There’s no denying that The Big Bang Theory has become one of the most-watched shows in a while, so it was really no surprise when the spin-off Young Sheldon was announced.
The show follows TV’s favourite Sheldon Cooper, the unusually gifted child, and his family in Texas. Set in the 80’s, the show certainly has a nostalgic feel to it which, although isn’t anything original, does make it an easy and familiar watch.
The first few episodes of the series feel as though the show is still trying to figure out what exactly it wants to be, which frankly makes it quite awkward to watch. When I first started watching, there were a lot of moments that I really wanted to just turn it off and give up. It all felt a little bit forced and at times, very cringy. But, I persisted and well, it didn’t really get that much better.
The show doesn’t have an on-going plot, but instead just followed the characters through day-to-day life. This meant that there was nothing really compelling me to carry on watching. The characters don’t really develop throughout the series and, to be quite honest, Sheldon was easily the most annoying character in the show. Whilst his quirks and individuality are humorous in The Big Bang Theory, in Young Sheldon they just come across as weird and almost patronising. If he was my kid, I’d definitely consider putting him up for adoption. Considering he is our main man in this show, he’s nothing compared to his elder Jim Parsons. That being said, I don’t think this is a case of bad acting, more like bad writing.
One thing that will be enjoyable for fans of The Big Bang Theory is the hints and exploration of what made Sheldon Cooper the character that we have come to know and love (or hate). The show subtly nods back to its sister-show in a way that makes it accessible to a new audience, but also slightly more enjoyable for the experienced Big Bang Theory fan. Overall, I’d say this is probably one of the only things the show did well.
So, it’s safe to say that Young Sheldon certainly doesn’t have anything on The Big Bang Theory. Whilst the familiar, nostalgic feel had potential, the annoying characters and empty plot lines made this show unbearable. All I’ll say is, it’s a good job the episodes were so short.
★☆☆☆☆
Georgia Hughes
Young Sheldon: Season One at CeX
