Season 7: The End of the Beginning
As “Young Sheldon” prepares for its final season, fans eagerly anticipate the connections and references to its predecessor, “The Big Bang Theory.” These call-backs and Easter eggs not only create a sense of nostalgia but also deepen the narrative and strengthen the bond between the two series. Let’s explore eight exciting ideas that could be included in the last season of “Young Sheldon,” paying homage to the beloved characters and moments from “The Big Bang Theory.”
Small Easter eggs in TBBT reveal a lot about the timeline of Sheldon Cooper, and although we have been treated to many connections between the two shows, fans are now expectant of this final season pulling it all together. First, Let’s get some basics straight in the timeline: Sheldon is 13 years old in season 6 of ‘Young Sheldon,’ and in TBBT, we reconvene when Sheldon is approximately 27. There may be timeline inconsistencies, but from this, we can reasonably deduce that there are 14 years in between the two shows.
George Snr
George Snr has made his way into our hearts as one of the favorite TV Dads of late, so it’s a shame to start with this one. However, many fans expect that this season of ‘Young’ Sheldon’ will see his untimely death. It is mentioned on occasion in TBBT that George Cooper died when Sheldon was 14, and it has become a significant part of Sheldon’s back story. George’s character arc has become a highlight of the show, and his passing seems a good watershed moment for the series as we see young Sheldon become a teenage Sheldon. In the episode in TBBT, where we meet Sheldon’s brother, Georgie, he reveals how Sheldon moved out right after his father’s death.
New horizons: Apt 4a, Caltech, etc
Everyone expects the final season of a prequel series to bridge to set up the beginning of the original series, and ‘Young Sheldon’ should be no exception. It has been previously revealed that Sheldon graduated Summa Cum Laude at the age of 14 and later established that he received his Ph.D. from Caltech at the age of 16.
The Apartment
One of the most recognizable and beloved settings from “The Big Bang Theory” is the iconic apartment that Sheldon, Leonard, and later the rest of the gang call home. To bridge the gap between the two series, the final season of “Young Sheldon” could feature a visit to the apartment, providing a delightful connection between the past and the future. As Sheldon reminisces about his childhood, the audience witnesses familiar elements of the apartment. This inclusion evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and serve as a powerful reminder of the shared universe between the two series. In S3ep22 of TBBT, Leonard recalls interviewing for the vacant room, and this at the time was seven years prior. Assuming one season is equivalent to one year, this means that this was when Sheldon was 23. So if the apartment does feature, this would mean that young Sheldon will be introduced to a different roommate. Perhaps this could be Sebastian, who some eagle-eyed fans will know was Sheldon’s roommate before Leonard. Will we see a new formation of a roommate agreement?
The Comic Book Store
The comic book store was a central hub in TBBT. We don’t know how much of Pasadena we will see in the final season – maybe just in the season finale or maybe in 2-3 episodes in the end to foster the transition. But wouldn’t it be great to see a 14-year-old Sheldon visit the comic store as he tries to get acclimated to his future Californian life? Maybe this would give fans a chance to get a glimpse of a young Leonard, Raj, Howard, or even Stuart.
Young Penny
This one would be hard to do, but imagine an Easter Egg in the form of a young girl from Nebraska who has dreams of being an actress. Although it would be a purely gratuitous appearance, maybe there’s an episode when Sheldon and co are touring Pasadena, and in one scene, there’s a family on a similar trip, and the girl is daydreaming about how she wishes to move there and become a successful actress – either that are a Cheesecake factory waitress.
Georgie Cooper’s Future
Now back to the main ‘Young Sheldon’ storyline for this one. Fans will know that Georgie and Mandy are engaged as of the season 6 finale. They have the baby and are believed to be living in the Cooper household after the tornado hit Meemaw’s house. Season 1 of TBBT revealed that Mary rushed back from Germany to help with this situation. I think that we are set to see Georgie become a fan favorite as his character arc progress to a very fulfilling climax. When we meet Georgie in TBBT, he is a self-made man who owns a tire franchise. It is also revealed in a confrontation with Sheldon that when he moved so soon after George Snr passed, he became the man of the house and took on the role of the protector.
The Head of the Household and His True Calling
This season will be about Georgie as much as Sheldon and how he is introduced to his adult responsibilities. The tornado damage, along with the engagement and baby, is enough alone, but with the unfortunate passing of his dad and Sheldon off to Caltech (both of which we assume might happen next season), Georgie’s character will be reaching new heights as the protector and the provider of the Cooper residence. With these financial burdens, we could see him find his calling in a tire shop. Maybe he buys a tire shop.
The Frame Narrative
The ‘Young Sheldon’ narrative is voiced by Jim Parsons as a reprisal for his role in TBBT, and this has led to many speculations as to what fans think this narrative is. There is a theory that this is all in the context of an interview with the Nobel Prize-winning character as he recollects moments from his childhood. A full-circle conclusion to the show would be great to see, and TBBT fans would love the reveal of an old Sheldon and Amy sitting down with an interviewer in the apartment that made the show what it was. There is also a similar theory that Parson’s Sheldon is dictating his memoir to someone he hired to write it for him. This would be a very characteristic thing for Sheldon to do, and viewers would get a kick out of it.
Remember the finale of ‘HIMYM?’ I don’t blame you if you don’t. Towards the end, we were treated to various flash-forwards of Ted’s life with Tracy before the end of the finale. A similar ending to ‘Young Sheldon’ would provide great moments for any fan of the two shows. A similar structure would mean that many Easter eggs from TBBT could be explored, and possibly even some actual scenes from the sequel series.
Conclusion
As “Young Sheldon” approaches its final season, fans of ‘The Big Bang Theory” will be looking for a few call-backs and Easter Eggs to create a sense of nostalgia, deepen the narrative, and strengthen the connection between the two series. Chronologically there are roughly 13 years between the two but the final season of ‘Young Sheldon’ can not only bridge the gap but also bring its own series to a satisfying conclusion.
