Why Did Young Sheldon Make Big Bang Theory Writer Regret Important Storyline

Steve Molaro, executive producer & writer of The Big Bang Theory, regrets one major plot point expose because of Young Sheldon. Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory’s one and only spinoff, premiered in 2017 on CBS. As the title suggests, Young Sheldon explores Sheldon’s childhood in Texas with his family before moving to Pasadena to attend Caltech. Because of the established canon of The Big Bang Theory, its prequel has now been forced to follow continuity even when it does not serve its own storytelling. It has ignored a few plotlines deemed unimportant, but some are crucial to Sheldon’s story and would be difficult to leave out.

This includes George’s forthcoming cheating scandal, which prompted Sheldon to feel compelled to knock 3 times before entering a room. This is a detail that Molaro deeply regret now that Young Sheldon has really no choice but to tackle a rather dark narrative in a typically lighthearted family comedy, as revealed in Jessica Radloff’s book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. Read his entire quote below:

“I think the real answer is, we were just trying to find a way to add some weight and importance to the scene when he said it, and that was a way to do it. Had I known it would end up having an impact on Young Sheldon, I might have thought twice about it. [Laughs]”

When Will George’s Cheating Scandal Be Addressed By Young Sheldon?

According to Sheldon’s confession to Penny in season 10 of The Big Bang Theory, he discovered his father in bed with another woman when he was just 13 years old. Since then, Sheldon has begun knocking three times to ensure that he is not seeing anything he should not be seeing. It was a deeply moving backstory for one of Sheldon’s most notable habits, but it is now causing issues for Young Sheldon, because the show is required to address this rather dark story.

Sheldon is now approximately 12 or 13 years old. This unfortunate incident could occur in season 6 or early season 7 depending on Young Sheldon’s story – telling pace. When the Cooper patriarch developed feelings for their neighbor, Brenda Sparks, CBS began laying the groundwork for the Cooper patriarch’s infidelity storyline. Despite the fact that nothing has happened to them yet, it establishes that George is able to have feelings for women other than his wife. It didn’t help that his and Mary’s marriage had been having problems for quite some time.

Can Young Sheldon Get Away From George’s Affair?

Young Sheldon has broken the continuity of The Big Bang Theory so many times that it’s almost expected. Given this, some have suggested that CBS skip George’s affair & subsequent death entirely, allowing the prequel spinoff to run for a few more years. Young Sheldon’s overall tone and dynamic will undoubtedly change as a result of George’s impending cheating scandal & eventual death. Perhaps it will even be the end of it. Given how popular the show has become, CBS will naturally want to keep it on the air for as long as possible, but it must decide whether to retain The Big Bang Theory canon or prioritizing its own storytelling.

Young Sheldon season 6 airs Thursdays on CBS.

Source: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series