively unsurprising ifYoung Sheldon’s series finale revealed that he died before Meemaw given his advanced age. However, this could have been too dark. Instead,Young Sheldonsimply ignored him.
5Young Sheldon Didn’t Explain Why Sheldon Forgot Dr. Sturgis
Wallace Shawn’s Character Was Never Addressed In The Big Bang Theory
On the topic of Meemaw’s love interests, it was also strange thatYoung Sheldonnever addressed why Sheldon didn’t mention Dr. Sturgis inThe Big Bang Theory. Sturgis was a mentor to Sheldon, patiently helping him through the many trials of higher education when Sheldon first began college at a young age. The professor was both incredibly intelligent and a bright, friendly presence, but he also experienced periods of poor mental health during Sheldon’s formative years. Sturgis’s bout of depression after his work went unrecognized by the Nobel Committee could have even inspired Sheldon’s obsessive lifelong drive to win a Nobel Prize.
Despite this obvious connection,Young SheldonprioritizedMary’sBig Bang Theoryplot holeover explaining whySheldon forgot all about Sturgis after leaving East Texas Tech. In the finale, Sheldon reluctantly gets baptized to help his mother cope with her grief over George Sr.’s death, but he never even mentions the major role Dr. Sturgis played in shaping his academic career. This was particularly jarring when Sheldon’s disastrous party for Sturgis’s Nobel announcement prompted the show’s memorable flashback to the rest ofThe Big Bang Theorygang’s childhoods. This is often viewed as one of the spinoff’s most poignant moments.
4Young Sheldon Never Explained Why Georgie And Mandy Broke Up
Young Sheldon’s First Spinoff Will Address This Plot Hole
One major plot thatYoung Sheldonnever addressed was the reason behind Georgie and Mandy’s canonical divorce. However, this decision is more understandable than most. Stars Montana Jordan and Emily Osment will soon reprise their roles in theYoung SheldonspinoffGeorgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. Since Georgie and Mandy’s upcoming show will center on their marriage and its eventual breakdown,Young Sheldondidn’t need to reveal the source of their divorce yet. If anything,Young Sheldonhad to hide the cause of Mandy and Georgie’s divorce to ensure that their spinoff had a compelling mystery at its core.
Giving away the cause of their divorce would sapGeorgie and Mandy’s First Marriageof its stakes and tension.
During Georgie’s first appearance inThe Big Bang Theory, he made a passing reference to an unseen“Ex-wife.” As such,viewers know Georgie’s relationship with Mandy will eventually end in separation. However, Georgie and Mandy’s relationship was surprisingly central toYoung Sheldonseason 7, with the show devoting a lot of screen time to their engagement and wedding. As such, the audience is now invested in the pair working things out. Giving away the cause of their divorce would sapGeorgie and Mandy’s First Marriageof its stakes and tension, particularly when its title implies their divorce may not end their relationship permanently.
3Young Sheldon Never Addressed Paige’s Unclear Fate
Sheldon’s Rival, Friend, And Crush Was Forgotten
Young Sheldoncould have explained why Sheldon forgot Paige, but the series seemingly never got around to it. McKenna Grace’s pivotal guest star was ignored by season 7 andYoung Sheldon’s series finale never mentioned Paige. Paige’s role inYoung Sheldonmade her absence fromThe Big Bang Theoryweird since she was an early rival, crush, and friend to Sheldon.Young Sheldon’s cancelation means Paige’s fate remains unresolved, even though Paige’s final appearance wasn’t a fitting goodbye. She barely even interacted with Sheldon as her parents picked her up after a joyride with Missy ended in disaster.
In recent seasons, Paige’s life followed a darker path as she grew more rebellious and self-destructive.
ThroughoutYoung Sheldon’s first six seasons, Paige was an occasional presence who always played a major role in Sheldon’s life. AsSheldon’s friendship with PennyinThe Big Bang Theoryproved, he needed someone to help him shake up his routine and challenge his obstinacy. The playful, razor-sharp Paige fulfilled this role by acting as his crush, academic equal, and frenemy depending on the episode. In recent seasons, Paige’s life followed a darker path as she grew more rebellious and self-destructive. Sadly,Young Sheldonnever explained whether this trajectory was turned around after her final appearance in the show.
2Young Sheldon Never Fully Justified Meemaw’s Character Change
Meemaw Seemed Like A Different Person In The Big Bang Theory
The supporting character did appear inThe Big Bang Theory, butJune Squibb’s version of Meemaw had little in common with Annie Potts’ character fromYoung Sheldon.WhereYoung Sheldon’s Meemaw was a carefree rebel,The Big Bang Theory’s version of the character was much more sedate, traditional, and stern. InYoung Sheldon, much humor came from just how different the pious Mary was compared from her daring grandmother. In contrast,The Big Bang Theory’s Meemaw was an even sterner version of Mary, rather than a more playful presence. This offscreen change was somewhat justified, but never clearly articulated.
WhileYoung Sheldonimproved Meemaw’s relationshipwith George Sr. shortly before he died, the spinoff only offered a minor explanation for her character shift. She was arrested for running an illegal gambling room and her parole officer, Octavia Spencer’s no-nonsense Rhonda, forced her to finally take responsibility for her actions. However, by the series finale, she was back to drinking beers at her son-in-law’s grave and avoiding confrontations with Mary over Mary’s intense piety and its effect on her children. In short, she was back to being the same immature Meemaw rather thanThe Big Bang Theory’s self-serious version of Sheldon’s grandmother.
1Young Sheldon Never Explained The Truth About George Sr.’s “Affair”
It Was Unclear Whether Mary Cleared Up This Misunderstanding
It is tough to work out exactly how muchYoung Sheldonseason 7 explained Sheldon’s understanding of his father’s alleged infidelity thanks to the show’s structure. InThe Big Bang Theory, Sheldon and Mary frequently referred to George Sr. as a dim-witted drunk and a philandering layabout. This was a slanderously inaccurate impression of a character who, throughoutYoung Sheldon’s seven seasons, was the picture of decency. However, Mary’s anger over George Sr.’s sudden death and her inability to blame God or fate explains why she directs her frustration at his memory. Sheldon’s recollections are harder to unpack.
In Young Sheldon season 7, viewers saw the vital context of George Sr. and Mary fooling around before Sheldon walked in on them.
WhenYoung Sheldonseason 7 ended the storylineabout Brenda and George Sr.’s potential affair, the series revealed that this alleged incident of infidelity never actually happened.Young Sheldonrevealed that Sheldon didn’t walk in on his father having an affair, but instead just misunderstood some innocent role-play between his parents. DuringThe Big Bang Theory’s original run, Sheldon referred to this incident as a genuine affair and was completely unaware of his mistake. InYoung Sheldonseason 7, viewers saw the vital context of George Sr. and Mary fooling around before Sheldon walked in on them.
Sheldon may have found out the truth from his mother and included the vignette since it was an amusing misunderstanding.
Thus, the viewer is left to wonder whetherYoung Sheldon’s narrator, the older version of Sheldon, found out the truth from his mother while writing his memoirs. It is unclear how much of the show is taken directly from Sheldon’s memoir and how much is added in for the audience only. Sheldon may have found out the truth from his mother and included the vignette since it was an amusing misunderstanding. Alternatively,Young Sheldon’s narrator may still believe his father cheated, and the audience might be the only ones with the context to understandThe Big Bang Theoryhero’s tragic mistake.
