Love Young Sheldon? Here Are 6 Shows You’ll Devour Next md13

With Young Sheldon recently ending on a satisfying yet poignant note, fans of the spin-off series might be looking for something else to fill the void. Centered around a deeply intelligent though also egotistical and socially awkward young boy (Iian Armitage) and his journey from middle school to college, Young Sheldon was funny, heartwarming, and provided great context for fans who fell in love with the adult Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) from The Big Bang Theory.

Naturally, that show is first on the list of shows to watch, or re-watch, after finishing Young Sheldon. But there are others worth putting on the radar within the weekly primetime TV viewing rotation with similar themes and/or characters.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007-2019)

Created by Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady

Chances are fans of Young Sheldon watched that series have already watched The Big Bang Theory. But with so many Easter Eggs, callbacks, and appearances from supporting characters (all in older form played by different actors), now is the perfect time to re-watch the show while the moments from the prequel are still fresh in the mind. Hearing Sheldon reference events and people from his childhood and recalling how the show played these out perfectly brings a fresh new perspective to scenes that wouldn’t have been there the first time around.

Of course, there will be discrepancies, most notably, Lance Barber, who plays Sheldon’s father, George Sr., plays Leonard’s high school bully in one episode. But those moments aside, viewers will see Sheldon and particularly the way he talks about his father in a whole new light, having seen how his childhood really was and how he reconciles the way he saw it.

‘Fuller House’ (1987-1995)

Created by Jeff Franklin

Yes, Full House, in which this series serves as a sequel, is worth watching, too, with tons of running jokes to make you laugh. But for a new generation of kids who loved Young Sheldon, Fuller House might be more up their alley. Perfect to watch with the whole family, Fuller House is a modern look at the story told in Full House. Centered around eldest Tanner’s daughter, DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), she finds herself in the same position as her father when her husband passes away, and she is left to raise three kids on her own. Just as her father’s brother-in-law and best friend did, DJ’s sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy (Andrea Barber) move in to help.

Fans of Young Sheldon, however, will especially love middle child Max (Elias Harger), an intelligent boy just like Sheldon, and a serious neat freak. He always has witty comments, dresses like Sheldon with slacks and crisp shirts, and even carries a briefcase to school. His one-liners and experiences mirror those of Sheldon’s. While Max isn’t as socially awkward and cynical, the middle schooler experiences the same challenges Sheldon did with fitting in. Parents who watched Full House will love the show, while kids who never watched the original will still find it entertaining in all the show’s corny glory.

‘The Middle’ (2009-2018)

Created by Eileen Heisler & DeAnn Heline

Like Young Sheldon, The Middle centers around a middle-class family with three kids, all of whom are very different from one another. Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is the youngest and the like Sheldon in a lot of ways. He’s smart, introverted, loves to read, and displays odd behaviors. It’s loosely implied on the show that he may have autism, something that Young Sheldon viewers have theorized about Sheldon as well.

As a sitcom, The Middle has its funny and more serious moments, following the family along with their day-to-day challenges relating to home life, careers, and raising children. Receiving positive reviews throughout its run, The Middle is one of those sitcoms you might have missed when it was airing but still holds up today.