Warning! Spoilers ahead for Young Sheldon season 6, episode 13. Young Sheldon season 6 continues Paige's storyline which means that The Big Bang Theory prequel no longer has any excuse for failing Missy. Sheldon's fellow child prodigy re-emerges in Medford following her failed attempt to run away from home in Young Sheldon's 100th episode. Sadly, her condition has only become much worse since she is last seen on the family comedy as she reveals that she has ultimately decided to drop out of college. This has left her without a purpose and further down a dark path.
Somehow, Paige's story in Young Sheldon has become a cautionary tale for its titular character. Sheldon has witnessed her fall from a promising child prodigy to a troubled kid. Paige reveals how dark TBBT could have been if the socially-inept genius didn't have the support of the Pasadena gang. Regardless of what comes next for Paige, however, one thing is for sure: her story means that Young Sheldon can no longer fail Missy.
Paige's Own Story Highlights How Young Sheldon Wastes Missy
After a chaotic Young Sheldon season 5 finale, Sheldon and his family have finally settled into their new normal. Aside from their collective arc, the Cooper family members have been given their respective storylines, except for Missy. Instead, she has been shoehorned as a supporting player in whatever else the rest of her clan is going through. However, if CBS can come up with a consistent and great narrative for a guest star Paige, it isn't right that they can continue to sideline Missy. Young Sheldon season 6 has barely given her any compelling plot, and it definitely needs to change moving forward.
Young Sheldon manages to further insult Missy by making her a supporting character in Paige's story. In the outing, she helps Sheldon ensure that their troubled friend finally stops hopping from one college party to another. As she did in the past with Georgie, Mary, and even her twin, Missy functions as the voice of reason for Paige. She reminds her just how promising her future is. Granted that there's a B-plot that revolves around her lying about being at a sleepover, it's safe to say that Young Sheldon can do so much better for Missy than what she is being given, narrative-wise, now.
Why Missy Needs Her Own Young Sheldon Arc
Young Sheldon's latest TBBT plot hole could provide the CBS comedy more time to delay George's affair and death. However, it needs to start giving Missy her due. Not only is the show wasting the character, but they are also missing a great opportunity to make Young Sheldon much better. By actively tackling Missy's more traditional teenage woes, it makes the series more appealing beyond The Big Bang Theory's fan base. Since coming-of-age stories are universal, seeing Missy tackle her own teenage woes could result in a more interesting dynamic between her and Sheldon, whose experiences as a young genius in college are anything but normal.
Young Sheldon season 6 airs Thursdays on CBS.