Missy’s rebel phase began in Young Sheldon season 6, but the foundation that motivated her misbehavior was set up seasons ago albeit ignored.
Young Sheldon season 6 starts to show Missy’s rebellion first foreshadowed in The Big Bang Theory, but in doing so it cheapens Missy’s reasons because of Mary and George’s treatment of her. From being accidentally found at frat parties by Sheldon, to going on an illegal joyride with Paige and sneaking out at night to drink and smoke with Tonya, Young Sheldon season 6 included plenty of examples where Missy misbehaved, but every time, Mary and George acted as if it was impossible to understand why. The Big Bang Theory season 11 already established Missy’s misbehavior to last well beyond George’s death, meaning her shenanigans will only continue.
While her jokes in Young Sheldon season 1 hinted at Missy’s reasons for misbehaving sometimes, they weren’t investigated by her parents. Instead, Missy continued to be shown in the TBBT prequel as the most impudent Cooper, who easily got away with her antics because of how smart she was and who was sometimes reprimanded because of them, but never fully listened to so that her parents could examine what caused them. This became especially glaring in Young Sheldon season 6, where the stakes of Missy’s misbehavior increased, but Mary and George only realized the gravity of the situation later, and even then, didn’t try to listen truly to their daughter.
Missy’s “Dumb Teenage” Phase Was Already Explained In Young Sheldon Season 2
The heartbreaking reasons for Missy’s future misbehavior were already presented in Young Sheldon season 2, episode 5, “A Research Study and Czechoslovakian Wedding Pastries,” even if they were presented only as reasons behind Missy’s exceptional perception. WhenDr. Thorpe presented Missy pictures of individuals interacting during the research study on twins, Missy explained that she became that good at reading people because she wasn’t part of any team inside her family. Indeed, if George focused on Georgie and they were a team because of football, Mary and her Meemaw “fussed over” Sheldon, forming a team with him, leaving Missy often on her own.
Missy’s revelation wasn’t delivered in a way that showed she still suffered from it, instead highlighting how she just observed that it was like that, making her all the more perceptive because of it. However, that made it even more tragic, because she must have been overlooked for so long that it didn’t even log as heartbreaking anymore. The revelation seemed shocking Mary, George, and Connie to their core, but what came from it was only Mary letting Missy choose the restaurant where they could have eaten after the session, showing there was no meaningful change in their behavior regarding Missy in their everyday life. life.
The Coopers Still Do Missy A Disservice In Young Sheldon Season 6 & TBBT Season 11
Young Sheldon season 6’s biggest lapse was when George forgot to pick Missy up from school because Mandy was about to give birth to Cece. Missy was rightfully angry because of that, as not only she was forgotten by her family only to be remembered by Meemaw at the end, but she also missed her niece’s birth. After Missy’s complaints, George eventually said sorry to her, but he and Mary didn’t do more to listen to Missy after she started misbehaving, only choosing to punish her without trying to understand where she was coming from.
The Big Bang Theory season 11 2-part finale similarly did a disservice to Missy, as George Jr. Described her teenage years as Missy being a “dumb teenager,” completely ignoring the real reasons that brought Missy to misbehave and only choosing to describe her actions. Adult Missy’s choices also kept being belittled by Mary, who refused to tell the true story about Missy and her husband separating. Both events highlight how, no matter how much time had passed, the Coopers continued to ignore or refuse to take into consideration Missy’s perspective, whether that happened on Young Sheldon or The Big Bang Theory.
