Train tracks run throughout the basement of a small house stationed in East Texas in 1989. The trains smoothly run their course through caves and bridges, proving Issac Newton’s first law to be accurate—an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by another force. A law that a small nine-year-old prodigy knows like the back of his hand. Dressed in plaid shirts and bow ties almost as big as him, a young Sheldon Cooper experiences the world of science while fighting to be understood by those around him. Before Sheldon was a physicist working at the California Institute of Technology, he was a child prodigy watching the lives of his family slowly fall apart while trying to piece together the science of his own.
“I got into ‘Young Sheldon’ through TikTok clips,” Melalin Sanchez (10) said. “Small clips would pop up on my For You page and it caught my attention instantly when relatable or funny topics were mentioned. I find that every ‘Young Sheldon’ character has something everyone can relate to.”
Over the years, whether through cable television or random TikTok clips on people’s For You page, “Young Sheldon” has gained viewership that surpasses “The Big Bang Theory.” With adult Sheldon being deemed a fan-favorite in “The Big Bang Theory,” the creators decided to dig deeper into the backstory of Sheldon Cooper’s dynamic brain. This prequel transports its viewers in a time machine to a period before there were cellphones and flat screen TVs, but instead just family, God, communism and a nine-year-old genius. After running for almost seven years, the final season premiered Feb.15 and the series finale will be released May.16.
“It feels bittersweet because I’ve been invested in this show for years and now it’s coming to an end,” Jordyn Welch (11) said. “I like how the show takes place with a family [that] seems to be stable…when in reality they are struggling. [It] shows viewers that no matter how much you succeed in life, you will always struggle with internal matters.”
Throughout its run, “Young Sheldon” has set itself apart from other sitcom shows by digging into darker themes. While furthering the personalities of each family member, the show also addresses topics of mental illness, religious differences and infidelity. Still, “Young Sheldon” manages to keep its comedic status and engaging plot lines.
“It’s a funny show and gave me lots of laughs,” Bella Killough (11) said. “I like how [the family members] are so close, but the show is [still] a realistic look into dysfunctional families.”
In seasons five and six, the show takes a detour from its usual family-orientated train route by alluding to both of Sheldon’s parents, Mary and George, participating in forms of adultery. Mary and Pastor Rob are seen hugging and holding hands, while George and their neighbor Brenda, after too many drinks, almost go home together. However, they never cross that barrier because George has an unexpected heart attack. A heart attack that is the start of a darker, more complex issue first mentioned in “The Big Bang Theory” that shapes adult Sheldon into the person he is today—George’s death. In “The Big Bang Theory” it is mentioned numerous times how Sheldon’s dad died when he was 13 years old due to a heart attack. With the final season of “Young Sheldon” premiering right before fans’ eyes, and with Sheldon slowly approaching 13 years old, many fans are anticipating how the show will write George’s death and how Sheldon will cope.
“It makes me sad [George will die] especially when I look back at some of the earlier episodes,” Killough said. “There was a space shuttle episode where George took Sheldon to the launch and, at the end, [adult Sheldon] narrating was like ‘that was the best trip I ever had and I wish I told my dad that before he died.’ I’m just not ready to see the kids’ reactions to it.”
For some fans, “Young Sheldon” is just a show that they watch whenever scrolling through TikTok, but for others, “Young Sheldon” has shaped their lives. Even with the more serious plot lines, the dynamics and relationships between each character signify the importance of family. Through unexpected pregnancies, runaway children, Sheldon’s communism and the Coopers expulsion from their church, their family still stuck together. While the show’s final season leaves most fans on their toes wondering what will occur next, “Young Sheldon” has managed to construct a route that takes viewers on a train ride throughout the journey of a not-so-typical Christian family trying their hardest to survive.
“I have high hopes for [the final season,]” Killough said. “ [‘Young Sheldon’] has become like a comfort show. If I’m in a bad mood I watch it; if I’m upset I watch it; if I’m happy I watch it. I’ve become pretty invested in the characters and the show itself.”
