Although The Big Bang Theory was able to switch up the show’s focus early on, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage can’t repeat this approach with its breakout star. The title of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage was the first clue to the show’s subversive streak. Although the series feels like a straightforward family sitcom, it’s a little more complicated.
Thus, viewers know that Georgie and Mandy are guaranteed to eventually break up, and the sitcom’s story is really about what happened to make the seemingly happy couple call it quits. Like How I Met Your Mother, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage begins by revealing its ending in the title and then works backwards to explain itself.
The Big Bang Theory’s Protagonist Switch Helped The Show’s Longevity
Sheldon’s Takeover Ensured The Sitcom Had A New Focus
The only issue with this approach is that it doesn’t account for a breakout star taking over the series. Fans of the aforementioned sitcom might remember that How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson soon became the show’s breakout star, but the series struggled to balance his unexpected popularity with its focus on the protagonist, Ted, and his search for Ms. Right.
One sitcom that never faced this problem was the other big hangout show of the 2000s-2010s, The Big Bang Theory. The show originally began by focusing on Leonard’s attempts to woo his glamorous neighbor Penny but, when Jim Parsons’s Sheldon soon proved to be its breakout star, the sitcom switched its focus as a result.
For the first few seasons of The Big Bang Theory, Leonard was the primary protagonist. His romantic attraction to Penny was at the heart of the show’s more dramatic plots, while the antics of Howard, Raj, and Sheldon functioned as comedic relief. However, these B-stories proved unexpectedly popular among fans, with Sheldon’s role earning particular acclaim.
When The Big Bang Theory’s best episode centered on a big moment in Sheldon and Penny’s friendship, instead of Penny and Leonard’s relationship, it was clear the show needed to make a change. Thus, the focus shifted, and Sheldon became the central focus as he had more room to grow.
He gained a love interest, Leonard and Penny’s “Will they, won’t they” romance settled down, and Howard and Raj were sequestered into married life and permanent singlehood respectively. The Big Bang Theory was a juggernaut of a hit, so it is clear that its change to focus on Sheldon obviously didn’t harm it, but instead helped the show.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Has To Keep The Focus On The Couple, No Matter What
The Spinoff’s Title Alone Ensures Its Focus Can’t Stray Far
At a glance, it might seem like Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage could repeat the approach of its predecessor. After all, the highest-rated episode of season 1 focuses not on one of Young Sheldon’s many returning main characters, but rather on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s breakout star, Connor.
Episode 15, “Goddess of the Music Store,” sees Connor recruit Georgie’s help to win over a music store customer he has a crush on. The episode is fleet-footed, funny, and charming, lacking the weighty character drama that makes other season 1 episodes feel surprisingly dark at times. Clearly, Mandy’s brother Connor is the breakout star of the spinoff.
However, the newer show cannot shift its focus like The Big Bang Theory and make him the central character, or it would become a completely different show. This was never true for The Big Bang Theory, which was always a series about a group of nerdy guys hanging out and trying to find romantic partners.
By the final season, Howard was a father of two, Sheldon had won a Nobel Prize, and Leonard and Penny were married. However, the show was still about a group of nerdy guys hanging out and trying to support their romantic partners, and, thanks to Raj, there was even an original main character who was still looking for love.
The show’s central premise was never altered irrevocably, so The Big Bang Theory got away with its major focus shift. In contrast, the premise of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is right there in the title. The show is fundamentally about Georgie and Mandy’s relationship and its pitfalls, so suddenly focusing on her brother would not make sense.
Georgie & Mandy Can Find A Character Balance That TBBT Never Did
This Problem Could Be A Good Thing For The Series
Luckily, this does not necessarily need to be a bad thing for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. On the contrary, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage season 2 can now pull off something that The Big Bang Theory never managed, since the show didn’t have as ambitious a premise as its spinoff.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage can bring Connor in more often as a supporting character and give him arcs of his own, while firmly maintaining Georgie and Mandy as the show’s primary A-plot protagonists. This means the show’s darkness will be ameliorated by a lovable breakout star who both lead characters, despite their differences, love and want the best for.
Thus, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage season 2 can make Connor the show’s strongest supporting character without necessarily compromising its focus on Georgie and Mandy. Their relationship can remain the show’s driving force, and, where The Big Bang Theory simply replaced its original heroes, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage can instead effectively accentuate their roles with a supporting star.
Enjoy ScreenRant’s primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check “Network TV” in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.
