Sheldon may be the titular character of CBS’ Young Sheldon, but some of his family members are just better characters overall than him.
As Young Sheldon evolved to be a family comedy, there has been an increased focus on the rest of the Coopers, making it clear that some of them are better than others. Sheldon Cooper may be the titular character of The Big Bang Theory prequel, but it doesn’t mean he’s the clan’s best member. Over the years, CBS has expanded the show’s storytelling to ensure that everyone else from his family is given their respective due. This makes Young Sheldon appealing to a wider audience because it can also be enticing to those who don’t particularly care about The Big Bang Theory.
Narratively, diversifying the show’s storytelling makes it clear which character truly stands out. While not everyone is given the same amount of focus, Young Sheldon has been on the air for enough time now for viewers to truly know each member of Sheldon’s family. The family has gone through a lot in the last six years, including a major crisis after Georgie got Mandy unexpectedly pregnant. Overall, all members of Sheldon’s clan are good people. Despite their flaws, they love and support each other. As individuals, however, Young Sheldon’s current creative approach highlights which ones are truly the best.
6
Mary
After debuting in The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon is able to flesh out Mary Cooper more. While the prequel functions as the origins story for her son, it also reveals new details about the Cooper matriarch. While it’s no secret that Mary has a soft spot for the boy genius, Young Sheldon shows just how detrimental this tends is not only to everyone else in her family but also to Sheldon himself. Mary always taking Sheldon’s side likely contributed to his bad behavior in The Big Bang Theory. Had she been stricter, then her son likely wouldn’t have been too difficult to deal with.
Another reason why Mary ranks low on this list is her lies about George and her other kids in The Big Bang Theory. She painted George as a negligent father in the nerd-centric sitcom when he is far from it, as seen in Young Sheldon. Granted that he has his flaws, it’s difficult to argue the Cooper patriarch’s dedication to his family. She also described George and Missy as dumb, when in reality, they are not. Finally, Mary’s dedication to her church often supersedes her commitment to her family, which usually creates conflict.
5
Sheldon
In an effort to further capitalize on The Big Bang Theory’s popularity, CBS launched its first and still only spin-off, Young Sheldon, which functions as the origins story for Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper. While its parent series was technically an ensemble series, it became increasingly clear over the years that Sheldon was its true lead, with many of the episodes being driven by his story, Even when he was not the focal point of an episode, he remained a major factor in every narrative. Couple that with Sheldon’s penchant for sharing stories about his childhood in Texas, and it’s understanding that he is the subject of the franchise’s first offshoot.
However, just because he is the titular character of Young Sheldon doesn’t mean that he is its best player. In fact, out of all six Coopers on the show, Sheldon is the worst. Granted that his younger counterpart is tamer than his adult version, Sheldon’s tendency to be self-centered occasionally makes it difficult to root for him. Young Sheldon’s deep dive into his childhood also highlights just how difficult it was for his siblings to grow up with someone like him. In more recent seasons, CBS seems to have forgotten to utilize the character in a way that will emphasize his good qualities, making him more divisive.
4
George
Because George had already died before the events of The Big Bang Theory began, he is the only member of the Coopers who didn’t physically appear in the nerd-centric sitcom. Despite that, Sheldon’s father had an established image before he debuted in Young Sheldon thanks to his and Mary’s unflattering stories about him. However, The Big Bang Theory’s version of the character contradicts his prequel counterpart, creating the franchise’s biggest plot inconsistency thus far. Based solely on Young Sheldon, however, George is a flawed but dedicated family man, that even adult Sheldon’s narration admits that he was wrong about his father.
3
Georgie
Often overlooked in Young Sheldon is Georgie, but he is also one of the best characters in the show. Despite the difficulty of his situation with Mandy, George and Mary’s firstborn have been nothing but patient, loyal, and committed to making things work for them. After their baby daughter, Cece was born, Georgie has only become more committed to providing for his growing family. Beyond what’s revealed in Young Sheldon, however, Georgie is also confirmed to do good. Per The Big Bang Theory, he took responsibility for Mary and Missy after George unexpectedly died, while also building a successful business.
2
Meemaw
Long before she made her physical debut in The Big Bang Theory, Meemaw was already an established character on the series thanks to Sheldon’s stories about her. The usually indifferent genius was very open about his love for his maternal grandmother, so it was surprising that The Big Bang Theory’s version of the character was somewhat scary. That isn’t the case in Young Sheldon, however. In the prequel, Connie is fun, charming, sassy, and lovable. The Cooper kids love her for being always dependable but not a pushover.
1
Missy
As Young Sheldon’s storytelling progresses, it has become increasingly clear that Missy is the best Cooper on the show. George and Mary’s only daughter has proven time and time again that not only is she fiercely loyal but also highly dependable. In Young Sheldon season 6, the family comedy baked criticisms about overlooking her. Her parents’ disregard for her forced her to rebel, but after a near-death experience, she tearfully admitted that she was only acting out in retaliation.
Still, it’s difficult to blame Missy for feeling the way she did, considering how often she has been cast aside by her own family. The fact that she is self-aware of her mistakes and takes full responsibility for them makes her a much better character. Growing up with Sheldon isn’t easy, as seen in Young Sheldon, but Missy not harboring a grudge against her twin and even being supportive of him in The Big Bang Theory makes it more impressive.
