After five seasons, Young Sheldon's The Big Bang Theory connections are now doing more harm than good. The nerd-centric sitcom wrapped up in 2019, and since then, its prequel series has been standing on its own after airing back-to-back with each other in its first two years. While The Big Bang Theory references in Young Sheldon are always great to have, tying the prequel's narrative to its parent series is doing it a massive disservice.
In an effort to capitalize on The Big Bang Theory's popularity, CBS greenlit its first and only spin-off that centers on Sheldon Cooper's childhood in Texas. Given the socially-inept genius' penchant for sharing stories from his past, it didn't take long for Young Sheldon to find its footing as most of the Cooper family members have already been introduced — at least their older counterparts. Being an off-shoot, it understandably has had countless references to The Big Bang Theory including voice cameos from Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Howard (Simon Helberg).
As Young Sheldon continues, however, it has started to establish itself as its own well-rounded comedy, without the need to depend on The Big Bang Theory. This is evidenced by its transformation to become a family comedy/drama rather than a straight-up sitcom. It has introduced its own compelling narratives that don't have anything to do with its parent series, including Young Sheldon’s Paige (McKenna Grace) arc, and for the most part, they are all well-done.
Young Sheldon's Big Bang Theory Links Were Its Original Selling Point
There's no question that Young Sheldon is standing on the shoulders of The Big Bang Theory. Because of the geek-centric sitcom's popularity, it was initially easier to sell the off-shoot, especially since it's about the fan-favorite Sheldon as compared to starting an entirely new IP. In its first two years, Young Sheldon aired back-to-back with its parent show, explaining some of the most interesting aspects of the socially-inept genius on The Big Bang Theory, including where Sheldon's catchphrase, "Bazinga!" came from. When it was announced that the long-running sitcom was ending in 2019, CBS staged a one-time crossover event with Young Sheldon to further strengthen the ties between the shows.
The Big Bang Theory Is Now Hurting Young Sheldon's Story
Now, it has been three years since The Big Bang Theory wrapped up, and it is getting increasingly clear that its established canon is being more of a burden to Young Sheldon than an actual upside. Young Sheldon is forced to follow certain narratives that were previously established in its parent series long before the spin-off was even greenlit. Most of these plots were executed for comedic purposes without any consideration of how they may properly play out in a prequel-type show. There are two glaring examples of this. Firstly, when Missy was first introduced in The Big Bang Theory season 1, she was painted as the least successful Cooper sibling purely for humor. Seeing Missy actually being fleshed out in Young Sheldon, it seems unlikely that she doesn't make a name for herself. While she isn't book-smart like Sheldon, she's arguably the best well-adjusted among Mary (Zoe Perry) and George's (Lance Barber) kids. She's also witty, charming, and capable. At the very least, it's unfair that she was painted as a failure in The Big Bang Theory just for laughs.
Secondly, and perhaps the biggest hurdle in Young Sheldon's storytelling, is George. His depiction remains to be the biggest inconsistency between The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off. In the nerd-centric sitcom, he was described by both Sheldon and Mary to be drunk, stupid, and lazy, something that the prequel has been consistently contradicting throughout its run. Instead, Young Sheldon features a flawed but committed father which better suits its storytelling. Now, however, it is forced to make a 180-degree transition for the character to support The Big Bang Theory's version of George. In the next couple of years, George would have to both cheat and then die, which would preserve established continuity but could be detrimental to Young Sheldon's overall storytelling.
Can Young Sheldon Ever Escape The Big Bang Theory?
This doesn't mean that Young Sheldon should totally get rid of its The Big Bang Theory connections. References to Sheldon's future have been both fun and mostly well-thought-out such as the revelation of why he really hated engineering and the origins of "Bazinga!" To be able to continuously sustainable, however, it needs to prioritize its own storytelling over upholding The Big Bang Theory's continuity, especially concerning George’s Young Sheldon fate. While the prequel has become more of a family show, not shying away from tackling more serious topics, seeing Sheldon catching his dad cheat and then die not long after could be too dark for what is still a comedy. In any case, it isn't as if CBS doesn't have any choice but to make this work. There have been theories that Young Sheldon takes place in an alternate reality in an attempt to explain its The Big Bang Theory plot holes. This should be seriously considered if the broadcaster wants to have the current number 1 comedy on the air for the foreseeable future.
Young Sheldon will return for season 6 on CBS.