Young Sheldon's Final Meltdown Proves Its Amy Finale Flashforward Cameo Was A Mistake (2024)

Young Sheldon’s series finale brilliantly tied up Sheldon’s story in The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff with its parent series, but another cameo would have worked better than Amy’s finale cameo in the future timeline. Despite its shorter run, Young Sheldon season 7 managed to wrap all the storylines still needing a conclusion, including George’s tragic death, how the Coopers handled it and Sheldon’s move from East Texas to Caltech. The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff also managed to allot enough time to focus on Georgie, Mandy and CeCe, setting up their story for the upcoming spinoff Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.

Throughout both Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon always had trouble adapting to change. His reluctance to accept change did not disappear only because the change closing in was going to Caltech, something he welcomed. This became evident in the last storyline Sheldon shared with both Mary and George when he became incredibly agitated by the prospect of his family moving to Houston for George’s promotion. The storyline worked as a lead-in for George’s upcoming death, the biggest change the Coopers faced, but it also made a parallel possible between those comforting Sheldon in TBBT and Young Sheldon.

George & Mary Comforting Sheldon's Was Reminiscent Of Leonard & Penny's Big Bang Theory Role

Both Couples Supported & Comforted Sheldon In Times Of Crisis

The Young Sheldon episode preceding the two-part series finale had the last moments of the Coopers all together as a family, as season 7, episode 12’s ending delivered on Young Sheldon season 7’s great tragedy of George Sr.’s death. However, the episode also included Sheldon’s last meltdown on Young Sheldon, caused by the many changes happening in his life that were exacerbated by George’s potential promotion causing Mary, Missy and him to move to Houston. The Big Bang Theory previously established Sheldon’s aversion to change, with his Young Sheldon reaction mirroring another time Sheldon couldn’t cope with change in TBBT.

Sheldon’s meltdown in Young Sheldon season 7, episode 12 prompted Mary and George to follow him to his room to comfort him, even as Mary eventually called him out on his behavior by specifying the move would not have been about Sheldon. The trio’s interaction heavily mirrored one The Big Bang Theory season 7 storyline when Sheldon was overwhelmed by change, and established a direct link between George and Mary’s role in comforting Sheldon and Leonard and Penny’s similar role, as they constantly took it upon themselves to comfort him and help Sheldon understand when he was overwhelmed by something.

Young Sheldon Finale's Message Would Have Been Better With Leonard & Penny's Cameos

Their Cameos Would Fit Better With Sheldon’s Admission Of Appreciation Of His Parents

By bringing back TBBT’s Sheldon and Amy, Young Sheldon’s series finale updated viewers on their lives after the Nobel Prize win. This even let Sheldon’s memoir prompt Amy to draw a parallel between how good George and Mary were as parents despite not understanding Sheldon and the opportunity for Sheldon to do the same with their children. While that was meaningful in how it tied both families’ stories and redeemed Sheldon’s family after his tales in The Big Bang Theory rarely described them as supportive, it could have been even better if Leonard and Penny had appeared for Sheldon’s admission.

Leonard and Penny had after all assumed the roles of Sheldon’s protectors, comforting and telling him off in a way very similar to Mary and George’s. Like them, Penny and Leonard knew when to follow Sheldon and when to let him go experience something for himself, like his train travels prompted by his feeling of being overwhelmed in The Big Bang Theory season 7’s finale. Having them witness Sheldon recognizing and appreciating that George and Mary did their best as his parents would have created a stronger connection between TBBT and Young Sheldon, and Penny and Leonard and Sheldon’s parents.

Young Sheldon

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A spinoff of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon follows the youth and coming-of-age of Sheldon Cooper during his childhood in Texas as he pursues science and academia. The show also follows his parents, siblings, and Mee-Maw, painting a picture of the world where Sheldon grew up.

Cast

Iain Armitage , Zoe Perry , Lance Barber , Montana Jordan , Raegan Revord , Annie Potts , Jim Parsons , Wallace Shawn , Craig T. Nelson , Matt Hobby , Wyatt McClure , Emily Osment , Doc Farrow , Ed Begley Jr. , Melissa Peterman , Ryan Phuong , Rex Linn , Brian Stepanek , Wendie Malick , Nancy Linehan Charles , Danielle Pinnock , Valerie Mahaffey , Sarah Baker , Rachel Bay Jones , Will Sasso , Mckenna Grace , Ava Allan , Isabel May , Grady Lee Richmond , Dan Byrd , Katherine Von Till , Reba McEntire , Andrea Anders , Mary Grill , Jason Alexander , Billy Gardell , Nick Alvarez , London Cheshire , Julia Pace Mitchell , Bill fa*gerbakke , Taylor Spreitler , Steve Burns , Pam Cook , Chris Wylde , Richard Kind , Caleigh Kilpatrick , Dave Foley , John Hartman

Character(s)

Sheldon Cooper , Mary Cooper , George Cooper , Georgie Cooper , Missy Cooper , Connie Tucker , Sheldon Cooper (voice) , John Sturgis , Dale Ballard , Jeff Difford , Billy Sparks , Mandy McAllister , Wayne Wilkins , Grant Linkletter , Brenda Sparks , Tam Nguyen , Tom Petersen , Hubert Givens , Linda Hagemeyer , Peg , Evelyn Ingram , Victoria MacElroy , Sheryl Hutchins , Audrey McAllister , Jim McAllister , Paige Swanson , Jana Boggs , Veronica Duncan , Wade , Rob , Kimberly , June , Linda Swanson , Robin , Gene Lundy , Herschel Sparks , Derek , Marcus Larson , Darlene Wilkins , Jake , Sam , Nathan , Diane , Glenn , Ira Rosenbloom , Abigail , Gary O'Brien , Dr. Goetsch

Release Date

September 25, 2017

Seasons

7

Network

CBS

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Chuck Lorre

Directors

Jon Favreau