WHAT I’M WATCHING: YOUNG SHELDON
I wasn’t really a fan of The Big Bang Theory during it’s run. I found Sheldon and Howard annoying and the jokes were terrible. In recent years, I’ve turned around on the show. The jokes are still terrible, but the cast became far more charming later in the run, particularly after Bernadette and Amy were introduced. It’s still not a great show, but it is entertaining.
One of the things that always bothered me was the show’s treatment of Sheldon’s mother, Mary Cooper. Mary was played by the great Laurie Metcalf. And while Ms. Metcalf’s performance was always a delight, Mary’s character was always treated like the butt of the joke. She’s a housewife from Texas, so she’s racist and religious. And because she’s religious, she’s an idiot. It felt like a Hollywood writer high-fiving his buddies over their superiority to people outside of Southern California.
So why would I want to watch Young Sheldon? A show that was sure to be a never-ending loop of jokes about how Texans are the worst?
I didn’t. And to be honest, I don’t remember what made me give the show a try. But damn, I’m glad I did.
Young Sheldon is one of the best shows made in the last decade. Not only does it surpass it’s predecessor, but I think it’s fair to say The Big Bang Theory doesn’t really deserve to be associated with it.
The show has everything. An amazing cast, including unbelievable guests and recurring characters. Jokes that are actually cleverly written. But more importantly, this show has a humanity and quiet dignity that TBBT lacked (for the most part… TBBT did have it’s moments here and there).
Mary Cooper, played perfectly by Laurie Metcalf’s real life daughter, Zoe Perry is reimagined as the three dimensional character she should always have been. The racism is completely stripped of her. And while religiosity is Mary’s central trait, she’s given a better take on it. Mary loves Jesus and her church, but sometimes she struggles with those things. She has faith, but that faith is sometimes tested.
Perhaps most impressive is the reimagining of Sheldon’s father, George Cooper. In the original series, George was described as a drunk, a lout and an adulterer. The older versions of Mary and Sheldon couldn’t have had a lower opinion of him.
The George Cooper we see in Young Sheldon is arguably the best character in the show. Yes, he drinks. And it’s difficult to imagine George’s genes crafting his youngest son’s genius. But George is a stand up guy. He’s constantly sacrificing for his family and rarely recognized for it. Despite his given nature, he does his best to be sensitive and understanding to his children. And even when his wife is driving him insane, he still loves her and wants what is best for her. Honestly, I would rank George Cooper up there with some of the best TV dads of all time.
Sheldon’s brother, Georgie and sister, Missy are played somewhat similar to how they’re shown in the original show, but they’re given much more to do. Their lives don’t revolve around Sheldon’s, just occasionally inconvenienced by him.
I won’t go into detail about how much better this version of Sheldon’s MeeMaw is, but I have to ask… how is Annie Potts still a smokeshow at her age? Annie’s character, Connie Tucker is genuinely one of the best and funniest parts of the show.
The irony of Young Sheldon is that it’s meant to be a spinoff focusing on Jim Parsons’ character, but ultimately, his family is far more interesting.
YS is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. It’s pitched as a single-cam comedy, but lives as a well-rounded dramedy.
I can’t recommend it enough. And I kind of wish they had a couple more seasons in them. Unfortunately, the series finale is tomorrow. But at least they’re ending on a high note.
