Why George Had To DIe In Young Sheldon (Despite Being Popular)
Young Sheldon Had To Stay True To The Big Bang Theory Canon
Although George’s death was long-established, there was still some glimmer of hope that Young Sheldon would keep him alive and give the family a happy send-off. His fate was long sealed in The Big Bang Theory, but as avid viewers of the family dramedy know, it wasn’t the best when upholding the established canon. Throughout its run, Young Sheldon created all kinds of plot inconsistencies with varying degrees of importance. Having precedent kept the door open that Chuck Lorre and his team could once again deviate from continuity to prioritize the ongoing series’ own storytelling.
Even Lorre admitted that he had regrets about their decision to kill George almost 20 years ago in The Big Bang Theory , which was a testament to how much the prequel did a great job of endearing George to the audience.
Young Sheldon retconning George’s cheating scandal in season 7 added fire to speculation that he would live. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The writers opted to stay true to Sheldon’s story about his dad while he was an adolescent. Even Lorre admitted that he had regrets about their decision to kill George almost 20 years ago in The Big Bang Theory, which was a testament to how much the prequel did a great job of endearing George to the audience. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for them to change his fate.
In any case, George’s demise led to some of the franchise’s best episodes, including his funeral outing. It was a masterclass in balancing comedy and drama, which was how Young Sheldon separated itself from its parent series. If anything, the consolation was that the prequel did such a great job executing a dark and emotional storyline.
George’s death and Sheldon’s move to Pasadena, California to begin his post-graduate studies at Caltech spelled the Young Sheldon finale. However, while Iain Armitage can still return as the boy genius in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, his on-screen father’s demise makes it tricky for Barber to reprise his beloved role. Admittedly, it’s possible that Lorre could cast the actor in another role. If they go down this narrative route, it wouldn’t be the first time for the actor to play a different role. Previously, he played Jimmy Speckerman, Leonard’s high school bully in The Big Bang Theory season 5.
